NOW Presenting: Showtime Services

One of the agendas that has made significant progress over the decades, is the proliferation of women within the Jamaican music industry. While there are quite a few male faces on the frontlines, it could now be described as a slight majority as opposed to what could only be described as a space dominated by men in the 70s, 80s and 90s as it became formalized as a business that needed roles to be filled. Gender population changes within the landscape of any Jamaican based enterprise is to be expected as the island has the highest proportion of women managers in the world at 59% according to a recent (ILO) International Labour Organization report. 

So there should be no surprise that not only has female representation within the varying structures that make up the local music business been increasing tenfold, companies that are completely led and operated by women are now coming to the fore more than ever. One such outfit, Showtime Services, after years of quietly executing missives and solving problems, have now made it a point of duty to showcase all that they are doing and are capable of doing in the very near future. Completely staffed in its entirety by women. 

“It’s by design, because I feel like there are women that work in music that need that kind of leverage they need to be able to be a part of something that isn’t competitive because of their gender. They need to be a part of something that’s led by a woman and led by a woman who can lead. I’m not just interested in managing. I want to be a leader. I want to be innovative. I want to create a clear path for young girls. I’m a mother of two, two girls, and if my daughters ever wanted to go into entertainment, I need them to be able to kind of have less challenges than I did.”

That mindset is what drives Cara Burke, Showtime Services’ founder and head of operations. Originally from the British Isles, Cara felt so strongly the pull of her parents homeland that she became a Jamaican citizen in 2013. This was after figuring out what would become her passion for entertainment, specifically music with clear Jamaican influences. 

“I had had two other companies within entertainment, one of them being Unrivaled Media, which had with my previous business partner based in the UK. We were young, vibrant teenagers and we worked all the way up to our late 20s within the entertainment sector, servicing dancehall. We did work permits, visas and stage management.” Cara illustrates. 

Her introduction to music business on the island was through a previous personal relationship; however although that relationship fizzled, Cara’s love affair with Jamaica only seemed to grow, “Jamaica was always my happy place. I spent a significant period of my childhood here so I knew my way around. I stabilized myself here with a couple of businesses, a BPO and tech business with my business partner Tiffany.

I also had several clients that I was doing consultations for and I was affiliated with Benji from Frenz for Real.” It was with the Frenz for Real record label that Cara truly found her footing as the label located in Tower Hill, a section of the Olympic Way community within Kingston, is known to be a hotbed of musical talent. It was actually there Cara was introduced to Romario Ricketts, more popularly known as Laalee, who she went on to manage and co-produce with Frenz for Real his breakout hit “Watz On Sale” – after which catapulted her name as a force to be reckoned with amongst the Jamaican music industry movers and shakers. 

“Outside of that, I had the opportunity to grow and work with TJ, Tamo J, Frenz for Real as a whole with Red Boom as a mixing engineer and producer. He is famously known for several of Vybz Kartel’s works. And so what I did there was kind of set things up, organize things, structure things as a business because they (Frenz for Real) were known as a dub studio and Benji and myself and a couple of other people worked tirelessly to turn it into an actual business,” Cara explains “and it’s still thriving, still pumping. I am still very much a part of the Frenz for Real family. But that’s where it kind of fused itself together from out of there.” 

Officially, Showtime Services began in 2015. Only after Cara started adding booking agent to her repertoire, in addition to the work permits and visas she was already known for. Cara was also handling another imprint, Creative Consultant Group, where she conceptualizes events and marketing strategies – at the same time. This, understandably, was quite a lot to handle for a one person operation. Despite this, Showtime Services cultivated and maintained some substantial relationships in the Jamaican music industry which ultimately helped Cara obtain credible links outside of Jamaica. “I was working with Spice. For a period of time, which was really good. It was a good move. For me. It was a good move for her too so it was a good move for both of us. And then I was working in Mavado’s and Dexta Daps’ camp also and I really just kind of built up my savvy attitude and reputation. And you know, I started getting attached to this tagline ‘Cara makes it happen’. I just became a solution finder. I’m very solution oriented, I caan boddah to think about a problem mi just want to fix it. So I got attached and affiliated with Ms Mek It Happen and it stuck with me ever since.” Cara explains. 

