Beerfestabull organiser owes band thousands

ONE of the creditors owed thousands after 2013's Beerfestabull has been told their only chance to get paid will be if they support a similar event in Victoria.

ONE of the creditors owed thousands of dollars following last year's Beerfestabull has been told their only chance to get paid will be if they support a similar event to be held in Victoria, despite the organiser admitting the Bundaberg festival ran at a significant loss.

Clint Jensen owes more than $50,000 to musicians, labour hire, fireworks and advertising companies, and community groups.

When the NewsMail published the original story in December, an issue with the ticketing company was blamed for the late release of funds to pay the bills.

But in an email exchange two days before Christmas between Mr Jensen and Brisbane-based entertainment agency The Gig Factory, the organiser admitted the festival ran at a loss and that he had been trying to resolve the "debacle".

"The company is virtually broke and has no assets," Mr Jensen said in the email to Michelle Esposito.

Miss Esposito, whose agency is owed $3000 to pay the band Chisel Revived, said Mr Jensen told her the best chance of creditors getting paid was if they all agreed to support his next planned Beerfestabull in Melbourne in August.

"I don't want him to hold another Beerfestabull anywhere," she said.

Mr Jensen further stated in the email that he had tried making payment plans with several creditors but had been able to follow through with only a few of them because it was "spreading me thin".

"I've offered him different payment plans as low as $50 a week but he still won't pay it," Miss Esposito said.

"I've given him every opportunity to show he genuinely wanted to do the right thing."

Mr Jensen also blamed the floods and a lack of State Government grants for the loss sustained by the event.

"He blamed the floods, which I really hated," Miss Esposito said.

Mr Jensen said in the email that a few structural changes would ensure the event would return a profit, including all money made from ticket sales and sponsor income being donated to charity.

"You must think I'm mad but let me explain further. In the lead-up to the event it will be well known that the proceeds go to charity, which means I am saving major (money) on infrastructure and services," he stated.

"It's just the way it goes with charity events - you get things cheaper as businesses are more inclined to donate their products and services for a cause."

He went on to further state that his proposal to support the Victorian event was the "best chance for everyone to get paid" and even offered the band "VIP seats" as further compensation.

But Miss Esposito said she did not have faith in Mr Jensen's proposal and would not be supporting the event.

"We send (bands) down there in good faith that they are going to be paid," she said.

"These people are artists - they put their heart and soul into it."

Mr Jensen was contacted for comment but he did not return the NewsMail's calls or email.