@Hameed, i'm aware that some pan players do make some money, i didn't say that they didn't... I acknowledged the FACT that many of the players that take part in the competition are NOT professional players and therefore the money aspect of it isn't such a high priority... for the professionals it is because that's their bread and butter.. .and don't get me wrong its always nice to get some money in hand for doing something you love.. but thats clearly not the focus of the pan alive competition...
again do not mistake what i'm saying.. i do not think OSA's "award" for 1st place in Pan Alive is sufficient. especially in this day and age... I've seen past trophies that Afropan has won and quite frankly cannot understand why the trophy the winning band gets to keep from 2011 is comparable to a dollarstore trophy, when trophies we have received in the past were much larger and more impressive.... Really and truly the big silver trophy that we took pictures with at the announcement of our win should be kept in our possession for the year until next pan alive when it is passed on to the next winner... it should NOT be in the possession of OSA, or in the livingroom of someone's house because it is my understanding that OSA has no main office... but thats just my thoughts...
The problem with steelbands in today's Carnivals is the lack of impact.
At the Toronto festival I noticed that the steelbands were supported by their fans and die-hard pan lovers like myself.
For the majority, some were curious, and many were respectful of the steelbands for cultural reasons.
But the steelbands made no real impact on the festivities, and would not have been missed by most if they were not there.
Steelbands of old demanded respect and support by dominating the streets at Carnival with sound and power.
Today, it is obviously impractical to put large dominant steelbands on the road as was done in days of old.
But it beats me why in the 21st century, experiments into steelband amplification pioneered by Bertie Marshall in the nineteen sixties haven't been updated and perfected to present a powerful steelband sound on the streets at Carnival, be it in Toronto, New York, London or in Trinidad.
1"") For most steel pan players in Toronto, we play for the sheer love and passion of the music... majority of players are not professional players and therefore do not look to the art for financial gain or dependability. It is not such a crazy thing to hear of players playing for free as we aren't going abroad to play and aren't looking to get our next meal from a gig or a win... we just lookin to have fun!""
This may be so, however, Steelpan instruments cost money, If the players were made to bear the cost of the instruments their story may be different. Most Steelbands already has pans to accomodate the people just "looking to have fun", Some people plays Hockey or Baseball just to have fun while others are making lagre amount of money playing sports and "having fun" Pan Players in the world's largest Panorama competition, do have fun but make some money too.
Congrats to my Afro Family on our well deserved win this year! My personal opinions on these comments below are as follows:
1) For most steel pan players in Toronto, we play for the sheer love and passion of the music... majority of players are not professional players and therefore do not look to the art for financial gain or dependability. It is not such a crazy thing to hear of players playing for free as we aren't going abroad to play and aren't looking to get our next meal from a gig or a win... we just lookin to have fun!
2) True OSA does provide bands with some 'seed' money but given the size of some bands and the costs that they incur to RUN a steelband, this money really isn't incentive enough to take part in the festivities they are used for... Bragging rights are great but transportation costs alone for a steelband are high.. not to mention tuning of the pans! I've heard that there is SOME monies given for a first place win at Pan Alive but whatever it is isn't enough to scratch the surface of the needs of a steelband.... How about a prize big enough to help a steelband run through the rest of the year... the amount of bands without practice space or a place to call a permanent home... space to store their pans outside of the summer months... all these things cost MONEY... fundraising only helps so much....lol the mango chow sounds pretty good about now though haha jks
3)Participation in events such as the caribana parade, although fun for most players, is not a high priority for steelbands in toronto as pan doesn't get half of the respect or promotion it deserves within the caribana celebrations. Steelpan on a whole in Toronto needs to be more uplifted, appreciated and publicized OUTSIDE of our small pan community.
*shrugs* Im still new to the pan scene but what i do know is that more events like pan alive need to happen..At this point my words to OSA are its not so much about "Do something for pan" anymore.... its time to DO MORE... times are changing and the the pan community must grow... but thats just me :o)
Stop by my page and check out the recent blog I posted on our Win :oP Hope you all enjoy it! Bless!
Pan Alive is over, the Champion this year is Afropan. What did AFROPAN Win? They got to hold the Championship trophy and got to keep a miniture version, while the real sits in somebody's home because OSA do not have an office to display the trophy. AFROPAN did not get any CASH payments for their sweet victory. However, OSA has in place this policy where the core steelbands which is 10, are given up to $12,000.00 as mr Earl Wong mentioned, with the understanding they MUST participate in the Parade. The minimum a Steelband must present is 15 players, while other bands can be 3 to 4 times larger but gets the same amount. OSA dose not secure any other funding from sponsors or otherwise to present the Steelbands with viable prizes for the winners. check their web-site
I saw Len "Boogsie" Sharpe interviewed in this year's Panorama video. and his statement was enlightening.
He said that you couldn't pay the players for their work, so he just had to thank them for playing his music, for the love.
I don't know what financial arrangements players have with the big bands, but I'd bet that their remuneration can no way compensate for the effort they put out for Panorama.
They do it for the love..
I imagine that most of us who have played pans have done it for the love, and though payment would be nice, we didn't expect much.
I think that's the way it is in Canada.
So all this talk of 'free pan" is not really productive.
I will clarify about the so-called "money for Steelbands in Toronto" Every steelband get the same amount of funds from OSA, size dose not matter, the minimum requirement are 15 players. Therir are progressive Steelbands with much more players but but gets the same. For years their are steelbands that never improves nor expands above the minimum and pockets the money.
