Panorama is outgrowing the Queen’s Park Savannah but there’s no alternative venue to stage this premier annual steelband competition, which was born at this venue in 1963.
This and other challenges perennially face Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz but he says his organisation is valiantly moving forward, “cutting our suit to the cloth we have.”
Panorama is here again and come Sunday all roads lead to the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain when Pan Trinbago Inc holds the semi-finals of the 2016 National Panorama competitions for small, medium and large conventional steel orchestras. However, this year’s Panorama semi-final has a bitter sweet taste in the mouths of some pan lovers, mainly because of an increase in some admission fees.
On Sunday, tickets to the North Stand are priced at $400, $250 for the Grand Stand and $350 for the Greens. For the finals, scheduled for February 6, the admission fees are $800 (Grand Stand, special reserve); $500 (Grand Stand, general); $400 (Grand Stand, eat and west wings); and $450 (North Stand, all inclusive).
Asked this week about the increase in admission fees Diaz said: “We don’t get any money from government for critical expenditure like the payment of salaries for the four regions and the central executive. Pan Trinbago has to generate its own income and Panorama is our main money earner. Secondly, there is the issue of paying rent for the organisation’s headquarters and offices for four regions.
That is over $8 million dollars per annum. The people who criticise don’t understand the working of the machinery that is named Pan Trinbago Inc.” Continuing on this year’s event, Diaz added: “The price of the Greens is the same as last year so whoever is complaining is really making much ado about nothing.
“The Grand Stand accommodates 4,800 patrons while, years ago, the North Stand used to accommodate about 10,000 people. Because of stress requirements etc this was reduced 8,500 last year, in 2016, the approved figure for the North Stand is 7,000 as instructed by the engineers. We could only sell 7,000 tickets, fullstop. Pan Trinbago doesn’t have access to the reserved and VIP booths in the Grand Stand as this is under the ambit of the NCC (National Carnival Commission).
“We have tried so many various ways to accommodate the crowd while generating revenue, like when we charged a small fee for patrons on the track in 2009. People complained so we stopped that. The country doesn’t have venues to accommodate a Panorama semi-final and final so we’re stuck with the Savannah and have to come up with creative ways to derive revenue as well as continue to tweak the product to ensure satisfaction for the paying patrons.,” Diaz said.
Despite social network bearing posts that some crews and patrons wont be going to the Greens this year, Diaz vehemently emphasised: “The Greens is definitely not losing appeal! Remember that this is an empty space in the Savannah that we must transform each year to accommodate a crowd of more 9,000 people, with all the necessary amenities. We cater for the young people who wish to enjoy the ambience and flavour that is Panorama.
The detractors say that the Greens is not a part of Panorama, with some saying that it is actually a nuisance and irritation. But, when those young people attend the Greens, where are they going? Not to Panorama?
“Effective lighting and security outside the Greens has been a challenge so this year we have paid special attention to these areas and have beefed them up. Pan Trinbago is serious about providing a safe environment for our young people, and the visitors who attend Panorama.
“There has been no fall away in the patronage from the corporate sector. In fact, there has been an increase from companies requesting to attend the Greens and to them I wish to say a very big thank you.”
Caesar’s Army founder Jules “Julius Caesar” Sobion said: “The Romans of Caesar’s Army will not participate in the ‘lime on the Greens’ at Sunday’s Panorama semi-finals for the first time in ten years. Instead, we will be holding Bacchanal Road at either Hasely Crawford Stadium or at a venue down Chaguaramas. We have been discussing an alternative event to the greens for a while after being on the Greens for ten years.”
Asked the reason for making the move, Sobion added: Firstly, it’s the cost, especially in a recession year. After the initial cost of the ticket, by the time we add on the posse cost, it comes up to the price of an all-inclusive fee which is not feasible for the organiser or customer.”
Sobion continued: “The Greens is not as attractive as it was when it began, especially for the special interest parties who have patronised it through the years. While I do believe that the national instrument is worthy of the price of admission to the Grand and North stands it has become too expensive. The Greens though was set apart from those stands and was created for the party people who wish to get the atmosphere of the instrument but not necessarily follow the actual competition on stage.”
Long standing North Stand group La Flor Promotions is remaining in the stand. La Flor director David George said: “The increase in admission to the North Stand has raised some questions as to what is the justification in Pan Trinbago raising the price of admission, especially in a recessionary period, not to mention a price that is more than that for the Greens.
“We have been in the North Stand for more than 20 years and our customers are keen to continue attending as we are really bona fide pan lovers; we really enjoy the pan and Panorama.
“What I have found over the past few years is that because so many big bands are arranging their own tunes, when they come to the Savannah they are not known because the radio stations don’t play their music. This causes a disconnect between the North Stand regulars and the big bands. We tend to enjoy the music of the medium bands more because they play selections with which we are familiar.”
Turning attention to Pan Trinbago, George said: “Pan Trinbago is pricing itself out of Panorama. Why does Pan Trinbago continue to increase its admission fees. This is abuse to the pan lovers of the land. Eventually the public will find more feasible ways to enjoy themselves on Panorama day; maybe simply go on the track and enjoy the steelbands as they make their way along the Barber Green to the stage.”
Sunday’s three-part Panorama programme is scheduled to begin at 9 am, with bands in the small band category opening the day’s proceedings.
Conventional (Large Band) semi-finalists and arrangers – Order of appearance:
1. Sangre Grande Cordettes – A Groovy Sound for Pan (Khion De Las)
2. BP Renegades – Music Inside Meh Head (Duvonne Stewart)
3. Skiffle – How She Like It (March Brooks/Kendall Williams/Odie Franklin)
4. Massy Trinidad All Stars – Leave We Alone (Leon “Smooth” Edwards)
5. PCS Silver Stars – Panoramic (Liam Teague)
6. Harmonites – Soca Have Dem So (Earl La Pierre)
7. Tropical Angel Harps – Nostalgia (Clarence Morris)
8. Hadco Phase II Pan Groove – Madd Music (Len “Boogsie” Sharpe)
9. CAL Invaders – Take That (Arddin Herbert)
10. Desperadoes - Different Me (Carlton “Zanda” Alexander
11. La Brea Nightingales – Nostalgia (Terrance “BJ” Marcelle)
12. Republic Bank Exodus – De Big Yard (Pelham Goddard)
13. Redemption Sound Setters – No No, We Ent Going Home (Michael Toby & Darren Sheppard)
14. NLCB Fonclaire – Bass on Fire (Ken “Professor” Philmore)
15. Supernovas – Breakthrough (Amrit Samaroo)
16. MHTL Starlift – Bass on Fire (Robert Greenidge)
17. birdsong – Dis 1.4.Raf (Andy Narell)