What time of the year will be best to stage this event?Where in Trinidad and Tobago should this take place? .How many bands should be invited to perform and from which category ? How much and when will the panists or bands get paid?Who will manage this effort on the ground?What type of calypsos will bands select from,old,new or creative?What will be the duration of each performance?
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Enquiring minds would like to know, what is the purpose of the pan show? What goals do you hope to accomplish? Are there alternative ways in which this forum could contribute to the pan movement? Who's financing the show?
Talking from experience, expats producing a pan show in TT is daunting indeed, but possible. I suggest a lot of advance planning. Develop (if you don't already have) contacts/relationships in gov't, the media, Pan Trinbago, etc., confirm venue, contracts performers and vendors early, . . .Get assistance/ideas from Wayne Harewood and the brothers who produced the the pan show in Brooklyn (excellent job!), Hue Loy, other and expats experienced with the entertainment/production environment in TT. . .
I want to say good luck, but this ain't have nutting to do with luck!
Dr. Nyomba: The decision to produce that PAN SHOW was a spontaneous modification to a suggestion that the WST clan fund the production of a PAN CD. The idea excited some of the posters and Bertel Gittens started developing the project. Bertel has lived a PAN LIFE in Trinidad and he is extremely well connected to the movement in every imaginable aspect. I have the utmost confidence that he could successfully produce this show with the help of some members of the broad PAN circle to which he belongs. From the EXPAT side of the fence, I intend to put thought, time and money into this project. And there are quite a few members who are expressing a willingness to contribute in any way they can.
Will there be hurdles and challenges along the way? Of course, I can tell you right now that there will be political opposition to this event. But we can discuss that at another table.
As you can see from the responses thus far, everybody looks at the idea through different lenses. What we have in common is that there are a lot of PAN LOVERS on this forum who would like to see more happening around the PAN both locally and globally. A PAN show like this could leave the EXPATS with a sense of connection and contribution to the constant cries of DO SOMETHING FOR PAN . Ostensibly, the purpose of the show is to create a PAN CD from a live concert. But through my lens I see a successful show acting as a spark plug to ignite participation in the push to move PAN forward and away from the total dependence and focus on PANORAMA. Let us say that show draws a decent audience and the production costs get recouped -- the show can then be repeated in another city. Or maybe twice a year, each time developing a better product and getting more people involved.
Of course there are alternative ways in which this forum could contribute to the PAN movement and you are free to travel that road. There are hundreds of ideas that could be implemented by posters on this forum to contribute to the pan movement. I have an idea that could easily fit into that design. But this discussion is not the place for it.
Initially, the suggestion was that 10,000 members put up $2 each to produce the CD. But once Bertel's idea caught fire the process of financing the show was modified for all practical purposes. Nothing is written in stone and everything is open for discussion.
As I have said 100 times before, my specific interest in the PAN is hearing some well-recorded PAN MUSIC. And my views on STEELBAND MUSIC have been directly expressed over my years on this forum. But I am still willing to put every effort into this project to see it DO SOMETHING FOR PAN.
And, by the way, I consider you a TRUE LOVER OF PAN!!!
Spot on, my sentiments also.Thank you Claude.I hope we revisit this when it comes to crafting the Mission for the filing of the NGO status. Mr Nyomba's questions are useful to get everyone thinking about the essential elements on which Great Event Planners focus, early in the planning years. I said years because an event like this will take about 2 years to do the adequate fundraising needed, select the performers and get all contracts signed in advance. Mr Nyomba's right about luck. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. So we should prepare for all the opportunities that will arise when we have been prepared with a comprehensive event -planning check- list - this is the event planner's essential tool.
My experience as event planner ( indoor events, conventions, seminars and large outdoor festivals ) has taught me that delegation of duties by a head coordinator to sub-coordinators all working with the same calendar timeline(as the head coordinator) makes the work lighter and keeps communication lines open for greater productivity. If the head coordinator who is like a project manager is highly competent and can deliver without chaos and unnecessary drama , your event is a highly successful deliverable, because all the dots and crosses end up in the right place and on time.
Is anybody aware that T&T has a National Steel symphony orchestra? (NSSO)Its Conductor/Artistic Director is a young man whose name is Akua Leith.National Steel Symphony Orchestra of Trinidad and Tobago with Akua Leith.
Introducing our new Artistic Director, Akua Leith.
Akua Leith is a Fulbright Fellow who graduated from the Northern Illinois University (NIU) with a Masters of Music in Conducting with emphasis on Steelpan Performance, in May 2016. He graduated from the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Musical Arts.
Someone needs to secure a n appointment with him when he has secured his bearings in this new position and when WST is better prepared. The universe is listening to all the positive thoughts that are emanating from this WST forum and filling in the spaces with what's needed. Keep up the good work everyone.
Any one know what will it cost to put together such a show, ball park figure?
Cecil: They have to register the COMPANY and then pick a BOARD OF DIRECTORS and then they will start having meetings. I am sure that the cost of the production (and feasibility of the project) will be one of the first issues on the table. As soon as they nail that down then better reason can prevail.
When the rubber meets the road a lot of the THEORY goes out the window. So we just have to wait and see.
