Wednesday, March 30, 2011
ADVANTAGE VIDS:Tribute and Original
Just came across the tribute vid to Advantage, the 2011 Road March and hit that copped Machel that good good 2 mill winnings. The video was done by Trinitoons. Recognize that costume at 3:43 in the Original video? It's TRIBE's section in Baje International's 2010 presentation, Heaven to Earth!
No DC Carnival? say it aint so!
http://www.savedccarnival.com/site/
The above link is confirmation that the rumors were true and financial issues are threatening to prevent the annual DC Carnival Parade from being held this year. This is truly unfortunate as (and i'm not being impartial just cuz i live here) DC Carnival is pretty good and usually attracts big name acts like Bunji, Fayann and Machel. As someone who has dabbled in the DC promoting world I know a lot of people who depend on this event to draw the crowds necessary for their own parties I hate to think of the negative impact this could have on them as this is a huge chunk of money they will lose as trust and blieve DC Carnival fetes are always ram out! So please give a little if you can...they certainly gave to us by allowing us to experience our culture so far from home for all these years and stepping things up year after year to ensure that we, the customers were satisfied. Remember, every little bit helps!
The above link is confirmation that the rumors were true and financial issues are threatening to prevent the annual DC Carnival Parade from being held this year. This is truly unfortunate as (and i'm not being impartial just cuz i live here) DC Carnival is pretty good and usually attracts big name acts like Bunji, Fayann and Machel. As someone who has dabbled in the DC promoting world I know a lot of people who depend on this event to draw the crowds necessary for their own parties I hate to think of the negative impact this could have on them as this is a huge chunk of money they will lose as trust and blieve DC Carnival fetes are always ram out! So please give a little if you can...they certainly gave to us by allowing us to experience our culture so far from home for all these years and stepping things up year after year to ensure that we, the customers were satisfied. Remember, every little bit helps!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Jamaica Carnival
So with months to go before the launch of my bands for St Lucia Carnival and Cropover I have temporarily turned my attention to Jamaica's Carnival. Now up until a year or so ago I had absolutely no idea that Jamaica even had a carnival but apparently it has been steadily improving over the years and i think since my 'Jamaican New Year's' plans may be put on hold for this year this is an opportunity to still make my once a year trip AND fit a Carnival in there too. The first band that popped up when I googled it was Bacchanal jamaica and I'm actually quite impressed with their costumes. Well aside for the kinda beaded skirt thing they put on the belts because i just have a personal vendetta against them lol. My top 2011 pics are below in order from first choice to third.
Source: www.bacchanaljamaica.com
SIMYRIA
$145. USD
MACEDONIA
$165. USD
ATLANTIS
$170USD
Source: www.bacchanaljamaica.com
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
TRIBE:Way of The Warrior 2K11 Experience
How funny that my first year playing mas my #1 costume pick, Tribe's Amazon ended up being my costume. Will be forever greatful to my friend and her links for this experience, cuz of course since around 2008 getting into TRIBE minus a TLC card is only possible if you have that good good pre-registration hook-up! Strangely enough I had no real intentions of playing mas this year, compared to other years where I registered and then sold my costume (will always regret not playing in Water Nymph!) or contemplated playing with other bands....and then said nahhh
So because I tend to b a lil blonde at times, silly me didnt let one of my friends pick my costume up, but instead waited til I got home to go collect it. Collection was smooth-ish. They go by this chit system that if applied properly would make sense, but on this day for some reason they waited til they had a lot of people present and then started handing out chits so of course everybody rushed and the expected ' we were here first and they get chits before us' arguments started with one particular woman threatening to 'get beetham on them' *bbm scared face*
Then a few hours wait for my chit no to be called, but after that things moved smoothly until....the TRIBE Distribution lady came out holding my costume box and NO HEADPIECE. Fifteen minutes later and still no headpiece but the very nice lady keeps coming back to reassure me that 'the issue with my costume' was being sorted out. Eventually she comes up with a large headpiece (i had ordered a small) and told me that it was on the house and apologizes profusely. Now while this issue was dealt with swiftly and promptly and I LOVED my new headpiece, other masqueraders were not so lucky. While I was there there were a LOT of Iroquois masqueraders who were upset about their missing headpieces as well as the guy next to me was somehow registered for a wrong section in error by TRIBE and had to take a costume from another section. I'm not sure what it was about this year, if by bringing out two bands maybe they stretched their resources too thin but from the get go there were quite a few hiccups.
