Mareel - Cinema & Music Venue

[Guest Anonymous]

http://www.sindentheatre.biz/index.php?act=index

 

I think this place perhaps shows what a small venue can do by way of an interesting mix of attractions.

So whats wrong with the garrison theatre.

[DavieG]

welli have it that it was booked a month before and thought of the month b4 that - so i think your wrong!

 

Not sure of your point here but as I say I'm not a cinema expert. However here's a couple of personal observations.

 

Breakback Mountain was showing in Glasgow when I was there in mid-Jan and it only came here last week.

 

I saw Walk the Line about 6 weeks ago on the mainland - then I saw it again on a plane while I was travelling about a month back.......its only here next time around. Good enough for me though as I will see it again then.....great film!!!!

 

Wish I had as many flight as everyone seems to think I do - not need to get catty.

 

As I say, forget the flight then, the film was showing nationally weeks ago so and many films dont get here at all so there are good arguments on both sides - I am not disagreeing with you. I simply am not sure of all the outs and in's

 

And sadly we dont even get all the top films here. I have been waiting to see Wolf Creek, a fairly high profile film, which was also showing in Glasgow in Jan, but to the best of my knowledge it's not been here yet

 

Dont get me wrong Film Mobile Scotland and the Garrison do a great job under the circumstances but you can only do so much and show so many films on a once-a-monthy cycle.

 

Sometimes we get the films early sometimes I suspect its about par for the course with other local cinemas - which is still pretty acceptable for those of us that dont have the option of seeing the film any other way - until the DVD comes out of course.

 

Somebody highlighted the improving quality of pirate DVD's in an earlier comment. I seriously hope we never see those as a serious competitor (as they seemed to imply they might become) or a valid reason for not having an official entertainment facility in Shetland. Shame on them for that!!!! If that were the case there would be no industry left to debate anyway.

 

Sure Harry Potter was an amazing coup but "one swallow don't make a summer" as they say.

 

i think you will find that all the harry potter films have been here on time (or near it) unlike the other smaler cinemas whare its months behind us. If you look at the other wee cinemas they are a lot worse that Shetland - which is the future - my point is if you think its bad now - just waite and see how bad it will be in the new place when they have to waite untill the big places are finished with them.

 

pluss when the odd turkey somes along we will be forsed to keep it for a week.

 

The film on the one of your many flights are from America which dont count as the us dates and the uk dates are sometimes months apart.

 

I have been on long hall flights and i bet the good film was on the way from the USA and not the one from the uk as well.

 

Somtimes you can get USA DVDs before they are even in the UK cinemas

 

As I say no cinema expert (hence Breakback rather than Brokeback Mountain) but as someone said earlier if this is a problem, and we are told it wont be, will it not be partially compensated for by the fact we have more films more regularly - again just my personal thoughts.

 

Another personal thought - if this does turn out to be true, and as I say we have been told otherwise, can anyone tell me what the problem is with waiting a few weeks to see a film anyway? I'm told we don't need a Rolls Royce service but some seem to disagree.

 

And who decides what a Turkey as you put it is anyone. [/i]

 

You are quite right about the USA leg of the flight - the first time I have been there in the six years I have been doing this job by the way and somebody else paid - so no need for snide remarks. I stand corrected - as I say no expert.

[DavieG]

Mind you, and not meaning to sound like an alarmist loony, but I do think that with rising sea levels, if it's going to be built at the North Ness, we'll end up sitting through performances in wir rubber boots, snorkels at hand. Is there an alternative site?

 

thats a good point!

 

i remember that the ice factory was refused planing permition because it was near the sea? so how has the new place been alowed to continue right on the edge?

 

Answered this before. The Ice Factory was turned down due to the fear that someone might fall into the sea - among other things I suspect. When it was pointed out that this approach might force the closure of the Thule, Captain Flints the Boating Club and the Queens (both of whom are built into the sea) to name but three, there were all round.

 

That's Shetland for you. Has anyone been to the Tyne and seen the floating nightclub there? Cant recall anyone drowning there?

[DavieG]

I don't know where people get the idea that more people will use local pubs before and after an event.

 

What? No pub benefits from the Folk Festival, Blues Festival, concerts in Clickimin orwherever, people going to other pubs before the North Star or Posers - please!!!!

