Report: Musicians and the Entertainment Industry in Bermuda Prepared for The Hon. Dale Butler, JP, MP Minister of Community Affairs and Sport Respectfully submitted by Stuart J. Hayward 3 December 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS....................................................................................................3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.................................................................................................................................4 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................6 The Players ................................................................................................................................................ 6 Methodology.............................................................................................................................................. 7 HISTORY........................................................................................................................................................8 ISSUES..........................................................................................................................................................10 Declining tourism .................................................................................................................................... 10 Fewer tourists...................................................................................................................................... 10 Fewer hotels and other venues ............................................................................................................ 12 Government Issues .................................................................................................................................. 14 Philosophy........................................................................................................................................... 14 Education ............................................................................................................................................ 15 Legislative policies ............................................................................................................................. 16 Immigration......................................................................................................................................... 17 Cruise ships......................................................................................................................................... 18 Performers’ issues.................................................................................................................................... 19 Criticisms about entertainers............................................................................................................... 19 Criticisms from entertainers................................................................................................................ 20 Technology ......................................................................................................................................... 21 The Bermuda Federation of Musicians and Variety Artists (The Musicians’ Union)......................... 22 Venue operators’ issues........................................................................................................................... 25 Hotel policies ...................................................................................................................................... 26 Economics ............................................................................................................................................... 32 Effect on entertainers .......................................................................................................................... 33 Effect on venues.................................................................................................................................. 34 General issues.......................................................................................................................................... 34 The General Strike - 1981................................................................................................................... 34 Infrastructure....................................................................................................................................... 35 Audience attitudes............................................................................................................................... 35 Race and ethnicity............................................................................................................................... 36 Violence.............................................................................................................................................. 36 WHAT CAN BE DONE?..............................................................................................................................38 RECOMMENDATIONS: .............................................................................................................................39 Government/People (educate, activate, legislate - as last resort)............................................................. 39 Venues - hotels/nightclubs/restaurants (view performers as value added) .............................................. 40 Musicians and their association (treat music as profession) .................................................................... 40 SOLUTIONS MATRIX ................................................................................................................................42 APPENDICES...............................................................................................................................................51 Appendix 1. Abbreviations used.............................................................................................................. 54 Appendix 2. Licensed hotel property closures & openings 1977 - 2003 ................................................. 55 Appendix 3. Interviews............................................................................................................................ 58 Appendix 4. The BFMVA Constitution - significant changes................................................................. 59 Appendix 5. Bermuda Immigration policies............................................................................................ 60 Appendix 6. Policies from other countries .............................................................................................. 63 Inquiry into and Report on MUSICIANS AND THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IN BERMUDA ________________ FOREWORD & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This inquiry has been a fascinating exercise, one made far more interesting and sometimes more painful because, as the son of a musician, I lived through the fortunes of the industry. Policies that dictated what music my dad was permitted to play in the hotels, that imposed themselves on his wages, that at times stunted his musical growth, that shaped his outlook on his job and his country — those policies were the daily fare of my family’s life. It is with that history in mind that I have taken special care to represent my findings fairly. While there is certainly blame enough to spread around, the purpose and, I trust, the outcome of this report is to point the way forward, using what has gone before as a launching pad and guide for directions rather than as evidence for assigning fault. All the players have had their innings of self-interest. Now those interests must be broadened and merged into a collective interest. At the risk of omitting someone, for which I apologise in advance, I wish to thank those who have made this Report possible. My first line of thanks goes to the Hon. Dale Butler JP MP, Minister of Community Affairs and Sport, for his decades long support of musicians and their craft, culminating in his request for this Inquiry and Report. I trust that he will find the support and will of his Cabinet Colleagues to carry the recommendations forward. The team I assembled as a focus group took on the project as if it were their own. They worked hard, gave me encouragement and validation, and shared their wisdom. Thank you Gita Blakeney, Tony Brannon, David Dodwell, Laura Gorham, Shine Hayward, Selena Lambert, Derek Morris and James Richardson. You deserve credit for the results this Report may have in reviving the industry. The responsibility is mine alone for any failures, omissions, mistakes or any of the other glitches that can plague a project of this nature. The managers and staff at the Departments of Community and Cultural Affairs were generous with their help whenever I needed it: Dr. Gary Burgess, Pat Chapman, Jeannie Isaac, Angela Todd and Charleeta Smith. Geof Rothwell at the Bermuda College advised on the design of the questionnaire. Reviewers and consultants Jamie Bacon, Tore Badenduck, Elvie Christie, Sylvia Hayward-Harris and Wolfgang Sterrer gave invaluable advice. I acknowledge that aspects of the Report may be experienced by some as provocative, particularly those dealing with racism and colonialism, with xenophobia, xenophilia and self- deprecation. These segments are not intended to provoke, but rather to open and give air to old and festering wounds in the interest of promoting their healing.