I know I promised Merrytones I would not get involved in Small Band matters but given the treatment Small Bands received this weekend, I think I must.
Every two small bands must merge and become a large band. Wait. Don't roll your eyes.
Just think of it.
- As a large band you will not be labeled as a dry run for the Greens and Pan Splash by the vice president of Pantrinbago.
- You will not have to go through the risk of preliminaries. You will move straight to semi finals.
- You will be on the CD/DVD if you make it to finals; right now even the small band winners are treated as chumps. no CD/DVD for them for sure.
- You may get some TV coverage, compared to the zero you get now, not even radio this year.
- You will have an audience to perform to on semi and finals night.
bugs
Replies
I agree, there are enough small bands in Arima to form 2 large bands. Look where Nutones 98 panorama winner is now Small band. //// Too much self centeredness.
Teddy Pinheiro
i have been saying for years move the pan around neck or single pan band composition to August month and have another pan competition. and free up players for the conventional bands for panorama. this is one of the reason it came down to small and medium bands there is no player to play. because alto pan men is involve with these single pan band. pan trinbago need to take a look at this and decide what is more important to save in the future. single pan band or conventional bands? just imagine there is 32 plus single pan bands and not to many people attend the shows. then create another avenue for pan.
SO WE CAN SEE MORE BIG BANDS . FOR PANORAMA.
Bugs,
One of the main problems with the pan and panorama is in-efficient marketing.
Not even the large band category is efficiently marketed properly ...you can compare the panorama marketing with the soca or chutney in all media outlets, TV, radio, newspaper , internet and the panorama is coming up exceedingly short.
As far as combining with merrytones, there is a logistic problem ...my little village kids won't be able to travel to merrytones daily for practice and given the climate of Trinidad these days.... plus it is costly in comparison to where they can remain in their environment and simply walk over to the panyard... secondly they have their own identity just like merrytones group. Having your own identity is a self pride that money cannot buy.
Here is why I am comfortable with my little group at this stage......the potential is there for greatness, the challenge to grow and improve is phenomenal and what greater pride and joy to remember these days of ultimate struggle to put together a group. What is holding me back is just the fact that I am in a different country ....but I will be returning to put more time in to the product and I am confident that changes and improvement will occur.
Hopefully there will be better management of the PT organization in the future where the small bands will not be a dry run or a by product.. and the proper marketing strategies for the entire panorama can be put into effect.
Salah
One sure way to combat the entire demise of panorama is to restrict players and arrangers to one band…and I mean one band…even if you have 100 categories…you play or arrange for one band. I am certain that if players weren't allowed to compete against themselves there would be far less single pan and small bands today. As it stands band leaders know that all they have to do is hire a the necessary crackshots and they in the game. Even if they a little smaller in the prelims, come semis and finals the band will be bursting at the seams with players mainly mercenaries.
The arrangers only help exacerbate the problem because as soon as they reach they will say "we need more players in this or that section…I have some pardners who does follow me around" etc etc… And to Pan Trinbago seeing the same faces in band after band in the same category doesn't appear to be wrong.
One of the reasons why Merry Tones has not grown exponentially over the years despite success in the Small category is simply because we frown on mercenaries. It is only in the last 5 years or so that we have bent a little and what do we have to show for it?
This animal called Panorama is not what you think Bugs… come out yuh armchair experience it in mine or Salah's shoes and you will see for yourself…Let me hear you talk about upsizing Small bands then ….
Merrytones, I'm sure your aches and pains are very real. However, I'm giving you a solution. I didn't say it would be one that makes you happy. Shut down the small band category or shut down the medium. Either way, pan in Trinidad will better off for all involved at the end of the day. I'm picking on the small bands because there will be less resistance and out cry to shut them down. Small bands have very few friends when it comes to Panorama in Trinidad. Only Diaz like them, because they keep him in office.
bugs
not for ALL involved - shutting down the small band category won't make the small band members 'better off'
YES.
Why does everyone these days seem to think this is all supposed to be about "selling" and "marketing"? In the other thread someone talks about "Panorama can't be sold the way it is". So is THAT what the goal is now? To change the thing for the primary goal of 'selling it' to the world?
Who CARES if the public doesn't understand it or know about it? it is not FOR them.
if there wants to be something packaged and sold to the general non-pan public,as a "for profit" venture - then create something specifically "for profit", just for that purpose. Create a separate pan event or series of concerts - something on a set schedule throughout the year that is intended to be marketed out to the public, to share pan across the world and make profit.
But let's not have the goal become to destroy small bands. I find that line of thinking is destructive, and discouraging to communities and start-ups; people trying to do a thing in their community, and encourage learning and music to community members, who then have a chance to move forward with a goal towards being in competition...... i find those bands should be encouraged. not junked cause they are not 'profitable'. Yes, we must bring greater business sense to this thing, that's true - but business should not be the MAIN goal at the expense of the music and art. the MUSIC must still be the MAIN thing here.
Profit should be sought, and realized, from other sources. Not by destroying small bands.
Catt, absolutely no small bands for Panorama. Where was all this village support during the recent small band semi finals?
Do really want pictures of completely empty North and Grand stands at the upcoming small band finals?
Come on Catt you know the deal. When Deltons was a large band everyone was yelling "ZANDA" and "TONES". You hear music? And now that Deltons is a small band folk are like "zanda, really?"
If you want change things have to put yourself in a position of power.
If you want Pan Trinbago to pee their pants - tell Merrytones and Salah to hook for a year. Become a large band and win. Pan will never be the same in Trinidad. And that will be a good thing. Or they can continue to be viewed as a nuisance, a dry run and food for the other categories.
bugs
Bugs I just waste my time trying to educate you…you are hopeless…I done with you…lol…all you like most head-in-the-sand Trinis care about is what big and lookin' nice… so yuh jump on the people band-wagon…ha ha ha…and then what…trying to convince me to die won't kill me…the difference between you and i is that i know what the real problems while you are looking for plaster to put on sore foot ….
The most sensible thing you have said in this thread is to merge the Medium and Large together…but that will never happen because it will mean diminished fortunes first for certain arrangers who are part of the "big 9" (I could call name…but nah!)…and secondly for certain Pan Trinbago big wigs…so we insignificant Small Bands will stay as we are and continue providing players for big bands to snap up eventually…the powers that be set it up that way and enough of us don't have the testicular fortitude to change it…not even people like you...
Merrytones
But aside your egos... Small bands have to unite and kick ass or continue to bleed and die.
There is room for you and Salah to become the big number 10...
bugs
Bugs, Salah and I will never be part of any "big 10"…yuh so want to dis meh that yuh not paying attention to what I'm saying …the "big 9" are the nine arrangers who "control" (for want of a better word) panorama this year and I dare say have been doing it for at least the last 5 years…go through the list of finalists and find out to whom I refer …9 men are responsible for the fortunes of 25 bands out of 47 in this year's finals…that is the "big 9" I'm talking about...
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