At this time I would like to introduce you to our new segment

In The VIP

My first commentary is about the new VIP area at the Crossroads.  So far, it has been a hit.  Chicks and Groupies fighting to get in to be seen.  You just don’t know how wonderful it is to see a dream come true, and they say “Caribbean people are not interested in a VIP area, nor care to feel important at a club”.  Nonsense, they are like everyone else, they like to be treated with respect and be classed as a VIP.

It was all about the Crossroads on Friday night with “Square One” and Allison Hines.  Massive amounts of people…boy, the crowd was really huge, and the show was very good.  However, I was a bit disappointed to witness the “stand-off-ish” way Allison was treating her fans backstage/VIP area.  Our Soca artist must remember, without their fans where will they be! Especially since they have not crossed over to the mainstream market, and 99% (a fact) does not know who they are, or about Soca music.  It really pleased me to see the outstanding support, but I truly got taken back a bit by her neglect to the fans.  A Note to our Soca artist:  You must remember you are in show business, and the moment you step into a club to perform, you are on stage, whether it be back stage or directly on stage.  A smile must automatically come across your face regardless of how or what you are feeling, you must act as though, you are in front of a camera at all times, at least until you leave the establishment, because you never know who's there that can help you along to the next step in your career.  Other than that, everything was nice, and I must mention that the DC Carnival Board Members was in “full effect” in the VIP that night.  It’s nice to see the team hanging out together for a change.  I hope we see more of them for the upcoming holiday events.  Also, in the place was Brian Jordan of ICE Productions; we had the opportunity to hang out and discuss the politics of Soca in DC.  Also, visiting from Philadelphia was our good friend Richard King from Clear Channel, we too had the opportunity to talk at great lengths, and it’s always great to talk to people in the entertainment/broadcasting industry.

Susan, Wayne Wonder & Todd

Wayne Wonder was an absolute “star” on the night of his performance on Saturday, November 15th.  He treated his fans wonderfully.  His show was packaged very well, his dancers and band were “off the hook”, and he sang hit after hit.  Unfortunately, the crowd was not as big as the Sizzla show, but it was a nice turnout.  My personal opinion about his show was that his record company has not marketed it properly.  Don’t get me wrong, they are definitely on the right track with the bus, the dances, etc., and most importantly the packaging of the entire performance, but they need more "grass roots" marketing in advance of each concert to build excitement in each city, in addition to what the promoter does.  Wayne Wonder has had a few hits that have crossed over to the mainstream market, and therefore, the crowd should have been as large as Sizzla’s or larger, considering Sizzla has had no crossover hits.  After he finished his performance, he took the time to pose for pictures with his fans backstage, which was quite nice.  He is definitely a class act!  Oh, by the way, we totally missed the midnight fashion show on Saturday night, because we were busy having Long Island Iced Teas at the top bar, and hanging out with Tony Carr (Host of Rhythms of the world on WPFW 89.3 FM on Thursday Nights www.dccaribbeanconnection.com.)  The Bartender Leon (at the top bar) is a MASTER at making those refreshing Long Island Iced Teas, they were “SLAMMIN”!  If we were able to tempt Tony Carr into having a few, then they must have really been good, because he is strictly an Appleton and Coke man, and you know me, I'm strictly Heineken.  So, please check out Leon at the top bar for his great Long Island Iced Teas, and let him know that Arious raved about it on their commentary this week.  I must say my wife loves Leon more now, because as she says “he hooked a sister up”, by getting me right!

We closed out the weekend by once again checking out the VIP area at the Crossroads on Sunday.  The presentation was impressive, the shrimp, and the many Caribbean dishes, along with the complimentary champagne, gave it a nice touch of class.  The sisters and groupies were looking real nice too.  EZ Street from WPGC passed through and chilled with us for a while.  Sprang International, and Nemesis was in the house, along with G-Nice and Super Slice, and Leon was back again working at the bar in the VIP area, but I stayed away from the Iced Teas and stuck with my usual Heineken since it was Sunday night.  He did get me wife loving Ciroc vodka by the time we left that night though.  Well, it was a very nice way to end the weekend.  Big up to Management...AMG you're large!