So few months back I attended the #FillFNBStadium concert, I was impressed by the work that was put in setting up the entire show. The performance were great, that’s a given, it’s Cassper Nyovest!

So I grew up watching local and international concerts, award shows, and now I have high expectations of what shows should be like. The Vivo National festival is a great example of how to host a proper festival, but more on that later…

Honestly, South Africa has a long way to go, not that there’s no budget but there is lack of creativity or passion.

With that being said, I am not an expert in stage and setting up of lights and sounds. But I believe we all have to acknowledge the beauty when we see it.

The incidents of sound glitches and visual fails are understandable, but the poorly set up show might be the reason people do not attend them, for example, look at the last local hip hop award show, what was that? Why does this look like a game show and not an award show?

Remember when SZA was supposed to perform Love Galore/ The Weekend at the BET Awards, that was awkward, I could mention many more instances were I was shocked by the production and wondered who do we blame for that. But then you look at the stage and quickly forget about the technical issues.

Sometimes, it’s even the fault of the artist… Miguel, that stage dive was the most painful scenery I’ve seen on television (in my entire life), really more painful that seeing Walter White die in Breaking Bad.  But surely Miguel paid for it and hopefully won’t try that again. A number of glitches go on like organisers do not take days or even weeks to prepare for live shows.

So just last year, Parks Life was held at Marks Parks, what was so special about the event? Except that they had four different stages, and some of those stages had no acts 70 percent of the time… Is this done to distract people from the fact that the setting is whack? The same goes for many other shows that are often held at Newtown, Johannesburg. Nothing makes me want to purchase a ticket for those shows.

Now, I stopped watching the South African Music Awards (SAMAs), simply because the stage set up is atrocious, speeches are awkward, the hosts are trying, I will give them that.  So it’s not all bad, but also people setting up these shows need to up their game.

I am sure Cassper Nyovest did not only set the bar by being the first hip-hop act with high attendance at FNB Stadium, he also provided us with great visuals, lights and stage. The giant lion that was on stage was a statement! We know who is the king of the jungle, and maybe of live shows.

Cassper Nyovest’s Mufasa’s statue at Fill Up FNB Stadium

I hate to admit that this weekend, Volkswagen, might have dethroned Cassper Nyovest in terms of the stage setup, it’s a big company after all. But isn’t it how it supposed to be? If you are expecting more than a hundred people to attend your event, it should be of great standards!

The Vivo Nation event did a stellar job at setting up hundreds of lights (maybe I am exaggerating) on stage that matched each performer’s style, Lady Zamar, Kwesta, Babes Wodumo, you name them, they all had different themes.

Lady Zamar at the Volkswagen’s launch of the New Polo Vivo

The sound was on point, at the very same time the marketing was great! This should also be a lesson to corporate world. How impressive was it having the new Polo Vivo in the middle of the stage throughout all the performances?

Cassper Nyovest at the Volkswagen’s launch of the New Polo Vivo

That’s not all, they also utilised the containers of the venue to ensure that we do not miss what the event was about. There were extra vehicles on both sides of the stage. Overall giving you the atmosphere that you want when attending an event.

My point is, when you are organising a musical event or even a launch of a new product, the set up and the venue should complement each other. The local scene needs some changes, when hosting an event is not only about the act and performance, but the overall product. The Volkswagen #VolvoNation delivered. I would go on forever if I were to talk about the performance, but this is not about performances.

To the team behind the entire VivoNation event, well done! Local artists, companies and event organisers should learn from this team.

Again, I am not an expert, tell me what do you think about the VivoNation setup on the comments section, alternatively you can have your say on Twitter @Cyberstoep or @JusCallMeWill.