With the curtain having come down on the 14th Annual World Creole Music Festival, the task now for the organizers the Dominica Festivals Committee (DFC) and Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) is to bring together the various reports on the key functional areas of the festivals which ran from Friday 29-31 October at Windsor Park Sports Stadium.
DFC Events Director Miss Natalie Clarke said: “This is a busy time for wrapping up the event’s logistics and we have to make sure that everything is done in as smooth a manner as possible.”
The DFC Events director went on to say: “This year we had the challenge of a Tropical Storm Warning which called for us to postpone Saturday’s show to Sunday. It proved to be a negative which became a wonderful positive well received by the general public.”
She further stated: “I am both proud and pleased with the quick response from venue operations, stage, light and sound crew Rent-A-Amp, the Commonwealth of Dominica’s Police Force and the private security, Stage Production Manager Mr. Steve Hyacinth and the many others who rolled up their collective sleeves and rallied. I would like to thank my core team and all my extended Event management team, all service providers, all stadium management and staff and the artistes for creating an atmosphere filled with goodwill and creative passion which produced this year’s three nights of pulsating rhythms.”
The DFC put on the 14th WCMF 2010 with the confident underpinning of the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica and DIGICEL… the bigger, better, network along with many other corporate sponsors who gave sterling support to the event.
Clarke added: “ I am excited about producing another creative element to the festival as patrons did appreciate the tropical entrance and were startled by the live mannequins created by Miss Nathalie Marshal of Hairlectra fame. I would like to continue building on the small changes to the general spectator’s areas and thank Waitukubuli Trail for producing picnic tables, plants and stage props at short notice. They brought DA into the park which for me is part of selling Dominica to all our visitors.
“I look forward to working with all of these creative persons in the same positive spirit leading up to the 2011 Dominica’s Carnival’s Programme from 26th February through March 8th.”
What many commenting fail to realize is that the WCMF is a buisness designed to bring in money, as well as entertain. For how many years has it made massive losses? It doesnt matter where the head comes from so long as the event goes off well, safely and makes a penny. Sadly so long as you know someone you can get in for free.
Criticisms
Too many folks with media passes, pushing to the front and using cell phones or itouch as preferred form of imaging device. RCI intl had 9 people in t shirts and media passes not working ~ just partying inside the fence. Generally pushing legitimate local photographers and reporters out of the way.
No stage platforms for media and photographers to get decent images of the performers.
Poorly placed logo for image/festival branding.
DFC is just not serious about festival branding and paying for top notch images from this or any event.
Something needs to be done to limit the amount of people using “media passes” as a means to party with no legitimate reason.
Congratualtions…
to the DFC for making the best of what could have been a bad situation and ensuring Sunday was superb, in future may i suggest you kick off at or around 7pm. Or as seen on this occasion, change the Sunday for earlier so that more children can come see bands.
Well done all event organizers.
@Sapozay: i agree with you… if anyone noticed, she did say in one of her interveiws with one of teh local media that when sh leaves she wants to hve everythign set up for us so the next person who comes in her place will have good ground to stand on. GIVE HER A CHANCE! Blessings to her and her team.
@for dominicans: that is why there is a team to work with her. she is from another country but all the decisions are not up to her. Dominicans, please be open minded.
Kudos to the staff of WCMF/DDA for their hard work particularly as it relates to the changes that were made due to the passing of Tomas.Every dissappointment is a blessing because the sunday event turned out to be a success anyway.
I do believe that the time is right to consider having the Saturday night a dominican night featuring dominican artist and starting sundays activity from 3 p.m. till 2 a.m.
it is apparent that we have what it takes in dominica,so please consider.
@Miss G: and even if the event stretch into Monday morning, so what??? All working people have a responsibility to their place of employment: is either they apply for vacation leave during that time or they leave early to get time to rest before work or they bathe, dress and go straight to work. Everybody big….stupes.
