Trinidad and Tobago events producer Adrian Chandler has shared his account of what happened behind the scenes surrounding Keyshia Cole’s appearance at R&B Brunch. Speaking during an interview on the Corie Sheppard Podcast, Chandler said organisers had contracted for a 45-minute performance from the American R&B singer. “We know what we paid for. We had a contract that stated 45-minute performance,” Chandler said. According to Chandler, however, there was some form of communication mix-up involving Cole’s management team and the agent handling the arrangement. Chandler said his understanding was that the engagement had been presented to the management team as more of a “pass-through appearance.” He suggested this resulted in different expectations surrounding what Cole was expected to deliver at the event. Chandler made it clear that this was his understanding of where the problem occurred and did not suggest that patrons should have been expected to accept the behind-the-scenes explanation. Instead, he acknowledged that responsibility ultimately fell on the event producers from the perspective of those who purchased tickets. “We are the producers of the event and people don’t want to hear anything else,” Chandler said. He explained that patrons had paid their money and expected organisers to provide answers. Chandler recalled being just as surprised when the performance ended, particularly given the importance of Cole’s appearance to the event. He also publicly thanked Jamaican dancehall artiste Dexta Daps for his contribution that night. “Dexter, if you’re hearing this, thank you for saving the show,” Chandler said. The experience did not end the organisers’ relationship with the agent involved. Chandler revealed that when preparations were later being made for Ashanti and Ja Rule, organisers found themselves dealing with the same agent. He recalled business partner Shane questioning how they had ended up working with the same person again following the previous experience. However, Chandler said the team received assurances that expectations would be clear and that the previous situation would not be repeated. He described the subsequent experience with Ashanti and Ja Rule positively. According to Chandler, the artistes embraced Trinidad and Tobago during their visit, participating in media appearances and experiencing local culture and food. He said they were easy to work with. Chandler’s comments on the Corie Sheppard Podcast provide his account of the circumstances surrounding Cole’s appearance and the difficulties organisers faced when expectations between the contracted event and the artiste’s side allegedly differed. His account also highlights the position event producers can find themselves in when something goes wrong behind the scenes but patrons ultimately hold the local organisers responsible for the experience they purchased.
