Caribana has been one of those "migrant" Carnivals that I have been hearing about for several years, though I have yet to experience it myself. From what I gather it is the Canadian equivalent of Labor Day in New York. All the islands coming together to celebrate the fact that though they may be miles away from their homeland in a foreign country they still managed to hold on to some element of their culture, allowing revellers who may not have the inclination, finances or option to return "home" for Carnival the opportunity to still enjoy a semblance of such.
So it was with much interest that I read the following email I received which highlights the politics and semantics behind Caribana that many people are oblivious to. The author is from Toronto and though there is no solution offered to what is obviously a growing problem, much more so as more and more bands enter the competition, I am publishing the email in it's entirety to bring the issue to light and hopefully open the floor to discussions. At the very least we on the outside will have a greater understanding of the problems facing those masqueraders and band leaders for Caribana :
So it was with much interest that I read the following email I received which highlights the politics and semantics behind Caribana that many people are oblivious to. The author is from Toronto and though there is no solution offered to what is obviously a growing problem, much more so as more and more bands enter the competition, I am publishing the email in it's entirety to bring the issue to light and hopefully open the floor to discussions. At the very least we on the outside will have a greater understanding of the problems facing those masqueraders and band leaders for Caribana :
Now, this is me speaking strictly as a masquerader when I say that in order to have a really good time on the road you need to be in one of the first 3 or 4 bands. The route is relatively short, it takes place along the lakeshore and is basically a highway similar to the foreshore in Trinidad . The first half of the route is covered with 6 or 7 feet tall temporary fencing to keep non masqueraders to a minimum. This gives mas players an opportunity to play mas for a while without being totally overrun by stormers. It also gives onlookers that chance to see the beauty of the mas before there are 10 stormers for every costumed person.
About halfway down the route, there are the normal 3 feet high police barricades and the kids jump them and join the band. Kind of like back in the day when you cross the Savannah on Tuesday evening, security would chill out and anybody could take a jump. I have no issue with this. The problem is once the first big band hits the half way point, everyone jumps up with them until the end of the route, then they are inside the barricades, so they head back up the road to the beginning of the route to meet the next band. At this point, a few hours have gone by, but the last half of the bands still haven't entered onto the route yet, so they hit the road and are immediately met by huge crowds of stormers.
It's like “Where’s Waldo” to try and find a costumed masquerader
Most of these guys were born here and have no respect for the mas, also its not like in Trinidad if security asks you to leave the band and you refuse, they can put you out, and if you put up a fight you will have 5 or 6 ignorant muscle men beating the hell out of you, that doesn't fly here. Also, the last bands usually don't even get onto the road until 5 or 6pm. Imagine hanging around an assembly area for the whole day waiting for your turn to hit the road. Not to mention that Machel is playing in band #3 so all the teens will hop the fence from early. And as soon as Machel reach the end and the truck locks off the music they are heading back up the road to hit Carnival Nationz where the young chicks are. By the time Callaloo hits the road as number 7, there is very little order, and everyone has been drinking for 2 or 3 hours. At least they might still have some time. Everything after that is a write off.
This is what happens to your band if you get stuck in the last few positions of the parade, towards the end of the day …… notice its still very bright out
I feel really bad for the new bands who have to start at the back of the parade and work their way up over time (you think it is luck of the draw that Saldenah is always among the first few bands? I think not.) True, Carnival nations won band of the year their first year(even though they started last), but keep in mind that the judging happens in the staging area before they hit the road. Nationz had to literally push their way through the crowd of "onlookers" at the beginning of the parade. And were completely overrun the entire route.
The band leaders can't really fix the problem. They can't throw men back over the fence once they are in. And the government has put us on one long straight road, which mandates that someone is going to be first and someone will be last. Its not like they open up the entire city and each band can gather in a different location and everyone can start at once which would thin out the crowds; the youngsters will follow Machel, the IT girls will be in Nationz and the aging people who still feel they sexy will play with Saldenah and everyone will be in their own area.
