April 11, Panfestival

Last night I tried my best to get a song I wanted played at a playout... and as much as i am disappointed that I didn’t end up having things my way.. I felt good at the end....
It felt good having and argument about Pan that resulted in some action being taken.... I have been in too many where the result has me depressed and wanting to play in another band.

In any case the list for th April 11th playout is not what I would call an Ideal list and the 1/2 hour limitation really sucks... But the songs selected.. (*not all the best we have to over) allows us to have fun with the music.. And have a Vibe.. A nice jam Session if you will.. cant complain. I am really excited about this playout and I hope we "wow" everyone there.

Kudos’ to D ,
Boy as much as we don’t agree at times you Nuff respect for continuing working with the band.... I can only imagine how hard it is.. I know we (ie the band) dont really take much time to really acknowledge how much u are doin for the band.

Nuff respek (y)

Pan-oh-ridim

This Thursday I actually got annoyed with the band. Here we were getting an excellent opportunity to play with the other bands in the Island... and we almost didn't take it... there was NO sense of urgency... NO drive... NO desire to find a way.. someway, to overcome whatever difficulties we faced to play at this event....

I don't know why but it hurt me.. and finally I begin to see why ppl leave..... I love to perform.. its a big part of why I stay in the band. Needless to say My mainstay is a concert... a concert makes everything I sacrifice for pan worthwhile (that and the summer lyme).

But i digress

That night was a stark reminder that not everyone has the same priorities and desires as I do..... thats just life and everyone has a right to live their own... Now i seriously wonder;
If i want to perform is Panoridim the place for me? I mean for concerts most definitely, but.... for the rest of the year?

Gay?

Jamaicans do not distinguish between bi-sexual and being gay... in my head they are 2 different things...

To be gay I Believe you are only attracted to the same sex... to be 'Bi' U are just extremely open and freaky sexually.
Are these views incorrect?

War on Iran?

The Big question on allot of peoples lips now-a-days, is whether or not the US is going to bomb IRAN if it does not comply with its demands to halt its Nuclear development plans.

I am of 2 minds on this matter... I am (as i have indicated in previous blogs) DISGUSTED with Bush's FTWDAMFS policy

(FTWDAMFS -> "F*** The World Dont Ask Me For Sh*t")

As a result, his 'macho' posturing on this issue has me feeling that a war with Iran is inevitable....
In spite of this, to think that Iran is ONLY gonna use its nuclear plants for producing power would be behaving like a very naive school girl..... Iran is a Muslim state... home to many extremists.. the Govt might not plan to start a war... but the extremists do and I don't think the govt can, or even wants to, Stop them.

So the question then becomes, What do we do? neither side is strong enough to totally annihilate the other.. Albeit America can do considerably more damage... Iran's retaliation, I expect, would be a even greater support for radicals and extremists.... something that would not bode well for US citizens anywhere in the world......

DWL!!!!!

I just saw a friend of mine with an interesting MSN name;

Love sucks...True Love Swallows

Wow

Do you realize that for the first time in 3 years we not having not having an Anti-Valentines day lyme?

Interesting how things change.

Customer Service

Yesterdays playout was a little Eye opener for me where it concerns customer service.

As a programmer and being involved with many projects.. I have learned that if you want your project to be finished in time and on budget avoid offering things to your customers... Unless it is an Item that is necessary or you believe they will need eventually.. never offer them or suggest the possibilities of the program... If you offer it they will want it and you will then suffer from what project managers call "Scope creep", which is the bane of all IT projects.

No I have been applying this basic principle to how I do playouts.. but yesterday I realized (thanks to mummy Mel) that a playout is not a IT project. We are service providers that interact directly and constantly with our customers... It is our jobs to provide a service/product that will satisfy our clients. As a result, to do so, one must be prepared to go the extra mile for them... especially if you wish to leave a good impression with them.... This is much easier said than done. The people you work with are volunteers and as such have no incentive other than their own personal motivation to go that extra mile. One must cognizant of the needs of 20 or so hungry & tired ppl who have been working there ass off for over and hour. You are not paying them and when it comes to it they are free to leave at any given time.

Now the trick is finding this balance. To what extent to you go the extra mile.. for whom do you go the distance .. when do you decide to stop... At what point is going the extra mile being taken advantage of? To what extent do you listen to the players and to what extent do you tell them what needs to be done...
These are just some of the questions I am still learning to answer... all in all I enjoy this post of PRO.. this more than any other position has taught me a great deal and I am still learning....maybe some day I'll even have all the answers...