This is not R.Kelly!! (he says it isn’t him)

Why did so many African-American women support R. Kelly?

I came across this article in Newsweek magazine which highlighted a phenomenon that I had already noticed.
When the R.Kelly verdict was announced there were all these women who had gathered around the court to show their support for the singer who were ecstatically happy on hearing the “not guilty verdict. They danced a jig like in my previous post!
The article focused that despite the overwhelming video tape pornographic evidence which featured him having sex and urinating on an underage black girl, black women stanchly defended him.
I find that concept to be amazing, wha I gun left home and go in a court yard talking bout I supporting R.Kelly? Wha I know something bout he?
Maybe he flipping well do it…
If that were you on that video tape do you feel you would have gotten off? Alright then!
On how women go to court supporting these high profile characters I have a parallel I would like to put to you to make a point.
Remember years ago when they had the Chico and Mac situation here in Barbados?
They were some foreign male strippers who came down here and did a show for the bajan females, the women loved them! And I mean that literally.
After Chico and Mac were arrested for their dastardly salacious acts Bajan women turned up in droves in the court yard to show their support for the strippers.
Men now, would go and watch women strippers, throw money at them, and if the price is right have sex with them.
When the female strippers get arrest you think you would see men in court talking bout them supporting them?
In fact a man would say “don’t call my name hear!” and would walk pass like he never see the woman in his life.
My theory is women fall in love and just feel the need to go out and support these people blindly.
I guess that’s what they mean when they say “Love is blind”.

Ps: by the way the Mac I mentioned above is not Mac Fingall, just so you know…

The prestigious Sherbourne Center

Where were the bakes?      That is the question I asked when I attended the “Sponsors breakfast” yesterday morning at Sherbourne Center hosted by the Government and NCF.

In case you don’t know, the “Sponsors Breakfast” is an annual event where the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) invites sponsors to breakfast with the objectives of wooing them with highlights of the coming Crop Over season and hopefully acquire their financial support through sponsorship.Or the government gives sponsors some hot tea in an effort to help them “brek de air” and “brek some money” at the same time…

The presentation of the ‘Breakfast event” was impressive, the entertainment was excellent especially the multimedia piece performed by Merle Niles and Jennifer Walker. Prime Minister David Thompson was there along with Minister of Culture Steve Blackette, the NCF Chairman, CEO and a cadre of government ministers.

NCF Corporate Communications officer Wayne Simmons performed M.C duties and along with media specialist Doug Hoyte presented the 2008 Crop Over theme for this year “We Ready”.

Will go into what the Prime Minister said tomorrow but today I want to focus on a more important point. The food served at the event was excellent with eggs, fried plantain, fruit and other breakfast gastronomical delicacies. Except for one thing, look as I may I could not find any bakes….! Fish cakes were there, but no “bakes” that popular bajan delicacy from years ago made with flour and water.

Come to think about it I have never been to a function and been served “bakes”, that needs to change. NCF being the vanguard of our culture needs to take the lead in this indigenous food matter. Next time we have a traditional Bajan breakfast, I want to see some bakes…!

Otherwise Great Event, Can’t wait for Crop Over 2008!

Tomorrow; The PM say dat…….. (to be continued)

Ancient Al amazed that pictures can now be taken in colour 

My Name feature prominently in Al Gilkes Nation newspaper column last weekend,
Al wrote that Peter Boyce was one of the first people to publicly state he had to be close to be 100 years old based on the length of time he had been around.
Al is so amazing I dedicated a whole post to him last year entitled “Al Gilkes eats Conch”.
At Al’s age to be using a computer and still having the alacrity of mind to write a weekly column is pretty amazing. He should be in Ripley’s Believe It or Not…

One of the things that is amazing about Al is he still continues to be a significant player in the entertainment business as a promoter.
He is partner in F.A.S Entertainment which produces the phenomenally successful “Barbados Reggae Festival” which comes off here later this month.
This festival features a series of events with some of the biggest Jamaican acts which people pack venues at phenomenal prices to see.

Big names like Taurus Riley, Capelton, Jah Cure, Sizzla Kololji, TOK, Baby Sham and more.
Quite an impressive line up being put together by a man who also promoted shows with Jackie Opel and buddy boy Vic Brewster, I am surprised Al doesn’t think a “Jah Cure” is some sort of bush tea.

Even in his column last week Al gave a list of his favorite movies that he actually saw in the cinema when they first came out, and they were a list of ancient ones we now see on Turner Classics TV channel…
Al does not let the challenges of age deter him as he continues to set a set a positive example for current promoters like my self, Richard Haynes, Phil Philips and others to follow.
I hope I can be just as active when I get to Al’s age, in fact I would settle just to GET to his age…

P.S; I am not forgetting the role Freddie Hill plays in organizing the Reggae Festival, Al needs some one to remind him to take his pills…

Wow! Talk about lucky, I went to the beach yesterday for my daily run, and happened to butt up on a photo shoot featuring not one, not two, but five beautiful curvaceous female models.
The photographer was there clicking away and the make up guy was running in “happily” adding finishing touches to the girls.
The make up guy is my subject here; he seemed to be gay, as usual.
Why do make up men always seem to be gay? All the productions I have been involved in when ever a make up person is involved and it’s a man it always seems to be a gay man.
Even when you are watching an international modeling show on TV, and the make up man is featured he always seem to be a bubbly happy “gay” kinda girl …. Sorry I meant guy.