@Patat: FYI…This “Trini” woman, only happend to be born in Trinidad…She left Trinidad when she was only 3 years old…she grew up in West Africa, the Bahamas and the UK….She is a “citizen” of Antigua anB Barbuda, where she spent the last 24 years of her adult life. She has visited DA several times, and is a model “Caribbean Woman”, and a Professional. In addiiton to be an accomplished Broadcaster and Artist, she was on the key coordinators in the Stanford 20/20 cricket series, World Cup Cricket events in Antigua, Romantic Rythms Music Festival in Antigua, adn was for several years Director of marketing for Antigua Carnival committee.
Do you know how man prominient Dominicans hold prestiegious jobs in other countries???? E.G. our own Dr Carissa Ettiene has a big post with WHO based in Washington…do you think Barack Obama should send her home?
Stweeeeps….. get a life and go do something positive for your own country…leave the woman alone and give her credit for accepting a job, that is not an easy one…..
@Patat: That’s a stupid comment to make, what are you an Id10t?
That woman is from TNT!!!!!!!!!
And in light of the stupid statements made by her PM we should make an example of her and send her back to Trinidad.
She should no longer have access to our little ATM in Dominica!!!!!!!!!!
A law for one is a law for all. Remember is your PM that start d war. We just responding in kind measure!!!!!!!!!
You have 30 days to pack up your stuff and get out.
No more love for u again
@iration:
It is amazing to me that we use terms such as “Trini Woman”, when one can find Dominicans employed in every country in the Caribbean. There are more of us employed outside of Dominican than in the country.We should be the last ones to question the employment Caribbean nationals, especially those qualified to do the job. We talk about integration but continue to discriminate against non-Dominicans.
@Charmer:
I think the organiser did a good job with balancing the french/creole/reggea/socca acts. We need to understand not everyone from Dominica may or visiting D/ca may understand the Creole.
The WCF should be a two day event instead of a three day. The final day always goes on to Monday morning when the majority of the people have to report to work or do they even make it at all? That’s just my opinion. Sunday should be left for another cultural event that goes on during the day.
the facts are that Trini woman met the line up in place, the complimentary tickets in place, the whole event policy in place so blame your own DA people for 14 years of event managing if you want to cast blame. Did you not ice the ticketing entrance with the plants and live mannequins? did you notice the second stage by the food court and the picnic tables? did you not ice the off side hair show by one of our own DA businesses? did you not ice the DA woman selling her stuff up by the pavillion? Did you notice that the weakest link was our own screen producers who came to the park? Do you know who makes the decisions for DFC? Check your facts before you cast blame. DA just like everywhere around the Caribbean… we quick to break down but have nothing positive to say in helping to build up. Chups… no wonder we still carrying the title of 3rd world!!!
In my opinion, it was a poor decision to continue with the Festival in the wake of a Tropical Storm warning on Saturday evening. While patrons had the free will to attend I believe the management should have been more responsible with their decision making. It showed a lack of respect for the safety of the patrons of the festival.
Good Job Mrs White. Was a very challenging ist- year for you, but you handled it well. I’m sure you do even better for next year. Just some more creole, rather than reggae.
Thanks WCMF, You made Dominica proud.
Given the unforseen circumstances you made the best of a bad situation. That’s a lot of good top-notch music. Cadence featured big this year with Exile, Groovers at prime time. This Festival and the flavor and calibre of the line up would have made this one THE best ever if not for the weather.
I must say….Thanks again,
Old P (no relation to any of the organizers, I just appreciate a good thing for Dominica even when knowing it’s not peerfect). again….Thank you WCMF.
@Fairplay: Your name is not worthy of you, or you are not worthy of your name – whichever, maybe both.
we need to promote our, own be owr own, how teh hell can a dominican show be lead by a trinidad woman that knows nothing about dominica. when val was dere things was gogin good. they just keep pressing our own. dominicans can promote too. dominicas can get big artist. is just to know that money talks. once u haev money teh show will go on, did she bring any new money into teh country. no! did she bring any new pepole to the country. NO! al;l she brought is her her business mind. we can do that also. we haev business minds . we need to promote our self more.
so much said
My recommendation is that on the SUNDAY FESTIVAL SHOULD START AT 4PM so that patrons can get home at a reasonable hour to get to work on Monday. How productive can we be when Fest ends t 5am?
creole is a term given to us by colonialist,which means all caribbean islands speaks creole be it english dutch french etc….