 

 

It doesn't happen at the moment. There is no sudden surge in pub numbers when a gig finishes or a concert ends. Why do you think it will be any different if the new venue is built?

 

Sorry totally disagree and I have been there many times. Take just two instances - Proclaimers and Steve Earle. Sure I only went to the Lounge (and took them all with me I hasten to add) but both bars were full to overfolowing and those were on week nights. And there are instances of many smaller concerts having a similar effect.

 

 

 

Also, to answer Davie G's point, it was arranged to show "Brokeback Mountain" (not "Breakback") in February. If you had attended any of the films in February (9th-12) you would have seen it being advertised on the screen before they started.

 

Not disagreeing but the fact is it was only shown here two weeks ago - still fine in my personal opinion. Hopefully not a problem seeing as everyone is airing their's in this context.

[DavieG]

Making £1400 on a Saturday in a pub where all they sell is drinks is not an argument.

 

Try a cafe bar or whatever in a venue where the entertainment is meant to be the main feature on a Monday or Tuesday - I really don't think £1400 is achievable.

 

I'm not arguing that the pubs can't make this type of money, I am arguing that a cafe bar or whatever you want to call it, where it is not the main attraction, will be struggling to make this amount day in day out. And they would have to be earning this amount every day to acheive the figures quoted.

 

 

 

Hows about this for a scenario

 

Monday - Film - 50 people - everybody spends £5 on food/drink - £250

Tuesday - Film and small music event - 150 people - average spend £5 - £750

Wednesday - Film - 100 people - average spend £5 - £500

Thusday - Film and a gig 150 people- average spend £8 - £1200

Friday - Film and a gig - 700 people - average spend £12 - £8,400

Saturday - Film and a gig - 700 peolpe - average spend £12 - £8,400

Sunday - Film and small gig - 100 people - average spend £5 - 500

 

Total income through food/drink - £20,000 which equals out at £2,857 per day. If you add on to that cafe takings through the day from passing trade (its going to be closest cafe to where I work) I don't think it is unreasonable to expect an average of £1400 to come in. The argument is how much of that is displacement from existing businesses and how much of it is 'new' trade.

 

Marvin - how about this for real life. There was a musical event at the Garrison last night, approx 240 attended (not a sell-out) even though it's supposed to be a very popular show. The food / juice / water sales totalled £29.95 which doesn't quite reach the heady heights of 13 pence per person spend.

 

Yet you're blithely quoting at least a fiver per person spend in the new CMV based on WHAT?

 

Why don't you contact Islesburgh for the real figures regarding entertainment trends in Shetland.

 

Get back to me when you've had a big mug of reality.

 

Hardly like for like - The Garrison tuck shop versus a cafe bar. Reality?

[DavieG]

Do you see where I'm coming from regarding these figures. Don't take my word for it - ask Islesburgh.

 

Do you happen to know how many people it takes for a film showing to break even even on a single night if there are no major overheads? I dont but I believe they would not be astronomical, especially if the building also had other income streams operating at the same time.

[DavieG]

Cinema brings 60 jobs to Spa town

An 11-screen cinema complex opens at the site of a new shopping and leisure development in Cheltenham on Friday, bringing 60 jobs to the town.

 

Cineworld is part of the multi-million pound Brewery Centre, which has been under construction for two years.

 

The centre occupies the site of the former Whitbread Brewery between Henrietta Street and Bennington Street.

 

Three restaurants and a multi-storey car park are already open and the rest of the development opens next month.

 

This from the BBC today. Cheltenham not being that big a town and having lots of cities reasonably close by yet the developers opting for an 11 screen multiplex

makes me wonder if perhaps the cinema side of our new venue should have more screens so that there are more films shown every night to tempt us from the tv.....just a thought.

 

the very reason why the business sees a two screen option as the most viable believe it or not.

[Guest Anonymous]

Mind you, and not meaning to sound like an alarmist loony, but I do think that with rising sea levels, if it's going to be built at the North Ness, we'll end up sitting through performances in wir rubber boots, snorkels at hand. Is there an alternative site?

 

thats a good point!

 

i remember that the ice factory was refused planing permition because it was near the sea? so how has the new place been alowed to continue right on the edge?

 

Answered this before. The Ice Factory was turned down due to the fear that someone might fall into the sea - among other things I suspect. When it was pointed out that this approach might force the closure of the Thule, Captain Flints the Boating Club and the Queens (both of whom are built into the sea) to name but three, there were all round.

