JAMAICA ENTERTAINERS’ ASSOCIATION IS CREATING THE ENTERTAINER AS AN ENTREPRENEUR WHO’S COLLATERAL IS HIS OR HER TALENT, WHO’S ASSET IS HIS OR HER GOOD MANAGEMENT AND WHO’S WORTH IS THE RETURNS ON HIS OR HER GOOD INVESTMENTS.

Current immediate issues

Ø Lack of governing standards for entertainers-Quality

Ø Poor salaries being offered and the lack of increase over the past six  years

Ø Getting the resort to care about quality and thus respecting the craft of quality entertaining.

Ø Refusal to sign contracts with entertainers by the resort management-everything is left to be assumed and we wonder why there are so many issues

Ø Termination/Cancellation  without explanation or adequate notice

Ø Cut in salaries without discussion or date to put it back to where it was-salary guidelines with graded entertainers

Ø Lack of support tools to work with: poor lighting, poor stages, poor sound quality, poor quality musicians, poor MC’s, inadequate changing facilities-it’s like we have the tourists money so whatever.

Ø No protection against foreign entertainers

Ø Lack of cohesion of support system( entertainer + band +  MC)

Ø Entertainers need to show appreciation to resorts even once per year for support-staff awards, birthday events, ect.

Ø Lack of unity among entertainers

Ø Disregard for cabaret performers (it is almost like a plague to say you are a cabaret performer-this must change)

Ø Inadequate training opportunities for entertainers, entertainment managers, coordinators