Fest definetly needs a proper venue thats why the Lime Creole in the Park has the real authentic buzz and ambience,totaly agree that a festival is a different from a concert gig and showbiz folks in Dominica need to know that…we are being laughed around…
dont we take ques from entertainment setting and designs globaly…creole music fest needs approx 3 acres of land which can embrace folks camping in tents if they wish too..
getting food and drink is a pain you have to leave the main area to go out behind the stadium thats sucks no where in the globe main events are set like that…
also the stage needs to be reallocated from southern end instead of a eastern point towards the stands as the sound system which carries a linearay sounds very distorted when cranked up and the sound waves rebounding off the stands…so the techincal and sound design in a Proffessional manner has to be shared in terms or sound waves maybe stage can be back a few yards more or south location
agree that its starts too late..with a earlier kick off you can capture the early sleepers those who hit the sacks at 10 and 12am so they can get a few hours under their belt rather than stay home also both organisers and crew personal can be fresh for sound check in the am rather than a 6 or 7am stop time and you have sound check at 8 am etc…thats not proffessional time management requirements
also Natsa…have been to Concerts in the US and UK and you dont see patrons just parading all over the venue with these IDs unless they arent a roadie media,security,artist and their management….what you have to think of Dominica patrons are just under 3-4 thousand at times a night now if you have all the ids and passes whats your end gain…
think also corporate institutions sponsor many but all showbiz events global would everyone that works for Pespi say in California get free passes to see a act like Madonna etc…just a example…
Also the stage management is too dull and needs a fresh look..too much times between bands we have being at this 14 years now…my advise is their are many consultants globaly request much needed guidance in terms of hosting this mega events…we in Dominica like to eat our cake but still have it….
whats the direction for the Fest are we along the lines of local empowerment of artist or not..their seems to be a rough neck way of doing things…And please stop this nonsense of going overseas to promote air/hotel/ground trans are expensive use the internet print and the audio and visual media please
If the Fest is heading towards major acts internationally then Government needs to budjet annually min 3Millon upfront for band fees,airline tickets etc…just depends if we going keep it lowkeyed or high end world class stuff..
When some one try something they get a thumbs down dont try and do comess still thumbs down…we had other people running the fest before and it was still crap its just the togetherness we lack….how can you not want to involve reggae and certain genres…im sure jah cure pulled more fans than any of the creole bands it self…be wise observer and see that if we use the touch of reggae etc just a touch of different genres to cater too all types of visitin pple get them to come out and then we can introduce & promote the “creole” to the fullest.
observer if you dont put regage and soca the festival will flop…see what you think brought all those patrons to the park..jah cure for sure so a regage blend is also welcome sir
@Fairplay: get a life… what is your reason for such a comment, do you have a motive?… thomas was a natural ocurance. the woman pulled through with grace and it was a success, there is nothing that was done which indicates that she lacked in any area, did any one notice the concept of having side shows of local dominican traditional entertainment, did anyone notice the entrace gallary? she is coming little by little with her blessings, give her a chance Dominica, she is a caribbean woman coming to share her wisdom. i was always told by my elders that rain is a sign of a great blessing. What was the major change this year… HER! God Bless you Mrs. White. Do your Best!!
Everything happens for a reason. This lady was tested and delivered. This was a natural occurance and it still did not stop the primary reason for this festival and that was for one and all attending to enjoy the event. Big ups to the organisers and those who assited in helping pull through this event. The team for this year was strong i am positive that carnival will be much better. We should all be optimistic towards our country and the things going on within it. Good Job Mr. C Piper, Good Job to you Mrs. White (God sent the “woman’s touch”) either way – (HE DEFINATLY SENT SOMETHING!!!)
