Judges must be more transparent / accountable for the public sake

Why in this 2014 we are still judging Steelpan like we did back in 1963?. Panorama is like the SUPER BOWL of steelpan,baseball have the WORLD SERIES, Basketball-NBA FINALS,Hockey-NHL STANLEY CUP,football-FIFA WORLD CUP and we have PANORAMA.

In all the above mention refereeing and Judging has revolutionise as technology did. Lets look at X FACTOR or AMERICA GOT TALENT after each performance the Judges make comments (good,bad or other) so the performer have some idea what he/she have to fix. Now in Panorama the judges give you a mark for each of the different criteria's and you have to now guess what that mean as an arranger and band manager/Leader.

Now the next big factor is transparency. As I do every year, I go from panyard to panyard visiting all the bands, checking out all the different changes that the bands are making musically, looking up some of my old friends, and enjoying the different social aspects leading up to Panorama. Believe it or not, on a nightly basis, I see our beloved judges hanging out and drinking and having a good time in the panyards as well. My observation is that the same judge/judges are in the same panyard on a nightly basis, frolicking and having a good time. Is it safe to say that this is the band that they are backing/supporting? A judge is supposed to be impartial, correct? When there's a big court case in any part of the world, once the jury is selected they are housed in a particular hotel, have no access to cell phones, no access to media to influence their judgement, so that when the verdict is read it is as pure and impartial as possible. In this twenty-first century age, why can't we adapt something similar? We should get judges that are not affiliated with any of the bands, whether they are local or international, and only then can we be saying the judges' result was impartial and transparent.

As I said on Carnival TV 9 of the 11 bands tie for FIRST in my mind because the 9 bands made changes and worked hard on presenting a finish product musically the other 3 just did not in my mind. Now I tie the 9 bands because the present judging situation is not perfect. Now could anybody tell us all what is the ONE point difference between Phase 2 and Trinidad All Stars???? because I will love to know. There are bands that did not make the finals in the single and medium pan that I taught could have made it,please remember that bands have sponsors that spend big money on what is believe to be the best arranger,Best uniform,Best motivational speaker,New Pans and so on and band leaders have to justify why the sponsor should spend that money again next year and what they will do different next year to get a better result so that the sponsor name will be called and its a WIN WIN situation.

I will like to take this time to congratulate the winning Band Phase 2 and all the other bands and players that took part in PANORAMA 2014 WELL DONE, and a BIG congrats go out to pantrinbago for putting on a great show.

Salmon Cupid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khA6-sd6ONs&list=UUSZwxi2wUXHUnQxIlFONkGA&feature=c4-overview

I am always reluctant to participate in these discussions and,in particular with respect to "the judges' decisions".
I feel compelled however to join in this one since,over the years,requests have been made to Pan Trinbago to let ALL Bands have a copy of the Master Score Sheet along with their respective score sheets.
If they were to so do,Bands would/ might feel more comfortable about TRANSPARENCY/ OBJECTIVITY.This is ALL we need and this is the least that can be done.
The Executive of Pan Trinbago and its Officials,are affiliated to Bands.THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE MASTER SCORES.The other Bands do not.THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT.
We expect Judges to be impartial and objective and most,not all,are.
I differ to the view that some judges are frolicking etc in certain panyards as I have never seen nor heard of that.
With respect to local/ foreign judges,it really does not matter since it is a musical competition and accomplished musicologists would be in a position to judge music regardless of the genre.FOREIGN JUDGES ARE BROUGHT IN FOR THE STEELBAND MUSIC FESTIVAL.And the also judge the Calypso element of that competition.We should not knock Andy Narell: his music is always very good.His Arrangements may be different but always good.It may be that some judges are not adequately qualified to judge the music of our Arrangers,a lot of whom are exceedingly good musicians and more accomplished than some of the people who are judging their music.
Some years ago,on suggestion and prompting,Pan Trinbago appointed " Adjudication Committee"whose function was to select the panel and make ALL arrangements with respect to the judges.This was stopped for whatever reason.It was a step in the right direction so that the Executive and Officials of the Organisation cannot be accused being partial to certain judges.The system now prevailing is that I hire and pay you,feed you etc and then you judge the Band to which I am affiliated.
I trust that we would be able to lift ourselves fitting to the demands of the Respective Offices we hold.
God Bless Us All.

Replies

Michael David Germain March 5, 2014 at 9:34pm

As I said earlier on this site, Panorama is still a music competition. What is so hard in accepting three of the seven or eight judges being non Trinbagonians, but accredited adjudicators? I submit that anyone of the local judges will have biases, however hard they may want to be impartial. As I put forward then, there are any number of West Indian musicians of international repute who would be impartial judges of the music and their comments may serve the whole pan movement in moving forward to greater transparency! Mike G.
- BEDE LOPEZ > Michael David Germain March 5, 2014 at 10:07pm
  
  Michael, If we have three non Trinbagonian accredited Adjudicators will all the Bands be able to give the Judges Music Scores of the Tune that they are playing?
  - VALENTINE YOUNG > BEDE LOPEZ March 5, 2014 at 10:38pm
    
