Dear Mas....

Dear Mas,

I know that we've had a longstanding commitment but I'm afraid that I may have to bow out next year. You see it has been difficult to acquire a costume for various reasons. I am not friends with anyone who sits on a band committee so I was unable to engage in committee member registration. I don't know if it's the same as preregistration but I was also unable to do that since I don't know any very important persons who run a band.

I was really feeling Fantasy's costumes but apparently the band has sold out even though they have not opened for public registration. After people started getting anxiety attacks over Fantasy's registration, they shut down the wall on their FB page and have been silent on twitter. Even if Fantasy had costumes remaining, they only offer corsets option for 3 sections; 2 of which I've been told are sold out and the remaining section may not have an available Frontline. Now Mas, you know I love you but all mas is not equal and my belly needs to be covered and sucked in.

After Island People Mas' mess of a band launch, they did a remarkable change after consulting their masqueraders and presented something that looks really interesting. I have one die hard IP friend who suggested that I give the band another chance and at least I'll know 1 person. However, I contacted IP who to my disappointment, only has corsets for Ki and Elements, which I wouldn't wear.

I would know a lot of people if I were to play in YUMA but it's the same drama with committee member registration and past masquerader registration yada yada. I am so not into the big band drama and I know that YUMA will be packed up tight tight since everybody and their tantie will be in this band. Furthermore, these people have the audacity to charge an additional TT$650 for a corset and hear the best part- you have to bring your own corset...what de ass YUMA! So mas, do you understand my predicament?

I know there are other bands such as Spice, Explosion and Oasis but it would be nice to play with 1 or 2 people you know....Since we are on the topic of Explosion; have you seen what this band has done to you? Their costumes are all about breasts and bamsee (the pic is from Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Costume Photos). I am one person who can't wait to see the death of the cage bra. I just can't stand to see all the boob fat squeezing through those wires but big up to all de girls who rock the cage bra!

So that's my dilemma and I hope to figure this out by September or you won't see me in 2012...

Regards,

A Masquerader with no Costume.

31 is just a number...

Being 31 always seemed soooo old and as a teenager I never thought I would be this old!

I know a lot of women lie about their age simply because we've been taught to fear aging and the physical changes that accompany it. I am really fine with being 31 even though I wished I had my Phd and never gained so much weight ...sigh. But I've achieved a lot academically and professionally. I also have great family support, the coolest friends and an amazing life partner. I don't rent but pay a mortgage and my car starts each morning. I also don't have any major health problems; nor do any of my family members. I could go on about all the blessings that I have been granted but the point is that not having a Phd and dealing with an embarrassing muffin top are not so bad because there are so many positive things happening that I don't have any excuse to be unhappy.

This quote from the Dalai Lama will be my motto for the year of 31- "Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions". I hope you create your own happiness as well....

The Heroes will Fall...

All yuh see that Island People mess??? At first I attributed the disaster to my stream and may be I had to be there in person to adequately assess these costumes. But then I saw the comments on FB. I don't think I have ever seen persons rip apart a carnival band with such passion.

Island People has always presented a more creative spin to the beads and bikini genre even though their service may not be the best. But something went very worng with their interpretation of Heroes last weekend. For the majority of costumes the colour combination was wrong, the spandex leggings were questionable and those capes were a hell no.

But all was not bad. I did like Scarlet (the red) and Oya (white) and Wildheart (brown and yellow) was okay. You could see the pics on their FB page.

What makes this even more interesting is that Island People is willing to go back to the drawing board and make some adjustments. They have even asked persons to provide feedback on their FB page. I don't know if a carnival band has ever done this before but I find it pretty cool. Even though I know that most of the people who comment have never played or intend to play with Island People, the critiques are basically the same.

I don't think Island People masqueraders should be so quick to abandon ship; give the designers a chance. You already know what the road experience is like. I've never heard of committee registration, pre registration of loyalty card in IP so don't fight to be in bands that have these requirements...

Don't Ruffle your Feathers

So the band registration drama has begun. I've been monitoring the FB discourse and ppl are getting their feathers in a bunch when they heard that some bands are pre registering the fortunate msqueraders. Other persons fear that there will be some kind of end of the world if they don't get into certain bands. I wish them the best of luck!

