Jacqui Tyson ... head cook and bottle washer. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer.

Jacqui Tyson may be considered the head cook and bottle washer, who is working tirelessly behind the scenes of the Shaggy and Friends concert to be held on January 2, next year.

Tyson's job is to take care of the look, feel, hospitality and decor of the event. She will organise the actual layout from backstage to the grounds of the venue. Tyson said the concert which is in its second year, is magical, yet challenging to get organised. She said one of the challenges is that they are not working with a big budget because it's a charity event. Services are offered either free or at a discounted rate, while some contribute products.

"The other challenge is that the event immediately follows the festive season. We have to be on top of our game to create a fantastic event in a short space of time," said Tyson.

Other challenges

She added that, because people are offering discounted products, organisers cannot demand products and supplies and so they have to wait until they receive these before moving ahead with the plans. She also pointed out that, usually, on New Year's Day, staff is unavailable and the event is the following day so they have less time in which to get many of the things done; hence planning ahead is very important.

Tyson said this year, they are stepping up the event a notch from feel to decor, and it will be fabulous. They have added a diamond area, which is a skybox area that will cost $30,000 per guest. The diamond area can host 150 persons. Tyson told Flair that patrons in both diamond and platinum (which costs $20,000), will enter the venue in true Hollywood style and the red-carpet treatment will be rolled out. She said gold and silver patrons will also enter in fine style and will receive luxury treatment too.

For the diamond section, celebrity chef from the United States of America, Jondeau Stephan, will be compiling the menu and adding his flair and skills to the event. Popular Jamaican chefs will also be 'showing off' their speciality dishes.

Tyson revealed that everyone from corporate to retail, to food suppliers, are on-board for the event. She emphasised that this is the one time when all competitors put aside their differences and unite to make an event a spectacular one, for a worthy cause.