Wages of singers are sky high this time of year as producers and hotel owners all around the Arab world are running all over trying to cut deals with singers to host their New Year’s Eve parties. The list of wages for each singer has already been set and is known to every sponsor wishing to make any agreement.
According to the Kuwaiti daily Al Qabas, for the first time in his career Egyptian singer Amro Diab’s name is not among those who will perform. The singer said he refuses to hold any concert during New Year’s Eve, for reasons that are some what vague and just adding that he prefers to spend it with his family.
Singers such as Hani Shaker, Mostafa Amar, Angham, and Ehab Tawfiq are asking for such high prices reaching 155 thousand Egyptian pounds, refusing to go lower. Mohammad Munier and Asalah Nasri requested 150 thousand Egyptian pounds for the night. Mohammad Foad and Samira Said come next inline asking for 120 thousand Egyptian pounds.
Singer Samira had insisted she be paid in full upon signing of any contract for the concert not wanting to risk going through a similar incident as the one at Sharm El Sheikh. During one of her arranged Sharm concerts, the sponsor paid Samira 15 thousand Egyptian pounds up front and promised her the rest upon completing of the concert. The singer was shocked to find out that once she arrived, the sponsor had run away with the concert money. Ever since then, the singer refuses to perform unless she is paid in complete.
Shireen Wajdi, Hisham Abbas, Hakim and Khaled Ajaj asked for 60 thousand Egyptian pounds, while Baha Sultan, Tamer and Shireen, Shaimaa Said, and Ghada Ragab only requested 50 thousand.
On a lighter less expensive note, dancers also requested set wages for their half-hour performances during concerts on New Year’s Eve. The more prominent dancers like Fifi Abdo and Lucy cost 60 thousand Egyptian pounds for their performances. Dancers Dandash, Suhair Rajab and Samraa asked for 50 thousand Egyptian pounds. –Albawaba.com
