See Also: • Free Wyclef Jean 4/20 show at CU in Boulder draws unbelievably paltry crowd • 4/20 at CU Boulder: Wyclef Jean concert, police crackdown to shrink event? • Wyclef Jean at Coors Event Center on 4/20
So the figure first reported yesterday by Whitney Bryen of the Colorado Daily is completely accurate. For the free 4/20 alternative concert this afternoon at the Coors Event Center on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder, Wyclef Jean was paid a flat fee of $80,000. It's also true that the contract contains wording prohibiting Jean from espousing the virtues of marijuana -- well, not in those words, exactly. Page down to see precisely what it says in reference to the Agency (Carnival House Touring) and the Attraction (Wyclef Jean), and what was in the rider.
From item twelve in the contract ("The Agency Shall" section):
"The Agency shall ensure that Attraction avoids making direct referrences to marijuana and other illegal drugs or make 4/20 related remarks as this is a University sponsored event."
From item eight in the contract ("It Is Further Agreed" section):
"Attraction assures the University that no speech or performance will be given, the content of which would violate the laws of the United States, or the State of Colorado. Further the Agency shall indemnify the University against any damage caused to its property or injury to its employees, faculty, staff, students, or guests resulting from performers agitating or exhorting present violent or illegal action, when such action on part of the performer(s) has been established as a violation of the laws of the United States, the State of Colorado, or City of Boulder. Should any litigation result from the content of any speech or performance, the Agency agrees to assume full financial and legal responsibility for all required response."
Wait, there's more. Not only did the University (aka the Regents of the University of Colorado) respectfully request that the Attraction (aka Mr. Jean) refrain from visiting such taboo subjects, but if he could also keep it clean on stage -- you know, PG-rated for the kids and all -- that would be great, too. Check it out:
"Attraction agrees that due to the open broadcasting nature of this venue, all language used on stage must be in compliance with the FCC standard regulations on obscenity, indecency, and profanity."
In case that particular section was unclear, the contract helpfully directs Jean and company to the regulations section of the FCC's website. But here's the kicker: while there's no mention of docking his fee if he disregarded the above stipulations, there's a bit that follows about adhering to the "strictly enforced curfew of 10:30 p.m. by the City of Boulder," lest "penalties" be "applied to their performance fee for non-compliance." What makes that clause all the more inexplicable is that the concert was in the rearview by 6:30 or so -- a full four hours before the stated curfew.
Page down to read about what was in the show's rider.
There's plenty more in the contract, of course -- which is posted below in its entirety, should you be inclined to do some light reading -- but that about covers the high points. Also included in the document, which Backbeat received from a University representative this evening, is a copy of the rider for the show.From what we gather, Wyclef Jean and his crew apparently believe in treating their bodies like a temple -- at least compared to many rock stars who live on booze and Cheetos. For lunch, his requirements include grilled, skinless chicken breast, along with grilled bison burger and grilled organic burger, as well as a fresh fruit platter and assorted drinks. Dinner is pretty much the same, except add steamed or grilled vegetables and substitute salmon and ribeye steaks. After the show, he was apparently planning on splurging a little with a large cheese pizza and a vegetarian pizza.
Page down to see the full contract and rider.
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