Promoter Saurel Celestin on how parties and venues sustain Haitian culture

NEW YORK — If you’ve been to a Haitian party around the city at any point in the last two decades, especially around the holidays, chances are you’ve probably come across Saurel Celestin. 

The party promoter has had a hand in some of the biggest events in the Haitian community, after all. However, unlike many promoters – who seem to forget sometimes that people come to see the artists, not them – few guests might guess Celestin’s critical role in securing the acts or venues for the konpa bal, concert or awards gala they may be attending. But there he is, usually in a dapper suit, sitting back while his observant eyes dart around the space or greet patrons. 

His consistent presence, Celestin says, is what has carried through the Haitian entertainment scene around New York City since 2004 — on top of making money, that is. An insurance broker by day, Celestin works around the clock to push forward Haitian nightlife and entertainment. Through saurelcelestin.com and his Instagram account, he provides bookings for not only artists, but DJs, caterers, comedians, venues, promotional packages and assorted events services. 

Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Celestin also has an eye out for ventures that support Haiti. Like so many Haitians who migrate to the U.S. as older youth, ultimately though, he hopes to help Mirebalais, his beloved hometown in central Haiti, through agriculture projects.

We spoke with Celestin over the past year by phone and once at Katra Lounge, home of the longstanding “Konpa Tuesday” weekly bal that he and a partner established in Manhattan. In that period, Saurel rebooted “Chic Fridays,” the same theme night that first put him on the entertainment scene decades ago, at 5th and Madison.

As the holiday season approaches – with bals like Celestin’s very own birthday extravaganza on the calendar – hear from the king of Haitian nightlife in New York how he keeps people dancing and having fun for so long. And if you see a well-dressed man with a baldie and sharp goatee out there, sitting back and taking in everything at a fèt, you’ll know exactly who he is. 

Saurel Celestin: I was raised in a family that does two things: Business and politics. On both my father’s side and my mother’s side, that’s what we do. My father does the same thing I’m doing now, in Mirebalais. He had different businesses – clubs, cars [taxis], coffee. I love business, and I wanted to do what my dad had been doing.

There were 20 of us [siblings], and I’m the youngest. 

THT: How’d you start promoting parties here?

Celestin: When I came here at age 21, I was living in Spring Valley. On Fridays, I took the bus down to Manhattan, where my father lived, and hung out with my friends. Kenny Demangles, who was in a djazz, Siwèl, and two friends who worked on Eighth Street, where Haitians went to buy nice clothes. 

I started throwing parties then, around 2004, at Brasserie Creole. We called the parties Chic Fridays. Since we loved dressing up and looking nice, we made wearing nice clothes part of the night. With me living in Spring Valley, my girlfriend at the time in Queens, and my friends in Brooklyn and Manhattan, we all brought our friends to Chic Fridays. From there, I took them to New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, all kinds of places. 

Then, since I always loved kermesse in Haiti, we added day parties at Classy Grill in Brooklyn. Later, on Mondays, I had a party close to Brookdale Hospital for all the Haitian doctors there. 

THT: How did you manage to make all these events work out?

Celestin: At the time, there was a lot I didn’t know – I couldn’t hold on to the Classy Grill party. I had people running things for me at the club and at another [clothing] business I had opened. I wasn’t there enough [for oversight], and it failed. I lost all my savings and I had to go back to work. So I said then, ‘I’m done.’ I hated doing bals and didn’t want to hear about it anymore.

THT: What’s been your most successful or biggest party?

Celestin: “Cocaina” near the Queens Center Mall. It’s an all-white party and draws like 1,500 people that we throw every year. We had Konpa Thursdays at Milk River in Brooklyn too. That club closed. Now, it’s a church. That’s usually what happens with these venues. 

THT: How did you go from that low point to doing “Konpa Tuesdays” at Katra, then?

Celestin: The thing is that people gravitate toward me. I love people, I show them respect, I treat them well. 

Konpa Tuesdays was Fred’s idea that started about 14 years ago. It started with a little group of his friends, going from club to club, with the same crowd usually. Fred had heard about me and people talking about Classy Grill, Chic Fridays. He reached out. I didn’t want to at first, but when I saw he was having issues with different venues, I brought him to Katra. 

THT: What’s been your most successful or biggest party yet?

Celestin: “Cocaina” near the Queens Center Mall. It’s an all-white party and draws like 1,500 people that we throw every year. We had Konpa Thursdays at Milk River too. That club closed. Now, it’s a church. That’s usually what happens with these venues.

