This coming Sunday is Panorama Semifinals at the Savannah and what used to be one of the most anticipated events of the season for me, is now questionable as to whether I will attend or not. I have not missed Pan Semis/Prelims (the latter being the name of the competition in the earlier years) since about eight years ago! Every year for the past eight years I have been a religious devotee of Pan Semis making the annual pilgrimage to the North Stand. My crew for pan is very “old school” in that we do not participate in the trend of paying money to be part of a “lime” with sections such as Club Coconuts, Jamboree or Island People; that “inclusiveness” is just not for us. Instead we buy our own drinks, stock our cooler, have one of our friends cook a pot of pelau while another makes geera pork and paratha and make our way to “our” special spot in the North Stand to spend a day liming, drinking, listen to pan and just having a rolling time with everyone who drops by to join the lime throughout the day.
What has me apprehensive about this year’s Panorama Semi-finals is the layout for the event. Now, I had known for a few weeks now that plans were to create a picnic type area for what used to be the North Stand called North Ground. At the time I heard the plans I was somewhat apprehensive as to how this concept would actually work, seeing as there was no mention of it being a COVERED picnic area. Well, when I saw the map of the facilities in yesterday’s newspaper my worst fears were confirmed. This type of open air concert feel is just not going over well with me:
It might work for Jazz Festival, but unfortunately I think the whole essence of being in the North Stand will be lost! I do not like being on one level, exposed to the elements while the toilets are on one end. The “VIP” area across the way has the covered stands mind you, but that area is already being reserved for special guests and the number of paying patrons that can be accommodated there is much less than what the old Grand Stand could hold.
One part of me wants to experience this “new” Pan Semis for myself and the other is quite unwilling to fork out the $150.00 (or more) just to stand up in the hot sun all day!
Yes, I know I can walk with my beach chairs and umbrella, but Panorama was never that type of social sit down vibe for me, I mean this is not finals! The North Stand experience just cannot be replicated without the North Stand!! The crush of people in the centre, hearing the rhythm section reverberating within the confines of the stand, being able to stand at the top and spot your crew or just stand in awe of the mass of people all gathered in one area is just special.
So, as I pass by the Savannah today, looking on dejectedly at the white fence already in place surrounding what is now North Ground I am going to be monitoring the evolution of this space. If come Sunday there is an effort to improve the area with some sort of covering from the sun or rain, then I just might attend. Meetings have already taken place between me and the rest of my crew and I don't think the whole idea of what is proposed for Panorama semi finals has sunk in to the brains of some of my friends at this point it is still a battle of to go or not go. Sadly, I am leaning in favour of not going and most likely will end up missing out on Panorama semi finals after so many years!
