Rodney Small, the CEO of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC), recently made what he admitted might be an “unpopular statement”: many Vincentian artiste are “very lazy”.
In a candid discussion about the state of Vincy Mas and the local music industry, Small suggested that a lack of year-round dedication and poor business acumen are holding local talent back from achieving international superstardom.
According to Small, instead of maintaining a consistent hustle, many local artiste sit back and wait for major seasonal events like Wet Fete or the Soca Monarch competition to begin putting in the work. He argued that if these artiste applied the same level of emphasis and effort that they dedicate to Soca Monarch throughout the entire year, the Vincentian music industry would see far greater overall success.
Furthermore, many artiste are overly reliant on the hope of randomly landing a “hit song,” rather than steadily building a career. Small contrasted this general lethargy with the exceptional, “crazy” work ethic of regional icons like Trinidad’s Machel Montano, who puts in massive effort both inside and outside of the carnival season.
The critique goes beyond just time spent recording music; it heavily encompasses a lack of networking and professional business strategies.
Small noted that many Vincentian artiste operate with an “eat a food” mentality showing up simply to do a gig and make a quick buck. Unlike artists in Trinidad who standardize their prices and negotiate collectively to ensure they live well, many Vincentian artists lack the ability to sit down and negotiate properly.
To highlight what it actually takes to succeed, Small pointed to the exceptional work ethics of Vincentian superstars Skinny Fabulous and Problem Child, who remain the consistent exceptions to the rule. For example, Skinny Fabulous once took out a loan specifically to travel to Trinidad just to network.
Small did acknowledge that external factors contribute to this discouraged mindset. Across the region, there has been a noticeable shift away from traditional stage shows, meaning artiste and live bands are getting fewer off-season bookings. Because they aren’t getting booked, many artists feel there is no need to push hard during the off-season.
To combat these issues, the CDC alongside the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism is actively trying to foster the next generation of Vincentian talent. The CDC has started implementing training programs to help artiste connect with agents and better understand the critical business aspects of their careers.