New York, USA - There is simply nothing like an irate parent - ask any politician that is stumping for votes.
The Panorama contest of New York is probably the only contest in the state where you are almost certainly guaranteed to be a loser before you enter. Of course that’s nothing new; for years it has been known that the economics just don’t work out. It takes much more to bring out a panorama steel orchestra than you can recoup - even if you win the first place prize. The prize money is vastly inadequate. The general cost of securing the services of an arranger and tuning the instruments simply to enter the competition, can outweigh half of that monetary first prize. And just why is the prize so low? And pale in comparison to the number of patrons who attend the event each year at a $45 - $60 dollar price tag? In spite of all the magnificence of Panorama it continues to be a losing proposition for the players and band managements.
Recently, an irate pan parent posted in the WST (When Steel Talks) forum, about the absence of 2014 New York Panorama pictures. What a thought.
D’Radoes youthful members practice before going into the Brooklyn Museum grounds for the 2014 Panorama competition
The young people who returned to school - be it elementary, junior or high school, or college - were not able to purchase shoes, books or school supplies with any monies earned from participating in Panorama - after spending their Summer dedicated to showcasing their culture through the steelpan art form at the WIADCA (West Indian American Day Carnival Association) Panorama. They don’t expect any. Never have. That’s not why they play in a Panorama steel orchestra. However, the parents and participants do and should reasonably expect that professional photos of their respective bands and every player be readily available to them, after such a large-scale music exposition that showcases their children.
After all, cameras were banned from the event. So the parents and bands were left with no options but to depend naturally on official images of the event - after all, it is the 21st century...
Memories of the event after a Summer of dedication which culminates in a major music showcase should not be reduced to a “selfie” or shaking video taken by a cell phone. They deserve more. As WST has said many times before: the bands are ready for prime time when they take the stage - but everything else surrounding them is not.
It is clearly time for the parents, players and band leaders to sit down with Governor Cuomo (there’s life after walking, waving and smiling at the Caribbean community along Eastern Parkway on Labor Day, and still seven weeks before election...) and the sponsors of the event and come away with a lasting commitment that, at a minimum, for future Panoramas there will be pro pics of every player, a professional DVD of the event and additionally - professional live internet streaming so families, friends and music lovers all over the world can see the young New York steelpan musicians at their very best. Moreover, when asked “What did you do for the Summer?” - after two months of nightly sacrifice - one would expect to show more than a “selfie.”
The only people who make money in the Panorama are the promoters. Making money of the backs, blood and sweat of our youth - in the name of culture.
One generally only critiques people who have intellect, talent and goodwill to do better. But in the interest of some irate parents and New York pan youths, we will break that rule.
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