Date: 03.05.06

A Peculiar Relationship! - SteelPan and The North Stands

2006 T&T Steelband Panorama Season

North Stand Posse During Panorama 2006

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago - Ask any steelband-related person in Trinidad about the North Stand, especially for the semi-finals in 2006, and you will get anything from a rolling of the eyes to outright profanity. 'Dem doh like pan!" or "dem doh know nuttin about pan!" are guaranteed phrases you will hear in between profanity-laced blood pressure-raising tirades from the passionate pan players and managers as they address the presence of the over- capacity crowd, seated, standing and rolling in aisles of the North Stands of the Queen's Park Savannah during the semi finals panorama music competitions.

It becomes abundantly clear in a short while to even the most casual observer, that the majority of the people occupying the North Stand during the competition have little or zero interest in the actual music event that is taking place on stage. The panorama competition is nothing more than a back drop to the all-exclusive mammoth party/picnic that is really the true reason for the presence of this boisterous crowd. There is absolutely nothing wrong with large numbers of people coming to together to have a good time - and by all observations the people in the North Stand truly have a great time. However, it is strange and curious that through the years this crowd would choose the national steelband panorama competition as its place and time to gather.

North Stand patrons show little or no interest in Panorama

The relationship between the crowd in the North Stand and steelband event is even more peculiar when you consider that the steelpan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. The obvious disinterest in the on-going music proceedings raises the question as to why the organizers permitted this relationship to develop to this point of open distraction, detraction and disrespect to the competition. It also raises the question as to if the North Stand crowd's behavior and attitude are really a small but accurate barometer of the thinking and attitude of the larger Trinidad and Tobago society towards the national instrument.

Trinidad is the birth place of this unique and only acoustic music invention of the twentieth century. The fierce annual national competition showcases some of the best steelbands and music talent in the world. The instrument and its music have achieved worldwide popularity in recent years. Steelband ensembles and steelpan music programs have become commonplace in many colleges in North America. Steelpan has also experienced significant growth in Europe and Japan; steelbands are also already established in Africa and Australia.

Patrick Arnold, president of Pan Trinbago (in black cap), and His Excellency Professor George Maxwell Richards, President of Trinidad and Tobago (with drink in hand), in the North Stands for the semi-final rounds of the 2006 National Panorama

The behavior of the present-day North Stand crowd is ironic - considering in the past, that particular stand was the place where the most loyal and knowledgeable pan fans resided. Even today, while most steelbands face the Grand Stand and judges - some like Desperadoes and All Stars still set up with half the band facing North Stand.

The 2006 semi-finals event proceedings included the house announcer alternately beseeching and threatening the North Stand crowd to cease their own music-making activities, while the steelbands performed. The announcer repeatedly made mention of the fact that not only were music lovers having a hard time enjoying the steelband music, but the judges too were challenged in their duties. It is now being rumored that the North Stand crowd will no longer be met with open arms by the event organizers after this year's "disrespectful" behavior towards the instrument and competition.

This too is a peculiar statement - considering there will be no North Stand next year because of the scheduled demolition of the Queen's Park Savannah facilities. Sounds like a bad case of waving a stick at the dog after the dog has left the building. Again this strange relationship is reflective, in many ways, of the manner in which the larger society treats its national instrument - be seen and not heard. A peculiar relationship indeed.

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