Cultivating relationships 

THT: What do you think brings people out so much?

Celestin: People like the vibe, they come for the ambiance. But more than that, even when people say Haitians don’t support Haitians, it depends. I know a lot of people and to me, as long as you respect people, you give them good service, you treat them well, they’ll support you. 

So that means when people invite me to things, I have to be there. If they’re having a baby shower, funeral, barbecue, I have to be there. It’s my duty to give them that so they see me too. That’s why I go to like 50, 54 galas a year.  

THT: How do you manage so many events year round ?

Celestin: We have a cyclical schedule. After Labor Day, through Columbus Day and into New Year’s Eve, then Valentine’s Day. Weekly events vary—Chic Fridays might see 70–150 people. We also organize DJs, parties and music events for different age groups.

THT: How do you manage logistics for the events?

Celestin: I’m always on my phone. Even with two phones, I return calls, make bookings, and ensure everything runs smoothly. Consistency is key.

THT: So you’re working 7 days a week. How do you balance family life with your work?

Celestin: Well, I’m a bachelor. I have an apartment in Harlem, a house upstate New York. With my kids, we text a lot. When they need money, they call: “Hi Daddy, how you doing? How was work? Did you eat? Did you go to the gym?” Once I hear that, I know. 

THT: Do your kids embrace or relate to Haitian culture?

Celestin: My kids are the new generation. I hope they embrace it. They’re still figuring it out, but I can see their attachment to Haitian culture.

THT: At a time when some people even say konpa is dead, how do you see the Haitian community evolving in New York culturally?

Celestin: I don’t know how anyone can say konpa is dead when you have artists like Zafem making real money, Michael Brun filling out stadiums and so many big shows. 

We have so many clubs filling up with different kinds of people enjoying it. Each generation has its preference and they go to the clubs their age to enjoy our music. The younger generation loves rabòday, which is a kind of konpa. Older Haitians, people from my generation, like their hardcore konpa. It’s about respect, understanding the audience, and creating an organized, professional industry.

‘Business is like having a woman’

THT: How does all this tie into your interest in agriculture in Haiti?

Celestin: Well, I grew up in the countryside, my father had a lot of farms. Ever since I could remember, I remember seeing people fighting over water to irrigate their farms. I try to get money from here to invest in agriculture in Haiti. It’s not easy, but it’s my goal. I’ve had a lot of difficulties with that venture, so I’m looking at putting together a team to help me keep going. You know, I’m not one of those Haitians who think they have to do everything.

THT: What about organizations here you’re involved with? Like the parades you sponsor?

Celestin: The thing with Haitians is that sometimes, with a few organizations, I always see my name come up and I have no idea – what if I get arrested? So I have no problem helping our organizations, but don’t use me in a bad way without talking to me. I’m not stupid. 

Sometimes I see my name pop up on things where I have no idea what’s going on financially. I don’t need to have a title, I’ve already gotten where I need to be to make my money. So I’m correcting some of these Haitians who are shady to learn their lesson. That’s why I take people to court all the time. I don’t mind. We’re not in Haiti.

THT: You’re still in it now. So does that mean it’s profitable for you?

Celestin: Me – I’m all about money. If there’s no money in something, I’m not in it.

I’ve been in this business so long, with a weekly event, it doesn’t cost me much beyond making a flier. I start with 20%. If the bar sells over $5,000, I get 30%. So I get my $8,000 or $4,000 for the night, I’m good. On a typical night, people spend $100 easily with just two drinks. Single guys can spend even more—$80 or $100 per night easily. 

What cost me more is going from DJ music to parties with live bands. That killed me. So I’m sticking to parties like Cocaina, since I don’t lose money.

THT: What are some lessons you’ve learned in this business?

Celestin: We’re all human. We’re always going to have disagreements, but we have to have an understanding and we respect each other. At the end of the day, I’ve spent more time here in the U.S. than in Haiti, I see how businesses function, I understand corporate culture. Running a successful business means you have to have a lot of tolerance [patience]. I’ve built that up. 

So even if we don’t get along as friends, we can still do business together because I spent my money, I invested in something. It’s like having a woman. If women didn’t have patience and understanding, they wouldn’t stay with us men. If a man and woman are together for 15, 20 years, that man deserves a medal.

THT: Any advice for someone looking to enter this scene?

Celestin: Stay consistent, respect the culture, and be honest about your motivations. Money is important, but passion keeps it alive.

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