Comments on: Opinion: Why Do I Oppose The Policy Change?

By: Charlly X

Charlly X — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 08:32:22 +0000

My my my smh !!!! Why are people trying to silence the truth by degrading the messenger ? Its Been happening for years in this country where local talent gets shunned in all sectors !! Read Mr Lance Haywards Story ! We don’t lift up our own and its a shame !!
Crabs in a Bucket !!!

By: Coffee

Coffee — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:47:53 +0000

I would invite You look into your own life and realize just how shallow an existence You live . I am in some fashion associated with the arts on a continual basis in Bermuda .

By: Coffee

Coffee — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:44:24 +0000

Hey Hmm…What a shame . There is a life after politics … Go find yours !

By: Sandy Butterfield

Sandy Butterfield — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 04:24:42 +0000

Several musicians/entertainers working full time ??? Wow!!!! I wonder who they could possibly be. I know a heck of a lot of musicians and entertainers and they all have to have second jobs. Maybe there maybe 2 who are living off their music alone and I doubt there are that many.

By: Bermuda Minstrel

Bermuda Minstrel — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 23:30:02 +0000

Felix: As I intimated above, if you are telling me that you are able to live off your music performing in Bermuda – without having to do any hustles, without having to work overseas part of the year, without living with your parents, without being independently wealthy, without living of of some other benefactor, then you have my sincere admiration.

Have a nice day sir. I welcome your comments.

Peace.

By: Unbelievable

Unbelievable — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 16:51:40 +0000

One thing I do not agree with for sure is that the Musicians Union should not be collecting fees from promoters. For what? Where does that money go?

That’s just extortion.

By: Forethebest

Forethebest — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 16:05:09 +0000

Well said Graham! The concept that “if they come from away, they must be better than a Bermudian” seems to have been diminished in most areas of our domain, but seems to me thriving in the area of The Arts. This is not a good thing for all of us.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:44:51 +0000

when is the last time you hired a trombone player ? when is the last time you saw a trombone plyer perform and what venue?

By: hmmm

hmmm — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 13:31:23 +0000

What have local entertainers done to upheir product and their product access…is there a central website, where party planners can get clips of performances and catagories of acts, performers, or customer feedback ?

Up the product up the product access.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 13:27:22 +0000

So you will now go hire Mr Maule to play his trombone at birthday parties and PLP functions? This guy sure going to be busy.

Mr Maule, please ensure you come back on here and report on whether you got a whole bunch of new gigs.

By: Coffee

Coffee — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 02:28:20 +0000

You sir are a trouble maker , as a Bermudian ,I shall boycott any establishment that I even think that Rick Olsen may have ANY interest in .
I’ would like to thank Mr. Grahame Maule for taking a necessary stand against a policy which I believe is the thin edge of the wedge in displacing born Bermudians in many , many areas not yet identified .

By: Felix

Felix — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 01:47:09 +0000

I live purely off my income as a musician and does my music partner and our singer in Bermuda…we work with another guy who does the same and there are a few more of us too ! also a few Dj’s too

By: Bermuda Minstrel

Bermuda Minstrel — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 19:35:27 +0000

If you actually know people who are really able to support themselves off performing music in Bermuda without any additional support or help, then they have my sincere admiration because it is not for the faint of heart.

By: Rick Olson

Rick Olson — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 19:20:07 +0000

The problem is thier is little call foe a trombobe player in this era especially in the bar scene. We need to give are customers bith local and and tourists what they want IF we truly want to create jobs for Bermudians in the hospitality business.

By: Basil Lambert

Basil Lambert — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 19:08:05 +0000

Your statement is incorrect. I know of several Bermudians that are working full time off their performing. ‘Quite Literally’ it can and is being done. Not near as many that could or should be though.

By: Unbelievable

Unbelievable — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:30:07 +0000

This Immigration policy drama we are always is so tiresome. I’m sorry but there are simply not enough entertainers even around to fill certain jobs. Plus these local guys are sometimes pretty tiresome too. And that’s their repertoire.

By: Unbelievable

Unbelievable — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:25:45 +0000

All this “opinion piece” gives us is one person’s rally call. He hasn’t even told us what the policy change is.

By: What now?

What now? — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 16:58:30 +0000

You haven’t stated which part of the new policy negatively impacts local entertainers. In fact, the new policy requires that positions be advertised locally as with any job.

If an event/bar/restaurant cannot find any local entertainers to play the type of music they need, why should they have to spend more money to hire both local and foreign entertainers? Oktoberfest is a great example, it makes no sense to hire a local band for this event.

By: RJ

RJ — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 16:57:36 +0000

You guys talking about acting swiftly, but missed the deadline (!) for public consultation on the new work permit policy. The BEU have only themselves to blame for letting down their members.

Just more complaints about immigration. Nothing to see here.

By: Bermuda Minstrel

Bermuda Minstrel — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 16:45:33 +0000

In addition, I can understand the desire to remove the requirement for Bermudians to perform at huge events – such as Bermuda Festival, Beyonce etc. I cannot understand removing the requirement to have a Bermudian say one night a week at Hog Penny when you have an overseas entertainer.

So in essense, I think the new policy is back to front.

By: Bermuda Minstrel

Bermuda Minstrel — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 14:50:52 +0000

As a Bermudian musician, I think I can help here. If you lived in a larger country, and worked say in a 25 mile radius, you coul dget enough work without repeating yourself and being at the same place too often. Here there are much fewer options. West and, east end or Hamilton. That’s it.

There are quite literally no Bermudian musicians I know of who live purely off their performing – there simply isn’t enough work with or without the new policy.

Thanks for listening.

By: Local Music Lover

Local Music Lover — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 14:46:05 +0000

Hmmmm:

In this instance, you are correct – - it is the same worldwide – absolutely. However, this is the difference – - location, location, location. Bermuda is a small community with a limited amount of space, area and more importantly, opportunity.

The policy change does nothing to assist in creating an environment where local musicians can find work – - listen to what I said – - “FIND WORK.” I didn’t say they “SHOULD” be given jobs/gigs – - it is the opportunity to apply evenly and openly for gigs – - to be included on the bill for any overseas acts that come to the island to perform. That’s what is the issue in this. The policy change allows for people to automatically disregard local musicians – period.

This is wrong and should not stand.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 13:42:39 +0000

“Unfortunately, there are still very few ways in which a professional musician or entertainer can be financially stable in Bermuda without relying upon a main source of income in an unrelated field, apart from those who are employed as music teachers.”

Isn’t that the same worldwide ?

Tell me where it is different and why.