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'Sumfest Boss' Joe Bogdanovich says exorbitant artiste fees and overpriced equipment rentals are among the biggest hurdles for promoters trying to mount world-class productions locally.

"Things cost too much money to do a stage show. The artistes charge a lot of money," Bogdanovich told THE STAR.

He said it is time for stakeholders to take a step back and think about the bigger picture, which involves getting players to understand that "there's a bigger world than just here on 'The Rock' ".

He also lamented the high prices in renting equipment for a production.

"It's just too darn expensive for us and a lot of people to make a profit, and without a profit, you're not gonna be in business for long," he said.

The music mogul, who has been at the helm of Reggae Sumfest since 2016, said there is need for a cultural shift among stakeholders, including entertainers, if the number of local shows is going to increase.

He urged artistes to "get the prices down".

Beyond finances, Bogdanovich said one of the recurring headaches for promoters is poor communication and lack of punctuality from artistes and their teams.

"The 'soon come' thing doesn't work. You can't make money with 'soon come'. Yuh have to be on time ... the energy you get by being on time and everybody is in sync, it's synchronised. I don't believe in accidents, I believe in either balance or no balance, and we gotta be balanced to make this happen," he said.

According to Bogdanovich, staging a successful event boils down to leadership.

"You have to know what you're doing and having people that know what they're doing. You have to keep getting better and keep improving your knowledge about how to do your job better and with less resistance. You need solutions to your problems, not complaints - you are broke complaining. You also have to have a lot of confidence in yourself and knowing that there's something bigger at work than yourself," Bogdanovich said.

The 32nd staging of Reggae Sumfest will take place in Montego Bay, St James, from Sunday, July 13, to Saturday, July 19. Bogdanovich has promised seven days of non-stop energy, vibrant culture, and world-class performances.

"We bring magic to the people, we bring joy - that's what our mission is, that's what we do," he said.

Meanwhile, Bogdanovich said the capital city, Kingston, has what it takes to become Jamaica's show capital. Kingston earned its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Music in 2015. As Jamaica's cultural, economic, and creative heartbeat, the capital has gifted the world six unique musical genres: mento, ska, reggae, rocksteady, dub, and dancehall. Bogdanovich said that with a few adjustments, the city could be rocking to more shows.

"We can get a lot better, but Kingston has the opportunity to take that prize. The Government has been helpful at getting better in [implementing] entertainment zones, and we have to commend them for improving the landscape. And whoever wins [the upcoming general election], I'd want them to continue that tradition," he said.

However, he suggested that it would take a collective effort from everyone for Kingston to become a fully powered entertainment hub.