Ebuzz News
An Epic Guide to Everything That No Promoter or Event Planner Will Share, Until NOW.
No Gatekeeping
“EPIC,” he says, eliminates the gatekeeping of an expanding industry. “The book is important because the next event planner has to have this Caribbean ideology. Caribbean promoters have to plan differently from international event planners. It’s not the same cut and paste that an American or an Australian event planning team can plan with. Our products are different- items are imported etcetera,” explained Brendon. He is very aware of it all. Having served in the event and entertainment space in T&T, first under the stewardship of Island People’s Dane and Derrick Lewis, working alongside industry leaders like Sean Burkett and Tanya Gomes, from 2006 to 2010, before pursuing a Master’s Degree in Sports Management and even teaching an event planning course of study at the Arthur Lok Jack School of Business, for a decade, Brendon Brathwaite knows the game. “With my business, I had to navigate a lot of areas that there was no context, book, schooling, trainer to provide the guidance – you couldn’t sit down in a class and learn to do the things that I had to do. You couldn’t even go to a mentor- you had nobody to talk to. I had navigated this space by myself. I wanted to quit in 2016,” he said, expressing the frustration that is born out of that feeling of uncertainty where there’s no real guidance.
In 2022, amid the pandemic’s effect on numerous lives and industries, Brendon faced a decision. He had been offered a job in the Cayman Islands and was prepared to relocate. One week prior to leaving however, he was offered an event planning opportunity. He took it and, in that year, he managed to secure 30 jobs in the space, eliminating all consideration of taking on a job elsewhere. “Today I employ 60 young people. I am the breadwinner for these people. I take care of these people. A lot of painstaking work went into this book. This is a tried and tested testimony,” he explained, reiterating that most event planners and promoters will never share their secrets. “You can’t go and talk to major promoters locally and ask them how to host a fete. “I believe the reason they’re unattainable is because they have to protect their secrets. The events industry is very competitive. Because of that, most feel they should hold on to their magic,” he said.
Competitiveness His Superpower
As dyslexic as he might be, Brendon is very competitive and, in this space, he has mastered a set of skills that he knows are needed. “The practical part of event planning and the theoretical side of event planning are vastly different. Theory in event planning is like reading a recipe and not getting it exactly as it should have come out. The practical side of event planning is where you truly learn to execute,” he shared. What he has done with ‘EPIC’ however, is provide a real step by step guide to masterfully navigating the events planning space. “I have a glossary in the book of Caribbean event definitions and examples. This book is your mentor in your backpack,” he assured, explaining that any entrepreneur can benefit from what’s shared. “It includes information on safety and drone technology, risk management, something I call the vehicle driving policy to protect an event planner’s business because I’ve come to realize that casual negotiations often turn into nightmares.”
In addition to guidance on planning for specific Caribbean event models like cricket tournaments, cooler fetes, Creole Festivals, Chutney Festivals and even craft markets, Brendon shares knowledge on dress code policies and he offers guidance on shuttle planning and even delivers a virtual system flowchart and additional business operation guidelines for complete ease of execution. “Many Caribbean defined terms are placed intentionally in the book. We can study ourselves for the first time. We know what a party is. We don’t need to look to another territory’s definition of a party,” he emphasized.
Buzzconcepts, is a successful brand built with blood, sweat and tears, Brendon Brathwaite is a champion when it comes to event planning. “My success is defined by so many people. It’s not about me anymore,” he says. His parents, both extremely successful, credited professionals have seen him rise above the label of being dyslexic, and now, years later, he stands confident with an arsenal of knowledge in an industry that he has added significantly to. “The reason I did well at school was because I was the person that the bright people would study with. I could understand the concepts, but I couldn’t communicate it in words and on paper,” he explained. Looking back on his early school years, he recalls his struggle, saying that his passion to be the next Ato Boldon, fueled his competitive spirit. That competitive nature has been a blessing and now, paying it forward to others who, he knows, may absorb and learn differently, Brendon is sharing the tried, tested and successful methods to the Caribbean event planning industry.
Epic will go on sale on July 24th for $150TTD.He says his contact information is included in the resource and he will make himself available, for consultations to those who purchase. To purchase on Amazon or pre-order the book, those interested can visit www.epiccaribbean.net. Only a limited number will be printed for a limited time.
Caribbean Buzz
The International Soca Monarch Will Return in 2027. Trinidad and Tobago Takes on the World. Wadicks Weighs In.
The ground has been calling for it – the return of the International Soca Monarch competition in Trinidad and Tobago. Now there’s news that the the competition will return in Carnival 2027 under the theme, Trinidad and Tobago vs The World.
One artiste, true to the authenticity of the culture, says it’s great news. Ebuzztt caught up with Wadicks earlier on Friday, just after the news broke. “This is something very good for artistes to test themselves – to see how best they are in representing the country when it comes to Soca music. It’s good for people to gauge themselves against their cohorts and it’s been a while since artistes have been able to really do that,” he said.
