7) The day before preliminaries, the sponsor signs are added to the racks. Exodus has many sponsors: among them are Kentucky Fried Chicken, Radio Shack, Suzuki, Western Union, Terminix Pest Control, and Republic Bank. The bands here also receive government subsidies every year. My placement in the band for Panorama is in under the "T" of the Terminix sign.
8) This is Pat Bishop (on the right), a choral director from Trinidad brought in as a consultant by Exodus (and, sometimes, other bands including Phase II and Desperadoes) to add musicality and dynamics to the arrangement. She is an authoritative, charismatic, motherly figure in the band, and is respected by the band members. In rehearsals, she sits in the center of the band, in a folding lawn chair, holding a cowbell and stick, and yells out her instructions to the band with her powerful voice. I got acquainted quickly with her, because my placement in the band had me practically sitting in her lap all week long. Over her shoulder is a friend of hers that is a classical pianist, and, evidently, a fan of Exodus.
9) This is Calistra. She is eleven years old, and wants badly to learn pan. Her aunt, "Auntie," sells various foods from her cart on the panyard grounds most nights. For Preliminaries night, her aunt has prepared curried duck, which will no doubt go fast. Calistra has made friends with several band members; she drops by the yard after school, and whoever is there will show her how to play a short phrase or two. Fortunately for Calistra, Exodus has a youth band that she can join called the "Exocubs". I wasted no time in introducing her to the director of Exodus so that she could sign up.
10) This is me in my official Exodus prelims garb. For Finals, we are provided full costume. For tonight, though, just the shirt.
(Thanks to Aiko for taking
this photo)
11) After being assigned a place in the racks, the support crew came around and asked me if the height of my pan was comfortable. It wasn't, and they went out of their way to raise the hooks on the rack (this involves welding, painting, and so forth). I don't think this is standard procedure for most bands, but Exodus is a well-organized band that takes care of its players. Maybe my back won't be so stiff after these rehearsals now.
12) The crowd gathers on Prelims night. Since Exodus is the reigning champion of Panorama (as well as the reigning champion of the World Steelband Festival), there is high interest in our performance here on this night. Press photographers and reporters are scattered among the crowd. Panorama is covered much like a sporting event here.
If you'd like to help support my efforts here and hear some of my music, I encourage you to pick up either (or both) of my CDs. Info for acquiring them is here.