Ebuzz News
Archived: Caesars Army Boss Says Astroworld Disaster Seemed Predictable but Preventable. Big Lessons To Be Learnt.
International media has reported that a ninth person has died following last Friday’s tragic stampede at rapper, Travis Scott’s ‘Astroworld’ music festival in Houston, Texas. The ninth victim is a 22-year-old college student. The youngest to have succumbed to injuries so far is 14. A nine year old boy who was also seriously injured, is currently in a medically induced coma at hospital. Eighty civil lawsuits had been filed, up to Thursday, in connection with the incident. The attorney representing the entertainer, on Friday said, “There obviously was a systematic breakdown that we really need to get to the bottom of before we start pointing fingers at anyone.”
Caribbean event promotional outfit, Caesars Army is just one of many global promotional teams that often facilitate mass gatherings for the entertainment of all, and while its founder, Jules Sobian admits that none of his events exceed 10,000 patrons, he believes there are serious lessons to be learnt from this tragedy.
“This seemed like a predictable but preventable tragedy,” said Sobion, in an exclusive chat with EBUZZTT on Thursday. He lamented the devastation, but said Travis Scott has a history of inciting crowds during his performances. “That in itself seems like a red flag for me, as I would not prescribe to anybody who is of total focus or attention, inciting my crowd in dangerous activities. It will only auger badly or negatively on the event organiser itself,” he explained. “I would remember when ‘Pick up Something,’ (Grenada’s Mr. Killa)was a big song. There were certain responsible event production managers that would ensure that if any song would incite rowdiness, or cause mayhem, the song would not be played, because we are responsible for the safety and security of the event,” he said. Beyond that however, Sobion pinpointed communication among key security and safety personnel as a major area of importance in hosting any event. “It’s the collaboration and cohesion of medical, fire, police, health and safety requirements; Based on this mass casualty event, it seemed that for a 50,000 crowd, they were not able to manage the complexities of such a crowd. In essence it seemed like from before, during and after the show, there were a number of failures.”
Sobion’s team produces events like A.M Bush, IN.De.Paint.Dance, Mai Tai, Bacchanal Blocko and Bacchanal Road to name a few. He believes that protocols established with communication at the centre of it all, could essentially safeguard all involved.“From a Trinidad and Tobago context and an event promoter’s context globally, it’s a matter of the cohesion and the buy- in, and the support from a cohesive team. It also comes down to communication among the personnel who are part and parcel of the event. There must be a hub- an area of communication where all officials will be in one station, or one workplace, to receive dilemmas in one hub. I don’t think Astroworld had that,” he noted.
Jules said while in the Caribbean, most events are usually on a much smaller scale, events of the Astroworld magnitude, require a high level of production. “I know for a fact that we, as simple Caribbean people – we tend to do the right thing. Police and Fire officials play an intrinsic role in the safety of any event and that is the main thing. Communication among all involved- a cohesive collaboration of entities, is responsible for a safe event production, and that just seemed like it was not the case last weekend,” he said.
Apart from the establishment of the communications hub, which Sobion said he certainly established for Bacchanal Road, he said it is imperative that the units attached to these crucial entities, are put into place in the most strategic way. “The communications hub is necessary but you also have to strategically put in place the units of these entities, within the event so that they can actually execute in the scenario of incidents to make sure that it’s dealt with immediately,” he highlighted, adding, “Communications coming centrally is important and having all persons on alert where you can actually communicate with the entities within the event and know how to deal with the incidents – whether to have the show stopped etcetera- that’s key.” Sobion said agents under the purview of the critical safety departments are tasked with communicating any emergencies immediately so that incidents do not carry on and end up causing mass casualties.
Last Friday in Houston, concert goers said the crowd surge that essentially led to nine deaths, began when Travis Scott took the stage. According to President of the Houston Firefighters Association, Patrick Lancton, Firefighters who were stationed outside the venue were not in radio communication with the emergency medical providers hired by the concert organisers as the situation unfolded.
Ebuzz News
“We Have so Much to Offer the World.” Shurwayne’s Bringing The Authentic Tobago to Carnival.
The most anticipated period on Tobago’s annual event calendar is just about ready to start and one of the island’s most successful entertainers is leading the charge, delivering an event on Thursday, October 29th that will prove truly memorable. Shurwayne Winchester is Tobago’s golden boy. He has taken the Tobago Carnival product personally, believing it’s a good tool to market the island, if truly executed with love and sustainability in mind.
