BR has firmly established itself globally as the best at dealing with all audio situations regarding the steel orchestra.
That position has been held and reaffirmed annually for decades through the successful steelband related productions BR has been and continues to be involved in. And stamped in the court of public opinion and among professional peers.
The New York Panorama has the worst sound of any Panorama in the world. Moreover, it has consistently been this way. And unfortunately, it would appear that opinion/fact gets reaffirmed every year.
While we would like see the NY Pan community (performing artist and Panorama audience) receive the very best sound for their tremendous efforts, talent, financial commitment and sacrifices - there is nothing here for BR to get into. There is no profit in it for us. Been there - done that.
There is level of professionalism, respectability and expectations between entertainers, performing artists, promoter and audience that not been archive.
And in this regard, based on our own past experiences BR will stay clear of this reputation and spiritually damaging mix.
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With resounding clarity and honesty the next generation of leaders, arrangers, tuners, owners, players and managers speak to the dangerous and perils that face NY pan. And moreover that which threatens its very existence from within and without. But is anyone listening?
Consider on of the issues discussed is that the prize have not been increased since 2003. Really? Collusion anyone? Price of living---
It was the normallu reserved, quite and extremely hard waroking that invited WST to listen to what youmg people hade to say, felt and was living.
What we learned was that solutions to all NY Pan problems are within the youth. Bright articulate, progressive and imaginative.
The brain child of one of the young leaders who was very interested in the public getting a first hand understanding of the blood, sweat and tears that goes on behind the scenes in bringing out a NY Panorama band. And in this regard, he brought together a continent of young people who are directly involved in the NY Panorama scene on multiple levels to share their concerns, stories, aspirations and real live experiences
Ironically this session was held between Wayne Bernard and very small crew doing the at un dirtty work - no fan fare no - fans and crow s of helpers in the same yard only two weeks ago was filled with people - and crowds into the street. Here was the leader of one NY great steel orchestra unceremoniously doing the heavy physical lifting of move stands to storage.
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Not even a stray dog, wayward mouse or lunatic Brooklyn mosquie to call a friend in the yatd on this mid September evening, With only parts of racks, a partialy crushed Bass (complements of a J'Ouvert collision) and a large Ryder truck outside the front entrance blocking the soon returning to its former self - an abandon unlit lot - reminding us that only two weeks ago this was a live cultural music and arts "facility" vibrant with 100's people coming and going - soaking up the sounds, the passions of the players and the music.
Yep here we were at Pan Evolution's yard the life of the party no and and another Pan season come and gone.
Ironically it was during the same week when we were ironing out the schedule for the Basement Recordings visit to PESO's yard to capture the band, when Mr. Bernard pitched the idea of providing a platform where people could talk about the real issues they faced in bringing out a band for the annual steelband music 'game of thrones' known as Panorama.
And in this regard Mr. Bernard invited a cross-section of the younger pan people in management roles / positions of authority within New York pan to share their thoughts and issues.
Appropriately so, on that day and in fact in the immediate hours leading up to the meeting, Mr. Bernard was in between moving his racks to storage; no fans, no 'hundred players,' no band members. Just Wayne and whatever help - essentially one other individual - he could muster, a theme that played out over and over throughout the New York pan yards. Example, on Facebook Mr. Roberts of CASYM Steel Orchestra stated that he "just wants to sleep, and never see another rack."
This "+++meeting+++" was critical as it highlighted the dysfunctionality between the New York pan community and the promoter of the Panorama, W.I.A.D.C.A. As Khuent so appropriately defined the """wrong conflation""" of supporting culture, while suffering under bad governance. Not to mention, examples and lessons that were being taught to the upcoming generation.
This dysfunctional relationship is taking its toll on the survival of Pan in New York and is equally as, if not more - destructive, as the violence of gentrification on the pan community, and the resulting disappearing pan yard options.
The well-known abusive relationship between the pan community and W.I.A.D.C.A. has contributed mightily to the rapid decline of pan in New York. New York once easily placed up to fifteen orchestras in a Panorama. Now there are only seven New York bands, and even these are heavily dependent on "sharing" musicians.
The prize-freeze points to the total lack of unity among the bands, and incompetent and self-serving leadership among the bands. Imagine there has been no raise in prize monies in sixteen Panorama seasons - the first prize is still $20,000.00 from back in 2003 through now, 2019. And that was amount was only increased "by force" when most bands boycotted in 2001 and 2002. Before the boycott, it was around $5,000.00 back in 2000.
Stay tuned as we listen to the issues facing the current, and next generation of the people in Pan in New York.
Beyond the passion and love is a whole lot of pain (Odie)
Their names read like a who's who of the next generation of steelband music stalwarts with instant recognition among the New York community, and in some instances, global.
However business as usual "suffering peacefully" is not part of their agenda going forward.
"Something has got to change." Doing things the same way and expecting a change is not a mode of operation they are willing to engage.
The challenges of securing yard for Panorama
Lack of help from band members (three people moving instruments and racks of a hundred-player orchestra).
Challenges for the arrangers: players in multiple bands, meaning practice does not start for some bands, until players finish up in a previous band on the same night.
The real deal from the players', arrangers', and managers' perspectives. Each person on the panel falls under at least two categories - and more, in a some cases.
(Andre) - "Every aspiring arranger on the stageside [Pan Evolution] is required to arrange one song every year."
Why is the prize money for the Panorama stuck since 2003?
The sound system [for Panorama] is horrible. (Khuent)
Why was Genesis Pan Groove not allowed to participate in New York's 2019 Panorama.
Lack of unity among New York steel orchestras
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