El Spot, a year dedicated to the recognition and support of the artists who take to the stage

Opera, jazz rocksalsa, flamenco, bossa novaboleros, are Cuban and stand up comedy… are just some of the genres that have sounded at full volume in the hall of El Spot (Plaza Prema, opposite Food Garden) in the first twelve months after opening the doors to the public.

“We wanted to be known as a site that offers a real cultural agenda and, as founders of the schools Art and Harmonythis year we focused a lot on music, because we differentiate ourselves by offering something really good, with musicians top”, commented Miguel Jara, who owns the property together with his wife Ana. In the morning, This space is one of Art and Harmony’s classrooms and turns into a bright stage at night when they have a show on.

Last week the singer María Gracia Viteri offered a show out of stock with themes disconnected from Shakira, and to This Friday the 30th, the public can listen to jazz with the voice of Jenny Villafuerte, accompanied by Lyzbeth Badaraco, Ricardo Miño, Luis Alberto Illescas and Carlos Bravo. Single entry: $25.

Several international artists have also stood on that stage in their first year. One of them was the Peruvian singer La Zorra Zapata, who offered a concert on March 11. as part of his first tour of Ecuador.

Another notable visitor was Salo Loyo, Luis Miguel’s pianist, who shared face-to-face with those who attended his masterclass, held in September 2022.

Other prominent names are Hispanic Pedro Pastor and Mexican comedian Álex Fernández, who has his own show on Netflix. “People like it when you present something different and at the same time we try to make it a family performance. We are also concerned, for that reason because we have firmly anchored those values,” Jara continues.

To achieve the desired level of quality in your shows, they have also had to invest in their production several times. That is, writing the original music, searching for the most suitable musicians for the genre and more. Only in this way do they dare to present their new show to the public with a carefully worked out proposal.

“This is not a place where you go to eat and the musician plays ‘the last wheel of the car’ in the background. But the space, the environment, the acoustics, everything is designed in such a way that most of the attention goes to the artists. The Spot is going to be seen show, because we want musicians to be appreciated and that dynamic motivates those who show up a lot”.

Another boost from El Spot towards the musicians who accompany them is the pay them for their show, without the high or low attendance at the venue affecting or affecting their final payment. “We decided to have a fixed budget and artist base,” he explains. Luis Illescas, cultural manager of El Spot. Before going on stage, the performers also have access to the drinks and food they need to prepare themselves. Likewise the sound equipment is already installed in the room for your comfort.

Another of his ambitions, continues Illescas, is that,Having a billboard with a varied cultural offering arouses the curiosity of the attendees and motivates them to learn more about the music or show they have seen. “For example, they come home happy about the show and start looking for more videos or reading about it.”

For the rest of 2023 and 2024, El Spot will continue to focus on music, without neglecting other cultural facets.