 

That's Shetland for you. Has anyone been to the Tyne and seen the nightclub there? Cant recall anyone drowning there?

not been to the tyne . but i know a few have died in lerwick harbour. water is a great atraction for children so will the cinema and music venue be fenced off

[Ally]

OK, finally finished reading the thread. Some interesting views. Overall I find myself siding with the pro camp. I can see how the sheer amount of money spent is a worry to many, however since the initial outlay won’t be coming directly out of folks pockets then this becomes less of a problem.

 

With regards to the operational loss of £80000, surely that’s easily dwarfed by that of the leisure centres? I'm aware of the “if a cinema was commercially viable there would already be one†argument, but why must Shetlanders always have to wait until some company south decides it can make a few quid of us before it provides a service?

 

Look at broadband, Digital Television, Mobile Phone coverage, the transport links south to name but a few. We’re always last to get any new service and it’s only when profit margins are deemed acceptable that we eventually get a cut-down version, years later. That’s not to say that we don’t want these services and there isn’t a demand – quite the opposite. The same applies to a cinema, so why not provide it ourselves?

 

It’s been a gripe of young folk for as long as I can remember that there’s nothing to do at nights. I would have loved to have been able to go see a flick and maybe hang around the café/bar area afterwards, instead of driving aimlessly around the cross in my youth.

 

Finally, I have to agree with the point that was made about the publicans. I can see how any publicly funded competitor to the trade would be seen as a threat and can, to an extent, sympathise with their concerns.

 

However, there are several pubs in Lerwick that are, quite frankly, abysmal. The owner of these pubs does the very least he can to keep them ticking over as money making machines with an apparent disregard for customer service, atmosphere, décor, facilities and appearance. Competition could be just what is needed to force much needed change.

 

So, basically I’m in favour, although I can certainly appreciate the financial and planning concerns of many, especially given the council’s history of near criminal mismanagement and overspend on large projects in the past.

[Ally]

Mind you, and not meaning to sound like an alarmist loony, but I do think that with rising sea levels, if it's going to be built at the North Ness, we'll end up sitting through performances in wir rubber boots, snorkels at hand. Is there an alternative site?

 

thats a good point!

 

i remember that the ice factory was refused planing permition because it was near the sea? so how has the new place been alowed to continue right on the edge?

 

Answered this before. The Ice Factory was turned down due to the fear that someone might fall into the sea - among other things I suspect. When it was pointed out that this approach might force the closure of the Thule, Captain Flints the Boating Club and the Queens (both of whom are built into the sea) to name but three, there were all round.

 

That's Shetland for you. Has anyone been to the Tyne and seen the nightclub there? Cant recall anyone drowning there?

not been to the tyne . but i know a few have died in lerwick harbour. water is a great atraction for children so will the cinema and music venue be fenced off

 

I think that as residents of an island we can hardly go around fencing off the sea for fear of idiots jumping in and killing themselves.

 

Having said that, quite a few people have drowned from jumping off that boat in the Tyne - it was a common dare when it first oppened for drunk folk to jump off it, until a couple of them died and it became a somewhat less popular persuit.

[madcow]

Making £1400 on a Saturday in a pub where all they sell is drinks is not an argument.

 

Try a cafe bar or whatever in a venue where the entertainment is meant to be the main feature on a Monday or Tuesday - I really don't think £1400 is achievable.

 

I'm not arguing that the pubs can't make this type of money, I am arguing that a cafe bar or whatever you want to call it, where it is not the main attraction, will be struggling to make this amount day in day out. And they would have to be earning this amount every day to acheive the figures quoted.

 

 

 

Hows about this for a scenario

 

Monday - Film - 50 people - everybody spends £5 on food/drink - £250

Tuesday - Film and small music event - 150 people - average spend £5 - £750

Wednesday - Film - 100 people - average spend £5 - £500

Thusday - Film and a gig 150 people- average spend £8 - £1200

Friday - Film and a gig - 700 people - average spend £12 - £8,400

Saturday - Film and a gig - 700 peolpe - average spend £12 - £8,400

Sunday - Film and small gig - 100 people - average spend £5 - 500

 

Total income through food/drink - £20,000 which equals out at £2,857 per day. If you add on to that cafe takings through the day from passing trade (its going to be closest cafe to where I work) I don't think it is unreasonable to expect an average of £1400 to come in. The argument is how much of that is displacement from existing businesses and how much of it is 'new' trade.

