The phrase "losing the plot" seems a bit strong in the context of these issues, but I am open to a more colloquial improvement after you have read this post.
In the U.K, there was a huge appetite for steel bands, and I mean really huge, but nowadays it is much harder to get quality work and after speaking to many people and listening to some of the "horror stories" about gig experiences, it is not surprising that some clients just do not want to rebook the same band. On one hand, there are a handful of bands that have been going from strength to strength and are still leading the sector, but I have heard annoying horror stories about real unprofessional conduct on some of their gigs. We have also had 3 incidents to deal with, but that's over a span of 1200 bookings. We have only had one incident in the last 5 years and this was when a player winded himself up to a point where he could not focus and I had to go into my psychology bag for an antidote to pull him through and complete the gig.
Maybe this is nothing new and all other bands and cultures have their problems, but, I don't really care about them, I only care about our sector right now and the opportunities going forward.
One thing which bothers me is the lack of awareness that some players have and they fail to see how their conduct on the set is interpreted by a discerning client. Then, there is the presentation of some bands which is so tacky and inappropriate that they reduce the whole thing down to a kind of welfare level. But, the most annoying thing is the standard of music played by some pan players who also write on their promo material that they "Teach" and do workshops in schools. When you listen to these players, it's like WTF are you playing?? Maybe they teach deaf kids. However, I am beginning to understand what may be happening here. Some players are still in a time warp and think that a modern audience is going to get really excited as soon as they start playing Yellow Bird or another tune from that era. There was a guy busking outside a luxury department store which is frequented by very rich people and instead of bringing his A-Game, this guy looked like he had slept on the pavement outside the store and got his pan from a recycling junk yard. When he started performing, he sounded like there was someone calling the notes and then he would play, or like when you are reading from a sheet for the first time. There was no fluency, just a stuttering panman. This C*** is going out there and representing Pan and there are many more examples like him. It has become a total disgrace.
I recently saw one guy wearing a long sleeve leather jacket under a short sleeve tropical shirt to keep warm. It doesn't get more tacky than this! In our band, we keep warm by wearing a short sleeve V-neck sweater under the tropical shirt, so that it is not visible and on other gigs we have long sleeve white shirts and a silk waist coat. We take the presentation aspect very seriously and quite often, people are asking for a business card before we start playing. Just by looking at the way the whole operation is set up, they feel that they would like to hire us.
There are steel band associations, but they don't act like proper trade associations or governing bodies and I wish that I could offer a reward for somebody to huff the pan from any person who is a total embarrassment to Pan. As I see it, this sector will implode if players do not take it seriously and get their act together. Good, is not good enough, expectations are much higher nowadays. What's your view?
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Send these undisciplined players to watch the St. Margret's Steel Orchestra. They blew Carnegie Hall away last night. Total discipline and stage presence. All young people from 8 years old through their teens. The future of pan is in good hands.
Well said bigsands, you are not alone in your assessment...people need to take the art form seriously. Many fail to realize how important presentation is in being professional....I mean, how long does it take to polish a pan? When I was at the helm of the church band, I made sure the Pans were polished before each engagement and the players where in uniform, each Pan stand was chromed and professionally made, etc....The thing is, ....if you really love this thing, you have to be dedicated and committed 100%, not half way by giving folks a six for a nine experience.
Many people out there don't 'play' pan, there is little musicality, you can barely recognise
the tune being played. It's just 'bram-bradam'. In other words they 'beat' pan, not 'play' it.
Many thanks Bigsands for voicing you observation/concerns. It has been long coming, though, better late than never.
The number one reason people fail in life is because they listen to their friends, family and neighbours. THEY NEED TO LISTEN TO YOU. ... sagacity talks.
Thanks for listening. I needed to vent all of that.
BIGSANDS: This is a very INVITING topic but I have deliberately left it alone. I have been observing this phenomenon from a front-row seat for well over 40 years and it is a topic that needs scrutiny from both sides of the coin. So far, only one side has been lightly exposed on this thread. If you get some more splashes I might join the fray.
Love this article.