I know you will start saying how I can look at some body and say they are Gay, if you can’t observe when a person seems to have an extra gay pep in their step and touch of femininity in their vocal variety that’s your business.
I don’t get the impression they are trying to hide it any way.

Is it that when you fill out a form to do a cosmetic course there is a question asking “are you gay?” And if you tick no they turn you down?

How do they go about enforcing a criteria where mostly gay people end up in a profession then?

Notice the bangle the make up guy is wearing? I rest my case

To summarize my point for the purposes of clarity; I am not saying ALL make up men are gay; I am just saying that MOST SEEM to be…
I get the impression they prefer gay people around the models so the girls would be safe… maybe that’s so…

I am not telling you to go out and start attacking make up people either and talk bout Boyce Voice encourage you cause you would be an ass, oops that might attract some people…. But really you would be a major jack ass! What people do in the privacy of their bedroom home and M.L cars is their own business.

I simply made an observation, I hope the cosmetic people out there reading this don’t get offended, next time you see me on TV and face looks off, it will be the make up guy getting back at me..

P.S: you always put on make up when you go on TV so don’t think nothing funny…

.

Comment by Dude;”I support them but I also wonder how persons not involved in the music creation stage can earn an equal amount the artists. A CD is sold to records stores between $20 and $25 and then they retail $45… this huge markup policy needs addressing”

Dude made a very pertinent comment to my Music shop article below and I wish to address the “huge mark up policy” as he has requested.

Dude’s comment is reflective of a line of thought which also exists in the entertainment industry, music shops take their cds make so much money off them while they get paltry scraps in return.

Of the $45 selling price which was correctly quoted, 15% of that is Value Added Tax, VAT that goes to the government. Lets also consider that apart from VAT shops also pay regular taxes on revenue generated which means out of the remaining balance more still goes to the government, that why I could never understand it when our previous PM Arthur complained we sold cds so high when what helps to contributes to that is duties and taxes, that would be something PM David needs to address.

The normal practice is for shops to add on a 50% mark up on any thing they sell; Do you think that is too much?
Well I don’t think so and I will tell you why.
From 1993 to 1998 Madd operated retail shop “Rue Rue” upstairs Mall 34 for “Music fashion and U”.
Between the high rents, NIS payments, advertising costs, staff costs, utility costs, theifing etc IT WAS FINANCIAL HELL.
My challenge to any entertainer who thinks music shops make SO MUCH money, well you open an outlet and make the money then,.
There’s a reason why they don’t and there is a reason why I HAD a music store and don’t have it any more.
When you look at the proliferation of operating expenses a shop incurs that must be recouped from a cd sale it more than justifies the mark up.

Thanks for making your comment Dude….

Boyce left the computer….

Boyce Voice mentioned Mr Antonio ” Boo” Rudder yesterday and as if on cue I looked in the newspaper and see him associated with an interesting entertainment development.
“Rudder heads new Copyright Group” stated the headline, the article announced a new copyright organization had been formed entitled the “Barbados Copyright Industry” (BCI).
The list of directors were given and the fact it had been incorporated since December 19th 2007.
The formation of this new copyright group makes interesting food for thought, most performers and song writers are already members of the long standing rights collection agency in Barbados COSCAP (Copyright Society of Composers Authors and Publishers Inc)

Does this new entity BCI compete against COSCAP?

Maybe COSCAP CEO Erica Smith and staff Gail and Paulette are quaking in their boots? (Not that I have seen them wearing boots that’s just an expression, I would like to see Erica in boots though those tall black ones that…. sorry I digress, lets get back to the point..)

This new agency BCI deals ONLY with the collection of reproductive rights as it pertains to books and other publications.
COSCAP is known for collection of music royalties but by virtue of the “authors and publishers” in their name I would assume maybe they collect for books too, of course “I could be wrong and I usually am” (Quote from COSCAP director Smokey Burke)
So poet khaidji should be looking to join up and collect some royalties on those excellent pieces he has written, Asiba writes some pretty long comments he could publish them as a book.
It also still means that maybe Boyce can join and benefit as I write, see what you are reading here…? That’s writing yuh idiot, therefore I can de deemed a writer.
Hence when I am finish here I will print off a couple stories from Boyce Voice staple them together  mek a book and bram! I joining up.
Question is as a writer which organization do I join, COSCAP or the new collection kid on the block BCI ?

