Blog 2.0

I agree with Patrice that people  are not interested in the small bands. Keep the

Small Bands and Pan Around the Neck competition in August at the Savannah so they will have their own patrons and more interest will be given to them.

Go back to the Large and medium bands as before for Carnival. Why? The stands are always almost empty even in the big band competition because you split up the concert goers.

Every time Pan Trinbago changes the Panorama System they loose paying customers. Bring back the old time way the bands took part in the Panorama. The DRAG is one of the main feature of the whole competition. They all sparkle and get fired up to put on a good show.

Pan Trinbago in years gone by have eliminated and combine some of the bands and  shows but it does not work.

Why spend money on all these Police to keep the supporters out along with an Army of Officials  who are friends and families of the administrators.

The followers comes in with their bands and they leave. However, you kill the spirit of Panorama on the DRAG by rushing them and then using armed force to keep them from the side of the stage.

If you put back the bleachers on the Drag like in years gone by before the stage on each side, the organization will be able to make some money charging between 25 - 30 dollars per person.

The other big way to make money from the Panorama is to place it on Pay Per View but you have to advertise it in the foreign countries. You beg for a lot of money and yet you do not ADVERTISE THE SHOWS OUT OF TRINIDAD. The small Islands advertise their Carnival and Shows in the States. Use BET and other Stations to advertise even the Pirate Radio Stations in Brooklyn.

Pan Trinbago need some qualified managers to run their organization or a board of advisors. IF IT WAS'NT FOR WHEN STEEL TALKS THE WORLD WIDE PAN NATIONS WILL BE IN THE DARK. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Depeza O. Veteran of TTDF, Musician/IT.

For those of us who believe that God corrects human mistakes, this victory for Trinidad All Stars is nothing short of justice served. Panorama 1987 is often referred to as the bench-mark moment that the people knew the judges were fallible when they placed All Stars 'Curry Tabanca' in 4th place. It is regarded as a sin against the very culture of Trinbago. Although we still bare the scar of that injustice, we can now wear it with pride as we have lived to see that masterpiece and the masterful band, Trinidad All Stars, be recognized as the Best in the World. Trinidad All Stars, a cornerstone of the culture of Trinidad and Tobago. AMEN!!!

Congratulations to Pan Trinbago for actually bringing off  the International Conference and Panorama.  I have a query and suggestion. First the suggestion: I think form now on all Panorama bands should consist of  no more than 60 players. This would be one sure way of allowing available pannists to be spread around for all steelbands. Now my query. How come Keith Diaz could boast on radio that we in Trinidad and Tobago are the only people in the world that can have their national anthem played on their national instrument; however, on the opening night of the conference the National Symphony Steel Orchestra was bypassed for the playing of the national anthem? Imagine a video was shown with a fresh-water yankee tearing apart our national anthem.

Knocking on the rim or skirt of the steelpan to get the attention of players and or count to begin a song is a habit I would like to see discontinued. I do not allow anyone to do this to my pans and I do not do it to others. I do not see conductors nor arrangers of other instruments doing this. I believe it is time to eradicate this habit as it is very annoying and unprofessional. Let us set high standards for our young steelpan musicians and teach them how to care for our National Instrument.

I was concerned that if the format for the bands playing positions was the same as the Trinidad Panorama, and all the top guns picked in the first 10.  Well, that would not happen at the 2015 ICP Panorama.

I heard on radio that the bands would be grouped,                              so I am hoping for the following or similar 6-group format.

All Stars<>United States<>Canada<>Steel Explosion

Phase II<>United States<>Canada<>Super Nova

Renegades<>United States<>Jamaica<>Pan Elders

Silver Stars<>Japan<>St. Lucia<>Buccooneers

Exodus<>England<>St. Marteen<>Scherzando

Tropical Angel Harps<>France<>St. Vincent<>Arima Golden Sym

The 6 groups should be labeled as: All Stars, Phase II, Renegades, Exodus, Silver Stars & Tropical Angel Harps, and they will pick for playing group 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.  Then each group of 4 will pick within its own group.  So if Exodus group pick 1, the 4 bands in that group will then individually pick for playing positions 1, 2, 3, 4.  If Renegades group pick 6, the 4 bands will pick for playing positions 21, 22, 23, and 24.  Let's all hope that everything runs smoothly, so by 10 p:m Sunday August 9th. 2015, this ICP International Panorama would be a success.