Ok my friends , I would like to take a moment for clarification, and to share my thoughts about panorama as it relates to Steelband progress.
I love panorama , have loved it from the beginning , and even participated as a player in the early years.
But over my lifetime , I've seen panorama change from one of the things we did at carnival , to just about the only thing we do at carnival.
I happen to think that as musicians , pan people should be able , if given the opportunity , to devise ways of exploiting the carnival, for fun and profit.
This does not necessarily mean , as some think , a return to pushing pans on the streets , as we did in the sixties , though some may choose to do so.
By exploiting the carnival , I mean a total effort ; including the learning of contemporary party tunes , and trying such ideas as all inclusive Steelband parties on the road , setting up carnival theatres in panyards where , instead of one tune being practiced all night , fans may enjoy more of a party atmosphere , where food, band articles etc. could be sold.
I'm sure today's pan people could come up with even more exciting and original ideas , given the time and encouragement to do so.
I should also mention that the colour and pageantry of carnival presents the best opportunity to display and promote the steelband to a worldwide audience.
But the promise of panorama rewards are too tempting , and the focus needed too great, to allow most steel bands the opportunity , in a relatively short carnival season, to plan for additional activities at carnival.
The other day I raised the issue of funding to raise a main point.
Whether we realize it or not , panorama payments could be considered the government's subsidy to the art-form.
Panorama is used as a means of distributing funds among the steel bands.
It is highly unlikely that these funds would increase, given the nation's current financial situation , and steel bands should be looking for alternative sources for income.
I think carnival affords the best opportunity to generate those extra funds, though , like all capital endeavors , it will take work to come to fruition , and the results may take time, and success is not guaranteed in all cases.
However, we will still have panorama as the major showcase of Steelband talent , but later in the year , when we could have a well organized , well promoted Steelband festival with a Panorama Finals as climax.
And bands will have an incentive to remain active for most of the year , unlike today , when most bands hang it up , sometimes even before carnival, until the next panorama.
I firmly believe that Panorama has matured to where it can become a solo , stand alone festival , with unlimited growth potential , without the restrains of time , locations , and even economic competition ,created by the multiple activities held at carnival time.
And lastly , "cowards " may be a strong term , but over the years , I've gotten very frustrated with those who profess love and respect for the art-form , yet insist that , a well organized , well promoted competition/festival featuring the best steel bands in the world ,held away from the carnival would not be successful.
At a time of year when little is happening , in the land of the Steelband , where the art-form was created.
Sorry if any feelings are hurt , but to me , such thinking is defeatist and cowardly, by those unwilling to accept a challenge.
They would have to prove it to me.
Replies
Develop Carnival Monday afternoon to showcase the steelband, we owe them that much.
Carnival Monday Afternoon? After weeks of partying and anticipation and the rush/proliferation of Pre-Carnival events culminating in JOUR OUVERT ... who has the energy to re-energize for Carnival Monday Afternoon when everybody knows that the next day (Carnival Tuesday) is the day of splendour and glory -- the zenith of the WORLD'S GREATEST CARNIVAL and man got to rest up some for LAS LAP.
Allyuh living in FOREIGN much too long to try to call shots down in THE MECCA!!!
EXPATS do live in a DREAM WORLD!!!
As simple as it sounds , this makes a lot of sense , Cecil Hinkson.
Over the years , Carnival Monday has become a wasteland of nothingness , and that would certainly be an improvement.
But again , it will take work and planning , and too many of us have gotten very satisfied with "a 'lil bit of panorama food."
More thoughts to ponder....
Fixing Panorama
...pan movement must embrace modernization
The T&T Guardian is running a two-part series that explores the viability of the steelband movement and of the Carnival staple, Panorama. Today, music critic and analyst Nigel A Campbell looks at how the pan movement can develop other sources of revenue and stop its dependence on government funding.
PART 1
The annual ritual of the steelband Panorama competition has begun in T&T, and continues apace through the stages culminating on Carnival Saturday with the finals. With the financial cutbacks in all areas of the economy including Carnival, there is a recognition that the sum of the parts have to be efficient and excellent to make the whole better.
The holistic view taken by some commentators and pundits—of Panorama being in need of “fixing”—has raised the question of why has this analysis not been done and implemented before this recession, and why, even in these times, does the State still pump money in the millions into Carnival and its events such as Panorama.
A simple answer could be that Panorama represents the apotheosis of the national instrument. That reasoning was supplied by steelpan researcher Dr Kim Johnson, who spoke to the T&T Guardian about the idea of the continuation of the state-funded event within the context of moribund standards for the industry of steelpan throughout the year.
Johnson noted the history of Panorama: “Panorama was the PNM government of the 1960s taking control of the steelband movement, what they saw as national culture. The strategy included making it more lucrative to play in Panorama because of prize money and appearance fees than to play in parties and fêtes.”
