Shortage of players hurting bands

A PAUCITY of players among steelbands registered to compete in this year’s National Panorama Competition has forced Pan Trinbago to relax the rules governing the minimum number of pannists, which bands are allowed to utilise — at least during the preliminary round of the contest. Bands unable to attract the minimum number of players for this round of the competition, in the various categories, will be allowed to perform before a panel of music adjudicators according to Pan Trinbago secretary Richard Forteau.

Conventional and single pan bands all have a minimum and maximum cast of pannists they can perform with on stage. The conventional class features three groups of competitors. They are small, 35-55 players; medium, 60-90 players; and large, 95-120. The single pan band category caters for a complement of 25-45 pannists. Now, bands with the least number of players can take part in the preliminary round of Panorama which starts tonight with Exodus, almost without worry.

Forteau said, “As far as Pan Trinbago is concerned, this competition is based on music. Judges ought not to be concerned about the number of players in a band, rather about the orchestration of that band and its delivery of the Panorama song.” However, Forteau cautioned participating orchestras not affected by the player shortage that the ceiling for their respective categories has not been changed and bands found in breach of those rules will be dealt with accordingly. Forteau said news about the low player turnout at panyards across the country had reached Pan Trinbago, hence its decision to alter the minimum requirement rule.

Pan Trinbago’s decision to increase this year’s pay-packet to individual pannists by $200 (to $400) has not motivated panmen to gravitate to the panyards. The payment is made to pannists performing at the Panorama preliminaries only. Forteau did not address the issue surrounding panmen’s lack of enthusiasm towards the steelband body’s individual payout. Instead, he said the short Carnival season was to blame for the player-handicap most steelbands have been experiencing. The Pan Trinbago official reported that most steelbands commenced Panorama practice sessions before Christmas, but the majority of pannists only started rehearsals this week when panyard judging begins.

News reaching Newsday states that most steelbands desirous of making a musical contribution to Carnival 2005 can barely secure the minimum number of players required for eligibility at the pan competition. As a result rehearsals have become counter-productive and are causing anxiety and frustration among arrangers, players and management teams. Forteau said: “We have rescheduled judging of single pan bands for the same reason. They will be judged after the conventional process has been completed." Newsday learnt that the shortage of players has however generated increased mercenary activity for “crackshot” panmen. These pannists are reportedly in higher demand, earning pay-packets between $400-$800 for this stage of the contest alone. Once the band employing their services qualifies for the semi-final and final rounds of the competition, the fees are renegotiated.