Carnival’s Steelband Panorama Competition in Doubt
By: Tony Best - NY's Carib News
Less than six weeks before the colorful West Indian carnival is put on full display before more than a million spectators in Brooklyn, serious doubts have arisen about the much anticipated pulsating sounds of Caribbean steelbands being heard during the annual Panorama competition.
Doubts have surfaced after a corporate sponsor opted to withdraw an offer of at least $120,000 it intended to spend to finance on a new Panorama competition in Coney Island because of vociferous complaints from some sections of the Caribbean community.
“Panorama is held every year as an important part of carnival but so far this year we haven’t seen or heard anything from the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, the usual promoter of the event to stage it,” said Anthony “Ike” Hinds, head of the National Alliance of Steelbands, an umbrella group of steelbands in the City. “What has happened is that some unfortunate statements were made by people outside of the planning group and who are opposed to any Panorama being organized by anyone other than the West Indian American-Day Carnival Association, WIADCA.
Replies
How can you expect crabs to get along with each other? They all recognize that they are all clawing and scratching each other for the same thing. It's a shame that after all these years being involved in pan in NYC I have not seen the leadership of the pan community move beyond their usual myopic, petty, clannish and conservative orientation. With respect to the relationship between the steelbands and WIADCA, why remain loyal to someone or something that does not have your best interest at heart? There's too much emphasis on Panorama (rarely do bands breakeven, let alone gain a surplus from having entered the competition) and little focus on other critical areas in need of development such as equipping young panists with the skills and resources necessary to become marketable musicians; mobilising the few veteran tuners based in NYC to teach the youth the science of manufacturing and tuning the instruments, and assisting steelbands struggling to locate and retain decent and affordable rehearsal space. We don't even have/own a central community centre that could provide panists some of the services and resources they need.
Hello Nutones,
We are on the same side; please call me at (954) 380-4590.
Thanks,
Ian
Hey Mr. Franklin:
I'm now seeing your reply. I'll give you a ring over the weekend. I know your brother Clement and his son Odie. Clement and I go way back when I was a little youngster (13 years old) and had joined Metro in 1987 to learn to play pan. I was at the time attracted to the tenor/soprano pan but was moved to the double guitar pan. Always admired Clement's smooth and soft touch and made a conscious effort throughout my years playing pan to always play that way. My name is Collins Jackman, a relative of the tuner James "Bassman" Jackman. My number is 718-551-5437.
Peace,
Collins
Will there be a Labour Day Parade on Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, N.Y in 2012. If the answer is yes, then, what is the problem. No! no!, I am not stating no Panorama no Labour Day. I will hope that the Caribbean Community have some political clout in this issue. Panorama was not the main force for the birth of Labour Day. However, if Panorama and I state "IF", because (crowds and ticket sales are two different entities) is the most attended event at the Brooklyn Museum, why can't this phenomenon stand on its own legs.
Panorama, is not only a Pan Competition, because the months of July & August is like a day and night camps at the respective panyards for many children of the areas. If I can get sponsors for a show with "Mr. and Miss Bigs" from Trinidad, and you know that Mr. & Miss Bigs is monies up front, why can't I not get sponsors for a lower cost event that is panorama.
I know that the pan diaspora is to be blamed for 99% the negative pan situations, but that's another story.
"Can't we all get along"