 

Marvin - how about this for real life. There was a musical event at the Garrison last night, approx 240 attended (not a sell-out) even though it's supposed to be a very popular show. The food / juice / water sales totalled £29.95 which doesn't quite reach the heady heights of 13 pence per person spend.

 

Yet you're blithely quoting at least a fiver per person spend in the new CMV based on WHAT?

 

Why don't you contact Islesburgh for the real figures regarding entertainment trends in Shetland.

 

Get back to me when you've had a big mug of reality.

 

Hardly like for like - The Garrison tuck shop versus a cafe bar. Reality?

 

I think the point here was the amount of money being spent per person, not where they were spending their money. EVERY customer would have to spend at least £5 EVERY time they visited the venue, which would have to be more than once a week to get the attendance figures you are expecting.

 

Yet again, I will repeat myself, and say that people in Shetland don't have that amount of money to spend on social activities. Jobs are being lost all over the islands and not many new ones being created, therefore meaning less disposable income.

 

While I agree there are a lot of very highly paid people here who can afford this entertainment, there are also an awful lot of less well off people who simply can't. Faced with the choice between household bills and a night at the films, I know which one I would have to chose.

 

Its a question of reality, not just spending the money like water because you can. Think long term. I don't think the steering group are doing this.

[Ally]

It's a hell of a lot cheaper than a night in the pub, which many people (including myself) always seem to find the money to do.

[JVRTENNENTS]

I think the woman dat wrote yun letter ida paper a friday summed up da whole thing. Da cooncil says dat dirs a shortage o 600 houses in lerick yit dir quite happy tae blow 7 million on a venue dats goin ta loss money fae da start. Tink we sood mak doo we whit we hae

[Guest Anonymous]

Do you see where I'm coming from regarding these figures. Don't take my word for it - ask Islesburgh.

 

Do you happen to know how many people it takes for a film showing to break even even on a single night if there are no major overheads? I dont but I believe they would not be astronomical, especially if the building also had other income streams operating at the same time.

 

i think the overheads will be higher now - when Islesburgh took films in they would have to pay theatre staff and the cut to the film man - thats all

 

noW the new arts lot will have the HIRE the theatre from the council/Islesburgh then pay their own staff to man the doors - so its going to cost the arts lot more. I persume they will be programming the theatre but i persume the wont get it for free!

 

 

by the Way the 'Shetland Arts' is a half baked idea of a name in my oppinion it should have been 'Shetland Arts Development'

[DavieG]

Do you honestly feel it is in the interests of the people of Shetland to go ahead and build this venue when we are faced with the economic crisis that we are facing.I have a family and I dont work for the council(one of the remaining few) my wages have actually decreased as overtime has been cut and I know a lot of my mates are in the same boat. Council tax has gone up, my rent has gone up ,my electricity has gone up, and on and on it goes. For hundreds and hundreds of families in Shetland disposable income is dropping fast so to say we will spend this amount is totally ridiculous I can tell you know you people who are determined to build this are in for a big shock. I would plead with you to look very hard and long what you are getting us in to. The bottom line is that we cannot possibly afford to take the chance on this (only) losing £80000.

 

Although I have said I will not answer anonymous posts you can't help but have sympathy with such a opinion very well put.

 

And please accept that all the comments I am about to make are most certainly not aimed at this 'correspondant' far from it. He / she has stated their concerns fairly and well and not resorted to personal slates and attacks as some have chosen to do, both on this site and in the local press and, as such, I respect them for it.

 

In fact they have simply provided me with the opportunity to point our a number of other considerations.

 

This is simply a more general observation.

 

We all live in this community and have to face the same levels of local 'tax' whatever services we actually use or dont use. And no I dont earn an astronomical wage as was suggested in the paper - yes a good one by some standards - I have nothing to hide its £23,000 and no overtime or other perks for out of hours work. Not looking for sympathy I can assure you - it is a good wage I'm not denying - not to mention a very enjoyable job, most of the time. Its not all fun and games whatver anyone likes to think I can assure you. i.e. budgets, funding applications, business meetings, reports etc. The hours are sometimes long but on the whole more than worth it to work with some of the best and most talented musicians and people anywhere in the world, both in Shetland and beyond. So as I say please spare me the clever comments.

