Pop singer My Tam has responded to the Chairman of Danang People’s Committee after he said he didn't want the singer to perform at the city’s International Fireworks Festival due to high appearance fees.

 

My Tam was apparently offered USD6,000 to appear in Danang

Danang municipal authorities held a meeting on April 9 to prepare for the Danang International Firework Competition 2013 (DIFC).

Speaking at the meeting, Ngo Quang Vinh, Director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that there would be two music shows during the competition from April 29-30. The Hanoi-based Son Lam Company will be the organiser of the shows.

As planned, My Tam would take part, along with several others like Ngoc Anh and Luu Huong Giang as well as two foreign singers.

According to Vinh, Son Lam Company estimated that the shows would cost a combined over VND4.7 billion (USD224,236), up VND431 million (USD20,562) compared to last year’s event.

Even though the department’s leaders agreed with the plan, Van Huu Chien, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee immediately responded by saying that Son Lam Company should lower the costs by VND1 billion (USD47,709) while ensuring the programme was the same as last year.

Chien suggested dropping My Lam from the list as she had asked for USD6,000.

“Amid economic difficulties, it’s unacceptable that My Tam has asked for such a high show fee to sing one song per show while asking the municipal government to pay 10% VAT as well,” Chien emphasised.

He explained that they have raised over VND21.9 billion (USD1.04 billion) worth of sponsorship for DIFC 2013, which is equal to a half of last year’s costs of VND41 billion (USD1.95 billion).

He called for cost cuts by making full use of local available resources from Danang’s Trung Vuong Theatre.

This is the sixth year when Danang City has organised such an international firework competition. However, the singer is said to have yet to perform at any of such event as the city due to her high fees.

Ngo Quang Vinh said that the Lam Son Company had mentioned the show fee when they hired My Tam to perform at the event and that the local authorities had just worked directly with the company but not the singer.

My Tam has sent a letter to the press, denying Chien’s comments.

“I’ve yet to sign any contract worth USD6,000 for DIFC 2013. It’s not true about the 10% VAT issue as well,” the singer claimed.

She said she’s was sad the press had jumped into the discussion.

“People should be very careful about what they say and do. Labelling someone without evidence could result in unexpected consequences,” she threatened.

Ironically enough, even if My Tam alleged fee of USD6,000 was true, it would not be any higher than similar performers.

Singer Dam Vinh Hung’s appearance fees can reach VND170 million (USD8,110) per show in Vietnam and sometimes USD20,000 at special wedding parties.

Tuan Vu is paid VND180 million (USD8,587) per show while Quang Le and Truong Vu are paid VND120 million (USD5,725) each.