I had a great time on the road Monday, and have absolutely no complaints, the wait to cross the stage wasnt too bad, drinks were flowing, my lunch (pelau) tasted great and OMG those cocktails they served after lunch were divine! Some people complained about the length of time we stayed at the rest stop but I honestly feel like for me at least that was necessary for me to last the rest of the day on the road.
Tuesday...blehh...the wait to get to the stage was borderline ridic, no fault of Tribe's I know but I really wish that the powers that be would allow the drinks trucks to remain with the masqueraders until they actually go on stage as opposed to turning off beforehand. My stage experience on Tuesday wasnt all that either. Monday they held my section back until the stage was clear then let us go all at once so we got that euphoric burst onto the stage. I jus remember feeling this huge release and understanding that yes THIS was what the savannah stage was all about, niceness! Tuesday....there was a truck mix up..they started letting Amazon on then Hoppa had to tell the security no and call us back. Then when we did get on you could barely hear the music for some reason...and i dunno..it just didnt have that climax like Monday. Also there were nuff BLISS masqueraders with us..chippin wit the band..inside the rope mind you, getting drinks by the truck..and crossing, yes i said it crossing the stage with us as well. Now my thing is, if you pay for the ultra exclusive experience, because TRIBE is too big and what not then STAY with your ultra exclusive band nuh. Then people wonder how TRIBE ran out of food monday. well obviously if BLISS folks were up in the mix there wouldnt be enough food because they simply didnt cater for that.
What else...there was no announcement when the trucks started pulling off after lunch, so lo and behold by the time we get ourselves together the last truck is announcing that its leaving. Now this truck had some difficulties rounding a corner and ended up getting left behind, but the masqueraders that were left waited on it. Now imagine our surprise when this truck starts speeding off leaving us to literally run behind it to catch up to the band. and that set the trend for the rest of the day cuz from then on it was either the band not moving at all or they speeding :S. BUT I still had fun, I mean neverending Johnnie, sexy TRIBE men and that god send that is the TRIBE cool zone was all i needed to keep me happy lol. Until the storming started...I dunno if security was only hired to work until sunset but after it got dark had rel unsavory band-less types all up on the truck and smack in the middle of the sections as if they pay they money too. meanwhile security chippin right next to them holding the rope...make sense to u? no right.
O and as for my costume...smh..stuff was falling off before I even tried anything on. Monday Wear moved from an option to a necessity simply because there was no way that costume could have taken two days of jammin. I was chippin on the road and shedding beads all over lol. Thankfully not in obvious places but..yeh...better glue next time por favor!
Now being the unfit lazy person I am I just couldnt make with the after party, but kudos Tribe cuz the security to get in were not playing games, talking about 5 diff ppl checking your bands b4 they let you in and party had bare vibes, next yr when i'm a lil more fit I will take full advantage lol
All in all I had a great time BUT I really hope TRIBE takes note of what their masqueraders are saying and get these issues addressed and fixed in time for next year. And note I said addressed because to me it seems that they have been strangely silent post-carnival in light of all this feedback that they have been getting. I mean can we get a little email self saying that you guys acknowledge there were glitches and are working on them? That being said...I look forward to bigger and better things from TRIBE for Carnival 2012. Even with these little issues they are still my #1 :)
So because I tend to b a lil blonde at times, silly me didnt let one of my friends pick my costume up, but instead waited til I got home to go collect it. Collection was smooth-ish. They go by this chit system that if applied properly would make sense, but on this day for some reason they waited til they had a lot of people present and then started handing out chits so of course everybody rushed and the expected ' we were here first and they get chits before us' arguments started with one particular woman threatening to 'get beetham on them' *bbm scared face*
Then a few hours wait for my chit no to be called, but after that things moved smoothly until....the TRIBE Distribution lady came out holding my costume box and NO HEADPIECE. Fifteen minutes later and still no headpiece but the very nice lady keeps coming back to reassure me that 'the issue with my costume' was being sorted out. Eventually she comes up with a large headpiece (i had ordered a small) and told me that it was on the house and apologizes profusely. Now while this issue was dealt with swiftly and promptly and I LOVED my new headpiece, other masqueraders were not so lucky. While I was there there were a LOT of Iroquois masqueraders who were upset about their missing headpieces as well as the guy next to me was somehow registered for a wrong section in error by TRIBE and had to take a costume from another section. I'm not sure what it was about this year, if by bringing out two bands maybe they stretched their resources too thin but from the get go there were quite a few hiccups.
