Commissioners to Get Update on Memorial Day Weekend

Despite promotions on the City’s social media accounts for the Air and Sea Show on Miami Beach this Memorial Day Weekend, plans are still incomplete. Since we first published our article on April 14 indicating the Show’s promoter had missed key deadlines for providing required documents for his special events permits, no additional documents have been submitted.
 
As of this morning, only 2 of 13 requirements have been met. Still missing are a life safety plan, sanitation plan, parking and transportation plan, and proof of insurance. City Commissioners will get an update on Memorial Day Weekend at their meeting tonight.
 
While the Air and Sea Show was performed successfully last year and the City has been through the process before, a Music Explosion concert was added to this year’s event. The concert is not part of the current social media promotional messages.
 
City Manager Jimmy Morales sent a strongly worded Letter to Commission on April 9 indicating promoter Mickey Markoff had not presented the required documents outlining his plans nor had he submitted signed contracts for the artists scheduled to perform at the concert. The event’s website states that Shaggy, MAX, and Kent Jones will perform.

Earlier this month, Markoff told RE:MiamiBeach he had submitted the signed contracts to the City which we obtained through a public records request. The “signed” documents that were submitted are actually redlined versions of contracts which indicate Markoff’s deletions of key provisions. MAX’s contract indicates he will be paid $20,000 with 50% due on April 19 and the remainder due prior to his performance. Markoff redlined that provision to indicate payment would be made following the concert. Shaggy’s payment of $70,000 is due in two installments, $35,000 paid no later than Friday, April 27 with the remainder due prior to show. Markoff also crossed out that provision, indicating the remainder of the fee would be paid following the concert. 

Representatives for Shaggy and MAX indicated to RE:MiamiBeach via email on April 18 and 19 respectively that they were committed to the weekend but no signed contracts have been submitted to the City as yet. No word on if the April 19 deposit deadline was met for MAX.
 
The City has agreed to reimburse $250,000 of the concert costs upon presentation of receipts. In addition, they agreed to sponsor the Air and Sea Show through $350,000 in reimbursable costs and waive another $154,000 in fees. At the City Commission meeting earlier this month, Commissioner John Alemán indicated the promoter had been waiting for his sponsorship money from Hyundai before providing deposits to the artists.
 
When contacted by RE:MiamiBeach last week about the sponsorship amount, terms, and upfront payments, Michael Stewart, Senior Group Manager for Hyundai Corporate and Marketing Public Relations, wrote in an email, “Hyundai is a proud sponsor of the National Salute to America's Heroes and we are looking forward to celebrating military and first responder heroes during the Memorial Day weekend activities in Miami. We don’t publicly disclose the budgets of our marketing programs. You’ll have to ask the event producers about contracts and payments, those are aspects they are responsible for, but as far as we know everything is on track for a great event."
 
Final plans for the Air and Sea Show were due March 26 with final plans for the concert including signed contracts due April 2 and no later than April 6. Load-in for the event begins May 21.
 
Regarding public safety, RE:MiamiBeach reached out to Police Chief Dan Oates earlier for his thoughts on the lack of a life safety plan for the Air and Sea Show and Concert. His response: “Memorial Day Weekend is our biggest special event of the year, and we are planning accordingly. We are preparing as if all the special events under consideration will occur. We will adjust our deployment as circumstances change and the need arises.”
 
Tonight's Commission meeting is one of the regularly scheduled awards ceremonies, however there are a few business items on the agenda including the Memorial Day Weekend discussion and restrictions on scooters during high impact weekends. Agenda here.

 Photo: Shutterstock