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The Power of
the Medium; Development of a Global Database and Website
Monika Nicoletti-Tung, pan-jumbie.com Switzerland
Panists, pan tuners, arrangers, composers,
steel bands, tutors etc. all contribute immensely to the development
of the steel pan. This art form is of the utmost importance and
requires insightful managers and a sound marketing strategy.
Standard methods of communication have served well in the past but
is now outdated and needs to be replaced. Thus, over the last 40
years, publishers, broadcasters, editors, writers, and governing
bodies dominated the media but no movement has come forward for a
centralised source to supersede this. Consequently, keen and
dedicated individuals need to begin developing a strategy for the
future. The arrival of electronic communication has opened up new
vistas in the entire spectrum of the media, presenting new
opportunities and expanding existing services. The Internet has
become our primary marketing channel with equal opportunities for
those who wish to pursue these lines. With minimal investment of
time and money, we can be self-sufficient and communications can
reach all corners of the globe.
In brief, the Internet represents a
tool of considerable power, unparalleled to anything seen hitherto.
Consequently, worldwide networking with individuals of similar
interest can set forward new directions and enhance the pace of the
steel pan movement. Through this medium we can channel our ideas;
these will be heard, information and experiences can be exchanged
and plans developed. Furthermore, the medium can be used to archive
history, educate newcomers, and attract new customers. To harness
this immense power, pan-net workers are needed, rational individuals
with communicative skills and visions.
In this presentation, I will
use my own website pan-jumbie.com, to illustrate many of these
points. From experience over the years, I have developed a gut
instinct for what people desire. The site has continued to grow in popularity and the range
of material has expanded considerably.
Pan people around the world speak different languages, have
different customs and methods of operation, not to mention the
different values and laws they uphold. Yet they are all united in
their quest for information. The quicker they get it, the more
efficient their work becomes.
I will conclude by expressing my
vision of how this powerful medium can be expanded in the future
viz. by jointly building up a true high-end performance in the
global cyber panyard!
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Programme