It was the first of A Taste of Carnival's physical events and even though the audience at the Kaiso Karavan tent was sparse, the Trinbago Unified Calypsonian Organisation (TUCO) president Ainsley King believes patronage at the tents will increase.
It was held at Queen's Hall Garden Theatre, St Ann's on February 10 from 7 pm. When the show began at 7.19 pm with its first performer Georgia 'The Messenger' Mc Intyre singing a Tribute to Sandra (the late Sandra 'Singing Sandra' DesVignes-Millington), there were only six people in the audience. At the end of the event at 10.15 pm, the number was still the same.
The venue was beautifully lit, the open air environment with the trees around creating a nostalgic, almost romantic feeling. It was the perfect setting for a return to Carnival events, the only problem was there was no audience.
Even though the number was small, the people were seen dancing in their seats to Kaiso Karavan's offerings particularly its vintage section after the intermission.
King said, 'I do expect the attendance to increase. As things have been happening, as most people know, the uncertainty that we keep seeing.
'Even the budget we have not finalised budget as yet. The covid situation it has been tough.'
King said as the organisation's leader he seized the opportunity to create something for the calypsonian.
The significance of the night was that the Taste of Carnival events have started, he added.
'Getting to this point was tough and it is tough. The fact that this show has started tonight, the signal is a very, very valuable symbol. It is signal that we are on the go and this thing is going to work,' he said.
To him, Kaiso Karavan offered a good start to the reopening of the entertainment sector.
He said his reason for saying so was because life has to continue even with covid and TT has to learn to live with the situation and that was what the tent's organisers did.
'This here is definitely showing that the entertainment sector is making that attempt. Yes there might be challenges but the fact is that the effort here tonight is very positive.'
Asked if more is going to be done to promote and enhance attendance at the tents, King said Kaiso Karavan found themselves in an unfortunate position because the dates were already set and no funding had been given as yet and so the tent's organisers were unable to advertise.
However, he admired that the organisers went ahead with the show.
King said the world has changed and the country and people had no choice but to try to adapt.
The entertainment industry has changed the industry totally and he does not see it getting back to normal but entertainers and artistes had to find new ways of making it work, he added.
One patron Maigon Eastmen said she came simply because she loves calypso. "I heard this cast is very good. So I came to enjoy it. Even though my friends are not here, some vaccinated and are afraid and some unvaccinated; I felt quite comfortable coming out because I was told the social distancing is still in