I had a great time on the road Monday, and have absolutely no complaints, the wait to cross the stage wasnt too bad, drinks were flowing, my lunch (pelau) tasted great and OMG those cocktails they served after lunch were divine! Some people complained about the length of time we stayed at the rest stop but I honestly feel like for me at least that was necessary for me to last the rest of the day on the road.
Tuesday...blehh...the wait to get to the stage was borderline ridic, no fault of Tribe's I know but I really wish that the powers that be would allow the drinks trucks to remain with the masqueraders until they actually go on stage as opposed to turning off beforehand. My stage experience on Tuesday wasnt all that either. Monday they held my section back until the stage was clear then let us go all at once so we got that euphoric burst onto the stage. I jus remember feeling this huge release and understanding that yes THIS was what the savannah stage was all about, niceness! Tuesday....there was a truck mix up..they started letting Amazon on then Hoppa had to tell the security no and call us back. Then when we did get on you could barely hear the music for some reason...and i dunno..it just didnt have that climax like Monday. Also there were nuff BLISS masqueraders with us..chippin wit the band..inside the rope mind you, getting drinks by the truck..and crossing, yes i said it crossing the stage with us as well. Now my thing is, if you pay for the ultra exclusive experience, because TRIBE is too big and what not then STAY with your ultra exclusive band nuh. Then people wonder how TRIBE ran out of food monday. well obviously if BLISS folks were up in the mix there wouldnt be enough food because they simply didnt cater for that.
What else...there was no announcement when the trucks started pulling off after lunch, so lo and behold by the time we get ourselves together the last truck is announcing that its leaving. Now this truck had some difficulties rounding a corner and ended up getting left behind, but the masqueraders that were left waited on it. Now imagine our surprise when this truck starts speeding off leaving us to literally run behind it to catch up to the band. and that set the trend for the rest of the day cuz from then on it was either the band not moving at all or they speeding :S. BUT I still had fun, I mean neverending Johnnie, sexy TRIBE men and that god send that is the TRIBE cool zone was all i needed to keep me happy lol. Until the storming started...I dunno if security was only hired to work until sunset but after it got dark had rel unsavory band-less types all up on the truck and smack in the middle of the sections as if they pay they money too. meanwhile security chippin right next to them holding the rope...make sense to u? no right.
O and as for my costume...smh..stuff was falling off before I even tried anything on. Monday Wear moved from an option to a necessity simply because there was no way that costume could have taken two days of jammin. I was chippin on the road and shedding beads all over lol. Thankfully not in obvious places but..yeh...better glue next time por favor!
Now being the unfit lazy person I am I just couldnt make with the after party, but kudos Tribe cuz the security to get in were not playing games, talking about 5 diff ppl checking your bands b4 they let you in and party had bare vibes, next yr when i'm a lil more fit I will take full advantage lol
All in all I had a great time BUT I really hope TRIBE takes note of what their masqueraders are saying and get these issues addressed and fixed in time for next year. And note I said addressed because to me it seems that they have been strangely silent post-carnival in light of all this feedback that they have been getting. I mean can we get a little email self saying that you guys acknowledge there were glitches and are working on them? That being said...I look forward to bigger and better things from TRIBE for Carnival 2012. Even with these little issues they are still my #1 :)
Monday, March 21, 2011
For all those suffering from Post Carnival Depression!
DJ Private Ryan is one of my fave DJ's and NEVER disappoints with his mixes! Enjoy!
St Lucia Plannings
So in accordance with my plans to hit as many carnivals as possible while I am still young and child-less, this year I'm trying to add St Lucia Carnival to my lineup. I started doing my research and I am actually quite impressed with the costumes I've seen so far, especially those by Red Unlimited which coincidentally and thankfully is the band that my host usually plays with. My faves from their 2010 presentation are below:
Burning Ecstacy would have been my first choice if I had played last year, I just love all those feathers!! Supposedly Red Unlimited will launch on April 29th and I am really looking forward to seeing their 2011 presentation as I can only imagine their costumes getting bigger and better. Now to see how I can manipulate my budget to fit 2 Carnivals (St. Lucia and Cropover) in one month! not an easy task!!