 

As to economic crises? - maybe too strong a phrase according to many in the know - and not just the council.

 

The fact, as Marvin has pointed out, is that any deficit (remember the business plan, love it or hate it, also shows a potential profit) will not be added to core council spending so will have absolutely no impact on your council tax. Nor can it come out of education (even legally) as one councillor has apparently wrongly suggested.

 

Oh and by the way Mr Neil Anderson asked in the Shetland Times yesterday if the Lottery would have been so happy to give up the money (£2.2m you will remember) if they had known about the new business plan. Well Neil the answer is a very resounding yes. In fact it was they who asked for the new business plan to reflect a more 'conservative' approach and they have been involved and informed of the process all along. So in fact the external funding is potentially even more safe than before.

 

What any deficit will come out of, if necessary, are the returns on our external investments which are currently showing a healthy and better than estimated return - even creating surpluses.Now I may be wrong but this is 'interest' and like us all if we try to save it all for a rainy day then along will come someone and.....yes tax us on it and we will probably lose out anyway

 

Sure we should look at building up our reserves but also investing in our community too. Some are saying "save it for a rainy day" while others are insisting that day is here - so what's the argument? We cant have it both ways. Well we can I suppose - some savings / some investment. And I've not heard anyone come up with alternative suggestion as to possible investments and no it cannot be used to keep schools open or any other such 'core' services.

 

Ok yes "fix up what we have" you cry - "make do and mend" in other words. Everyone seems to think this will be cheaper and best option although I've not seen a figure put forward as yet, let alone how a number of seperate facilities would work together effectively, either economically or strategically. What I can assure you this has been looked at and discounted as the best and most cost effective way forward for now, not to mention in the long run. And yes its all in the original feasibility study.

 

Up until now I've only heard tourism bandied about as a potential growth industry. Well perhaps re-newables too - but that would appear to be a fair bit away yet. Now I'm not for one minute suggesting that this facility will change the face of tourism overnight, although I do believe it will have a very positive impact, but if we invest in a modern infrastructure for Shetland i.e. the new museum etc this, as a whole, will surely have some positive effect for sure - hopefully eventually more than the £80,000 per annum (how many tourists already come here each year?) and then there are the local users of course.

 

One economist, (who like consultants you will no doubt also ridicule - but we have to get information from somewhere over and above "the man in the street") is quoted as saying that one of the most positive things you can do for any community is create a positive 'buzz' about it and then just maybe some of the rest of the world out there with money to spend might at least turn its head toward you. Stand still and you will stagnate and die.

 

See what happened when they opened Fusion in Kirkwall - the music industry, not to mention audiences from all over Orkney, Shetland, Caithness etc., immediately got involved there like never before - and that was a pure performance venue that had no inbuilt development initiatives such as our's does - an aspect already hailed by the lottery among others as 'innovative, imaginative and unique" - but then some will probably suggest "what do they know" of course?

 

Sure Orkney is easier to get to from the Scottish mainland (but the same from / to Shetland of course - could we occasionally attract trade from there?) but surely there are some lessons to be learned from this? And did pubs, chip shops, clubs, restaurants, cafe's etc close down when Fusion opened? Only one to the best of my knowledge and its now open again, funnily enough promoting an alternative and complimentary programme to Fusion at least once a week to the best of my knowledge. The rest howeve either felt no economical impact or even thought trade had actually improved. And the rural areas felt very little negative impact either - still plenty of events in public halls all over the county too - as I say one venue can only offer so much on one particular evening.

 

Other experts (the Irish tourist board for one) claim that effective 'word of mouth marketing' - going away and telling others positive things about a place, or whatever - is the strongest weapon in their armoury rather than 'blind' advertising. Think on - we've all done it - books, CD's, restaurants etc. If someone tells you something is great or somewhere is terrific you will probably take serious notice and want to check it out. If however you tell a friend something is no good - well we all know the effect that has - we simply take their word for it and will rarely, if ever, bother with it.

 

Imagine if everyone went away from Shetland raving about it, and many already do I accept. What is the worth of that in monetary or marketing terms? We might never know but its bound to be worth something significant and should we not seek to increase this even more.

