Make yourself MINISTER OF CULTURE or PRESIDENT of PAN TRINBAGO (or the Captain of MERRYTONES STEELBAND) for a day and outline the contribution or changes that you think are necessary to get STEELBANDS (or STEELBAND MUSIC) projected in line with your vision.
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I beleive that most of the problems of the steelband lie in the administration of the steelband and not with the education, promotion or the development of the pan per se.This does not refer only to the Association or governing body but the
administration of each and every steelband.
True the Association can take the lead by making available classes in the required education but it must also ensure that that education is tailored to the needs of the steelband.
We are talking here of classification, advertising ,marketing,mutual respect and teamwork and a development of a code of ethics which will protect the intellectual gains of the respective bands.
As Minister of Culture, I would call meetings to review the Act of Parliament #5 of 1986 with the executive of Pan Trinbago, their Regional Reps, New Visionaries, prominent business people and citizens involved in the steel band movement. Challenge them to come up with SOLUTIONS for the steel band movement, Panorama, the music industry, as we move forward into the next century.
As minister I will also consider Mr. Gordon's proposal.
Part of a proposal made by Ken Gordon for preservation of the Queen’s Park Savannah worth considering:
“ The south should become a permanent home for Carnival with a turning stage designed to accommodate two steelbands: one performing, the other for setting up, reducing Panorama change-around time to two or three minutes between bands. The stand be designed to accommodate a Carnival museum to be run by the City Council and Pan Trinbago, for the benefit of visitors, and maintained without Government assistance. With frequent Friday-night seasonal activities, this should quickly become self-sustaining”.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150627/news/save-the-savannah
odw: The suggestions that you made (which are urgently needed) will only get initiated by someone who REALLY REALLY LOVE AND CARE ABOUT PAN. A political appointee is unlikely to bring that kind of CONCERN to the PAN STAGE. (Which kind of dovetails into Salah's suggestion of a MINISTRY OF PAN, but could start with ONE REPRESENTATIVE from the PAN WORLD -- and not the political world -- being appointed as a JUNIOR MINISTER for the AFFAIRS OF PAN.)
My suggestion is very much pie in the sky but the idea of a LC (Local Conference) could spark a national dialogue going and bring some traction to addressing SOLUTIONS for the MOVEMENT. Ian's No. 6 ties into that LC.
Maybe we combine your call for the meetings with the elements presented by Ian Franklin and try to get a document in the hands of THIS MINISTER OF CULTURE.
Cecil took the wind out of my sails. After I slept on his comment it made me realize that the music that I am talking about is more likely to come from the children and grandchildren in NEW YORK than the musicians in TRINIDAD. Kind of disappointing but REAL when I look back at the history.
I always talk about making music for the outside world. In the last few years we have heard Keith Diaz promise to have PAN make more money than oil. And then Lincoln Douglas came and spouted a variation of that theme. The first thing the new Minister of Culture did was to promise massive foreign exchange coming into the country from FILM and FASHION.
The reality is that Trinidad and Tobago received a total of $21.2 billion in tax payments from the oil and gas sector between 2012 and 2013.
How did the income from SOCA and PAN and FILM and FASHION stack up against that $21.2 billion?
If I were the MINISTER OF CULTURE (for a day), I would take Pelham Goddard and Leston Paul and Liam Teague and Carl Beaver Henderson and lock them up in a room (or two) at the Hyatt Regency for two weeks. The assignment would to compose a song with Calypso and Trinidad nuance that could appeal to music lovers the WORLD OVER.
Concurrent with that action, I would bring down two American R&B music producers and drive them around the country exposing them to the SOUNDS OF TRINIDAD. I would take them to Rum Shops and Night Clubs and Parties and Music Studios and Pan Yards -- immersing them in the TRINIDAD VIBES.
At the end of the two weeks I will put ALL SIX MEN in rooms at the Hyatt Regency for another two weeks and let the American producers polish and sharpen the production (with input from the Trinidad Musicians) for GLOBAL ACCEPTANCE.
I am sure that they could score a moderate (if not major hit) and we can JUMP from that platform into the $15 billion a year global music game.
How much money is the government going to spend over the next 5 years on Calypso Tents and Panorama? I would say over $200,000,000 with ZERO RETURN ON INVESTMENT. Take away the THREE MILLION DOLLARS that PAN TRINBAGO is going to steal during that period and invest it in this project.
I sure would like to be driving down some California Highway one day flipping channels and suddenly hear THAT PIECE of Trinidad Music blasting on the radio.
I don't think that piece of music will come from T&T, young arrangers in the US seem to have more interest in this accomplishing this.
(1) Teach all the young panist the history of the pan and of the Steel Orchestra they choose.
(2) We, the elders must lead by example and realize that time lost is wasted opportunity.
(3) Cease knocking expensive chromed pans when counting, stopping or getting the attention of the players.
(4) Do not lay chromed pans on the naked ground like garbage.
(5) If rain water accumulates on background pans, it is the responsibility of all members to remedy that situation.
(6) Steel Orchestras should know that Pan Trinbago cannot exit without the panists. There must be a dialogue between Steel Orchestras and Pan Trinbago at all times. Steel Orchestras should be informed whenever selecting a judging panel and both must sign off.
(6) Panist must take interest in not just owning Pan Book(s), but reading and absorbing. It is shameful when many members cannot recall history of the organization they are part of.
(7) Steel Orchestras must network with each other to avoid functions on the same date.
(8) We must become PAN lovers, not just love our respective organizations.
(9) We must support each other functions.
Ian: Add one more and we have THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF PAN!!!!
Very funny Claude,
Thanks, I did not realize that I did mentioned 10 things. (lol)
There are many more ways.