Calypso season kicks off January 7

Janae Jackson performing during the Calypso season earlier this year

Calypsonians in Dominica are getting ready to compete in the biggest event for the Carnival Season, ‘the Calypso Competition,’ which kicks off on January 7, 2017 with eliminations at the Harlem Plaza.

Executive Secretary of the Dominica Calypso Association, Daryl Bobb, has urged competitors to register early since the cost is expected to increase from $20 to $50 after December 19.

“Registration is only $20, so what we have done is that we have decided to put the registration fee up $50 from December 19, so up to the 19th you can register for $20,” he explained.

He said this was done in efforts to curb the length of the elimination phase of the competition, since it is the longest show of the Calypso Season. 

“What we have done to curb the length of the show – because of the amount of people coming in to perform in calypso, over the last few years we have up to nearly 80 people – to keep that figure down, the price will increase after a period of time,” Bobb explained.

He added, “Usually we would have registration even on the night of the eliminations, which is not very professional but eliminations is an event that is a very free up type of environment, it doesn’t really call for that type of environment…,” he stated.

Hence, these measures, he said, were put in place.

Entry fee for elimination night is $10, while VI P entry is $20.

Show is scheduled to begin anytime between 7:00pm and 8:00pm.

Bobb further revealed that the Calypso Finals is carded for February 25th 2017.

“So you could date back two weeks before finals then two weeks before that as to the quarter-finals,” he revealed.

Meantime, the Dominica Calypso Association held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Dominica Calypso House in Bath Estate on Saturday.

The primary purpose of the meeting was to ensure that financials are read and the president’s report is received followed by new elections for new officers if necessary.

Bobb explained that there were concerns that were expressed and prior to the meeting sponsors figured that it was a dangerous time to have an AGM, “because of the chances of officers being changed at such a time when we already have the ball rolling in preparation for Carnival.”

“It was not a very good time but however an AGM is very important, and according to the constitution, an AGM has to be held every year,” he added.

He noted that the association didn’t want to go into another season without an AGM.

“Some members realized the danger in having it and somebody moved a motion that the current executive remains,” he said.

Bobb said following a vote by show of hands the membership decided that the current executive should stay on.

“By a vote about 27 to about 5 the membership decided that the current executive should stay on,” he revealed.“The executive gave a very good account of themselves, they presented their reports very professionally and I think the membership recognizes that and decided that unanimously the current executive should stay on.”

Bobb said in moving forward the association decides to have elections very early after the Calypso Season, “so that the people who felt that there was supposed to be a traditional election, then we could satisfy their desire and have an election immediately after our financials are prepared after the Carnival season.”

Constitutionally the Dominica Calypso Association’s election is due in June.

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15 Comments

  1. mine
    December 16, 2016

    To many people for the eliminations seventy to eighty is way toomany.

  2. Mahaut man
    December 14, 2016

    King dice your days are over

  3. legit
    December 14, 2016

    Eliminations should not be a comedy show..There must be a pre elimination whether is by a CD recording…judged by the Judges for the Current season and voted by fans. The 25 best selected renditions should compete at a show..which should not be named eliminations.They could name it the Qualifiers .Calypso is business entertainment.Let the people sing their whole song.

  4. legit
    December 14, 2016

    Eliminations should not be deemed a comedy affair..there should be a pre selective process…for example a single ..on cd etc..produced and judged by the association judges for the current season and calypso voting fans..The 30 best compositions should be selected for the elimination show.Calypso is business entertainment and there should be a cut-off..

  5. Jaded
    December 14, 2016

    The eliminations should be held over 2 or 3 sessions. Actually, the fee should be higher to encourage only serious contestants. At $20 or $50 any pappy-show will show up.

  6. playboy
    December 14, 2016

    If a calypsonian can’t afford an extra $30.00, then Dominica is much worse off than I thought.
    The result of this move: More money for the DCA and the same or higher number of calypsonians.
    Great post, “Laura.”
    By the way, The DCA constitution says that NO executive member shall serve for more than two(2) consecutive terms.
    The number of times this has been violated is incalculable, and will probably happen again. Not an association. A clique is what you call this.

  7. Outsider Looking In
    December 13, 2016

    Raising the price of registration will not totally solve the issue. First of all, there should be a cut off date for registration and the Association should stick by that date. In my opinion, I would suggest 2 weeks before the date of eliminations thus giving everyone an opportunity to register. Remember the band has to practise with the calypsonians. Secondly, seeing that the numbers for eliminations rise every year, why don’t they have a pre-elimination round in maybe an ex-tempo style, and therefore, bring down the number to about 50 calypsonians on the night of the eliminations. As an outsider looking in, this is simply my opinion

  8. Massacre
    December 13, 2016

    I hope the Dominican people get better services from the DCA with all that money they charging !

  9. Calypso Judge
    December 13, 2016

    The price of the Eliminations should not be used as a prohibitive tool to dissuade potential entries who could come with the next top song / Road March etc. December 19th is too soon for such a hike from $20 to $50. My alternative solution is one that has been discussed among current judges. Simply innovate this phase of the competition to include an X-Factor type of buzzer system. Everything doesn’t have to be about money. That way the judges would not be forced to go thru an entire rendition that simply would not go thru in the 10/12 from 65+ competitors. Each judge would have one “save” and this will enhance the competition. Further, those who feel that they are not up to par would be naturally dissuaded from registering in the 1st place.

    • hmmmmmm
      December 13, 2016

      I agree 1 million percent….. This would make the show even more entertaining

    • Laura
      December 13, 2016

      Nice Idea. Very forward thinking. The DCA would be better served to employ ideas like these to enhance the competition. They remain complacent in the knowledge that calypso is well patronized so they see no need to innovate.

    • Stupesnstupes
      December 13, 2016

      Great suggestion

  10. Laura
    December 13, 2016

    Stupes! That is not going to fix the problem. People will pay the $50 and flood the eliminations. These guys at the DCA are just hard headed. What was wrong with the suggestion to break up the eliminations in parts? Or hold indoor eliminations before the public show? Any of these two could work!

    • TORKSPEC
      December 13, 2016

      I agree with Laura, ” hold indoor eliminations before the public show” the same model American idol uses
      this way the real competition would be of a higher standard thus pulling more people to the shows

    • Calypso Lover
      December 15, 2016

      Great suggestion

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