I think Natalie should stay. Overall she handled this matter, wonderfully.
That Trinidadian woman should be fired immediatly!!!
With everything that was happening with Hurricane Tomas the DFC was able to bounce back and bounce back strong. I didnt feel that they could have pulled if off and it was a success. Hats off to Natalie and her team. Looking forward to 2011.
@ NATASA
I Totally agree with WOW about limiting the “passes”.
in the US , thousands of fans and spectators, so the passes can be afforded.
What is the crowd capacity in DA?
Most of the ppl should pay for their tkt!
I hope we get a breakdown of the figures…
Thats what i neverunderstand. Why don’t they ever define…”loss!”
Was profitable this year? or at a loss?
hmmmmmmm
@WOW: i bet if you were one of the ones with a free pass you wouldn’t be making any noise:) besides…i’m sure free passes are budgeted into the marketing budget.
but wat wrong with dominica people al u doh no wat al u want at al. if i have to listin to u al i wil kil my self fest was good if it did not rain we would have alot of fun. the sunday fest was good they must think of making it a hole day thing keep it up dfc and dg
@wow.. Have you ever been to a concert in the us or another country / island? Don’t you notice the amount of people with passes / entourage? C’mon find something else to talk about… Do you know if they were sponsors? what proof do you have to support that they were just regular people with passes… why are you guys such haters… Every tiny bitty thing you guys beach about. sheezzzz louiseeeeeeee
@ for dominicans. why don’t you just keep your rash shut. I mean come on. The lady is trying to do her best, the show was well attended yet still you guys try to put her down. I mean get a life. That is why i’m telling you the country is at stand still because don’t matter who try to help out they get kicked to the curb. Other people had an opportunity to make the festival a success and failed why not give someone else a fair chance. Did you even attend the fest or are you one of those douch-bags who is all the way across the glope and hiding behind the computer making those comments.. Man up and stop this bs. As for the observer, creole fest is not for creole music alone dude. Its different cultures of music coming together. You gotta cater for everyone so having soca, reggae, etc should be included asa long as it’s in good taste. I am sure everyone enjoyed steal pulse so stop all the nonsense. you can never please human beings, we always want more, nothing is good enough.
Just too many folks with Passes i would say atleast 15% of the patrons had IDs or Passes way too much for that event and honestly many of those folks can afford season tickets..
They DFC needs to limit the amount of Passes given out seems like everyone who knew a friend in Digicel or work on behalf of the co in out district fields they and the pals had passes…
this is just complete rubbish another lost again DFC…be smart in your making more monies not dishing out passes to everyone all of Government those who have so much wealth
wonder why Dominica is considered a Joke..
food for thought…please start the Festival at 6pm much gets done…
@ OBSERVER I AGREE WITH YOU
“Soca,Reggae and other non-creole music genres already have their world acclaimed exposure lets move the creole and cadance music to that level without the inclusion of other musical genres.”
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SELL AS MANY TICKETS BUT WE ALL HAVE TO START FROM SOMEWHERE.
Mrs White you did a very good job…thanks…
u crazy! soca & reggae are part of our history, the festival is not only regionally which mean dominica, ! most of the time the ppl who come to the fest are expected only soca artist & reggae! u want to koulé ti fest or wat! & u doenst say to bann all haitian artists cause they makin money & not givin haiti! stupes nonsense u talking!
When you guys plan next year’s event, please do not include reggae and soca artiste or other non-creole performing artists. Let’s create a unique marketing niche, which is bringing about the exposure of world creole music. Please send some time and research the origins and objectives of what the creators had in mind when they first developed the idea. Soca,Reggae and other non-creole music genres already have their world acclaimed exposure lets move the creole and cadance music to that level without the inclusion of other musical genres.
we need somone that understands dominicans and has the culture of a dominica to control the dfc. not one who has little identity of out country. nataile u need to move on and leave our affairs to us.