General Manager of LIME, Jeffery Baptiste, has suggested to the Dominica Calypso Association (DCA) that ways should be explored to commercialize and create economic value for the art form.
He also stated that the proper packaging of Calypso is severely lacking.
“In any business, one has to recognize the product is as good as you package it, as you market it,” Baptiste stated. “People buy what is sold to them.”
Baptiste made the remarks at the Calypso final draw at the Calypso House in Bath Estate on Tuesday.
“My call to the Dominica Calypso Association (DCA) is, we have to find a way to commercialize and to create some sort of economic value out of the investment that sponsors put into Calypso,” he said. “I think you have a product, certainly there is a market for it and if you are doing this as a business project and you are writing a business plan, this is the same concept.”
He noted that over the years Calypso has been very successful and people are asking for more.
“There is a very strong appetite for Calypso, not just in Dominica but across the region,” he stated, noting that Dominica has the subject matter and the right environment to develop Calypso.
Baptiste pointed out that it is an injustice to the art form when songs simply disappear around 10:00 pm on Carnival Tuesday “and everybody goes back to a world where Calypso does not exist.”
“I think we have to do a lot better than that,” he remarked.
Baptiste said it is up to the DCA to get Calypsonians and writers to think of the commercial value of Calypso.
He has even suggested that the DCA package the top six Calypsonians and take them on a tour of the region.
In that way, he noted, the DCA will be able to stand on its own with lesser need for sponsorship.
Uncontrolled Capitalism is what have this whole planet in con-fusion,,,
Pardnerman enough is enough you know, and when allyou die allyou cannot take all de Money wiff allyou,,,
Noffin should be commercialized everything should be for the good and enjoyment of all involved!!!
Stop listening to them fellows that brainwashing allyou into that whole concept about making a profit on the regular folks, this Planet is giving us enough resources for all of us to have a healthy, wealthy living while we here Marn don’t know why a few want to always be sitting on the balcony while most of the inhabitants have to be toiling in the Sun!!!
Calypso??? Do you guys ever try taking your radio dial off of DBS to catch up to speed? Dominica is the only island that still have calypso as its big musical extravaganza during carnival. Not even Trinidad still holding on to this art form the way that we do. So tell me how you intend to commercialize calypso there, Mr. Lime Boss. What, you going to try to sell CDs to “Dominicans” in NY during that little Calypso Kings show thingie they have there? De pictures fooling you man? Stupes… Get Tunein eh padner and listen to what the world is into and you will know what can be commercialized and what is a pipe dream.
Once this is done it is no longer going to be about calypso. It is going to be about money. Let those who want to make songs for outside markets and wider Caribbean do so. Nothing is stopping them. Let those who want to continue for the love of the artform and sing on whatever they please continue to do so. We have killed our distinct cadance music for the very same reason. Not all musicians out there are going to make it internationally.
I think we need to do a better job at improving on the quality and arrangements Of our craft and merit the calypsonians whoe do so. We sending mixed messages when we award sour sour and the other calypso clowns road march kings then come and talk about commercializing Calypso.
People will love us for our uniqueness, not for sounding like trinidad, or Jamaica, or haiti, or Guadeloupe. Lets improve on our melody, musical arrangements and cocomposition with a touch of our cadence. Keep it unique, keep it strong, and love it like how JA love reggae.
I don’t think that Cadence was killed. It grew old. If Cadence was killed, it was because of by Dominicans who in their constant fair for change kept it in the seventies and refused to follow the evolution of the creators of the genre. They stayed with the Midnight Groovers which is good but stagnant.
i back dattttt!!!!
you riding on de heels of Dr Peters
i smart enuff to see dem gimmicks
anyway…..
de problem or issue is dat Calypso ends on Carnival Tuesday
How many tents have a show during de year?
Its like de only period an artist can look to make a money is during carnival then boom Kai pool kwazay till next year!!!
I concur wholeheartedly; we have to find innovative ways to create the right framework to allow for the sustainable enjoyment of this art form throughout the year. The trickle effect most certainly will be profitability for the writers and the performers. This is a true art and we need to preserve, improve and nurture it!
Mr. Baptiste. It is clear to the calypso public the message which you are bringing across, however the challenge for these Calysonians are
Message
Target
Market
Which means what is it they want the public to hear. What is it that the public needs?
Who are the consumers they are targeting?
Where do the want to promote their music?
It is ok to sing about the PM in DA, but who wants to know that in South America for eg…
Did you remember,. Feeling hot hot hot by Arrow? Even today this is being played in European hotels, Sparrow, Jean and Dinah. Sparrow never sang primarily about the Caribbean, he sang about world issues which plagued some or all of us in some ways or the other, and this is why he was marketable. Obstinate.. These are the kind of music people want to hear, music which they can relate to……
Think about this… And maybe then if our talented musicians practice this principle, they may eventually be recognized globally….
“People buy what is sold to them.” Regretfully you are right, Mr Jeffery Baptiste. Should it not be “People buy what the need, admire, and are satisfied with”…? Instead we have to buy LIME!
Volney have some commonsense….He is only saying if you not selling it people are not able to buy it.
The question is do we see Calypso as a business in Dominica . If we do we need to think about Jeffrey utterance.
If it is just entertainment then we are doing alright …..but the shortfall is the business always have to give sponsorship then again they have a cooperate responsibility to support an environment( Carnival) which increases the revenue dollar of their business.
One of the problems calypso has in Dominica is the preponderance of political calypsoes.
I love them, but how many folks outside of Dominica & it’s diaspora know or care about
Ambassador A
Skerro
worst speaker
and the list goes on & on.