The concert director spoke about changes in Russian show business after Ivleeva’s “naked” party

The scandal with Anastasia Ivleeva’s “naked” party, after which Lolita, Philip Kirkorov, Anna Asti and others like them came under public condemnation, will come back to haunt the artists not only with the disappearance of their numbers from New Year’s programs, but also with a decrease in fees for corporate performances. It is clear that if a performer ends up on the “black list”, it will be difficult for him to charge the usual exorbitant amount for his performance. Concert and theater director, composer Alexander Benish told us about how the situation with private performances is today, and who will “move” Kirkorov to the top of the fee list.

— Alexander, how has the situation in the corporate events market changed after the “naked” party?

— The top performers in Russia today are Shaman, Leps, Stas Mikhailov, for them, of course, nothing has changed after what happened.

— How much do concerts of top artists cost?

— From 10 million and above.

— What has changed for Kirkorov?

— Kirkorov is so omnipresent that we are already a little tired of him. After the scandal, of course, he will have to make concessions. Show business is a business like any other: if you can play to reduce the price, they will play.

— How much money can Kirkorov request today? What will the discount be?

“I don’t know his financial situation, but top echelon artists, as a rule, are more likely to refuse corporate events if the requested amount is not confirmed to them, but they will not agree to dumping. Then you won’t get up.

— What will happen to those performances for which the fee has already been approved and an advance has been paid? Kirkorov can keep the advance and not perform if they try to reduce his fee or refuse to perform at all?

— Yes, if the performance is canceled due to the fault of the organizers, the advance remains with the performer.

— What is the current situation with corporate events?

— Artists of the first and highest level were all booked a month ago, they are in great demand. Today there is simply some kind of agony, as if people with money are living their last day, as if they will never see these artists again. And there will never be any private performances again. This can be compared with the car market; prices have also risen two or three times: both fees and requirements have increased. That is, in such economically difficult times there should be fewer of these dances with tambourines, but in fact there are more of them, and they have become more expensive.

— Only the most popular artists are in demand.

– No. I can judge from the “Perfomen” team: the guys are in great demand because the repertoire is universal. Although the group is not top, both in November and December the team has work: these are both state corporations and private ones.

— Do first-tier stars mostly perform from Russia or abroad?

— There are fewer speeches in Russia, because today it is not politically correct. For state corporations, corporate parties are partly prohibited altogether, but in private, who needs it is to advertise their luxurious life. But we observe on social networks that people are not shy about demonstrating their financial level while living in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or some resorts in Spain, France, and Italy. Our stars fly there, perform there, everything is good in this regard.

— For concerts abroad, are fees paid in foreign currency?

— If they fly to perform abroad, then in foreign currency.

— Does the fee include the rider? Or are flights and accommodation paid separately?

— Technical and household riders were always paid separately: both binding and accommodation.

— Nowadays artists have a lot of patriotic repertoire, is it played at corporate events?

— Of course, the patriotic repertoire is in demand. But no one will fly with him to neutral territories, there will be some kind of lyrics there. Why not in Russia? It all sounds very organic here.

— Is Orbakaite’s recent visit to Russia from the USA related to corporate performances?

“Today there are a lot of closed events, and there are fewer and fewer artists; those who managed to grab what they got. Although I can hardly imagine who would be interested in Orbakaite at a corporate party: a solo album is one thing, but a corporate party is completely different. In this regard, the same Turetsky Choir is much more universal. There must be a connection with those sitting at the table so that they look up from their plates and listen to the music. But most likely, yes, there were orders for it.

— Are Ukrainian artists invited to corporate events on neutral territory?

– Certainly.

— It happens that they set conditions: will I come if such and such an artist is not there?

— The same Shaman or Denis Maidanov will not be invited to the Emirates for a corporate party, since they work exclusively for our country. But there it is not necessary, there these conflicts of interest are unnecessary. Therefore, those who fly there – both Russians and Ukrainians – are loyal: both to yours and to ours.

— But despite such a difficult time, there was no strict ban on show business from holding private parties “from above”?

– No, it was not. Although for me this is a feast during the plague: when someone is at the front, and someone is eating herring under a fur coat and listening to Leps. This is blasphemy for crazy money, and often not your own. It would be better to donate this money to charity, and if you love Leps, buy a front row ticket and go to the concert. But there was still no installation for a categorical ban. Rather, they did not recommend large state corporations to go on a grand scale. That’s all for now.