There is no lack of space to hold Crop Over events.
People just have to be creative.
That is the view of entertainment promoters Ingrid Holder, Anthony Layne and Richard Haynes.
With about 16 events left on the National Cultural Foundation’s (NCF) official Crop Over 2018 calendar and more than 40 private fringe events that end the Sweetest Summer Festival on August 12, venues and dates are in demand.
Haynes, who is the man behind Baje International that hosts premier events, said venues were scattered around the island.
“There is no shortage of venues. Barbados is littered with the most amazing places. The problem is that no one looks at them. There are loads of private villas and plantation lands with world class backdrops, beaches, car parks.
“What one issue is, is that some [private villas] are not accessible to us and to find the owners who are willing to work with us is like pulling teeth.”
Another drawback with land events, he said, comes with the red tape involved with Town and Country Planning and impacted negatively on the “poor man who want to throw a little party or lime at a shop or bar or an empty space in the community”.
He said that lead to grassroots events being moved to cruises where they had little or no issues.
Layne, of Kontact Band, which stages Beers and Wings and Prestige All Inclusive events, said there was a demand for places to hold parties so he has remained close to home.
“If I could keep everything at Brigade House where the band is located, everything would work out well. It would drive traffic to the band. But I have an agreement with the Barbados Museum. It has nice parking and is a beautiful location.”
Holder said there were lots of empty venues “you can create with your own ideas, rather than the standard venues that people think of all the time. I see visiting promoters find venues as they search around, depending on what they want to do”.
She said picking a venue also depended on the type of event and the crowd capacity.
“Many people look at distance. Does it count to drive from St Lucy to Christ Church for a small party and shop lime?”
On July 22, there will be three events, July 29 there are four, one of which is Soca Royale, the big competition showdown at Bushy Park. On August 1, Emancipation Day, there are six events. With some days only seeing two events, on August 4, which is the NCF’s kaiso competition, Pic O De Crop at Kensington Oval, there are also six events.
The day before Grand Kadooment there are four events, one of which is a cruise.
The only day that seems sacred is Grand Kadooment day, as there are no other events booked. (NS)
