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Entertainment
RPB selling prize car
Published on: 10/2/2009.
CALYPSO MONARCH Red Plastic Bag (RPB) will soon be scoring some other firsts.
The nine-time monarch, who has won a total of six cars, is putting the latest addition up for sale.
Speaking at the official handing over of the fully-loaded 2009 Toyota Carolla at agents Nassco yesterday, RPB said he was forced to liquidate the largest portion of his Crop-Over winnings for the first time in order to recover some costs.
"I can't afford to keep this car, after spending so much money on recording an album, and the amount of money that I would have spent on Semi-finals and Finals, not to mention Party Monarch, the whole season in general. I have to sell this vehicle.
"I've always said that if I go into competition and I don't win, I can easily end up in the red, because of the high cost of being part of Crop-Over and being part of the competition," he disclosed.
He said that there were a number of other artistes who spent a lot of money and did not recover it.
The veteran calypsonian said he might also have to consider looking for sponsorship to help mount his defence of the calypso title next year.
"Costs are really becoming prohibitive, and if I don't do that, I may not be able to do as much in terms of what I produce at Crop-Over and if I want to continue to be a part of it, I need to look seriously at the economics of it," he said.
In thanking Nassco for its prizes and the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) for providing the forum for artistes to express themselves, RPB said the average calypsonian could get more out of the festival that makes so much for the country.
"I know quite well that unless you reach the calypso Finals or the Soca Monarch Finals or whatever, that is the only way you find yourself in a position to win money or to get money.
"I think that most of the calypsonians who make big contributions to Crop-Over, they don't really get a lot out of Crop-Over. I wonder how some of them actually are able to produce music every year," he observed.
Noting that the major shows were the ones that attracted the bigger purses, De Big Show singer said a component needed to be included in Cohobblopot that allowed the artistes who did not make it through the various competitions to "get a chance to be part of a major event".
He said featuring the "one-hit wonders" at the Sweet Soca competition was a step in the right direction, but more needed to be done to assist the others.
While Bag said it was cheaper to get music on the airwaves with the advent of digital downloads in particular, he said the quality was lacking in a lot of cases.
"I still think that there is a lot of music reaching the radio that is not properly mixed and mastered and we have to be careful with the quality of sound that we are going to get on radio," he said.
The reigning monarch said about 85 per cent of the music was being produced by youngsters and they had to be encouraged to continue to make their contribution.
"We have to look at ways again of working with them and getting some of the more experienced musicians to work with them and show them what to do, in terms of getting that quality that is necessary." (YB)
15 comment found!
: 10/3/2009
are you sure RPB? why not use this as osme sort of investment? Since there are no liens (i suppose) on these vehicles you have won, why not consider a taxi service, hired car service. Skilfully handled, you'd eventually get those bills paid and still have the means od acquiring addition income. Retired
: 10/2/2009
I thought RPB worked for the government!!!!!!!!!, why should anyone be concerned whether he had a job or not, do you have to feed or support him? I don't think he's living off any taxpayers money, he pays taxes too. Get a life!!!!!!!!
: 10/2/2009
Stop quarelling about RPB. RPB won about 100, 000 dollars in prize money this year alone. He receives royalties from COSCAP. He performs on NCF shows in Barbados and overseas. Many of you here do not gross that kind of money so stop attacking RPB and stop attacking him too . Just leave the gentleman alone please.
: 10/2/2009
To your last comment "What day job does RPB have?" You bastard, what business is that of yours? If he has a day job or not has nothing to do with you, the thing is that he is not dependent on persons like you. Your comments are direct attacks on RBB and not on artists as a whole, let me warn you once and for all.... "Touch not the Lord's annointed and do his prophets no harm."
: 10/2/2009
What day job does RPB have?
Stop the hating : 10/2/2009
Hello person, entertainment is a form of employment too, if it offends when we ask for a bigger piece of the pie then go hang yourself, you jerk. People like you think that the only time entertainers are to make money is during Crop Over, but that's not the case. Why do u hide behind anonymity, why don't you put your real name and contact info so that we can have a mature discussion....U stupid hater.
What a stupid first comment to this article? : 10/2/2009
Are you serious when you make a comment like "Why don't these calypsonians, artistes, go get a day job?" What the hell do you think they are doing when they perform,sing, draw, dance, act or what ever they do? Because you have your job during the day does it nullify what they do in theirs? Get real, that is their job and if they dont make alot that is what they want to do and what is wrong with them saying so. Lay off them and especially RPB, make him the least of your unhappiness with artistes, he does not lack for anything and is surrounded with good family and friends (good karma) So save your comments. He just simply stated that he could not afford to keep it and that he has to sell the bloody car to offset expenses incurred during the season. What is wrong with that?
More Than Crop- Over : 10/2/2009
One reader arrogantly asked why " these calypsonians,artistes don't get a day job?" Fact of the matter is, the cultural industries globally of which the Performing Arts and Crop Over falls under, is a multi- million dollar industry. Sadly, the system currently being used in Barbados is not designed to capture a significant piece of this market. It is time for Barbadians to understand that being an entertainer is a career too and hence this industry is much more than Crop Over. I however need to caution that in order for this sector to grow and to be competitive in the global industry the quality of the music,the personal professional development of all artistes, and the infrastructure for growth, must go hand in hand-Currently these are lacking. THE SPECIALIST
poor coment : 10/2/2009
the person who made the comment below definitely does not understand the value of culture to development. RPB has made very valuable contribution over the years. day jobs are important yes but we do owe our cultural icons for their contributions nuff respect
DAY JOB : 10/2/2009
Get a day job? That seems so ignorant and short-sighted. If you want quality from the calypsonians they have to put in a lot of time, even if it is only relating to the crop-over period. It would be great if they could ply their trade(calysonians and other artist) full time, especially at crop over time. They are not many full time jobs that will allow them to work full time eight or so months out of the year and then take off four months. Maybe if there was a way for them to earn a good living with their talent all year, then crop-over would not be such a strain financially.
working : 10/2/2009
How you know they don't have a job. I know the bag to be a working person along with some of the others. Bajan 48 Arkansas
car : 10/2/2009
In all fairness though, RPB has a day job...I think.
Day job : 10/2/2009
sorry but I'm not sure who posted the previous comment, but I am in Barbados and as far as I know almost all of the calypsonians, RPB included, have day jobs as well as contributing to our cultural heritage. Why don't you go get a job instead of posting silly comments?
: 10/2/2009
Why don't these calypsonians, artistes, go get a day job? This isn't Hollywood. No one owes you anything. Crop Over is a couple months in the year, go get a job, and stop complaining, we go out there everyday and try to earn a living, you should too. Sick of the crap every year, we don't make any money, give me a break.
: 10/2/2009
ONE HIT WONDERS is not a good idea . It is crap and should be scrapped before it even starts. It would stigmatise the various artistes. It is not a good 'thang' !!
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