I spent Sunday watching the Super Bowl while listening to a bunch of steelpan music programs over the internet. What became abundantly clear was that the Panorama was and has been for a while, ready for prime time - that is the music, the bands and their level of playing through the years.
What also became very clear as I listened to a senior Pan Trinbago official on Mr. Marcano's program is just how "not ready" Pan Trinbago is for the job. That official's presentation was embarrassing from my point of view..
This weekend David Sterns the commissioner of the NBA resigned after some 30 odd years. Everyone was giving him accolades for how much better the NBA's overall product is today from when he took over. Players have the potential to become millionaires after a couple years. And basketball team owners are now billionaires. A similar story can be said for the American football commissioner Roger Goodell where every team owner's overall worth (team included) also crosses the billion dollar mark. Can the same be said for Pan Trinbago's leadership? And by the way the NFL (Roger Goodell and crew) is a non-profit organization.
bugs
Replies
Bugs you are so right. Pantrinbago are not ready and will not ever be ready for Panorama. Firstly they have no plan. I am wrong they do have a plan. that plan is to milk every cent that they can muster out of the coffers of the Organization. Keith Diaz and his cronies has been robbing the Panmen blind, yet they still vote him in at election time, The Government spend the people's monies on Pantrinbago and should look into how Pantrinbago is run. Keith Diaz knows that no one in Sweet T&T ever goes to jail for Corruption so they doing whatever they want answering to no one. Bugs this shit must stop. Pantrinbago President is a parasite sucking the blood of the Pan people of T&T.
Bugs you going a bit to far with this. First we need to get rid of the crime, people are very afraid to wonder around. Long ago you could for example in Belmont, visit Pandemonium panyard, enjoy a walk to 'Heinekien' Pan Vibes, next Casablanca etc. Walk to the numerous mas camps in the area also, Ken Morris, Jason Sailors, Julien Bolden etc. People can't do that again, in their own neighborhood. Is shooting, and if you only look different, you will be targeted for no reason. And you know the locals can easily tell if you come from Miami or New York. The trini paper only report murders, if they start reporting stabbings, muggins, etc they can full at least one sheet in the papers. There is law and order in the United States of America. We had law and order in Trinidad and Tobago when the English man was in charge. You are absolutely correct, I experience each time I visit, panyards and fete, full with foreigners, mostly trinis. The best we can do here is discuss band arrangements. Crowd and supporters is out of the question.
Patrick, I'm talking about guaranteed money for the bands based on the value of their product without one Panorama ticket ever being sold. Right now, the NFL has a great problem. The product that they are delivering over the internet and HD TV is so good people don't need to come the stadiums anymore. Based on your own argument, the bands need to be more innovative and explore other means of revenue.
bugs.
OK agree, I see your perspective.
I still maintain that there is too much competition in the short Carnival season for the carnival spender's dollar.
Competition for time, money , and venues.
Competition between pan, soca, chutney, calypso and all the other Carnival stuff.
I think the combination of this competition, and the brevity of the Carnival season limits the potential of the Panorama.
Panorama would be better served at a time of year when there was little or no major competing cultural activities
(Can't resist my plug for a separate , stand alone, month long panorama festival, even though I know some of my friends hate the thought)
The Carnival spender only has so much money (and time) to spend.
And the Pan may not necessarily be the first choice, especially since the competition format allows for several opportunities to hear the steelbands playing the Panorama tune.
Glenroy no one wants to make the hard decisions. Bands should be eliminated from Panorama contention months before the event.
bugs
The Government is short changing the people by not having some of the most brilliant minds in the country looking after everything that has to do with pan.
Cecil that was one of things that was clear as I listened to the Pan Trinbago official on Mr. Macano's show. These guys are really not qualified for the job. He was unprepared to answer even the most simplistic of questions around the Panorama event.
bugs
Cecil, the people "short changing" themselves. As is quoted, "insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results". We have a Constitution, and what Trinbagonians need to know and understand, are their rights under the laws of Trinidad and Tobago. What panmen and panwomen need to know and understand is Pan Trinbago's "Constitution".
If there's one thing about "Americans", they fight for their constitutional rights. This is why NO government can prevent them from bearing arms, as if the Second Amendment is the most important to them. Not even President Obama could touch that one! There are NUMEROUS actions that people can take to end being "shortchanged". The gay and lesbian fought for what they believe are their right to "marriage", and some states had to pass it. Their lobby is so huge, that even President Obama had to advocate on their behalf. NEVER underestimate the political power of THE PEOPLE!
We, the Pan People, need to comprehend that we have power; and NO ONE is forcing ANYONE to be "shortchanged". So, I do not really buy into the "victim" mindset; where we point finger and blame Pan Trinbago, the government, or whomever, as we continue to be willing slaves of a messed-up system. The millisecond we reclaim our power, is the moment things will begin to change in a positive direction for the local steelband fraternity of Trinidad and Tobago. We have identified the problem(s); let's stop dwelling on them, and focus our attention and energies toward the solution(s). Pan Trinbago is POWERLESS without the thousands and thousands of panmen and panwomen, who continue to facilitate and enable those that exploit them. Ghost.
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