That reputation served Cara and Showtime Services well, as she was affectionately dubbed ‘The Olivia Pope of dancehall’ by her attorney for the way she fixes even the most adverse of situations. However, Showtime Services was still not operating at full capacity as in spite of being the exclusive booking agents for Shaneil Muir, Skeng, Kraff and sharing responsibility with Romeich Entertainment for Valiant there was only so much that one person could do largely by themselves. This was when Cara began to lean on the support system she had fostered over the years.

“Carla Hollingsworth and Dana Beckford, two very influential Jamaican women, really encouraged me as a sister in the industry. They told me to stop holding back guh fi it a your own. I had those conversations during some particularly rough times as during the COVID period  I lost my grandmother, my mother, my best friend’s mother and my cousin. I also had a very, very good friend of mine who was murdered here in Jamaica. I even contracted COVID myself whilst I was pregnant. And apart from Tallman who assisted me earlier in my career, I didn’t really have any help until recently.” Cara reveals. “The girls that work for me now are a fantastic bunch. Cristina, Jade, Laura, Samara, TJ and Pinkie. Cristina is my operations manager, I call her my little pocket rocket. She specializes in systems operations technology and overhauled our social media. Jade is one of my project managers, she deals with a lot of my international clients such as Palm Nations and New Rules. Laura is actually my business partner, she is my little sister and I made her co director. She drives a train by profession in the U.K but she is my wildcard because you don’t see it coming and then suddenly you just get this very strong letter with all these litigating points. Samara heads up my administration department, she has been working for me since the Creative Consultant Group, she manages the visa and work permit department. T.J, who is actually Kraff’s manager, is one of my business partners. She is responsible for a BPO, tech company and together we are supposed to open a recording studio in St. Ann and a business that is now a company called Managed By Mego= MEGO abbreviated for Minus Ego a name that sums me up. And we have the events part of Showtime Services where the decor is handled by Pinkie. I believe Pinkie, Samara and my sister have been with me the longest, about 6 or 7 years. All are female and if I have to work with a male. I will only contract outside workers that I have found to be reliable and are trustworthy.” 

Employing that formula has been particularly fruitful for Showtime Services as they are presently one of the leading booking agencies working from Jamaica while at the same time steadily climbing the ranks in other aspects of client services as well. But as you could probably guess that is not the end of what Cara has envisioned for Showtime Services, not by a long shot. “I want to host my own festival here and it shall be birthed as an international brand. Because here I am popping up in Europe and in the Caribbean, managing other festivals. So I want to put on a HUGE festival, I now have my network of people who can definitely get it done. But yeah, that’s where I’m heading and I am hoping to really level up the company with all of the ladies in tow so that everybody can get to shine in their respective fields.”

Below are the perspectives from three of the leading ladies from Showtime Services about the company and where they see it progressing to in the near future.

Laura Stemarthe

When did you start at Showtime Services? 

I co-founded Showtime Services with Cara at a Nandos restaurant in April 2022. We started off as Showtime Booking Agency and as our services, we’re in demand and we branched out we decided to change the name. We have also been known as The Creative Consultant Group in Jamaica, Unrivaled Media in the UK. We have been in this industry for over 15 years. 

What is your role at Showtime Services? 

I am a director of the company, who also does road management for several of our artists, administration tasks for the team and our clients including calendar management, email management, travel logistics and so much more. I wear many hats in our company and I’m proud to say that we are not just a one-role company. 

What is it about Cara that inspires you to keep working alongside her? 

Cara is a force in her own right. She knows the ins and outs of the business and has seen it all. She is motivated to keep her business going and thrives for the best for her clients and the team. She keeps me grounded and is my right hand in life, family, friendship and business, I really couldn’t see life without her.

