Stuart Winer is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel.
Israeli singer Eyal Golan (Nati Shohat/Flash90)
With Israel’s Independence Day coming up next month, municipalities are finding that the tradition of booking a celebrity performer is becoming increasingly costly and requires more of a budget than can be found in the loose change jar.
Israeli pop singer and actress Rita, February 03, 2010. (photo credit: Miriam Alster/FLASH90)
According to a report on Channel 2 news Sunday, Israeli artists are charging top dollar to appear at shows on April 15, when the country celebrates 65 years since the establishment of the State of Israel.
Big names such as singer Rita, who recently rocked the UN, are demanding NIS 100,000 ($26,900) to perform, while more modest celebrities such as Meir Edri can be booked for NIS 55,000 ($14,795). Veteran singer Riki Gal is asking NIS 45,000 ($12,105), and Harel Moyal is available for NIS 38,000 ($10,200).
Leading Mizrahi music singer and song writer Dudu Aharon performs to the tune of NIS 110,000 ($29,600), but is already fully booked till the early hours of the morning.
Dudu Aharon, April 24, 2012. (photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)
However, top of the Channel 2 list was Israel star Eyal Golan, who can be hired at a rate of NIS 250,000 ($67,250) for a fleeting 40-minute performance.
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According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the average Israeli monthly income is around NIS 9,000 ($2,400).
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