FANTASTIC FRIDAY
Posted: Friday, February 20, 2004

By Terry Joseph

BILLED as the largest all-inclusive event ever, tonight's National Lottery Classic International Soca Monarch final, tops the list of this weekend's large scale public entertainment events.

Tonight's show, which takes place at the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain gets underway at 9 p.m. (gates open three hours earlier) will, for the first time, feature the all-inclusive format, which allows patrons to pay just $20 more than the $80 they did last year but get unlimited food and drinks in the new bargain.

Producers of the International Soca Monarch contest, Caribbean Prestige Productions International (CPPI) yesterday said the effort is to present the best show ever. "This is not the kind of boast you hear from people who say this concert or that event is going to be ebigger and brighter", CPPI chairman William Munro said. "We have actively worked for months at making Friday truly fantastic.

"We believe that the time has passed for smirking and congratulating ourselves, believing that ‘we ting' will always last and enjoy historical glory just by leaving it the way it is or was. ‘Experience warns us that just the talent on the show is not enough and we cannot rest on past accomplishments.

"We have engaged highly respected experts in various fields, including Robert Dumas in marketing and Mr. Henry Sealy as financial adviser to ensure the soca monarch product is properly handled and presented at every level. This year, the competition attracted contestants from just about every place except China, which tells us that it is getting global attention ad we must deliver a quality of show that matches that kind of international interest," Munro said.

"We certainly recognize that the emerging soca industry is a learning experience for everyone concerned and that there will be a few glitches from time to time in trying to realise our vision but we will continue to strive for the ultimate in Carnival entertainment and that this aspect of our national artistic treasures realizes its full potential," Munro said.

While echoing concerns of other public event promoters about audience comforts, CPPI is not going the route of establishing a time limit for artistes appearing at tonight's final but hopes that moral suasion will achieve the same purpose. Chief judge Roland Gordon has already cautioned singers about the length of their stay onstage and control of fans, with particular regard to the waving of oversized flags in demonstrations of support.

Speaking at the draw for singing positions, Gordon said: "We want that you should also ask your various posses to avoid waving the large flags because it obscures the line of sight of the rest of the audience, the television cameras and most importantly the judges so, from every angle, it is in your interest to control your supporters."

He also advised that judging will be fully computerized, forwarding scores to a central data base the minute they are compiled by judges.

With some $6000,000 in prizes awaiting the 20 singers seeking to dethrone reigning champion Iwer George and a special $10,000 for the singer with the most innovative and original presentation with a local flavour, tonight's contest has all the ingredients of a massive celebration that will usher in the Carnival weekend with appropriate fanfare.

Now in its 12th year, the International Soca Monarch competition final has been hailed by the Tourism and Industrial Development Company (Tidco) as having received the highest ratings in Carnival celebration activities.

Apart from NLCB and TIDCO, the Caribbean Communications Network (CCN), parent company of the Express and TV-6 is among the list of sponsors helping fund and promote this year's International Soca Monarch Competition, that register also includes Carib Brewery, Water One, Coca Cola, The Unit Trust Corporation, Lensyl Products, Screen Stars and Fire One Fireworks.

Tickets for tonight's show (including the special reserve VIP section) will only be available until 6 p.m.

No tickets will be sold at the gates.

The Order of Appearance for tonight's final:

Singing Sonia
Blaxx
Wanski
Soca Elvis
Spongy
Terry Seals
Denise Belfon
Faye Ann Lyons
Michelle Sylvester
Bunji Garlin
Shurwayne Winchester
Onika Bostic
Tallpree
Rikki Jai
Iwer
Sean Caruth
Destra
Blazer
Patrice Roberts
Young Marcel
Timmy

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