SINGAPORE: There are five more weeks to the Hungry Ghost
Festival, which is celebrated during the seventh month of the Chinese
lunar calendar.
Organisers of the traditional getai concerts are bracing themselves for slimmer pickings this year, amid the current recession.
Last year, 500 getai shows were staged during the festival. This is expected to drop to about 420 this year.
Organisers said less money was collected during fund-raising
auctions last year due to the financial crisis. This translates to
smaller budgets for the upcoming celebrations. Fewer bookings were also
received, compared to the same period last year.
These organisers, who are engaged by clan associations, temples and
other community groups to hold getai shows, said in previous years,
order books would be nearly 80 per cent filled by now. But so far,
their order books are only half full.
Concerns about the spread of H1N1 flu are also adding to their woes.
Peter Loh, vice-chairman, Singma Artist Getai Seven Moon Festival
Association, said: "The singers have been asked to use their own
microphone shields and they'll take the shields with them when they go
for other shows."
- CNA/so
I love getais....