My Problem with the 2014 International Soca Monarch

Now this might not be the most accurate of my publications due to the fact that I was lubricating my insides with alcoholic beverages as I was watching, but I just want to say a few words about the 2014 Soca Monarch competition. 

Throughout the run up to Fantastic Friday their had been countless commercials run on TV and radio describing the event as the biggest and best thing to hit Trinidad in years. If I'm not mistaken a comparison was made between Soca Monarch and the Grammy's.  

Now I am not the greatest proponent of Soca music, it is fairly low on my top genres, however I feel events such as Soca Monarch have the ability to raise the profile of the genre considerably and convert the non believer's such as myself.  

The event itself has the ability to be a much better presentation of the unique culture that is Trinidad and Tobago and by extension the West Indies. However a few things may need tweaking in order for that to happen. 

First things first, the actual broadcasting of the event needs quite a bit of work in my eyes. The actual hosting of the event is something that the powers be should look at. I felt that the TV hosts of the show should have a little more background in the actual soca/music industry. Take for example when a sports event is televised live, their is usually one ex player alongside someone who has a background or qualifications in media training. That was not evident in the Soca Monarch production on Friday evening. 

I also felt that the production of the actual show for Television audiences was extremely substandard. I realize that this was a live event and therefore some things can't be helped. But on many occasions parts of the after performance interviews were cut by incoming and outgoing commercials. The questioning by the interviewers could have also been of a better standard. An interviewer more knowledge or one who is more in touch with the soca industry may have been able to bring a little more excitement to the process. 

At the end of the day, the powers that be need to realize that they are in fact catering for two audiences in regards to the Soca Monarch competition. They have the crowd which is there for the show and the millions who are watching it via tv or live streams. If they have any intention to bring soca music to the world the production of this showcase needs to be addressed. The organizers of this event need to start to think outside the box a bit more in order to cater for their two distinct audiences especially if they want to mention The Grammy's and Soca Monarch in the same sentence.