But if they hire me as a consultant, this is what I will propose:
They do the cost analysis and come up with a ball park figure (answer your question). Then they document the project showing the short and long term objectives and the production design and costs. Next I would hire a marketing agent. A relatively young pretty woman with social skills, good command of the English Language and excellent writing skills. Her job is to contact the human resources director of every successful company and secure a meeting with the MONEY MEN.
She gets her appointments and goes in there (all documentation in hand -- long and short version) and convinces them why they should help sponsor this project. Now this is the first PAID EMPLOYEE on the project. She gets 20% of whatever she brings in to the COMPANY.
I think that if they hire the right person, this marketing agent alone could FUND THE WHOLE PROJECT. Now, as far as the show is concerned, I will put a 20-man band on stage; but I will use PAN MERCENARIES, mostly. I will work out a deal with Starlift or Silver Stars to base the band in their panyard. (Amrit could be considered but he is too far in the country.) They get to hire 5 of their best players and then we go around the country and pick 15 more crack shots. So now we have a 20-man band and they are starting to practice just as if is PANORAMA they are preparing for. With people coming and watching and everything. We are going to pay each player the $1000 magic number (that Diaz refuses to pay) on the night of the performance. We will also provide some practice allowance depending on how well the marketing agent does and the WST forumites contribute to the cause. One show!!! Twelve to 15 songs not lasting more than 2 hours. I will grudgingly let BERTEL and the board of directors select the songs.
I will pay SILVER STARS for the use of the PAN YARD and the PANS. Pay the XPATS and LOCALS company and pay the marketing agent for her services. Whatever proceeds come from the show will be recycled into another show is there is success. That is the overview of my presentation. I left out the part about the media involvement; but we could talk about that later!
Captivating, it breeds a spirit and commitment for "a very high level of achievement" that Lynette describes.
Good questions, Philmore. Makes you realize how daunting a task to get anything done. I will engage in two of your questions. I think that they have all the management skills in the world on the ground to pull off that concert. Bertel Gittens is handling the coordination of the production and he knows where to find the best resources.
Now the other question will get me in trouble. But here goes. In terms of the number of bands and how much the pannists or bands will get paid? In Trinidad, they like to OVER-PRODUCE shows. So I would advise the producers to avoid that trap. The more bands you put in stage the more you have to pay to performers. If I am producing that show -- I am featuring ONE STEELBAND and maybe TWO SOLOISTS. And that band will not have more than TWENTY PLAYERS.
You raised a good topic and I hope it attracts opinions from various corners. Just think that PAN LOVERS from all over the world could now sit down and design a PAN SHOW in public.
How would you design your show?
Philmore's questions are very insightful and necessary. The task is only daunting because we don't yet have in place the Steering committee and Business Manager . These are needed to oversee the appointment or selection of the varied components starting with a Researcher and qualified pan-experts who will assist in a Juried process of selecting the number of participants that the budget is able to afford and agreed on by the steering committee. After the budget is determined then we will be able to know the required size of bands and soloists we are looking for and can afford to contract. The call will be publicized, applications will be processed by the deadline and then the Jury /Lottery process takes place which ends up with your final selections needed for the insightfully designed program.
In the mean time another call for Stage Managers, Lighting and Set design personnel, backstage crew along with your tuners and arrangers, panologists and a consultant highly respected in the artform. etc will be conducted. The marketing and fundraising people are first to be in place to find sponsors, Donors, Crowdfunding,Joint Venture angels etc and will be under the capable and resourceful eye of Mr Gittens.
The program must be artistically designed to showcase Bands and soloists of pan, who have distinguished themselves as winners in their category. Be reminded that we are attempting to present a first of it's kind, with the end product being,an outstanding series of quality CDs or music for online sale . So we are not beholden to pre-existing hierarchies in the steelband world. We are attempting to create an original artistic product of Pan Music Artistry and live presentation that hopefully is marketable to not just Trinbagonians but to the world at large; something that can go on tour as a showpiece ambassadorial tool for T&T.
Show design can and should involve multi-media technology including audio and visual recording of high quality, in presentations that are stimulating, innovative and educational as well as entertaining. I have no doubt that we can find an outstanding artist in this field in T&T to serve this task for Show Designer. T&T produced the innovative and talented Mr Geoffrey Holder who excelled on Broadway and in Hollywood with his multi-talented capabilities I'm sure that we have replacement surrogates who would love to be given this golden opportunity to 'show their motion', now that we are in the age of high technology that is changing every 6 months.
I KNOW THIS PROJECT IS POSSIBLE AND AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT, as long as the planning is given attention to the minute details, to achieve quality showmanship and technical attention is paid to achieve fine audio quality. We are having the necessary conversations, asking the right questions and troubleshooting, inviting and receiving feedback and great ideas, long before the first dollar is collected or spent.
We are having the necessary conversations, asking the right questions,troubleshooting, inviting and receiving feedback and great ideas, long before the first dollar is collected or spent.
Folks this is great communication and brainstorming about an exciting project.I feel privileged to be part of this discussion, myself being only a pan music aficionado but not a player.
I have the desire to see this project achieve a high benchmark of accomplishment.
THANK YOU!!! LYNETTE!!!
We can make this happen!!!
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