De Queiroz of Evenpro Group One On One Fabiano Photography by IMANI OGDEN MSM: What is the Evenpro Group and what is your position there? Evenpro Group is a regional promoter for Latin America with more than 35 years experience in the live entertainment industry. Respected for its accolades throughout the years, the company does business with the world’s major agencies and artists as well as the largest Festivals in the world. I am the VP for talent & tours over Latin America and I coordinate an overall team that can reach more than 400 professionals at times across 12 countries. That said, we wear many hats in this company especially nowadays. I cover marketing, announcement dates and on-sale dates, rider details, etc. MSM: Who are some of the most famous musical artists or bands you’ve had the pleasure of working with? What are the most memorable moments of your work? Throughout the last few years I have directly worked with artists like Metallica, Alanis Morissette, David Mathews Band, Oasis, Maroon 5, Kilye Minogue, Green Day, Duran Duran, Kelly Clarkson, Justin Bieber, Beyoncé, Thirty Seconds to Mars, REM, Santana, Sting, The Police, Paul McCartney, Rammstein, Eric Clapton, Iron Maiden, Jack Johnson, Shakira, System of a Down, Guns N’Roses, Evanescence, Michael Bublé, Morrissey, Norah Jones, Robert Plant, Tony Bennett, Selena Gomez, Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, The Cure, Bon Jovi, Alicia Keys, Black Eyed Peas, Bruno Mars, Amy Winehouse, amongst others. Getting to visit the Amazon River for the first time with Alanis and then with Dave Mathews, Breakfast with John Taylor (Duran Duran) in Rio and seeing Paul McCartney take his wife to dance after coming down from the stage in concert in Saint Petersburg, Russia are what come to mind now, but I am sure I am forgetting something really cool. MSM: What are some of the most challenging aspects of your job? Keeping it cool when focus is needed. To juggle information and “fairness” can be quite tricky and you can never really be at ease with that, but with experience you tend to get better acquainted with the timing of it all. Challenges are ultimately what we strive for. MSM: What are the challenges in working production in Latin America versus the USA? The US is where it all started to get professionalized and where regulations and unions limit some aspects but also take care of most of the dangers and liabilities involved in doing live events. The lack of thorough provisions and mobilizations in Latin America makes it more difficult in some aspects but gladly we have been in the business long enough to identify providers that are reliable and work to international standards. MSM: Where do you see, with the economic crises worldwide, the industry of concert promoting heading to? The whole entertainment business is going through an exciting shift. From recorded music to live entertainment the rules are being bent to the point that new ones are being created and the concert business is moving along… The economy is ultimately the thermometer that tells us how we handle the business part of the industry but as long as there’s talent out there, there’s work to be done. MSM: When you are not working, what do you enjoy doing? Love movies, cooking or eating out and playing some tennis on Saturdays. When all of that includes my wife and daughters then it is simply perfect. Business MSM Miami Shoot Magazine 55