largest
Toronto Festival launch crowd, Creativity Lacking
By
William Doyle-Marshall
Wow! This is the best description for Tuesday’s launch
at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square of the 2013 edition of the city’s mammoth
Caribbean festival (Caribana). Some will boast about it being the best ever but
I have to challenge that. It was the largest lunchtime crowd attending since
the Festival Management Committee started producing the event following its
political coup over the Caribbean Cultural Committee. That was the success of
political wits.
Considering
this is a Toronto Caribbean cultural festival why was Ravi B, who does not live
here included as the major act in this prime time launch. That speaks volumes
for Toronto calypsonians. Which is the correct reason? Calypsonians here are
not regarded as good enough or is it because Ravi B appeared gratis? Or did he
pay to be on the show? Again that’s the kind of action or reaction when you
have a lame-limbed organization speaking for calypsonians.
Pre-launch
promotion promised a barrage of activities following the official launch. From
2:00 to 8:00pm the Festival Management Committee announced that festival supporters
would have entertainment and numerous food selections right through to the end.
But after Ravi B left the stage Nathan Phillips Square was transformed into a sort
of wake environment. All that was missing were coffee, crackers and cheese. Ravi
B provided the rum in his song. Yes, there were booths but nothing to attract
the passersby. Even those assembled on site engaged in conversations getting up
to date on things as many had not seen each other since last year or maybe two
years ago.
What about
creativity? The launch of a festival must provide insight of things to come.
There is much hoopla about the parade along the Lakeshore and the contest for
the best king and queen title. Current and retired masquerade band leaders were
present but what about an amazing creation being showcased to that lunch time
assembly. Nothing of the sort. Scotiabank could have commissioned a work or two
for the launch. Certainly they could have enticed some new converts to this
cultural spectacle. Exhibiting young women’s bodies decorated with beads, bikinis
and feathers cannot be considered creativity. Sorry. Not good enough.
masqueraders on display at festival launch!
Mayor Rob Forde reminded the gathering in Nathan
Phillips Square that the “Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival is the largest in North
America attracting millions of visitors to this city each year for several
weeks. The festival contributes to the economic vitality of this great city and
promotes harmony. The Mayor proclaimed July 9 to August 4. This is something everyone must be proud of.
Nathan Phillips Square at Caribbean Festival launch
Nathan Phillips Square at Caribbean Festival launch
If this is true, what is the
Festival Management Committee hiding? I am convinced that this organization
does not understand the role of the media. Covering numerous festivals, community
gatherings, political conventions and major conferences across North America
and in other parts of the world, I am absolutely astounded that these people are
treating media as the enemy. At the launch, they felt compelled to separate the
media/press from its cherished Very Important People (VIP). Margo Harris no
doubt speaking for the FMC promptly informed media practitioners that they had
to remain behind the barricade – a rather inappropriate spot for conducting the
affairs of covering this event. If Miss Harris and her colleagues believe that
our work is to simply stand in one spot and photograph scantily clad girls, she
must think again. We do not all belong to the tits and ass club. Some of us
actually do more than that. So we must move around in search of those special
shots and interviews/comments as well. Maybe, just maybe, it is time to call
for a total media boycott of this festival. Remember the saying: ’you do not
attract bees with vinegar’. Just imagine a total media blackout on this 46 year
old festival. There are many other stories we could gladly cover where organizers
would happily welcome us. Shoddy planning and adopting exclusionary tactics
will get FMC no where but in the media’s dog kennel.
July10,
2013
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