Toronto isn't about to open the entire city to us, so that not going to happen. I don't know what is a good solution. In Brooklyn they don't have this issue. They have a small army of cops who provide crowd control. They are scattered every few hundred meters along the route and stormers are kept to a minimum. Toronto has neither the will nor the manpower to provide this. Also, we don't have such an ethnically diverse police force which I think helps in Brooklyn. This more of a rant on my part, as I don't have any solution really. This is a topic that every veteran Toronto masquerader is aware of, but an issue that first timers may not know about and that could give them a bad first impression of mas in Toronto.
31 comments:
I think the masquerader’s experience is similar on the parkway in Brooklyn. There is a hand full of bands that make it down the road to the judging point and the rest are either turned off the parade route because of the time constrain or are over run by stormers especially if their band is in the back. It’s pressure for your security.
One of my major complaints about mas in Brooklyn is the t-shirt bands. You may pay on average $25 to jump up and you provide your own camo wear. There is no problem in this, however it now makes it easier for stormers to break the security line because the police can’t tell if you do or don’t belong in a t-shirt band. So now you have the camo stormers doing the same thing that is going on in Toronto. They jump with the camo band and then come back down the parade route and storm the mas bands.
Btw, there is a heavy show of police out on the parkway and each band is escorted by 2 or more community officers. One actually rides in the cab of the music truck while the other walks along the parade route with the band. I have seen the police try to control how the bands come down the parkway in an effort to control stormers. The police have barricades at each street on the parade route as a band approaches they release the barricades allowing the band to pass and as soon as the band passes they put the barricades back in place. This is repeated until each band makes it down the parkway.
The emailer said it correctly, “Most of these guys were born here and have no respect for the mas “. However, it is carnival and there will always be stormers but stormers have to give some respect to the bands and the masqueraders.
I TOTALLY agree with the writer from Toronto about the situation here. One problem is as the writer pointed out - the majority of the young people born here do not have the 'mas' traditions that come from being brought up in T'dad. There are also gangs of disinfranchised young West Indian guys here that are, to quote from an old calypso "young and strong and doh 'fraid no man in town" and as a masquerader in Saldenah's band - I have been push around by a gang of young men and nearly thrown to the ground if another mas player didn't help me. Another part of the problem stems from the fact that non-West Indian Torontonians tolerate this "cultural parade" as it makes huge money for the hotels and clubs but they don't understand anything more and they would NEVER allow security as we have in T'dad and even then these young men in gangs walk with guns. That's why the top band leaders compete to get the first 5 places down the stretch and it also influences how many masqueraders will play with your band. Having Machel playing for your band is DEATH for the mas players. I though that the band leaders has decided to blank him after the fiasco that happened about 7 years ago when he played for Saldenah and "invited" all the young people at the side of the roadway to "jump the fence and come in" - and when the section leaders called him on it - he told them arrogantly that these were his fans and he had no intention of telling them to go to the back or side of the band. It was a total disaster and most mas players left the band to avoid being crushed. Louis Saldenah had to do a lot of repair work next year to get people to play with him after that.
God help Jamal Macgloire (Toronto Revellers) this year. Unfortunately this problem is not going to get better but worse.
My solution - do what Notting Hill does - give us a adequately long circular route - put up barriers all the way like they do and employ off duty Police officers to man the barricades. The route that they contain us in right now is just too short for the number of bands we have now - it's ridiculous!!
However we do not have a strong governing body to negotiate changes - they are too busy bickering and jockeying for position and behaving in a totally unprofessional manner for the powers-that-be to take them seriously. It's a sad state of affairs.
Well I am very glad the New York police treat some of the stormers and people without costumes like animals that need to be in a cage in the Bronx zoo instead of the Labor day parade.lol
Some of these stomers don't understand carnival and that folks are not attending the parade to see them in T-shirts and shorts pants. It's almost like some folks are purposely trying to disrespect some of the organize mas bands.
