Why it's easier to hold shows in Mumbai, Bangalore

MUMBAI: Bryan Adams played a knockout gig in Mumbai. He’s all set to go to Bangalore and Hyderabad. And yet when he gets to Delhi, the show is called off the day he’s due to play. Is it that much harder to organize a concert in the capital?
Sujit Jain, CEO of Netsurf Entertainment, who has brought Bryan Adams to India, says, "The security concerns make it a lot tougher.There’s a lot of VIP movement that has to be taken into consideration. The problem was because of the popularity of the two previous shows. There were concerns about people trying to gatecrash.” He adds that heavy rain was also behind the cancellation.
VG Jairam of Oranjuice Entertainment, who recently organised the Mahindra Blues Festival in Mumbai, agrees that Delhi poses unique problems. "It takes different skill sets to put on concerts in Delhi or Mumbai. Mumbai police and Maharashtra’s government are far more understanding and approachable. In Delhi you have to spend a lot of time explaining to authorities what you’re doing, how long it will be, why you’re doing it. And many think it’s their birthright to have complimentary tickets when they give clearance. In Mumbai they buy their tickets and come to the shows.”
Vijay Nair, director of Only Much Louder, which brought the Prodigy to India last month, agrees that although the licensing process in Mumbai is complicated, once you know how to do, it’s pretty straight forward. "Mumbai has the maximum number of licences, about 24, and the process can take about 30 days. But it’s still easier than in Delhi because there aren’t the same security issues.”
But Jain says as per ticket sales, the capital gave the best response to the Bryan Adams concert. Some say they even oversold tickets, which seemed to be part of the reason why the concert had to be called off last minute.
In Bangalore, too, it’s a smooth process. The first point of contact for organisers is the city police commissioner, 20 days prior to the event day. "We get the application from the organisers and charge them nominally. We provide them security and personnel for parking management and other logistics. Twenty days gives us enough time so there are no chances of cancellation,” said Bangalore city police commissioner, Shankar Bidari.
Bangalore has handled big events on a single day with ease. T Venkat Vardhan, MD, DNA Networks, who has conducted several big events in the city says: "Though Karnataka is more open to concerts and such events, no matter where you are holding the concert, your skill sets to hold it properly should be in place. That means permissions, taxes and also the preparations for contingencies must be complied with. We are holding events very successfully even in places like Bhubaneshwar and Jaipur. I think Delhi is also great for events. Bangalore is a little more friendly though.”