The Editor
The Anguillian

Dear Editor,

LATE SHOWS AT LANDSOME BOWL

It has come to my attention that it would be a good thing to comment on last weekend’s performances at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre.
Both nights they had a sell-out crowd with terrific performances given by the artistes that were the main attraction.

Although not as well supported, the local boys did their very best to make everyone happy.
Even-so, a few comments arose about the programme and at the same time some questions arose in various minds as to the length and the time the main attraction started.
Why does the main attraction at a secular show start at 12:30 a.m.?
Why do Christian shows start close to the time and their main attraction comes on at a decent hour?
Why do the Valley people have to pay with a night of no sleep for someone else's pleasure?
Why does it have to be so loud?
I heard people talking, they looked like tourists, "Once but never again!”
"I paid to see the main show. Why do I have to listen to these local bands for three hours before I get what I paid for?" "I am not staying any longer!" "I will not come back!" and "This is ridiculous. We are leaving."
Who cares, they are only tourists right? Hey…………but
I started to think about it and saying, oh well this is Anguilla we do things differently here. But then I thought of me sitting there all by myself because my friends refused to go on account of the fact that one never gets to see the main attraction until it is well past our bedtime. And I started to do a little investigating and found that a lot of people felt the same way. Now I understand why I saw some people sleeping during the local performance. They were gearing up for what was coming and getting some sleep before.
I talked all week to various people of all ages, and found that everybody gets pretty upset by the time 10:30 rolls around and are losing interest in the local show. Not wanting to be rude, they just don't clap and become less interested in them, then finally the moment arrives, everybody wakes up and gets ready to party.
I understand that young people like to stay up late, but if the main attraction comes on earlier and then is followed up by a local group once again I guarantee they would stay and party as late as they like.
During Carnival the argument is that there are many booths that like to make money. This past weekend there were only two booths open. Hello…?
My opinion is, that if the Tourist Board invites oldies but goodies to come to Anguilla, then they should cater to the oldies and goodies; have the main attraction start on time and finish at a reasonable hour and we get what we pay for. If the young people want to stay and party then go for it!
Otherwise we will not be trying to get tourists to come for our shows but just the young people of the island and I can only say all the power to you!

Thank you
(Name withheld at writer’s request)

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