Virtual events in train for Carnival 2021

FILE PHOTO: Nailah Blackman makes a surprise appearance on stage with Massy All Stars who played her song More Sokah at the National Panorama Finals at the Queen's Park Savannah in February.  - Vidya Thurab
FILE PHOTO: Nailah Blackman makes a surprise appearance on stage with Massy All Stars who played her song More Sokah at the National Panorama Finals at the Queen's Park Savannah in February. - Vidya Thurab

Usually, by now, the costumes would have been bought, people would have been working hard at getting their bodies ready and the latest soca songs would have been out.

While there is no Carnival 2021 because of the covid19 pandemic, people can look forward to viewing virtual Carnival events in the new year. Some stakeholders will be hosting virtual events leading up to and on February 15 and 16.

Virtual carnivals have become the immediate norm because of the pandemic with Notting Hill, Miami and Montserrat being among them.

The Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) is among those planning virtual events.

In a phone interview with Newsday its president Lutalo “Brother Resistance” Masimba said, “We at TUCO are making preparations for online activity in support of what is termed a virtual Carnival.”

Masimba said the organisation’s situation was different because it is a members organisation and its members make music.

“For us, there is no season. Calypso music in whatever form, calypso, soca or whatever style is an all-season kind of situation.”

He said the fact that the Government says there will be no Carnival does not affect TUCO's output nor its presentation of music for the world’s consumption.

Having hosted its Calypso History Month virtually, the experience gained will help TUCO deliver a “world-class” Carnival product, he said.

While the organisation plans to roll out a more definite schedule at a later date, people can look forward to seeing aspects of the calypso tents, junior calypso and extempo.

“One of the things we are expecting to do is to embrace the historical value of what we do. Alongside the presentation and performance, we have been having conversations with some researchers who have material in their vault to prepare a historical package of the different experiences to go along with what we present.”

TUCO plans to create a complete package showing the history and development of the music.

Similarly, the National Carnival Commission (NCC) also plans to host digital events. Its CEO Colin Lucas said the commission’s virtual events will mirror and showcase the three major elements of Carnival: music, mas and pan.

Lucas said there will be a combination of curated material (the best material from over the years) alongside new material.

“The new stuff will be subject to limitations of quantum and size, of course, because of covid,” he qualified.

He said while a large-band Panorama presentation of a song could not be done, there were thousands of presentations that still had amazing residual value, and that could be compiled into a show.

He said the commission was shying away from the term "virtual" because it implied a level of interactivity. He said it was really digital platforms being used to showcase different aspects of Carnival.

“We will be making sure that TT is well represented in the space. But we will also be making sure that people understand that these are aspects and snippets of our Carnival. To experience the real Carnival you have to be here. As soon as it is possible, you need to get to TT.”

A schedule of the events could possibly be available as early as next month, he said.

Pan Trinbago will also be hosting virtual events. Its president Beverley Ramsey-Moore said people can look forward to performances as well as, on what would have been Carnival Saturday night, a pay-per-view show called The Sweetest Pan in the World.

“Also we will have the single pan bands, and the smaller conventional bands will have a separate event,” she said.

Pan Trinabgo's virtual events will "definitely be monetised."

The organisation has been hosting virtual events throughout the pandemic year.

Ramsey-Moore said no consideration is being given to a virtual Panorama, as it would be extremely difficult to do so, “In trying to have everyone playing on a level, playing for the judging aspect, and according to the numbers.

She said the organisation could only do shows where it can pre-record, using one of the larger stages.

“Pan in itself and the competition are definitely large gatherings, and in trying to keep within the covid restrictions, it would be extremely difficult to have that kind of Panorama effect.”

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"Virtual events in train for Carnival 2021"

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