I've been told on several occasions that there is a National Steel Pan Organization but I'm still waiting to see the evidence of such an organization. There are thousands of Pan Players across this country including those is Schools, Colleges and State and local bands, not even counting the individuals not associated with a band. I would have thought that what happened in New York would have brought the "National Organization" out - looking out for the interest of the players and intervening with WIADCA on their behalf.
My concern are all the young players who are left with a bad taste in their mouths after this fiasco - why should they want to be involved if they are not even appreciated on a basic level by the people who try to run what is the largest Pan Competition in the US. Its 2017 and this blatant disrespect by WIADCA was allowed - can you imagine 5 or 10 years from now??.
Unfortunately thats not the only Pan issue going on in NY - When I learned to play pan - I was told that the band I learned to play with was my Pan family, and like most families, loyalty is expected. I'm seeing that this is not the rule in NY - players are abandoning their home bands for other bands without even a discussion as to why they are leaving. I'm not saying players don't have the right to play with whoever they want too - I'm saying give respect where it is due.
With the challenges the NY Pan world have to go through - the last thing I would think it needs is disrespect among the Band Leaders and the players.
Time to pull it together people, talk is just talk - a bunch of hot air that goes nowhere.
Comments
Well said!!! aka: Tahzann, aka: Curly
Unfortunately this is how the entire pan movement of the world is turning out. I agree with you wholeheartedly. There is something wrong in the entire movement.