You would have seen two newspaper ads that say that Peter Boyce is no longer associated with MADD Entertainment Co Ltd and that is true.                           

That has actually been true from January 2008 but is only now being published. Also you would have seen some contentious articles as it relates to the “Euphoria” name Madd and Corporate Affairs etc; I would refer you to the statement which was released by Santia Bradshaw on behalf of Euphoria Inc to shed more light on that issue.       
The 25 year association between Boyce and Madd has come to an end, there have been good times, there have been badd times and they have been madd times, but those times are now ended. 
From what is stated in the media it would appear that never in the 25 years I was associated with Madd Entertainment there was ever a benefit I brought to the entity and if that is how it is perceived, ok.                 
At points in your life you realize its time to move on and that’s what you do, that’s what I have done….                
Boyce has left the Madd Entertainment building…

Boyce has always taken note of the liberal marketing which is utilized by our Barbados Turf Club as it relates to getting people to attend horse racing at the garrison savannah.
I use the word “liberal” deliberately, I have seen ads promoting “Family Day” inviting you to bring your entire house hold kids and all to enjoy a day of racing at the garrison.
No one seems cognizant of the fact that that at horse racing the primary activity is really gambling, so if it were accurate the marketing should be, “bring the whole family out for a day of gambling….”
I saw a horse racing program on TV just this week which ends with a cute five year old girl in arms saying “see u at the races”. Isn’t that like having a child in a beer ad?
While it starts out looking like a harmless activity watching men on horses racing around a track and what’s wrong with a little harmless bet, that first bet could be an opening to falling victim to a condition which is comparable to alcohol and drug additions.

Let’s look at a definition of gambling

Gambling addiction, also known as compulsive gambling, is a type of impulse-control disorder. Compulsive gamblers can’t control the impulse to gamble, even when they know their gambling is hurting themselves or their loved ones. Gambling is all they can think about and all they want to do, no matter the consequences. Compulsive gamblers keep gambling whether they’re up or down, broke or flush, happy or depressed. Even when they know the odds are against them, even when they can’t afford to lose, people with a gambling addiction can’t “stay off the bet.”

So when you look at the possible consequences is it responsible to be taking your whole family to a day of horse racing where gambling happens? Further less using a five year old girl in the advertising.
Maybe it something Joey Harper chairman of the childcare board needs to look into and get off harassing people about children at calypso tents and cavalcades.

MACHEL MONTANO CONQUORS CROP OVER
Lil Jon, Pitbull, TOK in Tow
FOX FOTOS: Machel Montano with surprise guests Lil Jon and Pitbull
headline Cohobblopot in Bridgetown, Barbados on August 3, 2008.

“NEW YORK, NY (RHONA FOX, INC.)- Soca superstar Machel Montano brought the excitement and thus the masses to the annual Crop Over celebrations in Barbados, last week. First with the bMobile EnVy concert on July 26, followed by the Brian Lara All-Inclusive Fete on August 2, then performing to a sold-out crowd at Cohobblopot on August 3, and finally hitting the street parade for Grand Kadooment on August 4, Montano was the face of Crop Over this year.”
 
As entertainers and Barbadians, we should note with concern the above international media report.I have been hearing local cultural administrators patting them selves on the back on a successful Cohobblopot and I have been seeing your comments as to how “ram” the show was. Let’s examine its success more closely shall we?
The National Cultural Foundation has a mandate to develop the Barbadian entertainment industry, I believe that’s what “National” means. To re enforce concepts that are suppose to help us define our bajan identity and highlight things that are Bajan. Cohobblopot 2008 failed miserably in that regard. As evidenced by the above excerpt NCF produced a show where bajan acts were relegated to second bananas “begging for a blight”, while Machel was paid the biggest fee and given the most performance time (2 hours) and the highest production budget. Our own Lil Rick had his stage time reduced to “five stinking minutes” as he described it. Other bajan acts had their time reduced which would have diminished their impact. Rupee’s set was interrupted several times to facilitate drawing the car.
There was not enough room in the budget for Bajan Alison Hinds or Mr Dale but enough for an American rapper.
 Cohobblopot 2008 deviated so far from highlighting Barbadiana it was not funny, Bajans were on it but merely as supporting acts. While NCF achieved the objective of cohobblopot being a financial success, it was a cultural failure.  In the opening review of the event they are not saying that Krosfyah, Lil Rick Asiba or RPB dominated the show, they say it was conquered by the Trinis’s and Americans. Instead of 100% bajan music being featured on radio stations as with previous Crop Overs, our national festival airplay time was now diluted with Trini music.