”Lord come fuh yuh world do!”Peter Boyce working for the Government?” “Looka my crosses though, he sell out…”

I thought so at first when first approached by Mr Antonio “Boo” Rudder head of the now defunct Festival Events Bureau back in November 2007. “Boo” said it was an opportunity to contribute and participate in the planning of Crop Over from a national level.

My first impulse was to refuse as I did see it as restriction of my usual “anarchistic” role of representing the industry. Most of my colleagues however saw it differently, they stated it was an opportunity that I could now represent the industry from the “inside” making input into the decisions that would more benefit entertainment.

So I accepted, bearing in mind it was also an generating opportunity. When the government changed I was fortunate enough that the David Thompson administration also recognized my potential and maintained my participation, and I thank them for that.

I pledge the Boyce Voice will continue to operate as it has in the past addressing contentious issues which affect entertainment.If for some reason I seem to be lacking in my usual acerbic tone and you need to buse my ass on any pro government position I might articulate, that’s what comments are for…

Me in a serious coordinating mood, yuh idiot….

Guess who is coordinating NCF Cavalcades this year?
If you said Peter Alphonzo Boyce you would be right.
“What” you should exclaim almost shattering your computer screen, “Peter Boyce working for the NCF?? No Freaking Way!”

Well you are freaking wrong! Peter the Boyce through my events management company Supreme Events has been engaged to work with the National Cultural Foundation to make Cavalcades 2008 the best ever.
I have been working for the past few months planning, coordinating and meeting artistes and their management.
This year you will find that all the crowd pullers Lil Rick, Peter Ram, Captain Sawyer will be back on the Cavalcade stage.

Not only big names but you will also be seeing new talent being brought to the fore and exposed in a manner that will benefit young artistes.
Gone are the days when “the Cavalcades” were used to victimize artistes who certain ex CEOs did not like or as a threat to the existence of calypso tents.
Delivering a quality event with the acts you want to see will be the number one priority, Cavalcades 2008, its going to be Great!

Around this time you should be saying “hmm so Boyce working for the government now? So he sell out…”
Well I would like to curse your ass now but I am outta time…

Log on tomorrow when I will answer your questions and queries and if needed curse you royally…..

Boyce is going to coordinate…..

 P.S; This is not another April Fool’s joke, though it sounds like it…

This en no lie is something true Look what de PM do to youHe Vat U, He Vat U He Vat U

Apparently it has taken 11 years for Vat to have made its way into the costs of kadoment costumes, Recently BAM (Barbados Association of Masqueraders were “up in arms” aka vex because they were informed it would be mandatory this year kadooment bands would have to pay Value Added Tax on costumes.

While the Boyce man sympathizes with the band leaders who are complaining the costs of their costumes will now increase by 15%., I need to ask the question.
What took the government so long to collect Vat from Kadooment bands?

From the time Vat was put in place back in 1997, government officers were at the door of live events including calypso tents immediately collecting Vat.

Recording Artistes have been paying Vat on CDs for years and record shops adding on 15% Vat to sell them.
A promoter was even prosecuted in our law courts for allegedly not paying vat.
If government gave kadoment bands an 11 year break maybe they should do the same for other sectors of the entertainment industry as well.

Do you feel that Vat will increase costumes prices beyond the reach of revelers this year?

Do you think that increased costs will now have Kadooment investing less material into costumes this year? Which means the ladies will be dressed even more skimpy?
I look forward to the latter.

Photo of a lady wearing the Vatted skimpy Kadooment costume bands will be producing this year…..

Yesterday I blogged about “Nothing” today it is “Something”.
The challenge of finding “something” new….

This is a Herculean challenge that our tent managers and calypsonians face on a yearly basis, producing new material in order to feed that voracious entertainment monster we call Crop Over.
Krosfyah releases a great album this year and regardless of how good it is by the next Crop Over it is expected that they go back into the studio and release “something” new. In contrast our international counterparts would release an Album and then over a period of the next 2 to 3 years release several singles from that same album, giving the material more longevity.

Let’s look at shows, Bacchanal Time produces a quality show with dancers and special effects etc and by the end of Crop Over regardless of its excellence it is deemed dead and we must go back to the drawing board and produce ’something” new.

“Cats opened on Broadway in 1982 had 7485 performances and closed in 2002

Internationally now, we have Broadway musical shows that have been running for years.
Productions like “Grease” “Cats” Phantom of the Opera” and the longest running production ever “Les Miserables”, this production has been running for 21 years and is still going.

So all like now we should still be running our 1995 Bacchanal Time featuring triple crown winner Edwin doing his “Obadele” song.

But no, Crop over is again upon us and the question people are asking is “when you gun bring something new?”

So Edwin RPB Kidsite, Asiba and Bacchanal Time are all busy trying to find “something” new to be readily consumed by the coming 2008 Crop Over monster.

Now that’s “Something”!