What was your intention in making this video? As Earle Wong stated, bands do receive money for their appearance in Pan Alive. You are not providing people with all the information and as seen by comments posted on this site, people are making incorrect assumptions about pan in Toronto. As someone, who played and competed in Pan Alive, I am offended and ashamed of your video. You have single handedly put pan in Toronto, and Canada for that matter back 10 steps. Instead of creating and posting such a ridiculous video, which in essence makes pan people in Toronto look like we are playing for "free" and look like fools for doing so, why don't you "do something for pan" and help create positive solutions? This video has done the complete opposite.
Comments
@Hameed, i'm aware that some pan players do make some money, i didn't say that they didn't... I acknowledged the FACT that many of the players that take part in the competition are NOT professional players and therefore the money aspect of it isn't such a high priority... for the professionals it is because that's their bread and butter.. .and don't get me wrong its always nice to get some money in hand for doing something you love.. but thats clearly not the focus of the pan alive competition...
again do not mistake what i'm saying.. i do not think OSA's "award" for 1st place in Pan Alive is sufficient. especially in this day and age... I've seen past trophies that Afropan has won and quite frankly cannot understand why the trophy the winning band gets to keep from 2011 is comparable to a dollarstore trophy, when trophies we have received in the past were much larger and more impressive.... Really and truly the big silver trophy that we took pictures with at the announcement of our win should be kept in our possession for the year until next pan alive when it is passed on to the next winner... it should NOT be in the possession of OSA, or in the livingroom of someone's house because it is my understanding that OSA has no main office... but thats just my thoughts...
The problem with steelbands in today's Carnivals is the lack of impact.
At the Toronto festival I noticed that the steelbands were supported by their fans and die-hard pan lovers like myself.
For the majority, some were curious, and many were respectful of the steelbands for cultural reasons.
But the steelbands made no real impact on the festivities, and would not have been missed by most if they were not there.
Steelbands of old demanded respect and support by dominating the streets at Carnival with sound and power.
Today, it is obviously impractical to put large dominant steelbands on the road as was done in days of old.
But it beats me why in the 21st century, experiments into steelband amplification pioneered by Bertie Marshall in the nineteen sixties haven't been updated and perfected to present a powerful steelband sound on the streets at Carnival, be it in Toronto, New York, London or in Trinidad.
Hi Kerry-Ann you said:
1"") For most steel pan players in Toronto, we play for the sheer love and passion of the music... majority of players are not professional players and therefore do not look to the art for financial gain or dependability. It is not such a crazy thing to hear of players playing for free as we aren't going abroad to play and aren't looking to get our next meal from a gig or a win... we just lookin to have fun!""
This may be so, however, Steelpan instruments cost money, If the players were made to bear the cost of the instruments their story may be different. Most Steelbands already has pans to accomodate the people just "looking to have fun", Some people plays Hockey or Baseball just to have fun while others are making lagre amount of money playing sports and "having fun" Pan Players in the world's largest Panorama competition, do have fun but make some money too.
Congrats to my Afro Family on our well deserved win this year! My personal opinions on these comments below are as follows:
1) For most steel pan players in Toronto, we play for the sheer love and passion of the music... majority of players are not professional players and therefore do not look to the art for financial gain or dependability. It is not such a crazy thing to hear of players playing for free as we aren't going abroad to play and aren't looking to get our next meal from a gig or a win... we just lookin to have fun!
2) True OSA does provide bands with some 'seed' money but given the size of some bands and the costs that they incur to RUN a steelband, this money really isn't incentive enough to take part in the festivities they are used for... Bragging rights are great but transportation costs alone for a steelband are high.. not to mention tuning of the pans! I've heard that there is SOME monies given for a first place win at Pan Alive but whatever it is isn't enough to scratch the surface of the needs of a steelband.... How about a prize big enough to help a steelband run through the rest of the year... the amount of bands without practice space or a place to call a permanent home... space to store their pans outside of the summer months... all these things cost MONEY... fundraising only helps so much....lol the mango chow sounds pretty good about now though haha jks
3)Participation in events such as the caribana parade, although fun for most players, is not a high priority for steelbands in toronto as pan doesn't get half of the respect or promotion it deserves within the caribana celebrations. Steelpan on a whole in Toronto needs to be more uplifted, appreciated and publicized OUTSIDE of our small pan community.
*shrugs* Im still new to the pan scene but what i do know is that more events like pan alive need to happen..At this point my words to OSA are its not so much about "Do something for pan" anymore.... its time to DO MORE... times are changing and the the pan community must grow... but thats just me :o)
Stop by my page and check out the recent blog I posted on our Win :oP Hope you all enjoy it! Bless!
Pan Alive is over, the Champion this year is Afropan. What did AFROPAN Win? They got to hold the Championship trophy and got to keep a miniture version, while the real sits in somebody's home because OSA do not have an office to display the trophy. AFROPAN did not get any CASH payments for their sweet victory. However, OSA has in place this policy where the core steelbands which is 10, are given up to $12,000.00 as mr Earl Wong mentioned, with the understanding they MUST participate in the Parade. The minimum a Steelband must present is 15 players, while other bands can be 3 to 4 times larger but gets the same amount. OSA dose not secure any other funding from sponsors or otherwise to present the Steelbands with viable prizes for the winners. check their web-site
http://www.ontariosteelpan.com/
I saw Len "Boogsie" Sharpe interviewed in this year's Panorama video. and his statement was enlightening.
He said that you couldn't pay the players for their work, so he just had to thank them for playing his music, for the love.
I don't know what financial arrangements players have with the big bands, but I'd bet that their remuneration can no way compensate for the effort they put out for Panorama.
They do it for the love..
I imagine that most of us who have played pans have done it for the love, and though payment would be nice, we didn't expect much.
I think that's the way it is in Canada.
So all this talk of 'free pan" is not really productive.
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