Shurwayne emerged on the Soca scene over 20 years ago and has not slowed down. He has cemented his name in the Caribbean entertainment landscape over many years and he has represented Tobago with immense pride. Despite having moved to Trinidad, the two-time Road March champion remains deeply connected to his home and is set to host Tobago Love The Xperience in honor of that appreciation. “Together with my friend and old Tobago classmate, Lester Duncan, we’re using this event to show the world what Tobago is truly about. For me, it’s about giving back to the place that I came from. There is no prouder moment than being able to do something like this on your home soil. We wanted to offer those visiting the island, something more than the décor and the lights and music,” said the artiste, noting that this year’s theme for Tobago Love The Xperience is The Harvest. “We’re doing something that’s built around the heritage of Tobago. As somebody who grew up here it has always been important for me to do this – to give the foreigners a chance to see the real Tobago, to give them a chance to fall in love with Tobago – the things that they see and the feeling they get when they experience what we have to share.”
Shurwayne believes the events happening at Carnival should embody the island’s underlying energy and attributes. “When they come here for Carnival, what they experience should make them want to return even outside of the Carnival season,” he said.
Tobago Love The Xperience takes place at the Signal Hill Secondary School from 6pm on Thursday. “We want our people to fall in love with our island too. It’s important for us to love where we come from,” said the entertainer. “This event is about heritage and culture. It’s about the history of Tobago. When people enter the venue they will see and feel exactly what a Tobago Harvest is like even as we fete and celebrate the Carnival season,” he said.
An artiste, promoter and ambassador, Shurwayne Winchester’s undying commitment to preserving what’s good about his nation, is commendable. He was one of the artistes who performed most recently at the funeral service held for the late, great Calypso King of the World, The Mighty Sparrow. “We have so much to offer the world and there are men and women who showed us how to do it with class and dignity. They took what we have and shared it well with the rest of the world. Men like Sparrow and Aunty Rose represented in a particular way for T&T and I just think it’s a fundamental part of being a patriot – someone who puts country before anything else.”
Music News
Stepping Into Her Own, Jalessa Says It’s Time for ‘Freedom.’
For 16-year-old rising star, Jalessa Lazarus, this month has been bitter sweet. The teenager is set to release her new single, ‘Freedom,’ but even as she delivers musically, she is reminded of her grandmother who passed away in May this year, after being diagnosed with Breast Cancer. “She would always tell me I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” said the youngster as she reminisced on the encouragement, she often received from her family matriarch.
Jalessa Lazarus is a talented, young entertainer in the Soca space, and even as her present focus is on the 2027 CXC examinations, her love for music abounds, and so she is still releasing the Teddy Rhymes penned, ‘Freedom,’ with hope of maintaining her standing in the music space in 2027. “This song is all about expressing yourself – encouraging enjoyment and appreciation for the culture of Trinidad and Tobago. I want people to really get to know what we here in T&T are all about – all that we have and all that we can share with the world,” said the artiste.
The song was produced by Millbeatz Music – a familiar space for the entertainer, as she is also being taught to play the piano and guitar under the Millbeatz Entertainment umbrella – under the tutelage of Kevin Millien. “I’m trying my very best to do both music and school. CXC is serious. I have a time-table that helps me with balancing both my studies and music,” she explained. Jalessa is very aware of the importance of a good education. She has a good head on her shoulders, along with parents who keep her grounded, and guide her every step of the way. “I’m doing Maths, English Language, IT, Social Studies, Principles of Business and Office Administration,” she said, assuring that she will release more music upon the completion of her exams. “I want to be an inspiration to other young entertainers coming behind me. I also want to travel – take my music around the world,” she expressed, adding that she has dreams of stepping into the RnB arena one day – her inspiration being Adele.
A proud student of the artform, under the tutelage of artistes like Preedy, Nailah Blackman, Patrice Roberts and Voice, Jalessa says she loves Soca music and thinks colourful language has no place in the genre. It’s a topic that is fast becoming a cause for concern according to some, this as more artistes experiment with the inclusion of expletives in their music. “I do not support colourful language in Soca. It’s unnecessary and I don’t think it should be used in our music – music that we are sharing with the world,” said the youngster. “I think Soca is a different type of music, from anything else. Music is generally a vibe. It’s therapy for people – our music is all about dancing, freeing up, dressing up in costumes and being happy; it’s happy music,” she added.
Her groovy soca single, ‘Freedom,’ a true expression of her personality and what she wants the world to know about the land of her birth, Jalessa Lazarus continues to reach for the stars, all while drawing awareness to serious issues. “I want to take the time to extend hope and prayers to anyone who’s dealing with any type of cancer this month and everyday onward. God is always with you,” she said.
Rooted in her culture and diligently focused on her future, Lazarus plans on releasing an EP and says even though she will sit out competitions in 2027, she will return after the completion of her CXC exams. Her mother, Phylesha meanwhile expressed immense pride in her daughter’s commitment and took a moment to thank Teddy Rhymes for his support and encouragement. “I don’t think she will be going back into junior competitions but we are looking beyond exams and I want to especially thank Teddy for believing in Jalessa and encouraging her.”
For more on Jalessa Lazarus, follow her on her on Instagram @jalessa_lazarus.