The intrigue continues with the assertion that the early Panorama became the antithesis of the existing Bomb competition with opposing class and racial groups challenging for control and influence—the new governing elite insisting that calypso be played versus the working class playing classical music—and critically voter support.
“PNM had no organised masses like a union, so panmen represented a structured link to the voting masses,” said Johnson.
The link between political fate and culture control is observed in countries in the region like Cuba, and even here when calypso lyrics were subject to censors speaks of a kind of continued control. Nowadays, the State spends millions on the continuation of Carnival both as catharsis and economic input via tourism and the economic multiplier effect of trade at that time. In 2016, $270 million is allocated to the National Carnival Commission (NCC), which effectively runs Carnival, of which Pan Trinbago got $30 million. Pan Trinbago head Keith Diaz says his organisation requested $45 million from the government, but Culture minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said, “The current economic conditions have forced the Government to cut back.” Efforts to get a statement from the minister in relation to the question of the rationale and policy for state funding of steelpan proved futile.
The people’s representatives in the Parliament, during Joint Select Committee (JSC) hearings in 2012, looking into the management of the NCC, reported their findings in a report that spoke about financial and management matters at the organisation, and conclusions from this report provide some answers to questions of the viability of the Panorama event and the spin-off projects like the disputed Greens, a separate area in the Savannah that was developed for patrons who want to be in the Savannah for a party but not necessarily for the pan. The report specifically noted congestion of the masquerade on Carnival Tuesday, and only touched on the stalled construction of the Pan Trinbago headquarters—at least $5.8 million spent and unfinished since 2002—and the movement away from T&T of the steelpan industry. Any notions of a long Panorama event—an assertion made by some to recommend fixing—were not concluded as a problem.
When challenged by former senator Emmanuel George to justify the Greens space as a simultaneous “fete” when the focus should be on pan at Panorama, Clarence Moe, then NCC CEO responded that, “There is a push at present to tell the interest groups (Pan Trinbago in this case), your events and activities must be viable. That you must be able to at least increase the levels of revenue, because the shows and the events that you put on have the potential for raising higher revenues...this year has generated the greatest level of revenue that we have ever seen, indeed it was almost doubled.”
Economics trumped all other considerations. Despite some pull-out from party organisers and promotions companies, companies are organising their crews for the Savannah Party on Sunday.
Pan Trinbago vice president Bryon Serrette, in 2014, justified the existence of the Greens by noting that “while a lot of the younger generation members are playing with the steelbands, their peers have not been supporting the event...they would prefer not to sit in one spot for hours listening to the bands....Pan Trinbago, therefore, took the decision to accommodate these patrons by giving them a space in which they would be comfortable, and at the same time contribute to the revenues we are expected to generate from the event.”
Keith Diaz, Pan Trinbago president reiterates, “Pan Trinbago is not the Pan Trinbago of yesteryear. We are now a business-driven enterprise.”
It must be noted that nearly 90 per cent of the NCC’s budget comes via government subvention. Pan Trinbago’s money is a mix of public and private funding with a very small portion of revenue coming from gate receipts and rentals. But Panorama is not only about money, it is about performance and increasingly about broadcast and intellectual property exploitation.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/lifestyle/2016-01-21/fixing-panorama
Glenroy, I understand and support the notions you have outlined. You have advanced a very compelling case that should give pause to reconsider new and innovative ways to maximize the potential of Trinidad and Tobago's art form, - the steel-band instruments and steel orchestras. Imagine for a moment the possibility of major steel orchestral presentations covering a wide range of musical genres and tastes from popular/contemporary music through classical, religious, local and international folk music; the range of musical choices are limitless. To extend your case, further imagine having the option to attend family oriented steel orchestra presentations of the finest quality on a regular basis throughout the year. If major symphonic organizations around the world could effectively organize to profitably showcase their musical talent and skills, while generating financial profit to be self sustaining, I am confident that with the right vision and creative leadership steel orchestras in T&T could succeed equally as well. Part of the answer might rest in strengthening existing organizational structures to inspire change and transformation. Panorama as an annual event is to be applauded, but if we are to effectively advance this art form within T&T and globally a more thoughtful strategic approach will absolutely be required. Don't be afraid to think and act big. Remember the adage: "big ideas, big opposition; little ideas, little opposition; no ideas, no opposition". That is life, get used to it. I further offer the suggestion that a few individuals be co-opted who are creative original thinkers and who possess the credibility to inspire constructive national dialogue that would better position the steelband fraternity to compete globally and claim a major portion of the market share in a musical industry that will not always wait patiently for T&T to get its act together. As an expatriate, I certainly make no claim to having the solutions to this dilemma; but I should think that convening the best local and international minds in a strategic exercise would be an important step towards realizing our ultimate goals for the steelband industry in T&T.
Yuh rolling Glenroy!!!