I really don't see the big deal with pre registration. I mean if you know a committee member of a band of your choice, you will find yourself taking advantage of that connection...right? I know I will! But I do believe that each committee member or section should be a allowed a set number of pre registered masqueraders. And that number should not be so large that the majority of potential masqueraders are unable to register using traditional methods. But my position on this is that we as the paying customer should not allow these bands to feel that we would give an arm, leg and a couple of vital organs to get the privelege to purchase a costume. I've said so many times that there are too many bands to choose from, and we should stop acting the fool as if Tribe is the only band for T&T Carnival.

I agree that Tribe offers a lovely product and great service. I have experienced this service when I played in Tribe in 2008. However there are other bands that do the same. I was very happy with Spice and I've heard great reviews for Ronnie and Caro and newbie Oasis. But this change has to be collective. Most of us would not play in a band if our friends are not there. The thing about Tribe is that you must see at least 15 people that you know which is always fun. We also place a social value on bands like Tribe/Bliss, Spice, Harts and IP. These bands attract a certain class/colour as well as class/colour aspirants which make them bands of choice for many people who do not recogize bands that do not offer these social benefits.

I am in no way condemning persons who make these choices; I have played in these socially privileged bands so I cannot chastise anyone for doing so. But let's stop pretending that mas is all embracing and equal....

**The pic is of Oasis' Koi whose FL starts at TT$3985 (pic from Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Costume Photos)

Who Wants to be an Angel?

This has been a really slow summer for me so there hasn't been much to blog about. I've been trying to finish up my MPhil thesis to submit which brought on a whole heap of UWI drama which is not worth blogging about. I'll just say that I need to get this degree so I can move on with my life.

I was also pretty bored with the band launches until I saw Fantasy Carnival's 2012 presentation, Book of Angels. Well you know I love new bands. I have absolutely no band loyalty and as an independent masquerader, I am always willing to try a new band so they had my attention.

Fantasy has always been on the Jouvert scene and the same committee does the Jamboree fetes so they may not be completely daft to band management. As usual I am interesed in their FL prices and corset options in order to make a decision. The costumes have already captured my attention- wings galore! The costumes are well designed and capture the epitomy of pretty mas. But would we expect anything less from designers, Richard and Anthony who gave Spice and YUMA an impressive entrance into the band scene.

I know I have said that I am hesitant to play mas next year since I'm tired of the drama. But Fantasy is making this decision very difficult to adhere to. IF I am playing. and that is a big IF, I would like a FL costume with wings, a small headpiece; easy registration for the costume I love (which is Power), a corset option, accessories that don't rip my stockings, a reasonable price, a small band and just a drama-free experience.

***the pic of the Power costume came from Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Costume Photos

Not Much to say About Spice...

I don't know what's up with Spice but their costume presentation for next year can just be described as "blah". It seems that 2009 will remain Spice's best year. I wish I knew what's going on with the band but something is not happening. I suspect that part of it has to do with the loss of Richard and Anthony because the costume designs have certainly done a nose dive. Don't get me wrong, they are not horrible but they're just generic. I'm most disappointed with the lack of color in next year's presentations. What's up with all the blue? Some people have described the designs as "safe" which is correct. The presentations we've seen from Bliss and YUMA this year, and from Tribe's recent launch should have been a wake up call for Spice yet we see the standard Spice costumes. I've always liked Anya and I felt that she had a fresh perspective on band leadership but my girl is not a designer.

My favorite section is Ayamara simply because I love the combination of the burgundy and white and the FL is gorg. Also worth mentioning is Siriono which was designed by Leasel Rovedas and does not have feathers. It looks okay although I'm not a fan of black costumes. Overall Spice continued their trend of blinged out costumes, but with skimpified bottom pieces so I'm sorry for the Heavy Ts. Again, the saving grace for these bands are their prices and extra options. Spice does the corset well, which is great since most women do not look like the models at the launch...so when are you going to post these prices Spice?

**This pic of Ayamara is from Trinidadcarnivaldiary

Tribers...allyuh ready?

Although I am not a big Tribe fan, I am excited to see how their 2012 costume concept comes to life for their launch on July 23, 2011. I am even more excited to see how crazy people will get to secure a Tribe costume. It's clear that Tribe has staying power; no matter how expensive or overcrowded this band gets, it just seems to attract more and more people. And even with the advent of new large bands, it has not lost its appeal. The few people that do decide to migrate to these new bands are quickly replaced by masqueraders who are willing to sell their kidneys, house and mother in a heart beat to secure a costume. Even after people complain about Tribe, they then find themselves 5 months later with a severe case of Tribenesia, fighting to get back in the band they swore never to play with again....