 

This has worked fantastically for SAT with Fiddle Frenzy where we now have friends and families of earlier participants coming back in bigger numbers each year - not to mention the original attendees themselves, again and again. The same goes for all the other festivals as well, especially the Folk Festival and A & F Festival. Mind you we have all had to work hard to achieve this and ensure everything is off the highest quality possible to give value for money but still we get the odd complaint whatever happens. Sure we have good facilites but everyone seems to accept that good as they may be they are a bit dated. So what of the future then? Can we afford to rest on our laurels though when there is so much competition out there?

 

Should Shetland take the risk of "make do and mend" in this instance. It certainly was not the SIC who coined the phrase "speculate to accumulate" I believe - save the clever comments again please.

 

Then there's the much maligned Shetland Brand which everybody, even the most sceptical, believes is a good idea anyway - if delivered correctly. But everyone equally agrees that you cant just stick a logo on any old thing and hope that will fool or satisfy visitors or locals alike. "We can safely brand music, thats good quality" they tell me. "How" I ask? Are you going to line up every band and musician and get them to audition against some hellish set of unfathomable criteria, then stick an arbitary label on them, or not, as the case may be? I for one wouldn't know where to start and who would be brave enough to say "good" / "no good" - "sorry folks not good enough come back next year".

 

But think on- could we not perhaps brand events that music was just part of rather than just the music itself - Folk Festival, Accordion and Fiddle Festivals, Blues Festivals, Fiddle Frenzy, most gigs in public hall etc etc. All already hopefully quality 'products', as they say in the corporate world, in their own right. A much better idea I suspect. But that would mean a quality package to include not only music, but the building and associated facilities, their 'inclusive nature, sound and production provision etc etc Now we could do this within much of our existing infrastrure I agree but, if indeed affordable, how much further would a new facility raise the quality level still further, complementing other facilities and ensuring even higher quality provision, not to mention delivering a development programme to help feed ALL venues in Shetland, in turn supporting an effective brand image.

 

Sure Cheltenham is a bigger city, but the principals are the same - but think of the competition they will face from other venues in the city not to mention the surrounding area. Doesn't seem to have put them off - quite the contrary they see the need to compete to survive. This kind of situation never seems to curtail developements of this kind in other communties. And think on does Bradford enjoy being laughed at for what it has, or doesn't have to offer? I wouldn't think so. Sure maybe all unfounded jokes, but does it make you want to go there for a holiday? Pass through out of sheer interest perhaps but not to book a two week, high cost holiday there.

 

And we've covered population retention and attraction before. How can we put a price on that, although I'm sure somebody could, even for one person to stay and spend their money here as |I have said before.

 

And anway is "make do and mend" really the best way to treat something you seem to value as much as music and culture? What sort of message does this send out to our invaluable musicians, especially the younger ones. If we dont offer them a good infrastructure to work within someone else will - probably outside of Shetland. Like it or lump it things and times move on and if we dont then our young folk will - musician or not. Lets try to think years ahead not just for today.

 

Sure we've had great musicians over the years who never needed such 'extravagence'. Tom Anderson, Willie Hunter, Ronnie Cooper, Peerie Willie, Frank Jamieson, Aly Bain, Violet Tulloch etc etc. Equally none of them developed their talents through the school system - but special people never the less

 

But that didn't stop no less an authority than Dr Tom Anderson demanding that our traditional music be further developed through education - a free service to the pupils but not to the community - we all pay for it - happily I hope. Think of how many more young musicians (especially those who could not have gone it or got there alone - financially or personally) have subsequently benefitted from this since then, not to mention us in the community, and how many more musicians in sheer numbers, again not to mention quality, there now are. if we were to cry for that public investment to now be saved there would, quite rightly, be a national outcry.

 

By enlarge what we are seeking to do here is take that investment forward with , I hasten to add, a large majority of approval from our musicians, other local culture related people and our existing education service, many of whom are involved with in proposed project with us.

 

Rightly or wrongly it seems to me a pity that almost everyone who successfully comes through our music education system has to move away from the islands to develop their skills further. Should we not try and benefit further from our initial investment by seeking to encourage at least a few of them to remain here for a while longer if nothing else. And before you say otherwise, yes the potential has been measured. Around 20% would consider staying if there were a suitable local alternative. More young people in the community - more good music? Not a bad investment I think either socially or economically.

