A taskforce is being created to boost Bermuda's ailing entertainment industry ahead of the next tourist season.Operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth, Families and Community Development, the committee is needed “particularly in response to the current economic climate”, according to Minister Glenn Blakeney.An open forum on Monday brought together about 30 entertainers and hospitality industry figures to air ideas, and volunteer members for the group.Mr Blakeney said: “The taskforce will not be more than 15 people. These are all people who have volunteered to be on the committee because they're really the people with the brain power and the experience required to be innovative and think outside the box.”He listed a few volunteers, such as bar owner Frank Arnold, and entertainers Gita Blakeney, John Lee and Gene Steede.Mr Blakeney said he would draft a mandate for the group with Community Development permanent secretary Wayne Carey, to be ready in a week's time.“Hopefully no later than the following week, we'll have our next task force session.“There are challenges calling for an aggressive and very ambitious approach, but we had an incredible turnout on Monday and I was extremely pleased with the level of contribution. I think we'll be on a good wicket.”Early meetings of the task force would be closed, he said, to allow for private brainstorming.Mr Blakeney said he wanted to follow up on recommendations from a Government-commissioned 2004 report by Stuart Hayward assessing Bermuda's music and entertainment industry.He said: “Since the last submissions to that report in 2006, there hasn't been the kind of momentum on the issues that I thought would have occurred. As the new Minister, that responsibility falls under my remit and it is incumbent on me to see that goes forward.”Many of the Island's entertainers feel they haven't been treated well by the hospitality industry, Mr Blakeney added.“Entertainment has traditionally been seen as the first expendable sacrifice with regards to minimising the costs of operations. It's not seen as part of the cost of doing business. It's seen as an added cost.“Now in Bermuda we have this burgeoning new passion, particularly in the performing arts, and a dearth of venues to showcase this incredible talent.”The new task force will answer to the Ministry but its group of volunteers will appoint their own chairman.Entertainer Tony Brannon, who attended Monday's meeting, said the idea was to “kick-start entertainment in Bermuda”.“There were a lot of general issues, such as concerns about cruise ships having full blown entertainment while they're in port, meaning that people don't have any reason to get off the boat.”Mr Brannon said he hoped to see more specific concerns addressed soon, such as amendments last year to the Liquor License Act, which require licensed premises to hire one security guard per 50 patrons when live music is offered past 10pm.He did not join the task force, he said, because of commitments to the Bermuda Board of Tourism.Phil Barnett, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce's restaurant division, called the meeting “an airing of issues and points of view”.Mr Barnett said he had also volunteered to join the task force.He said:”I think the most important point that was put out at Monday's meeting was we all share the same understanding.“We all want to see Bermuda come back to a state of vibrancy in the arts scene. We were joined by some old entertainment luminaries and some of those who are up and coming, like Gavin Smith from the Chewstick Foundation. That's important, because you can't provide sophisticated tourists with entertainment that's just for tourists. They're looking for the same things locals want to see, and Gavin is certainly putting that on. It's folk-based and it's not a stereotypical Bermudian product.”He said: “The main issue I shared was that the hotel business, bar owners and nightclub owners, aren't just there to give opportunities to people. We're in a business with a huge amount of risk. When you invest in a product, the returns have to be significant. More money means more opportunities for Bermudians.“What we saw at the meeting was we have a proven commitment in terms of supply. Now we need to get the demand back.”l Are you an entertainer in Bermuda? What are your ideas? E-mail them to news[AT]royalgazette.bm