Jamaica Jazz and Blues ‘Behind the Scenes’ Spotlight

 A petite dynamo, the consummate professional, wears many hat and wears them very well, and a huge fan of Mr. Morangie. In this edition, the spotlight is on marketer extraordinaire, Marcia McDonnough.

How did you get started with the Festival? I worked with Air Jamaica as the Sales and Marketing Manager and so naturally the Festival was a part of my job.  It was actually started by my Marketing VP at the time, Allen Chastenet.

What does your role entail? I now work with the Festival as the Marketing Manager, the Sponsorship Manager, plus a lot of other things that I don’t have a title for.  Let’s just say I do anything that is required to make the Festival happen and be successful.

 What do you enjoy most about working with JJ&B Festival? It makes me feel alive….there is so much happening, so much to learn, so many people to interact with….I love to work with the sponsors, many of them become my friends, I love watching the venue go from an empty piece of land to the most spectacular event site, I love to dream up new activities for the event, and of course I love just being at the event when I get through the work, seeing my friends, having a drink…..oh I could go on and on and on.

What is most challenging about your role? Answering the phone and my email, and speaking to five or six persons all at the same time.   I sometimes have two cells at my ears and a land line ringing, plus several people asking me questions that no one else wants to answer.  I have a full mail box every 10 to 15 mins….I have hundreds of emails each day.  And for those of you who know me, you know that I HATE WHEN PEOPLE DON’T ANSWER THEIR PHONES, CLEAR THEIR MAILBOXES, OR ANSWER EMAILS… so I try not to do that. It sometimes becomes extremely challenging.

What are your favorite memories of the Festival? I don’t know if I can give one. It all just comes to me in a nice mixture of good times, when I think about the Festival.  I think my first Festival at the Rose Hall Great House was very special as it was the first time I had ever attended such a wonderful event. It rained and rained and rained…I ended up chasing my scotch by just holding my cup out and letting the rain drops in.

What do you think is so special about JJ&B Festival? I think the way it brings people together in such a wonderful and relaxing way. People see old friends and family who they haven’t seen for a long time….sometimes who is on the stage doesn’t even matter so much as the persons you see around you.

What is the one reason you would give to someone why they should definitely attend Jamaica Jazz and Blues? It would be that the experience at the festival is not something you want to hear persons tell you about, it’s something that you want to experience yourself.

If you were invited to perform covers of your favorite artiste on the Festival, what songs would we hear you singing? I think it just might be “Aint No Body, Loves Me Better”.  Chaka is my girl…

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If you are interested in being a sponsor of the Festival, please contact Marcia at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 876 702-0536.

More sponsorship details can be found on our website www.jamaicajazzandblues.com