Luckly the larger and more popular bands have more cops on the road with them. So my band did not have a problem with crowd control last year. I was in my full Borokeete costume and the Police in NY won't even let me into the band.lol I had to wait for them to reach the intersection and then two cops escorted me into the band. Some of us are just trying to support our culture and represted Trinidad and Tobago to the fullest in NY.
While the stormers who don't care or sometimes even understand the importance about of the carnival parade. I think some folks from other islands without carnival are just trying to do anything just not to allow us to keep our Caribbean carnival culture alive and represented. The stomers are just there to try to mess it up for everybody and sometimes they invade the smaller mas bands less popular mas bands in NY.
Anon 10:23 I have seem that happen to masqueraders where the police wouldn't let them in to join their band. I actually had to help a young lady over the barricades b c they wouldn't let her in. The masquerader didn't meet the band on time so the police couldn't figure out if she belonged to a band or not...LOL...
Hear nuh..people ask me why I chose Carnival Nationz to jump up with...it's because:
1) They are #4 in the parade..which mean an early day for my girlfriends and I..NB, the public masses come out from 3pm...and that is where the commess begins.
2) They do NET (yes, lolol, I said NET!) have MACHEL MONTANO as one of their entertainers on the road..Mach, I love you, but I can't deal with the UNRULY, NON-PAYING MOB of people invading space that I rightfully paid for.
Totally agree with homegirl..God Bless Jamal Macgloire and his crew this year...a dem tail tuh ketch dis year wit dem stormers...oui papa yoy..not me an' dat ATALL!
Scamp..can I ask what band you're playing with this year?
ok...after reading this email which is obviously biased towards Carnival Nationz...i do agree with some statements...yes it is better to be in one of the bands of the beginning of the parade since there will most likely be less stormers but in reality, there will always be stormers and as gtwarrior perfectly states, "stormers have to give some respect to the bands and the masqueraders." And to clarify...Machel is not PLAYING/ PERFORMING with Toronto Revellers...he will be on a truck, but from what I was told, he is not PERFORMING/PLAYING. It's sad how people can forcast how masquearders in JM's Toronto Revellers will not have a good time just because Machel going to be in presence...but I would hope that the band have the right security that will not tolerate any nonsense. And for the emailer to state that "the IT girls will be in Nationz and the aging people who still feel they sexy will play with Saldenah and everyone will be in their own area"...as far as I concerned...anyone who pays their money for a costume and participates in the parade in front of millions of people has nuff respect for de culture and shouldn't have to put up with such ridiculous comments...ALL AH WE IS ONE...AND WE COME OUT TO HAVE AH GOOD TIME!!!....
As a former Carnival Nationz "IT" girl, there are a few things that have to be clarified with playing mas with this band.
1) Customer Service: When you tell a masquerader, there pick-up day and time for their costume, I would expect to have my costume ready at that day and time. Not to be waiting outside the mas camp for 2 hours because the section leader is not organized. If you pay all this money for your costume, you should atleast have the decency to have my costume ready.
2) To my understanding, "All Inclusive", means that I should be provided with food and non-alcoholic (remember this is Canada, not Trinidad) drinks on the road. I'm sorry, but I do not consider a chicken bone and a piece of bread, "real food". All I'm saying is that if your going to advertise "All-inclusive", you should atleast live up to that statement.
3) Security: Well during Caribana, we all know that we don't have "real" security on the road. Regardless if your #1 or #16, you will have stormers in the band.
Yes, their may be "IT" girls in Carnival Nationz, but there are "IT" girls in every band. Personally, I do not want to be jumping up with a bunch of "IT" girls. Being a female masquerader, I'd prefer to be jumping up with men!!! That's why I will be going down de road with Toronto Revellers this year.