What is your vision for the company and what are the ways you think you could help Showtime Services get there? 

My vision for my company is to branch out more internationally, gain more clients in the UK, African and Soca markets, invest in our own production equipment and branch off into other aspects of business not just the music side. The ways I think I can help is to network more, sell the company services to a wider range of people. Talk up more at the important tables.

What has been your favourite memory working at Showtime Services? 

My favourite memory has to be when Skeng went to Trinidad and Barbados in 2022 and I got my first hands on experience in the production office. I was able to have creative control on his performance including all the screen content, lighting, sound, pyro-techincs etc. It made me realise I have a real knack for production and want to learn more. 

Cristina Bran

When did you start at Showtime Services?

I started working for Showtime Services in December 2022.

What is your role at Showtime Services? 

My official job title is Head of Operations & Social Media but we all wear multiple hats. 

What is it about Cara that inspires you to keep working alongside her? 

Where to even start.. I met Cara through one of my longest standing best friends and her business partner, Laura. From our first meeting, knowing and working for Cara has been a whirlwind experience. I was on a flight to Barbados within 3 days of meeting for the first time. But what inspires me to keep working alongside her is her unmatched knowledge, creative genius, her ability to own every single room she walks into without being imposing. Her energy as a leader in this industry is not something that can be replicated, denied or diminished. 

What is your vision for the company and what are the ways you think you could help Showtime Services get there? 

Showtime Services has seen incredible growth and that doesn’t look like it will stop anytime soon. The vision is to continue being a force of good for the music industry by enabling the clients we work with to reach the top of their respective fields and continue expanding our service offerings.

What has been your favourite memory working at Showtime Services?

Although it’s only been a short time, there are sooo many to choose from… But if I had to choose one, it would be successfully project managing the first edition of Flush in St. Elizabeth. I was travelling from Kingston and somehow my journey ended up taking 7 and a half hours (no one knows why the driver ended up taking the route he did) so I got to see a lot of Jamaica before the show but once I arrived, it was all go. I thrive in fast paced environments and I enjoy finding solutions, at Flush I got to do that whilst delivering a successful event, despite the adventure of getting there. Definitely one for the books and one that we laugh about often.

Jade Francis

When did you start at Showtime Services?

-April 2022

What is your role at Showtime Services? 

– While my primary position is Project Manager, I adapt to various roles based on the specific demands of the industry and the project or event at hand.

What is it about Cara that inspires you to keep working alongside her? 

– Cara’s presence exudes a remarkable vibrancy that immediately illuminates any room she enters. Her compassionate nature is matched only by her exceptional work ethic. Observing her approach to tasks and challenges serves as a continuous wellspring of inspiration for me. She compels me to elevate my efforts, persevere unwaveringly, assume a leadership stance, embrace a strategic outlook, and proactively carve out avenues for personal and professional growth.

What is your vision for the company and what are the ways you think you could help Showtime Services get there? 

-My vision is for the company to excel, expand, and showcase our full range of services, becoming a distinguished industry leader worldwide in all genres of music. To help Showtime Service get there I’ll employ strategic project management to enhance execution, foster cross-functional collaboration, forge strategic partnerships, and adapt services to market trends. Cultivating a culture of innovation and professional growth will be crucial to attracting top talent and achieving sustained excellence and growth.

What has been your favourite memory working at Showtime Services?

– In my role as a project manager, crisis management has become a core aspect. An instance that highlights this was our last-minute contract for a project in Turks & Caicos. Within hours, I found myself packing and on a flight to an unfamiliar country ahead of my team who arrived a day later. Immediately upon landing, I delved into impromptu meetings to tackle on-ground issues. Navigating tasks such as setup, production, vendor coordination, and security, we confronted numerous challenges. However, in spite of these hurdles, we triumphed, successfully executing the event. This experience rekindled my initial drive for project management – the thrill of overcoming obstacles and delivering under pressure.

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