The competition’s official date is yet to be revealed, however if tradition is marinated, it will be held on Friday, February 5th. Scorch Limited and Scorch Events will produce the show. “For 2027, the competition returns with a bold, international dimension, placing Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca talent against artistes from around the world in a celebration of the genre’s growing global reach,” said a media statement issued. Details surrounding venue and participation requirements will be forthcoming.
For Wadicks and many other Soca artistes who occupy the space, the music delivered ahead of the competition is of dire importance. “I will jump in once the people gravitate to the music. The people must not be wondering what song this artiste is singing when they hit the stage in the competition. You don’t want to enter with a song the people don’t know,” he emphasized.
In the early years of the international Soca Monarch competition, under the stewardship of Mr. William Munroe, the International Soca Monarch was a monument in Carnival. Radio stations were heavily engaged and money spent on major advertising campaigns that saw emerging and seasoned artistes interviewed and their music placed on intentional rotation as a result of paid advertising. Whether this approach will be taken, as the effort to re-establish the solidity of Trinidad and Tobago in this area gets underway, is left to be seen. “No matter what, it starts with the people. Once the people accept the event and come out to enjoy it… but the marketing of the event is very important too. It’s a huge undertaking and if Scorch can get the people who come to their events and all the other people who love the culture, that would be fantastic to get T&T back to where it once was when it comes to the ISM,” said Wadicks. He has one song already bubbling ahead of Carnival 2027 and plans to release a second next week. “I have ‘Thickerz’ out already and I’m releasing a rum tune next week,” said the artiste cheerfully. He’s never in a bad mood.
With Grenada’s Soca Monarch now leading as the poster child of what Soca Monarch should look and feel like, Wadicks says he thinks the Spice Isle does a great job of showing the world just what true enjoyment of the music looks like. “They have no fashion statement – Grenada has no respect for clothes as compared to Trinidad where it’s more about fashion than enjoyment. In Grenada you could come out in any colour and after the party, patrons leaving dirty and sweaty, having had a time,” he said with a laugh.
Prize monies a major factor when it comes to competitions in Trinidad and Tobago, Wadicks says he doesn’t believe this should be the defining factor in any artiste’s decision to enter the competition. “The Soca Monarch brings out the best in an artiste when it comes to interacting with the people and getting the people to accept the challenge of a command. Artistes have to be able to move the crowd ; Besides being strong vocally, their ability to command the crowd must be on point,” he highlighted, adding, “We as the representatives of the culture should be pushing to bring back the Soca Monarch to where it was, but of course, not everybody will think like me.”
On the tempo of the Soca that’s required for big flag crews and real mayhem to return to big venues in T&T, Wadicks agrees that the sweetness that’s currently trending must subside. “Once the tempo starts to escalate things will get better. ‘De t’ing too sweet, especially for a short season,” he said frankly.
The Scorch team at the helm of the 2027 production says this production will have “no backroom and no bacchanal,” with an expert panel of music industry experts, cultural commentators and soca veterans scoring creativity, lyrics, stage presence, overall impact and a specially introduced aspect – the Sparrow Tribute. “The Mighty Sparrow belonged to both sides of this battle, so every finalist – home side and away side must pay tribute to the Calypso King of the World somewhere in their Fantastic Friday presentation,” explains an accompanying ISM27 deck issued to the media.
The word is out and the people have gotten exactly what they’ve been asking for. What’s left to see now is just who supports with cultural passion and pride at the forefront, and who chooses not to.
Ebuzz News
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Museum, Announces Closure Due to Lack of Government and Corporate Support.
The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Museum which occupied the occupied the iconic Penny Bank building in Port of Spain, has been forced to close. A media statement issued by director and chairman of the NGO, Mr. Kenny Attai, attributes the regrettable outcome to a lack of government and corporate support.
The Carnival Museum was incorporated as an NGO in March 2021 and the organization was awarded the Penny Bank building in 2022 for its use. Mr. Attai explained that 80%of renovations to the building have been completed all thanks to an early grant received from the line ministry during that time. “To date, seven successive exhibitions were held with over 20 school tours and over 4000 visitors,” the statement read.
Highlighting the pressures of the last year, Mr. Attai said it has been extremely difficult in getting government and corporate support for what he called, a national treasure. “Through a few friends and well wishers, along with our own personal funding and the tremendous outreach of volunteers, we were able to keep the museum open to the public this year. It is now with deep regret that as of October 1st, we must close the doors to the Penny Bank venue to the public, until further notice.”
Attai noted however that the NGO’s visual platforms www.ttcarnivalmuseum.com and its social media pages, would remain active and updated with projects that are in progress. “It is our sincere hope that Trinidad and Tobago sees the value of recognizing what we have and those who brought us joy and pride since 1841 with the creativity and ingenuity of our people, lest it be taken and owned by others,” said Attai.
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