    Bede My Bro. We don't want any Foreign Judges to Judge our Panorama. For Fifty (53) Three Years we have our Panorama, why should a Non- Trinbagonian come to Judge our Panorama. It's like Bringing Andy Narel to Arrange a Panorama Piece. It's a Trini thing they won't understand The only Bands that Don't Say that they were Robbed is the Winning Band. The Judges Pay attention and Listen while we are distracted and don't Pay as Much attention as they Do.
    - Michael David Germain > VALENTINE YOUNG March 5, 2014 at 11:15pm
      
      Pan belongs to the world now. We have to stop being so defensive about it. The steel pan is here to stay and we do not need to so protective of it. Foreign judges could come from any where in the world, but I suggest we start with some Caribbean judges who would have more than a passing acquaintance with the whole concept of Panorama and Pan in general. And Bede, I do believe that we are at the stage where each song is scored, and even some arrangements are scored. Mike G.
Ainsworth Mohammed March 5, 2014 at 5:40am

I am always reluctant to participate in these discussions and,in particular with respect to "the judges' decisions".
I feel compelled however to join in this one since,over the years,requests have been made to Pan Trinbago to let ALL Bands have a copy of the Master Score Sheet along with their respective score sheets.
If they were to so do,Bands would/ might feel more comfortable about TRANSPARENCY/ OBJECTIVITY.This is ALL we need and this is the least that can be done.
The Executive of Pan Trinbago and its Officials,are affiliated to Bands.THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE MASTER SCORES.The other Bands do not.THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT.
We expect Judges to be impartial and objective and most,not all,are.
I differ to the view that some judges are frolicking etc in certain panyards as I have never seen nor heard of that.
With respect to local/ foreign judges,it really does not matter since it is a musical competition and accomplished musicologists would be in a position to judge music regardless of the genre.FOREIGN JUDGES ARE BROUGHT IN FOR THE STEELBAND MUSIC FESTIVAL.And the also judge the Calypso element of that competition.We should not knock Andy Narell: his music is always very good.His Arrangements may be different but always good.It may be that some judges are not adequately qualified to judge the music of our Arrangers,a lot of whom are exceedingly good musicians and more accomplished than some of the people who are judging their music.
Some years ago,on suggestion and prompting,Pan Trinbago appointed " Adjudication Committee"whose function was to select the panel and make ALL arrangements with respect to the judges.This was stopped for whatever reason.It was a step in the right direction so that the Executive and Officials of the Organisation cannot be accused being partial to certain judges.The system now prevailing is that I hire and pay you,feed you etc and then you judge the Band to which I am affiliated.
I trust that we would be able to lift ourselves fitting to the demands of the Respective Offices we hold.
God Bless Us All.
- Salmon Cupid > Ainsworth Mohammed March 5, 2014 at 6:33pm
  
  Congrats on Exodus performance I had them tie for first with 8 others. Now most people in Pan have a favourite band that they back or like and if our judges are part of the most people then you will not get an impartial verdict. Now I agree with you Andy have good music but he does not follow the genre call "T&T PANORAMA".(lol lol lol Panorama is a genre)
  
  BTW I have seen our beloved judges hanging out and drinking and having a good time in panyards several times I even seen some sporting jersey .... that I think is unacceptable but say wa .. thats just me.
- Bugs > Ainsworth Mohammed March 5, 2014 at 10:28am
  
  Mr. Mohammed I agree totally with your post. However, I have one burning question for you. Many outstanding leaders like yourself of the steelbands of Trinidad and Tobago have voiced time and time again dissatisfaction with many issues surrounding Pan Trinbago's behavior. How is it possible, if Pan Trinbago represents the bands management that they do not have to respond your concerns?
  
  bugs
garvin adams March 4, 2014 at 9:33pm

Every thing You call is JUDGE, PLAYOFF you win music don't have
playoff, we all go to T n T for PANORAMA the country make money
GO AWAY LOOK AT THE nba;
VALENTINE YOUNG March 4, 2014 at 1:25pm

Salmon My. Bro. We have an unique Culture that most people of the World have Copied. Why should we follow other Formats like Super Bowl - World Series - NBA Finals or even World Cup. Most of the things mentioned are affiliated to Sports. Panorama is a Cultural event that the Whole enjoys. We cannot treat it like those Sporting events aforementioned. That why I am so totally against this Foolish gesture by some People who think that We Must Bring in Foreign Judges to Judge our Pan Culture. They won't understand, hence the Reason that Andy Narell cannot adjust to our Music. If something is to be Changed it Must be Changed by us. We have Sixty (63) Years of Experience.
winston March 4, 2014 at 1:07pm

Mr. Salmon , in a democratic society everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. I agree with u partially, as some judging are seen as unfair and biased.There is no comparison to your above mentioned sports as these are based on a process of elimination down to two teams in a final competition. There are no 2nd or 3rd.However I will agree with the other comment above that it will require new tech to use voting with the public and combined judges points as American Idol ...etc .TNT need the funds for such a venture.The Bands sometimes have to wait to be compensated. Also the public are qualified to know who is the best.take care.winston

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