This week on the program “With Eylül Aşkın,” presented by Eylül Aşkın on Turkey News Portal, we hosted artist general coordinator Didem Tüzel.
A Circassian Born in Kayseri!
Born and raised in Kayseri but originally of Circassian descent, Didem Tüzel discovered her interest in art at a young age, stating, “Circassians have always had a close relationship with art.” She mentioned that she danced for a period but later found music more compelling.
“My first artist was Mabel Matiz.”
Saying that “solving backstage crises and coordinating the backstage made me happier than being on stage,” Didem Tüzel, who stepped into the profession of artist general coordinator 13 years ago, today boasts names like Demir Demirkan, Fatma Turgut, Seda Sayan, Ahmet Özhan, Gülben Ergen, Emel Sayın, Ajda Pekkan, and Emrah on her CV. She explained that “in our job, before moving on to the artists, it is necessary to get to know the venues first,” revealing that she worked as a venue staff member for four years before her first artist, Mabel Matiz.
“When I started my own company, business grew rapidly.”
Emphasizing that there is no school or specific formula for artist coordination, Didem Tüzel mentioned that she was determined to excel in the industry because she found it challenging to explain her work to her family. Ultimately, she started her own company, and after doing so, her business grew rapidly.
“They confuse management with making phone calls and flying in business class.”
Addressing the difference between general artist coordination and management, Didem Tüzel expressed her frustration that artist management is still often mistaken for the responsibilities of a booking agent. She spoke harshly on the matter.
Waiting for Just One Name in Turkey!
Having worked with Ajda Pekkan and adding the reference of working with the superstar to her CV, the successful coordinator Didem Tüzel mentioned that there is only one name left in Turkey she wants to work with but hasn’t yet. During the interview, Didem Tüzel did not mention any names, sparking curiosity about whether she was referring to megastar Tarkan with this statement.
