Cancel Music Concert in Central Kalimantan, Organizer Reported to Police

Bajenta Fest, via its Instagram account, revealed the reason for canceling the concert because the budget was insufficient.

DOKUMENTASI POLDA KALTENG

Rian, coordinator of prospective Bajenta Fest spectators, poses with other prospective spectators at the Central Kalimantan Regional Police, Friday (19/4/2024).

PALANGKA RAYA, KOMPAS — In less than a month, two music concerts which were planned to be held in Central Kalimantan were cancelled. Prospective spectators to small and medium entrepreneurs who had bought tickets and paid for tents reported the organizers to the police.

The two canceled concerts are a music concert entitled Bajenta Fest which was supposed to be held on Thursday, April 18 2024, at the Tjilik Riwut Indoor Stadium, Palangka Raya City, and a music concert Pbun Fest which should be held on May 18 2024 in Pangkalan Bun, West Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan.

Many prospective buyers were disappointed with the committee's decision for both concerts and reported the incident to the police as they felt cheated. For example, Rian and around 400 prospective viewers of the Bajenta Fest concert in Palangka Raya did so.

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Rian set up a complaints post to be able to register data on potential spectators who had purchased tickets, numbering approximately 400 people.

"We represent potential viewers reporting Bajenta Fest or the organizers of this incident to Central Kalimantan Regional Police," said Rian, who claimed to be a potential audience and audience coordinator who felt cheated.

Rian explained that the report was made on Thursday, April 19, 2024, at the General Crime Directorate of the Kalteng Regional Police and has been received by the Kalteng Regional Police.

He made a report because he was dissatisfied with the organizers who cancelled the concert just one day before it was to be held. As a result, many prospective audience members coming from outside of Palangka Raya City had already arrived and spent money on transportation and accommodations.

"Many people from outside have experienced big losses, so they just want to refund their tickets. There are those who have spent IDR 10 million to watch this concert because they come from far outside the city. "This is already a big loss," said Rian.

Bajenta Fest, through its Instagram account, revealed the reason for cancelling the concert due to insufficient budget. To pay for the artists and all other expenses, the committee relied solely on ticket sales, but the expected number of sales, which was around 4,000 tickets, only amounted to approximately 1,000 tickets.

Their EO only argued that they couldn't hold the concert because they couldn't afford to pay the artists.

According to the plan, the concert will feature NDX A.K.A, a hip-hop band from Yogyakarta, Raissa Anggiani, and TBA, an Indonesian boyband split from Coboy Junior. Ticket prices to watch these bands are priced at IDR 200,000 to IDR 2 million.

According to plan, the band NDX A.K.A will also perform in Pangkalan Bun, Kotawaringin Barat, Central Kalimantan, on May 18th. However, once again, the concert was canceled by the organizers of Pbun Fest.

DOKUMENTASI POLDA KALTENG

Prospective spectators of the music concert at Bajenta Fest reported the cancellation of the music concert to the Central Kalimantan Regional Police on Friday (19/4/2024).

Not only are the viewers at a loss, but small and medium-sized entrepreneurs who have rented tents for selling also feel the loss. They even reported the incident to the West Kotawaringin Police Resort.

A total of 17 small and medium entrepreneurs or stall renters at Pbun Fest reported the event to the SPKT of the West Kotawaringin Police on Wednesday (24/4/2024).

Karel, one of the traders who reported the incident, explained that they reported the incident because up until now the rent money for the kiosk that had been deposited has not been refunded.

"We have deposited money with EO Pbun Fest to rent a stand. One stand offered by EO is IDR 1 million. "I myself have paid for one stand," he said.

Karel said that UMKM actors in Pangkalan Bun were interested in renting stalls at the music concert after the announcement on social media that NDX A.K.A was a guest star. According to Karel, the band is currently popular among young people in Pangkalan Bun, so it would surely be crowded. Unfortunately, the concert was canceled.

"When I contacted EO, they just said they couldn't hold the concert because they couldn't afford to pay the artists," said Karel.

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The report from Karel and several other MSME players was received at the Kotawaringin Barat Police Station. The Head of Kotawaringin Barat Police, Adjunct Commissioner Yusfandi Usman confirmed the report. He is currently investigating because there are suspicions that the music concert in Palangka Raya and Pangkalan Bun are both organized by the same business entity.

"We have already received complaints from potential viewers or stall renters. Currently, the criminal investigation unit is handling the matter," said Yusfandi.