Booster Shot: The Asylum Family sticks it to Miami promoters

More than other penny pinching promoters throughout the socaverse, Miami party promoters are known to cut corners when hosting events. I talk to artists all the time, and it may suprise you to learn that for Miami Carnival MOST soca perfomers have to pay for their own flights, hotel stays and meals. Several promoters are known to pay up late, or not at all. Some of the biggest events only pay about 20% of their billed artistes, while the other cast members perform just for the hope of greater exposure.Of course, you have those who also advertise artists and DJs who aren't even confirmed, then have the nerve to ask patrons to pay handsomely for tickets that would probably cost less in any other city. I'm no artiste, but that kinda treatment would be enough to discourage me from my craft. If you can't even expect to profit from performances in front of huge crowds that earn US dollars, when can you expect to make a buck?

I dunno if any of you have heard about this new fete happening in Miami during Columbus Day weekend this year. But, there's a little something called Miami Vice, happening on Friday, October 9th on the actual set of Miami Vice, the Ice Palace.

I felt like personally throwing my love behind this event for what it represents. So before anyone is too quick to talk. This is not a paid advertisement. I wrote this because, I support the music, the music-makers, and anyone who believes in excellence.

Miami Vice was the brainchild of Fay-Ann Lyons. After several bad experiences fighting for the respect of persons who feign to

PROMOTE the soca artform, she and husband Bunji Garlin thought it would be a good

idea to put their money behind a Miami-based event that would showcase soca in a professional manner.

So beyond the fact that the thing goes down at a mansion/film studio made famous by a TV series that literally put the city of

Miami on the map, there are other noteworthy factors that make this fete worth supporting with your dolla-dolla bills y'all:

1. ARTIST DRIVEN: I told you all that. The Asylum camp ARE the promoters.
2. CONFIRMED CAST: Bunji and Fay called up a few of their best buddies in the business. They WILL be there; Beenie Man, Benjai, Biggie Irie, Denise Belfon, Hunter, Kevin Lyttle, Peter Ram, Problem Child, Sizwe C,

Skinny Fabulous, Trini Jacobs...
3. NO TRACKS! The entire cast will be backed by the Asylum Band. Dem boyz are working overtime in rehearsals learning the music for that long @$$ list of guests. Most of these artists do not travel with bands, so this is a rare chance to catch the kind of energy live music alone can inspire.

4. PRICE: It's 35 Bucks...what is that $2.50 per artist? It's cheaper than most of the other local offerings on the same night.

Knowing what most of these acts charge, I really have no idea how they're even making money on this event.

I love soca, but I freely admit that there are a lot of things that

happen behind the scenes making this business very dirty and cruel at times. So congratulations to all of the people working hard behind the scenes to make Miami Vice a success. From what I understand, regular people have been volunteering

their time and creativity to make sure the word gets out. I sincerely hope that in doing this, all of you begin to send a strong message to some of the players in the game who have been breaking the rules for far too long.

I will be there, and if anyone wants to join me, you can buy advance tickets HERE

Miami Vice Ad - Fay-Ann Lyons, Bunji Garlin, Hunter, Skinny Fabulous, Problem Child

Love and higher standards in soca,

Nurse Karen

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The Rounds: False alarm, CPF to pay Fay-Ann all she's owed.

Good Evening Soca Lovers. I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.


It's St. Patricks's Day Weekend in Toronto, and Calle Ocho weekend in Miami. So, south Florida’s biggest Latin festival is on and popping with a little soca, mixed in for good measure.
Today, Kevin Lyttle appears on the Power 96 stage alongside Shaggy and Brooke Hogan.

A shot I grabbed of Kevin Lyttle at home in St. Vincent, back in 2006

Kevin’s working to push out a sophomore album for the North American market this year. You can expect guest appearances from man like Pitbull, "Mr. Boombastic" – Shaggy, even Fat Joe. Weird, right?

With Destra in Toronto in '08

While we’re talking about new soca albums. Get your hands on these: Trini Jacobs has got one. Destra's got HOTT. I would STRONGLY recommend "On in 5" by Kes the Band. Oh and for the big people... check calypso vet, David Rudder for "Trinidad Stories." You can download them from Trinidadtunes.com or bug your local music seller and make them stock the music YOU love.

King David Rudder in Washington, D.C., in January 2009.

This was a topsy-turvy week for Trinidad’s reigning soca Queen Fay-Ann Lyons. She received a letter from the organizers of the International Soca Monarch competition informing her that her prize money would be slashed due to the economic down turn. Yes, you heard me right! The Caribbean Prestige Foundation was blaming its main sponsor, the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs for going back on its promise to provide a $1 Million first prize for the winner of the Power Soca Category on Fantastic Friday. Just two days ago, there was a big uproar in Trinidad when the news got out that Fay-Ann would be getting just $750 thousand instead.

The Nurse and Fay-Ann, Toronto 2008

Well, I have some good news for you. Late yesterday, the president of the Caribbean Prestige foundation issued a release apologizing for his very SCHUPID error. Fay-Ann will get the $1 million after all, plus all the cash she’s owed for Groovy Monarch and Peoples Choice. He’s now saying that he mistook the Ministry’s recommendation for a directive. That means, he thought the government wasn’t going to fork out the cash at all. Truth be told, they just well cheap and were HOPING to keep a little extra in their pockets. The wretches.

All’s well that ends well I guess!


I’m Nurse Karen, and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Check out Nurse Karen Etc on facebook or mustard seeds dot net for more juicy soca news. And don’t forget, the only soca news podcast, Dr. jay’s rounds is available for download at soca therapy dot com. Now, back to de docta.

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Eye Unit: Trini Jacobs and Beenie Man at Soca Semis (video)

Soca Lovers! I try my best to make sure you get all what you need to make your judgments on what's going on in the soca world. I'll do my best to share a few clips of Trinidad's 2009 Soca Monarch Semi-Finals for your viewing pleasure in no particular order (Gimme a break man, a girl has to sleep too, ya know!) See anything you like? Let it be known...

Trini Jacobs featuring Beenie Man

I'll add them to (Nurse) Karen (Etc) as I find them, but continue to check Nurse Karen TV for ongoing coverage of Trinidad Carnival 2009.  De action now start!

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Nurse's Lounge: Going to White Out!

I'm heading out to KOS White Out tonight. Took me ages to find an outfit and I'm thinking that I may not get there in time to see the performances: Roy Cape All Stars featuring Blaxx, Trini Jacobs and Olutunji Yearwood!!!!

BREATHLESS!!!

Nurse's Lounge: Going to White Out!

Guess what? I got to see the show. The fete went till 6 in the morning, and I was there till the bitter end. Sweet party. The DJs played quite a lot of new music from Barbados and St. Vincent, and naturally all the Trinidad favourites as well. Unfortunately, I didn't have a good vantage point in the dark to really show you the stage.

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