Pan is something that in most countries is open to all no matter what race you are.
Most people meet friends and form a life time bond with many other players all over the world from traveling to play with other bands, in Trinidad alone you will see people from all over the world making the journey every year to get that experience and also New York about ten players from my band played with one of the local bands and we were accepted with open arms. One country I always wanted to go and experience the pan is Grenada when I was told that the pan committee only allows eight foreign players and they all have to play in eight different sections I said to my self that’s crazy they can go to any other country and play as they feel but we cant come to their country and play, I did a little bit of research and found out the person in charge that made the rules was told his name is Peck Edwards of New dimension but I would like to ask him a few questions why is it you want to be able to go to any country you want and play but you want to stop others from coming to your country and play?
Do you realize the amount of revenue you are losing bands would pay people to host the players, people to cook for them, even local taxi man will get a job to get them to and from the yard also people who have never been to the island will get a chance to come and spend money.
I strong opinion is that you may have one the biggest bands in the country and is just afraid of other bands getting a little bit of size to give you a run for your money.
If I had a band down there I would boycott the panorama or even form a new committee and let us have our owns. You fail to see that you are not doing the pan movement any good in your country just keeping the players and local arrangers from getting some exposure.
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In the same way that some countries have rules regarding being able to only lease land (not purchase it) if you are of foreign extract, the rationale behind the rule is that in order to be protectionist you have to put some regulation in place. Imagine a scenario where people are playing all during the year and foreigners come and both change the flavor and deprive long standing players of an instrument. How does one (over a long period of time) encourage the youth to stick with it and continue to invest the time? It's a small place, with room and accommodation for a few outsiders, but not many. There's nothing wrong with protecting what you have. To a certain extent we people have been guilty of erring on the other side of this argument too much.
Hello Dane:
You write: " they can go to any other country and play as they feel but we can't come to their country and play"
Please explain who are the "we" and who are the "they"? I'm a bit confused.
Peter
Are you aware Pan Trinbago has a similar rule ???. Well here goes. A foreigner must pay Pan Trinbago $600.00 to play in the Panorama this fee is collected by the band's committee. and forwarded to Pan Trinbago. The person from foreign is paid $200.00. $800.00 -$600.00 for two months of daily rehersals which can run into the early morning hours.
There is another side to that coin and its very relevant. Forget the $$$ thats NOT what its about. Panorama is a competition. Its pits 1 band against another for their NATIONAL honours. If 1 band can import endless foreign players who might be a cut above the local average in skill and experience, couldnt that alone jaundice the outcome of the local panorama??? In other words a rag tag band could win the Panorama with an addition of good quality outside players. Then the question becomes WHY have a Panorama??? I have played in several places (Antigua Halcyon, St Vincent Starlift (nearly 40 years)and several bands here in NY) and am NOT against players moving around but like I said there is another side to THAT coin. Last year in ST Vincent the panorama champs had to import foreign players (15) from Bucooneers (T&T) in order to win the panorama. They have never beaten SVG Starlift before and probably cant ever but the judges decision is always final. So think about the other side of the coin. ciao paddy corea
A M E N, brother. That's what I am talking about. And, thanks for bringing the SVG story to WST.
HELLO--GRENADA--WAKE UP--AND DONT BE AN IDIOT--"BANDIT"
Folks, let's step back and take a deep breath. GRENADA cannot be compared with TRINIDAD which is the mecca of steelband and calypso with NEW YORK not far behind. What I see is a small market with about eight (8) good steelbands and bandleaders trying to protect their turf. A person like "Peck" is building from the ground up with lots of local kids, whereas the smaller bands are loading up with experienced foreign players. Case in point: look at the band that won last year. Your standard of play does not improve by leaps and bounds in one year. Let the steelband movement move on with fair and balanced rules and regulations. Go "Peck".
Foreign Pannists Panorama Registration
I am not trying to revolt against anything but I would like to know, if they can go to other countries and play with any band why is it that they would like to keep foreign players from coming to get an experience from them.
It come like you being born in Trinidad and you come to New York to play with a band and they tell you hey you cant play cause you are not from NY.
sounds like they're not keeping foreign players from coming to get an experience; just keeping them from doing so en masse. nothing wrong with that in my book.
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