I played with in callaloo (?) in TO and Sesame Flyers in NY - both times I had no problems with stormers. The bands/PO in NY seem to have it down to a science. I did wish the route in TO was better - but I was there to have a good time, and I did.
After playing mas in T'dad, I can say I prefer it being just masqueraders, no stormers. But since they don't want to invest in security, stormers are a reality at Caribana.
I've always played with Sally, always one of the 1st few bands, so we get quite a good ways down the route before the stormers storm. CN won their 1st year out & they were last, 16, but I personally want to have an awesome experience, not necessarily be able to say I was in the band of the year. The crush of people can be overwhelming, that's why it's essential to me anyway to be able to get practically to the end of the route w just the masqueraders.
um, btw, what's Machel doing on a truck if he aint performing?
about to buss your tail if you spill your drink on him. LOL!
The last time I played mas in Caribana was 2002 and I was not impressed by the stormers towards the end of the route. I had to use my standard as protection. Having said that, I will be playing this year and have yet to decide which band but I do know that it will be as close to the front as possible!
I do have to take exception to the 'born in Canada' bad behaviour generalization. I am a dual citizen of T&T and Canada, born and raised in Canada. It isn't about birthplace - it is about a) how you were raised, b) the ties you have to your culture, c) I hate to say this but the island you come from - there is an association between trouble and a particular island background in TO and that is all I will say about that, and d) the intention you have coming to Caribana. Let us not forget about the americans coming from detroit who walk with video camera and such who are there because they think it is freaknik part 2. I once had a man from detroit ask me if Trinidad was a city in Jamaica... Enough said.
dr. acula as an American I take offense to your comment. What is wrong with taking a video camera to Caribana?! It IS very much a show and horny men come in all different sizes and nationalities. I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate an American making generalizations about island people. Fact of the matter is that MANY people probably have no idea what or where Trinidad is because it's not one of the more popular Caribbean destinations.
JJ I'm rolling laughing at you.
dr. acula - I feel you, many people pull out cameras to document the festivities but it's how some people use those cameras that tends to be the problem. I think when people experience carnival in T&T (Trinidad and Tobago; ) they will see the difference in the level of RESPECT that masquaraders and women in general experience as opposed to the carnivals held here in North America.
northern gal - no disrespect, but your last comment reinforces why America is trailing other industrialized nations in education - pull out a map, a book, something.
Recommendation for ignorant Americans as a follow up to "where are you from?" ask "what part of the Caribbean is that island" or "where exactly is that?" sounds so much better than "what part of Jamaica is that?" Because we all know how hugh Jamaica is. But we won't hold it against you because that is one of the only commercials that play on tv.
JJ - still rolling, I think ah walking with a drink just so he can slap meh!!!
JJ - I love your comment about Machel (LOL) and Karabana - yuh right - wha' Machel doing on de truck if he eh singing....steups!!! Who dey trying to fool??
Trini Gyal - ah playing with Saldenah as they have a great mix of "IT" people and sexy senior citizens(32+??) - besides which the "IT" (CN) band will have all the stormers so I can wine dong in peace and joy in #2 spot.
I also can't stand not to get my costume at the right time so that I can add MY finishing touches.. but Caribana section leaders famous for being late with costumes - I think this is because most volunteers and S.leaders work full time and only put in time at night. Let's hope that this Caribana is a great one.
Scamp, we need to fete Gyrl! :-) Where in the city are you? & yup, that's what I'm sayin, Master Machel certainly won't be on a truck if he aint singing! LOL!
Sally's sexy seniors 32+ LMfAO! I do the exact same thing every year w my costume, which is usually ready on the Thurs night., embellish it to be my very own.
What Sally sections you played in?
Karabana...I'm not sure yet which section I'm playing in, as I'm waiting to see the costumes up on models in the mas camp before choosing. I do have a couple of favourites though. I went to the band launching and had a great time but the prototypes they show there changes enormously by the time they put up the 'real' one on the model. (yep - I learned the hard way - a lot of arguing went on b'tween the S.L. and me before I got what I wanted!!.. smile) - anyway I will look out for you as I have seen your pict on your blog and here on Saucy's blog.