 

It has also been suggested that all our musicians are good enough ("already the best") simply because a few are lucky enough to attract interest outside Shetland. Why should others need assistance? Again I feel this is a extremely odd and narrow assumption. Those who did so did not get there by accident, although a number did through their own commitment, but also with various aspects and levels of public support it must be said.

 

Take the sporting success of the Shetland Recreational Trust once again, thanks heavens this view were not applied to them. International athletes no less - who would have though it of Shetland - again no accident or coincidence I can assure you. With the greatest respect, I suspect this could not have been achieved if sport in Shetland had remained simply in public halls (great job though they do) or through swimming in the sea.

 

Surely everyone has the capacity to develop still further? Whenever was there a 'ceiling' on personal development or achievement? And surely this cannot be said of younger age groups? And unlike the suggestion in yesterdays paper I am most certainly not having to force anyone to do this, the suggestion is laughable in fact and nothing short of an insult to the musicians concerned.

 

Sure we have fantastic musicians, probably more per square mile than anywhere else in Scotland, many of them of the very highest quality and its a personal priviledge to work with them, but they are far from totally unique I can assure you, especially if you are looking at the global marketplace as we are tasked to do.

 

Why should we not seek to develop opportunities for them and the community still further and make sure Shetland remains ahead of the game? If we choose to stand still others will inevitably catch up and eventually overtake us - this is just a simple and irrefutable fact of life. It would be complacent, dangerous and possibly even arrogant to believe otherwise.

 

A number of you have also highlighted ongoing council cutbacks - nothing seems to be sacred or indeed guaranteed anymore. Lets hope I am wrong, but ask yourselves is instrumental tuition in schools safe? Can it be guaranteed to remain 'as is' forever? No I dont have any inside information to this effect thank God, but can we be so sure that everything will remain as is forever in the 'core' public sector - driven as it is by so many outside and competing forces? Or should we perhaps seek at least some level of autonomy through more local means in this particular sector and, at very least, try to protect what we currently have and appreciate just in case? I leave the question and the thought with you.

 

Nor, as has been suggested more than once, is this my pet project or indeed the councils. The demand for it is coming from the music and cultural sector, especially younger age groups. So although I, or the council, may be an easy target for some of you, there are equally many others working behind the scenes on this project with us in a voluntary capacity (mostly musicians - young and old(er) and the demand and much of the enthusiasm is, I can assure you, largely driven by them. Not to put too fine a point on it - seek to personally insult us (SAT and the Council) and you equally insult them - something I personally will not stand by and watch happen - so please consider that fact when inapporpriate and petty comments are directed at us.

 

When you work in the public sector you expect to be sniped at - it goes with the territory - but just consider others when you seek to lower the tone of the debate (and let me remind you I dont mean the correspondant who posted this note that's for sure - I refer to other posts on this site and some of the comments in the Shetland Times letters page - although by no means all I hasten to add)

 

PS I can take it I can assure you.

 

As I say I really sympathise with your views but there are two sides to every story.

 

Over the past few days I have been highly active on this site but I feel I have now said just about everything there is to say, on music anyway, (I will leave the cinema debate to those who know the correct titles of films) and although this may not be my final post on the subject I will now be giving priorities to other matters - mainly the musicians etc of this community who I am paid to assist and represent - although this is a crucial issue for them as I hope I have made abundantly clear.

 

I hope I (and others - thank you for that) have at least helped clear up some of the many misconceptions regarding this project and fully accept that perhaps not eveything has been communicated as well as could have been. You can never hope to cover or please everybody. I will still say we tried though.

 

I've enjoyed the debate and many of your comments and probing questions. I am certain there will be a more formal process of communication as the weeks go on, and no you have not forced us into this, it was planned, indeed demanded, anyway as part of continuing project development process and National Lotery requirements - if approved to proceed at full council next week of course.

 

 

 

Finally I have been accused of being a "talkalot" so-called music man, even a "pumped up" one (not sure of the meaning of that but I intend to lose weight if thats what was implied) Can I thank the correspondant(s) to the Shetland Times letters page this week for their observations which believe it or did make me smile - though not everyone took the same viewpoint I might add and I thank them for that too.

 

Well no doubt this post has proved that for sure. However if my "talkalot" approach is in support of the fantastic music and musicians of Shetland not to mention our islands then I make no apologies for that whatsoever.

 

Cheers for now