Burning Ecstacy would have been my first choice if I had played last year, I just love all those feathers!! Supposedly Red Unlimited will launch on April 29th and I am really looking forward to seeing their 2011 presentation as I can only imagine their costumes getting bigger and better. Now to see how I can manipulate my budget to fit 2 Carnivals (St. Lucia and Cropover) in one month! not an easy task!!
Cropover plannings
so here I was dilly-dallying on booking my ticket..waiting with bated breath in the hopes that Bdos would really have a two day Kadooment this year and then yesterday I come across the official schedule and Kadooment day is listed as only August 1st :( . I was really looking forward to another two day festival but...o well. It makes St Lucia Carnival all the more appealing though, as they have a 2 day jump up.I included the official crop over calendar below, as taken from the website http://www.barbadoscropoverfestival.com/.
In other news this is a whole world of planning that I need to get done, tickets, accomodation (there is talk of renting a beachhouse) and who I'm going to drag along with me as I am determined to get at least two of my trini friends to participate this year! Also I need to decide on whether or not I will make the move from PowerX4 to Baje International as honestly while I enjoyed myself last year there was definitely room for improvement. My main concerns were that we started hours later than we should have, resulting in our band being the last on the road. Then we had a lot of stormers and a lot of ppl chippin with the band and half my time was spent outside the rope as I felt seriously clustrophobic when i was actually in the band. Also when I took a good look at Baje's costumes it is obvious that they put more effort into actually following the theme and being creative in their costume design and execution, at least more so that PowerX4. Switching bands is all dependent on getting trinis to play with me as all my bajan friends play with PowerX4 so hopefully I can convince them to jump and keep me company.
In other news this is a whole world of planning that I need to get done, tickets, accomodation (there is talk of renting a beachhouse) and who I'm going to drag along with me as I am determined to get at least two of my trini friends to participate this year! Also I need to decide on whether or not I will make the move from PowerX4 to Baje International as honestly while I enjoyed myself last year there was definitely room for improvement. My main concerns were that we started hours later than we should have, resulting in our band being the last on the road. Then we had a lot of stormers and a lot of ppl chippin with the band and half my time was spent outside the rope as I felt seriously clustrophobic when i was actually in the band. Also when I took a good look at Baje's costumes it is obvious that they put more effort into actually following the theme and being creative in their costume design and execution, at least more so that PowerX4. Switching bands is all dependent on getting trinis to play with me as all my bajan friends play with PowerX4 so hopefully I can convince them to jump and keep me company.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Updates
I havent been very good blogger...never finished my Crop Over review and never reviewed Miami either lol.
I will try my best to finish my review of my last carnival, the biggest and best, Trini Carnival! Actually my FIRST TRINI CARNIVAL IN 5 YEARS!!! It was a really great experience, I just wished it could have been longer, not necessarily more than the two days but just for me to have been here for more of the Carnival season. I missed a Machel concert of epic proportions and didn't get to see my costume until the day of collection (Carnival friday) but all in all it was well worth every dime spent. Its so true when people say you pay for the experience and not so much the costume, I will DEFINITELY do it again next year!
There are definitely some changes i need to make next year, definitely need to start preparing earlier as i hd only a month to get everything together and kinda said screw it and didnt go all out for my monday wear, makeup etc as I had originally planned. I also did not have my carnival body ready :( and my lack of fitness caused me to skip the TRIBE/BLISS Afterparty in Jenny's carpark, I was waaaay too bun to mke it. silly me also put no gel insoles in my cheap boots so you could imagine how the soles of my feet felt by the end of las lap!
The one tad unfortunate thing is that I now have the carnival bug worse than ever and am here googling dc, st lucia and bdos cropover dates so i can have something to look forward too. (my poor bank account!) O and also i think this year I may make the shift from j'ouvert to pretty mas right thru. for some reason I didnt have fun in the D.C. paint band in '09 neither did I have that much fun in the mud band '10..so this year either I just go stush and dun and play in Panisha or one of the other 'pretty mas' bands or...I skip the parade and just do the parties..we'll see......
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