Carnival 2012 Dimanche Gras is in the news today, and we are not pleased at all! Damn, that show was boring! Oh no, not my Dimanche Gras... Oh no; say it is not so! Yes, that was the situation at home and on the WWW. I was taking in the stream here in New York and was not only bored but also very upset. I was not alone because almost everyone in the chat box that I used to stay awake felt the same. Damn, the show was boring!
Look, everyone knows that that show was not the Soca Monarch, and the spectacle and excitement of the Soca Monarch experience are not simple to duplicate. However, the Dimanche Gras was once the main event of Carnival. I remember as a young person growing up in Trinidad that we all sat in the living room glued to our television sets to watch the King and Queen of Carnival parade on the stage and listen to the best calypsonians compete for the crown. Those were the "good old days. So what happened?
The Soca Monarch Competition has experienced significant growth and has emerged as the season's highlight, with the catchphrase "Fantastic Friday" serving as the premiere date for the weekend activities. Despite appearing better organized this year, the Panorama competition still requires streamlining.
The Dimanche Gras show requires a significant boost to revitalize its once grand event. I was not interested in the King and Queen of the Bands competition, which also had its own set of issues. There was a report of a government minister interfering with the flow of the show, resulting in the cancellation of backstage judging. This segment is crucial for the costume builders. The designer's craft ingenuity earns points in this section. Unfortunately, this did not take place—protocol? What the hell is that?!?
Then there was the question of what is considered a float and what is a costume. Some have said that the rule states that a costume could have two wheels and had to be carried (carried being the important word here) by the King or Queen, respectively. Unfortunately, some of the so-called costumes had four wheels and were pulled or pushed from inside instead of being carried... they have some rules to iron out and a proper judging protocol put in place. Then there is the flow of the masqueraders—a good stage manager will keep the show moving on and staying on schedule.
The calypso competition is the main event for many, and for me, it is the reason I lost my night's rest knowing I had to go to work in the morning. It felt wonderful staying up and 'liming with friends, even if it was online. So what is the main gripe as a listener, as someone watching the show from afar? OK, let me see if I can point out the areas that offended me.
First, the stage lighting is destitute. I don't think they realize how important excellent lighting is for these events. One cannot simply depend on fixed lightning. There have to be spotlights and people focusing the lights on the contestants—this is critical.
Next up, we have the calypsonians and the performances. I really think that the semifinals held at Skinner's Park were an official competition. The performances put on by these people felt like guest appearances and nothing like a competition. Perhaps it was the Internet feed, but the semifinal show was truly electrifying, whereas the Dimanche Gras show was dull and uninteresting. If the competition relied solely on a single song, it would have created tension and required the competitors to perform at their peak to win the title. Not everyone has a good second song, and this proved to be a big setback for some of the singers. Added to this, the second song just dragged on and on and made the event even more boring.
This situation is particularly bothersome because it involves the broadcast media. The Internet video feed showcased four contestants, concealed behind the WACK Radio 901 FM stream. I don't understand this, and it soured the show with many people giving ball-by-ball play of the performances that we were anticipating via the video feed—Choops!
What action do I believe is necessary? Have a Champions Concert!
Here goes... Sunday night should be the night of champions. The world should witness a show showcasing the winners of each competition. The King and Queen of the bands should be judged on a different night. Maybe, just maybe, the Skinner's Park show should be the place the Calypso Monarch is judged; the winner of that show, the winners of the Soca Monarch competitions, the Chutney Soca Monarch, the National Chutney Soca Monarch, and the winning steel band (small, medium, and large) could be brought into the Savannah on Sunday night for a grand display of our talent for the entire world to see.
There won't be any competition, just a display of our wonderful talents. Adjust the price of the tickets to ensure that the people will attend the show. This show should be organized to finish around 1:00 am to allow people to move on to other parties/fetes, or they could organize it in such a manner that the Savannah should have a grand party until King J'ouvert officially gives the street to the masqueraders!