The Take Over Tent , managed by Cecil Charles, says it is dedicated to creating a comprehensive experience during the upcoming Carnival season.
The calypso tent has been in the Kaiso arena for the past three decades and this year and says there is no letting up on the momentum it has gathered over these years.
Charles, at a media launch Wednesday evening spoke about the tent’s achievements over the years, emphasising how the tent empowered others, its involvement in honing the skills of calypsonians and inculcating a youth development component into its agenda.
Charles said that a lot of team work goes into the production aspect before the artistes make their presentations, and yet, oftentimes some persons are not recognised, especially the writers of the lyrics.
Looking at the bigger picture, he said a lot of effort is put into exploring different avenues to help artistes fine tune their craft.
“I need to also thank the writers ,we always forget the writers, but the writers play a very critical role in their (artistes) development,” Charles told the gathering, at the Peter &Co. showroom in Vide Bouteille.
He noted that the Take Over Tent/Soca Village International collaboration is viewed as “a production”, and not artistes rivaling against the musicians. The Take Over Tent/Soca Village collaboration has been in effect for the past 10 years and more, after some tents decided to team up to better negate the cost factors involved in tent production.
He said it all comes down to “team work” within the production crew.
Charles informed that apart from the three government-sponsored shows, Take Over Tent will stage events in Soufriere and Mon Repos.
“We are passionate about what we do, we are serious about what we do ,we did not come in this thing, just because we wanted to make a dollar,” he stated.
Charles said that during the past few years, Take Over Tent has hosted several “fulltime programmes”, but some artistes do not see the need for these workshops, past the season. Nonetheless, he said, TOT is big on the promotion and development of its brand product and so, will continue to roll out these developmental workshops to assist its artistes.
Take Over Tent’s theme for the season is: Blending Youth with Experience and the group will also have newcomers, young and older persons joining the tent.
On hand was a representative of the Carnival Planning and Management Committee, Sant Justin, who encouraged the Take Over Tent management and membership to keep putting up commendable presentations as they endeavour to promote and elevate the artform.
Executive Director of the Monsignor Patrick Anthony of Folk Research Centre (FRC) Rysea Joseph committed to continue supporting Take Over Tent in its endeavours. She described it as “the soul of calypso” in Saint Lucia.
Take Over Tent has also collaborated with the FRC to host a series of educational and cultural developmental workshops for the public.
Notably, this year, Take Over Tent has managed to attract some additional major sponsorship to its camp. In attendance, were representatives from corporate sector that included Peter& Co. Nissan brand, Lewis Industries and the St. Lucia Workers Credit Union.
The representatives reiterated continued support for the artform, while stating that greater merit and value must be afforded the artistes if they are to represent the country on a wider global platform.