We are producing painst by the dozens and chances of anyone of them making a living for themselves playing pan is almost zero, what's being done for the next generation of panist?
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As I listen to 9 year old Daniel Brown play I could not help but wonder what being a panist would do for him 10-12 years down the road, would it be the same old same old or a future with a lot of opportunities?
The reality is this: The future of the steelbands and the Steelband Movement DEPEND on the few WST menbers who consistently post their ideas and comments. I realize that many misconstrue my "direct approach" as being ego-based. However, it one took the time to read my posts, INCLUDING the "Blueprint".one would see that is far from the truth. I am a product of my parents, and BOTH of them were compassionate about the plights of those less fortunate. My dad sacrificed his time and energy WITHOUT COMPENSATION, during his lengthy and successful career as leader of (what once was) a "union" that represented ALL "steelbandsmen". He did not take sides, or show favour, when it came to politics and/pr "celebrity". He represented EVERY STEELBAND; from the "big band" to "unknown steelband, from North, to South, to East, to West, and to Tobago! Although employed as a "Cultural Advisor to the Prime Minister", he did not care if your band members were made up or PNM party loyalists, or eventually became political puppets of "De Doc".
So, in keeping with the "Goddard Legacy", I shared my thoughts on what is needed in order to preserve (our) "pan culture".I posted it with the open invitation to this WST membership to add their "ideas". Many attempt to discredit me and defame my character, but it DOES NOT deter me, because, I am reminded that after ALL my dad did for the steelbands and the Steelband Movement, he was still heckled on the streets of Port of Spain, just two days before he (what you all consider as) died. My father, George "Sonny" Goddard will NEVER die, for his SPIRIT lives on, and his LEGACY is recorded for posterity. The very people he slaved for, would call him "Smart Man Goddard", so I EXPECT the "Ghost" (of George "Sonny" Goddard) to receive the same lack of appreciation for service to country.
As time goes by, like George "Sonny" Goddard, his "Ghost" will be proven to be one of the most progressive minds in the steelbands and "pan fraternity". I have posted my credentials, not for bragging rights, but because I KNOW that in Trinidad and Tobago's "mauvaise langue" society, people are more apt to discredit you, than to endorse you. EVERYONE claims that they want the "best for pan", but then ignore ideas based on the "messenger". We seem to think that celebrity status equates to intellectual level, and ONLY certain people have the right to speak, especially when doing so with "authority". I have always stated that I am not here for "friends"; I am here to help save our culture, I work with many people I do not like, and if you continue to ignore the ideas set forth in the "Blueprint", you are hurting those who need our help, more than you are doing ANYTHING to me. I DO NOT take ANY of you personally this is "ALL BUSINESS", (Not seeking love.) Those of you who do take me personally, or "toting feelings", that's your center you are disrupting, and not mine. I WILL continue to do what I do, the EXACT way I do it. This WST website, after all, is NOTHING MORE, than a blog, and :blogs" are places where people are free to express themselves, as much or as little as they choose. The reader has the choice to read as much or as little as they choose. (Isn't FREEDOM great!) Anyway, back to work...
Ghost.Who KNOWS It Is Time To Come Together And Work Towards The Common (Implied) Goal! (Enough "ideas" falling in the woods, for no one to hear them.)
What does Joshau Jabari Bedeau, Keisha and Khari Codrington have to look foward too other than bragging rights for a year?
I don't know the Codrington Family, but I'm willing to bet that there is star power there... the potential to elevate pan.
Ghost, I want to validate part of what you say... a pan is expensive. I cannot presently afford to replace my double second or buy any variety of electronic steelpan. So it is hard for me to imagine how a kid in any financially poor but culturally rich neighbourhoods in POS can get chances to play for pay. I can see opportunities going to the "elite" due to expense. More should be done to keep pan vital in the Afro-Trinbagonian communities, and promote prosperity.
Corey, I've seen videos of the CodringtonFamily and they are awesome, they surely have "STAR" power but who is going to make them Stars? they are a perfect example of what happens in the Mecca, I would guess they learnt pan in school and developed into awesome pan people, now they have finished nothing. What they need is system where-by they can be taken to the next level but there is no such thing in the Mecca.
If you are talking about local prosperity… about ways for the "dozens" to make a life, as local players, tuners, promoters… TnT has to make sure there are shows to play. Not big shows, but enough to show pan is alive in their neighbourhoods.
If you are talking about global prosperity… Maybe a revue, like what Roy Cape, Byron Lee and others have done to promote calypsonians? But I think we have to team up with people in the business of promoting MUSIC… we seem to lack expertise and proficiency in promoting PAN at this level. I bet that a Codrington will be among the leaders to the summit.
I hope one someone can find a way up.
Corey, one of the reasons why the government may have to make the difference in promoting the art form is because, for whatever reason, the ones with the business and financial resources to make the kind of investment needed have been reluctant to do so.
Such an investment may take time to bear fruition, and businessmen prefer a sure thing.
Someone on this forum said that the steelbands need stars.
Well I think that is the narrow view.
Bob Marley's success may have remained in the Caribbean had there not been an entrepreneur like Chris Blackwell to invest in The Wailers and promote them to the world.
We already have stars.
What we may need are entrepreneurs willing to invest in them and promote them.
Glenroy: WHEN PEOPLE RECOGNIZE TALENT THEY INVEST IN IT!!! It is more complex than that, Jackie Robinson was not the BEST PLAYER in the "Negro League" -- talent and STARDOM are two different animals.
Every musical genre needs and thrives on stars!!!
You know... there is a company in NYC: Kickstarter.com, which people use to solicit funding for projects, similar to seeking venture capital investors for business start-ups.
What if there was a project that was designed to assemble an all-star show of TnT soloists for a concert tour and recording? Say a half dozen soloists, a house-band, a tuner, etc. Coach the rising stars in stage presentation so that if they are playing at a theatre in Miami, NYC, Toronto, London, San Francisco, Chicago, Paris, Amsterdam, Tokyo, etc, they will have learned how to engage the audience? What if the frontman / MC was one of our current leaders, such as Narell or Greenidge that has global acclaim? I bet people would come to that show... the best overall steelpan performers from the birthplace of pan? All seasoned for such a show? Say a 2-hour show where each of the soloists are featured for 8-ten minutes, brought together in a finale?
One wouldn't need to turn to the government or Pan Trinbago to raise the money to support a small tour. Or to plan it. Or to promote it. Certainly, if we built something big like that, the government and Pan Trinbago would probably want to support it, and attach themselves to the success of it... be associated with the global emergence of this stellar cast.
But someone with vision and experience would have to lead and sell it to potential investors using a tool like Kickstarter.
So Cecil... my guess is that musicians are doing what they can... striving for perfection of their art, learning about social media. Our abilities and experience are limited in achieving what you see. BUT we are talking about it, which was the whole point, yes?
For me, in Canada, there are advantages and disadvantages relative to pursuing the same goals in TnT. I hope that some of my ideas open up possibilities for pannists all over... especially in TnT.
Corey,
You have excellent ideas my brother, it's people like you that needed the move the art-form foward. You are correct getting people talking is the first phase.
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