10 - Procedures for National Semi-Finals and Finals

10.1          Procedures to be observed by steelbands on the day of the competition – All steelbands competing at the National Semi-Finals and the National Finals stages of the competition shall be required to comply with the following procedures in respect of their conduct on the day of the competition:-

(a)               Each steelband is required to present its members and instruments at the competition venue at least 60 minutes prior to the time stipulated for the commencement by the orchestra of its performance;

(b)               All steelbands shall appear and play in the order in which they drew by ballot;

(c)                If any steelband shall fail to appear in the position in which they were due to appear as selected by ballot, the next steelband in sequence as selected by ballot shall perform before the judges when instructed to do so by the Events Committee or one of its duly authorized representatives;

(d)               No steelband shall deliberately impede another steelband from appearing onstage in the order in which they are to appear as selected by ballot;

(e)                Each steelband shall proceed to the judging area when instructed to do so by an authorized person;

(f)                Each steelband shall proceed offstage and away from the judging area when instructed to do so by an authorized person;

(g)               No unauthorized persons shall be permitted in the judging area;

(h)               All steelbands shall be easily identifiable and shall have prominently displayed on its banner the Name of the Steelband, the Name of its Leader, Composer, Arranger and the Title of the Calypso the steelband is playing as well as the number of the position in which the steelband is appearing as selected by ballot;

(i)                 The members (including players, pushers, officials, etc.) of each steelband shall be easily identifiable;

(j)                 Before proceeding onstage to commence its performance, each steelband shall be subject to a tally by the officials of the Events Committee as well as by the officials of the steelband to determine whether the steelband is appearing with the registered number of players;

(k)               No member or official or supporter of a steelband shall impede the tally of the steelband by the Events Committee or an authorized person

(l)                 Where there is a discrepancy in the results of the tally made by the officials of the Events Committee and the officials of the steelband respectively, the matter shall be referred to the President or Vice-President of the organizations whose decision in this regard shall be final and binding upon the steelband.

10.2          Procedures to be observed by steelbands immediately prior to their performance - All steelbands competing at the National Semi-Finals and the  National Finals stages of the competition shall be required to comply with the following procedures immediately prior to the commencement of their performances before the judges:-

(a)    Each steelband next scheduled to perform shall proceed to the “Holding Bay” while the preceding steelband is performing onstage;

(b)   Each steelband shall stop playing upon arriving at the area of judging;

(c)    Prior to the commencement of the performance of a steelband, the resident disc jockey at the respective venues shall only be allowed to play the music selected by the steelband for a maximum of eight (8) minutes;

(d)   Each steelband shall be expected to be ready to perform its selection of music at the end of the eight (8) minute period given for the playing of its tune by the resident disc jockey at the respective venue; and

(e)    Each steelband must play in its position irrespective of whether the disc jockey plays the Calypso that the steelband is about to perform.

10.3          Procedures to be observed by steelbands during their performance - All steelbands competing at the National Semi-Finals and the  National Finals stages of the competition shall be required to comply with the following procedures in respect of the commencement and conclusion of their performances before the judges:-

(a)                Each steelband shall commence its performance before the judges upon receiving an indication to do so by means of an Amber Light or an Amber Flag;

(b)               Each Conventional Steelband shall perform for a maximum of eight (8) minutes before the panel of judges;

(c)                Each Single Pan Steelband shall perform for a maximum of six (6)minutes before the panel of judges;

(d)               Upon the conclusion of its performance, each steelband shall immediately proceed along the route away from the judging area upon being signalled to do so by way of a Green Light or Green Flag.

10.4          Judging Time – Judging time for each Single Pan Steelband and Conventional Steelband shall begin upon the commencement by the respective steelband of its performance before the panel of judges.

10.5          Responsibility for Conduct of Steelband – The leaders and officials of each competing steelband shall be held responsible for the behaviour, conduct and general deportment of the members and followers of the steelband.

Rules and regulations as posted by Pan Trinbago the governing steel organization of T&T