Ok I want to say that it is time to form an organization or union to represent musicians. I have been very impressed this year by Voice the 2016 Soca Monarch and i want to take this time to congratulate him on his victory and his winning song, Life has really been good to him and that opening line...From you wake up this morning..Yous a winner" is such a fantastic opening line..I have to congratulate Voice for his song Cheers to Life because it represents what young musicains can do and also that our young musicians need our support. So again I am calling for the creation of an organisation or a union to represent musicians that helps them negotiate the local and international market. Big up Machel Montano who has been working to open doors for our music abroad and a special congratulations to Bunji Garlin and Maximus Dan for their award at the 2016 Grammys. So to all who listening write up the constitution and let me be the fist member to pay my dues.
More Love -- Len "Boogsie" Sharpe
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TO PAN TIMES: In "revisiting", you will find that Goddard (circa 2011) is the FIRST contributor on your forum to suggest the importance of a bona fide "steelband union". In fact, he took that message to Trinidad and Tobago in 2014, at the town hall meeting named in his dad's honor, after you rejected his offer to have the meeting named the "When Steel Talks Town Hall Meeting". (It is all there in this forum.) There can be NO honest mention of a union that represents those we claim to love (panmen and panwomen) without honestly sharing with them ALL the history of the struggle known as the "Steel band Movement", and of the time when Goddard organized steelbands' first union -- the National Association of Trinidad and Tobago Steelbandsmen. So, while Boogsie may have become more open to the concept of "collective bargaining" in 2016, we MUST also remember that allowed himself to be used by those who continue to oppress the local panman and panwoman of Trinidad and Tobago. (We recall his photo ops with Chief Bowei, as an example of his allowing himself to be used by the status quo of a rogue, corrupt Diaz-led administration.) Meanwhile Goddard produced the "Blueprint", with the CENTRAL THEME being unionism! Those who forget their history are condemned to repeat it, to borrow from the hackneyed adage. It is our hope as a company, that those with the proverbial microphone, use the opportunity and their position of power to pass on the history of our struggle. After all, that was Goddard's son's intention as he assumed the persona of "Pan'tum - The Ghost Who Talks". Thanks for allowing us the opportunity to share in this conversation.
https://whensteeltalks.ning.com/forum/topics/steel-pan-blueprint-fo...
With Regards,
Panicle USA, LLC Management.
https://panicleusa.com
The struggle continues Ghost.
Forward Ever - Backwards Never
Phase II Pan Groove - More Love (Slow)
Many, including myself and others, have called for a steelpan trade union for some time, it's long overdue.
We know a lot about the history of the steelpan/band but lacking the ability to move it forward, what must be done to solve this problem? we have been stagnant for too long.
Cecil: Simply a lack of administrative skills. The people who control pan cannot allow talented administrators to come in because it will expose their ineptitude and they are scared they might lose power. Until skilled administrators start contributing nothing will change. Take PAN MUSIC as an example. If you hire ONE SKILLED MUSIC DIRECTOR and ONE GOOD MARKETING AGENT you could have a talented PAN SIDE touring globally ALL YEAR ROUND showcasing the instrument.
Don't talk about the recording!!!
We could post until we blue in the face and NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE.
Many see the steelband/pan as ah dead end and take it for what it is, hence the lack of involvement of those with the potential to make it flourish.
And also this thread... Who Am I? - A Breakdown Of George "Sonny" Goddard's Accomplishments
A union is formed by musicians themselves. It simply takes some musicians coming together and forming a musicians union which technically falls under the umbrella of the Trade Union Act of T&T. However, the musicians themselves should not run it themselves. The musicians union should now hire professional Trade Unionists and managerial personnel and lawyers who would have had some experience in running a Trade Union and more so a musicians' union. It's also not an easy thing to run. It's no walk over. Dues will be collected from musicians members in T&T and banked and accounted for after relevant expenses. The hired professionals must be paid their salaries commensurate to their professional experience and academic qualifications. The Union cannot invest the funds of the musicians without the majority vote of the member musicians. Fees paid by promoters must be established and negotiated by promoters and other such standards of promoters and the Musicians Union itself must first be arrived at between them and then an Act of Parliament must occur and be written by law makers and passed in Parliament to make it law. . Other Bodies such as The COTT and other copyrights bodies including the Carnival Bodies controlling road music played by Djs, instrumental bands and steel bands on Carnival or other parade days. The Musician Union should concern itself with the hiring of its member musicians to play live music as apposed to recorded music. Recorded music is in the domain of the Copyrights Associations already. Promoters giving fetes and parties or events of various types where musicians have to play live will fall under the Musicians Union in terms of what fees or salaries are to be paid to the hired musicians involved. What part of the fees will go to the musicians themselves and what part will go to the Union which is apart from musician member fees. What will be the arrangement between Pan Trinbago and the Musician Union in terms of Panorama. One of the things which will need to change in that relationship with pan Trinbago or NCC if and when the Musician Union comes into effect is the payment to the pan musicians who are members of the Musician Union. despite the fact that Panorama is a competition the organization who runs Panorama also plays the role of the Promoter of the event and at the same time represents the bands. The Promoter is the hirer and the hired is the musician member of the Musician Union. The main responsibility of the Musician Union is to seek after the interest of its musician members in terms of the appropriate laws under the Trade Union Laws of T&T and in particular relevant contractual laws in accordance with Laws governing specifically the relationship between the Musician Union and Promoters and the contractual arrangements between the member musicians and the Musicians Union itself. Also the contractual arrangements between other Musician Unions worldwide. There are much more complications to be worked out. All in all this is about a two year lifespan of work to be done. It is not a walk over thing like some of us think. One very important consideration is whether musicians must be full time or part time or both. Because the employment rate of musicians in T&T is very small indeed. So the Musicians Union has to consider part time musicians, part time workers in order to be be paid membership fees constantly for it to survive.
Looks like somebody, anybody everybody listens When Steel Talks, ent... ;-)
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