Update: Fans greet Showtime with motorcade at Airport
The motorcade traveled from the Terrance B. Lettesome International Airport to Lower Estate.
Members of Showtime Band recently returned after winning the award for ‘Best overall soca band of the year’ at the 10th Annual International Soca Award (ISA) show held on August 31, 2012 in New York City.
Speaking with Showtime’s band leader about their recent win in an exclusive interview, Mr. Ottley Hodge told this news site that a party in celebration of their win is definitely in order. “I guess we will combine our road march and newly crowned award together and have a grand affair in the near future.”
He added that with this new win, the sky is the limit. “We [have] been talking about the different things we want to do, even before this whole thing happen, and we’ll just put more emphasis on it now.”
Mr. Hodge said that many people in the Virgin Islands don’t see how big this award is, and stated that “this award came from an organization that has been going on for about 10 years, the show is, from what I gather, it has a strong Trini[dad] base, and to actually get nominated from our region..., it’s bigger than any of us can believe, it shows a lot, about where our music came from and where it is going.”
The band leader also told this news site that Showtime will be bringing a totally different style and will be stepping up a notch. “We know that the outside world is going to be looking at us now so we have to improve our product so we can continue to push the BVI and the band on a whole… big win equals big things.”
In regards to Showtime being a product, he stated that with this new huge win he is not sure if the band’s retainer fee will increase, but if it does increase, it will be more on the ‘overseas level’.
“It will most likely be increased when traveling overseas,” he responded when asked if the fee will remain the same locally,“let’s wait and see… I can’t give a definite answer today.”
He added that now the band is holding a title that Kes and the Band and Machel Montano of Trinidad and Tobago holds, and looking at where they’ve been and where they are today in the world of soca music “the band is definitely looking forward to branching out, I don’t see why not, getting this award it really opens the market for the band, we are set and ready to go.”
In a previous interview with this site published on August 29, 2012, Hodge expressed that “we of ourselves feel that we are winners in being nominated.”
Hodge said that the nomination was a reward in itself considering that the band usually just plays for the enjoyment of the crowd. He noted that Showtime was the first VI band nominated for the ISA adding that whether the group wins or loses, they are excited about being able to put the VI on the map for soca music and are happy for the opportunity.
He was also grateful for the support given by the community through the voting process including those cast online to propel them to the awards and also the messages of congratulations received.
Hodge declared that “We are very proud of the nature of the whole thing…no words can describe how we feel about it.”
The band leader told this news site of a desire for the group to perform at the mecca of soca arenas, Trinidad at some point in the future, highlighting that people have come from the island after having seen their music videos and indicated a desire to have them perform live.
Showtime competed with last year’s album, "The Journey", for the title alongside Machel Montano (T&T), Respeck Band (St. Maarten), Kes The Band (T&T), Krosfyah (Barbados) and Small Axe Band (St. Kitts).
The ISA show was held at the Walt Whitman Theater in Brooklyn and was being dubbed as a grand red carpet affair with all the big names of soca in the Caribbean expected to be in attendance.
Other prizes up for grabs on awards night included best New Male and Female Artistes, Duo or Group, Song Writer, Best Collaboration, Song, Video, Producer and Album of the year among others.
The International Soca Awards held its first award show in 2002 with a mission to recognize and reward excellence and achievement in the Soca Music art form by showcasing the extraordinary talents of Soca Music’s absolute best exponents.
76 Responses to “Update: Fans greet Showtime with motorcade at Airport”
I can agree with you notes you are so correct this is BS and conflict of interest they can never win they have a lot of professonal bands to be up against only in Tola they can win Mr. H***e is on the committee and everything is in his favor let them go because its only shits they going to play thats all they play anyways they better shake the real bottle up there to win nonsence BS showtime waste of the peoples tax monies good they need to learn and hear good music hope they come back playing better music.
SUSAN JEALOUSY AND HATE WILL NOT GET YOU ALL ANYWHERE OR CAN IT STOP THE RAW TALENT OF SHOWTIME SO KEEP YOU ALL PI$$ TO AYO SELF
Jam Band, 17 Plus, Ecstasy, WCK, Imagination Brass, Small Axe etc are REAL BANDS!
i bet they will not throw water on any one up there ha ha.
Why Showtime dont stop playing wid ppl head and tell them so call Fans that them breaking Up...Real Bull**** Band
Come on bvi this does not sit well for transparency.
One of their singers keep going with the money from the Band so they broke up AGAIN!!
Let that dude go SHOWTIME!
That is why I don't rate them as a REAL Band because REAL BANDS take their music and business seriously. A set of lil boys in a band is PROBLEMS!!!
Is BOSS who keep ... the band money to upgrade his studio in Purcell community center!!!
You people are sicking hear the bull you all are talking so this means treasures and annazi them needs not win in the sections for kids and mocajumbiee cause they are one troupe,this is pure bull cause if they can win then there is no reason why showtime can't win second prize. do you people think before you talk sh$t man.
Jougo and crew...hard work does pay off. Keep it up don't let no one discourage you.
FIRSTLY HE WASN'T A DAM JUDGE TO SCORE PARADE TROUPES OR ROAD MARCH.
SECONDLY HE COULD NOT EVEN COUNT THE SCORES TO BEGIN WITH.
So tell me do you know his roll on the committee AS THE CHAIRMAN....... BLOGGERS BLOG in the end......PEOPLE GO SORT YOURSELF OUT, because it aint HURTING HIM or ANYONE ELSE ON THE COMMITTEE.....WHO KNOW KNOWS.....
Maybe you didnt win on parade why cry, come on every dogs get it day HATERS!
I so proud of you SHOWTIME......LOVE U MR. H keep up the good work, see u around next year for festival. Yankee girl.
TO THE HATERS GO SORT YOURSELF OUT, WE WORKING OR OWN BLOCK...........................SHOWTIME!!! BIG UP YOU LARGE, NO MATTER WHAT YOU BEAT SOCA BANDS FROM WHERE HAHAHAHA! WHO FEELS ITS KNOWS.
People who are BLOGGING are immature people, we dont got time to curse you have room them, BLAH! BLAH!
LOVE YOU SHOWTIME YOUR FAN TO THE BONE, STRAIGHT OUT OF NEW YORK!! YANKIE LOVING YOUR SWAG MR. H. MUAH!!!!
They shake de bottle an push bush an on an on.
Luv my VI people