A musician has promised concertgoers “a good time or your money back” on his first tour.
Acton-based singer-songwriter Juan Zelada, 30, made the unprecedented pledge ahead of his 26 date UK tour, which starts later this month.
He explained: “Shops guarantee stuff you buy, people send back food in restaurants if it’s not good. Why shouldn’t they be able to get their money back if they feel my show wasn’t good enough?”
He admits the money-back guarantee is a risk, but believes most gig-goers will enjoy the experience.
“We are confident people won’t be queuing up to get refunds,” he said. “When people come to our gigs they generally have a good time. We are coming from a humble place and we just want people to come along and enjoy themselves.
“I love the feeling of going to a gig anywhere in London and coming out after having a great time. That’s what we’re guaranteeing people.”
Tour organisers say anyone with a “valid reason” why they did not enjoy the show can simply fill in an online form to get their money back.
“This way they have nothing to lose,” Zelada added. “I love new people coming to my shows and this is a great way to encourage them.”
He says his career took off while he was playing the piano at a now-closed restaurant called Café Fish in Rupert Street, off Shaftesbury Avenue.
“I played there in exchange for some fish and chips and a few bob,” he said. “Instead of being the typical piano player in the background I was always getting people involved.
“The restaurant manager Adam Low wanted to make the jump into the music industry and we took that gamble together about three years ago.”
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His first recordings were paid for with help from friends and discounted rates from studios and two singles were chosen as records of the week by BBC Radio 2, which he says “kick-started” interest from record labels.
Zelada, who is primarily a singer and pianist but also plays the guitar, is now signed to Paul Simon’s Decca label and was part of the support band on Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black tour.
The Good Times Tour, featuring Zelada and his band, starts in Northampton on March 28 and ends in Brighton on April 29, with a London stop at the Bush Hall in Shepherd’s Bush on March 30.
Visit Juan Zelada's Facebook page for more information.
