BILL COTTON/REFORM...BIG STADIUM, BIG CHALLENGES, FUNKED?

BILL COTTON/REFORM…BIG STADIUM, BIG CHALLENGES, FUNKED?

Sep 03, 2008 Features / Columnists

Both made valiant attempts. Both pulled much victory from the jaws of defeat. But both ultimately failed to satisfy the live audience. Both Paloma for the Opening and Bobby V for the Closing did not quite pull it off. What you could see live was less than satisfactory.
If Bill were a VIP in Bharrat’s Box (if only…the chance to meet with Appealing Judges and other superstars..) then he would ask for his money back!! You could see nothing from there for both events. The big stands were hardly much better.
The shows themselves were spectacular, less so the presentation to the non-paying audience. Too often they looked as though they should have been sponsored by Don Gomes the Optician. He was there for the closing and even he said he could see very little!! (Give that man a job in the next Big Ting BJ..)
The challenge is that this is a cricket stadium with a field, well, the size required for international cricket. Whilst it is thrilling to see ‘Tiger’ hit them fours to the boundaries, it stretches the eye to see the centre, or worse off centre, clearly from the stands. That’s why the ICC brought in huge screens for replays and more. Punters like to feel they are right in there with the action. In yer face stuff. Up with the sweat and the sledging. They did at Cricket World Cup.
At Carifesta, almost all felt semi detached. The action was ‘out there’- somewhere else’. Bill knows – he walked the ground. Bobby did better on the screen front but even then he needed two more big ones instead of that petite offering in front of the stands. Paloma had none. Both went for proscenium stages on the ground coming out from the big imported stage. Was that and all the stages in the right place? Diagonally opposite the vast majority of the crowd and a long way away from the VIPs who were, after all, paying the bills. The geography and ergonomics of the whole thing had not been clearly thought through. Likewise the lighting. Dem huge pylon lights are great for football or night cricket, hopeless for performance events. On the Closing, once they were switched on, all Bill could see was the covered cricket square; not the stage and not the big screen. Big lights=big mistake. That should have been sorted out long before both performances.
Bill thought the singing and dancing were pretty good – if too long (a Guyanese tradition) – at both events. But then Bill is lucky: he got a special pass and could stand at mid wicket and watch the performances from there. Them on the boundaries had little chance. Not surprising that Paloma was in tears and Bobby ranting at the ends. Well done to both for taking up the challenges. Now to learn from these two near misses for the Next Carifesta…or whatever..
Pip!Pip!

Latest News

BILL COTTON/REFORM…BIG STADIUM, BIG CHALLENGES, FUNKED?

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 7th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Ken Corsbie – a Guyana Basketball legend passes at 94

Imlach masterclass 126, Alimohamed 66-ball 77,...

Fraser rebounds well, as Arjoon keeps perfect...

Guyana to host historic 3×3 Quest Tournament

Quarter-Finals in Mashramani Street Football...

Vurlon Mills Football Academy launches KFC...

Features/Columnists

Due diligence on investments must become a priority

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Awestruck and starstruck with a twist

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

BILL COTTON/REFORM…BIG STADIUM, BIG CHALLENGES, FUNKED?

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 7th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]