Clarke: Pan in Trinidad is at a standstill

[Pan Times]

Clarke: Pan in Trinidad is at a standstill
Panist Don Clarke performing at a weddingTrinidad & Tobago, W.I.- Atlanta-based panist Don Clarke believes that, sad to say, pan in his native Trinidad and Tobago “is neither going nor coming.” Clarke was being interviewed by Pan Diaspora Visionary, Hollis Clifton on WACK radio 90.1 FM.

Clarke shares some of his experiences of his journey through the years with the steelpan art form at home and abroad. Additionally, he articulates his own viewpoints as to what he perceives as a stagnation regarding the instrument in the country of its birth, while people in countries around the world appear keen to learn more about this unique instrument.

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[John Henry]

How can pan in Trinidad grow when we accept this bastardization - see attached - of the "national" instrument right here in T&T?

[Don Clarke]

I would like to thank all you who have contributed with their input concerning my interview with Mr. Hollis Clifton. As we agree to disagree on some issues we become more informed as lovers of this great art form " The Steel Pan ".

Thank you,
Don Clarke

[apur zoser]

don clarke is a very good friend of mine for many years, he shoots from the hip. and you know where you stand with him at all times. he is a very funny guy, always make you crack-up with laughter, good brother. he has improved tremendously over the years with his arranging and playing ability on the pans. and willing to share with others his wealth of wisdom. i wish him all the best for the coming years, and the many successes that is coming his way. good soul.... this fella has alot of nice music to share, LISTEN FOR IT......

[reynold greg andalcio]

i agree with all the comments that Don Clarke has mentioned, since he saw what was happening, and made it through all the red tape that goes on with pan in the island of TNT. if all the pan leaders , arrangers, tuners, and manufacturers, come together as a whole body, and voice their opinion to the government, there should be a shake up.
I have a question on the dialogue , what is the radio show called , and i do not understand these words. Pwefen.?

[Engineer Jack]

Reynold, for an explanation of Pwefen see http://www.trinizagada.com/2009/12/in-yuh-pwefen.html.

BTW, Don has a website with some video and samples of his latest CD. http://donclarkesteelpan.com. I think his tone is beautifully sweet and one of a kind.

Don also has a forum where you can download CD quality music (once you register): http://donclarke.50.forumer.com/. At the forum you can read about his recording and tuning techniques which are quite unique.

[Don Clarke]

Thank you Mr. Hollis Clifton and WST for airing my concerns about the pan movement in T&T. I would like to correct
misquotations, I said the cost for a tenor pan in the USA runs as high as $4000.00 and not $400.00 as was stated, check
out Pan Yard Inc. Patrick Arnold and I along with a few others started one of the first Steel Bands in Tobago. A Touch of
Steel played in the 1996 Olympic Games and not in 1990 as was stated, just for the record.

Thanks ,

Don Clarke

[momo]

Mr Clark you said that pan in Trinidad is neither coming or going . but yet still you link your self with some of the people who are to blame for that in some way?? $4000.00 dollars US??? that like $25000.00 TT me and a lot of people think that that is a lot of money to pay for a pan not that we dont think it is not worth it but how many Trinidadians or west indians can afford that price . when most of people who play the pan play it for fun and not to make money off of it . it the same story with clothes food cars houses ect ect the price is high how many people can afford them ??? i would likeyou to explain to me what you mean bye coming nor going??? is it playing . because over the years i have seen a lot of improvement in pan in T&T the players the bands

[Don Clarke]

Thank you for your questions.

"Mr Clark you said that pan in Trinidad is neither coming or going . but yet still you link your self with some of the people who are to blame for that in some way??"

Should I disassociate myself with people because I disagree with them? They have been my friends for a lifetime. Remember, this is my view on the subject that was discussed, and has nothing to do with my personal relationships.

"$4000.00 dollars US??? that like $25000.00 TT me and a lot of people think that that is a lot of money to pay for a pan not that we dont think it is not worth it but how many Trinidadians or west indians can afford that price . when most of people who play the pan play it for fun and not to make money off of it . it the same story with clothes food cars houses ect ect the price is high how many people can afford them ???"

I don't make or sell pans, and I don't set the price for them. I was merely reporting what a professional quality pan sells for. Again, please check Panyard, Inc. Their best quality chromed tenor pans sell for $4,995 US. See http://www.panyard.com/pans/pans.php?view=LEADS.

"i would likeyou to explain to me what you mean bye coming nor going??? is it playing . because over the years i have seen a lot of improvement in pan in T&T the players the bands."

My article never got into a discussion regarding the playing ability of any pan player or players in Trinidad. What do I mean by neither coming nor going? Perhaps you cannot understand what I meant when I said "being at a standstill". The Trinidad government has shown no serious involvement in promoting this art form, that was my main concern. Please help me out with what you consider as an improvement to said subject. I'm interested in the opinion of any and all pan lovers.

Don Clarke

[momo]

Mr Clark I want to thank you for taking the time to explain yourself you are right about the goverment of T&T but it it also people like you and me who have to take the initiative to make things happen because leaving it up to the goverment it not the way to go. no you should not disassiocate you self with people because you dont agree with them i deal with that every day but as long as they no where you stand .we keep talking about pan yard they are not only making money off of pan alone and who is to say that they are making that great amount of money off of pan ???? because they are still in buisness you take a look a how pan yard is set up and there are a lot of different things they sell other than pan???? there was pan factory set up in T&T that sell some of the same things pan yard sell but the prices are not as high a couple of basketball players took the initiative to make they own sneakers and keep it at a reasonable price that most people can afford but people still go for the name brands ??? what if some of those same pan tuners CUPPY BROWN MAPPO BERTIE BIRCH start asking for those prices that pan yard wants how many of us could afford it ??? in this life all we can do is what we can

[GospelPan]

There is something else that folks need to take note of, and that is the "reason" why Panyard charge what they do. I know for a fact that they spend approximately $1,000.00 US on chroming alone and that they do not purchase industrial steel drums to make pans; instead they purchase sheets of steel and they build them from scratch. Of course, this means buying the materials is more expensive and building a pan from scratch takes much longer as well. So we can't just look and say, "Panyard charge $4,995.00 US, so TnT builders should too" or that TnT pan builders are missing the mark in some way. There is a big difference in how Panyard manufacture their pans.