It is not unknown that a Cohobblopot featuring 100% local acts would work, in the 1990’s the event was given to a private promoter and with only local entertainment being featured attendence went to over 25,000 patrons.
Any commercial promoter could have put on a show featuring every foreign Tom Dick Machel and Jon and generated money, the National Cultural Foundation had a further cultural responsibility which they needed to adhere to.    

Here’s one of the burning issues you want me to deal with, Euphoria 2008.             

Regardless of the financial results of the event, its existence is essential to challenging the commercial government strong hold which continues to be maintained on Crop Over the night before kadooment.               
Let’s look at some of Euphoria’s achievements, because of this event there were many Bajan acts included on Cohobblopot that would have been left off.     
The last minute inclusion of 2008 Pic o de Crop monarch Adrian Clarke is an example of this. It was only after Euphoria added him to our line up and started promoting this, did cohobblopot follow suit. It had become the norm for several years that the Pic o De Crop monarch was no longer included in the cohobblopot event.          
The fact that Euphoria was able to overcome the obstacles speaks to the fact that entrepreneurial involvement is being allowed in the festival.                       
Stated government policy supports efforts like euphoria, but certain key individuals are deviating from the policy for their own ends. (If you have a key in your pocket maybe its you)                      
Euphoria offered an opportunity that artistes who were not included on Cohobblopot could still work, it also offered a competitive alternative in terms of ticket prices. If not for the technical challenges, we would have achieved our objective entertainment wise and not have lost out on the flow of patrons who had started to enter the venue.                                    
We want to thank the Prime Minister for endorsing Euphoria publicly and his assistance and Senator Irene Sandiford Garner for attending the event.                             
Euphoria’s misfortune was daring to challenge a government statutory entity which was willing spare no expense of tax payers money to crush a private sector effort.                     
Euphoria’s fortune is that there is still a government intent to truly assist, develop and involve the entrepreneur in Crop Over.

Euphoria Inc would also like to thank our sponsors Starcom Network, Eqity Insurance and major sponsor The Plantation Garden Theatre, with out them and others who assisted and gave advice behind the scenes, the event would not have been possible.

Coming up:Cohobblopot Analysis

Edwin

Congratulations to all the winners of Crop Over 2008!

 All hail Pic o De Crop King Adrian, Party Monarch King Khiomal, People’s Monarch and Tune of the Crop King Edwin. Seven years ago Adrian won the Pic o de Crop crown and has done it again in 2008. He is one of the few talented Calypsonians who can do both party music and social commentary effectively. Plus Adrian does great character voices too it is he who voiced the Euphoria grandmother ad.    

Speaking of “grand mother” wasn’t it she that always said perseverance seldom fails, well the next winner is evidence of that.
Khiomal has been working at it for years and finally won the Party monarch this year. Once seen as a side kick to Edwin he has now stepped into his own and is proving he will stand in no one’s shadow. Khiomal is a shinning example to young people that if you keep working at your dreams you can achieve them.                 

And speaking of Edwin, the perennial winner who has lived up to his name from the time he started in 1995. (His name is Ed-Win, get it?). Back in 1995 Edwin won all the major calypso titles, Pic o De Crop, tune of the crop, and the first Party Monarch, which was quite an impressive triple win. 
His People’s Monarch and Tune of the Crop wining in 2008 speaks to his consistency and his talent as a seasoned performer.                                                                                                                                       So once again in closing Boyce Voice hails all the Kings of Crop Over 2008.                                

Log on Tomorrow for “where are the queens?”