I hope you're going to the boat cruise on the Wednesday before Caribana...it's the best..a lot of liming and bottle & spoon jamming..and picong and laughing and dancing. I will be there for sure with my posse (3 sisters,cousins + young "IT" nieces & nephews)
But what sections have you played in?
Tell me about it re the costumes change from the display to what you actually get. My 1st year I was in Miss Saigon, & I liked the prototype, but NOT what they gave out, so I asked for the prototype & got it! LOL!
Next it was a blue costume (forget the name) & I didn't like the bikers shorts & sports bra, so I wore my own blue bikini, LOL, oh man, you'd think I would have said forget it, no more mas for me, but the on the road fun outweighs all the costume craziness!!
I musbee have bobolee written all over my face...Machel NEVER lime on no blasted truck an' eh perform, not in all my years of life I witness that! PS: Toronto-lime.com has him ADVERTISED as performing alongside Dr Jay.
I didn't find the email to be biased. It was stating relative fact, and the only people that would hurt from those comments stated therein is those adamantly support the bands thqat are most frequented by the groupies/mobs in Caribana.
No "IT" ting boddering me dis rounds nah..to be honest, I want a lil' side ting to hold me over till Tribe 2008, and that's real word.
Scamp gyul..I understand what you mean by CN being the "IT" factor..but is the first time around for me, and when you fall in love with a costume..your heart leads, lololol
Anon 6:57..CN WILL hear my mouth if their Customer Service is terrible, lol understand maaannn. I accostumed to good service eh..believe that!
Northern gal..I understand your offense taken, and there is nothing wrong with having a videocam for Caribana. HOWEVER, usage must be done tastefully, and I have witnessed some atrocious usage of recording devices for Caribana by visitors from the US.
Additionally, the Caribbena culture is INFECTIOUS. Therefore, for you to say that "..Fact of the matter is that MANY people probably have no idea what or where Trinidad is because it's not one of the more popular Caribbean destinations." demonstates a reciprocation of the aforementioned IGNORANCE to which you are allegedly intolerable.
jj..lmao about de drinks! But he not standing on the street, remember? He's on the truck, "CLEARLY" doing nuttin..so yeah man, he good! lololol
Scamp and karabana, if allyuh limin' I in dat tooo =)Big up to Saldenah and dem eh, cuz they big in the business for rheellll years, and some of my girlfriends are with him this year :)
Tr|n|gYa| we organizing a lime 4 sure, all Caribana bloggers, lets pick a fete & soon!!!! Get us all ready to jump up... only 2 months 2 go!!!!!!
We readyyyyyyyyyyyy....readyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy :D:D:D
RAH!
You have to keep in mind that this isn't the same as Carnival although inspired by it, it has a different vibe and you can't expect the same experience as that in TnT.
I only ever attended Caribana until 1984...after that I moved to Belgium...
It was great, you sat on the side of Yonge street (no barricades) as the parade went by and I even got to take a pic sitting on the back of a limo convertible with Miss Caribana 1983 (my mom insisted I get to sit with the "princess" so they actually stopped the car for her to plop me up there, I was 4)
So imagine my excitement when I came back from Belium in '98 to experience those good times again... um.. not so much.
The parade is so insane I don't even go, it's lost it's culture, uniqueness and friendliness.. It's overshadowed by commercialism, money flaunting, and oversexed behavior.
I bounce at clubs so I can confidently say that during Caribana, unfortunate as it is, the violence, negative attitude, and ignorance of the general public increases drastically. And I mean everyone (Tourists from the US, Carribbean, and Canadians alike)it's like all of a sudden there are masses of ppl hitting their terrible-twos and decide to act out like rebellious teenagers just because they can "hide" behind the event celebrations.
It is the event of the year that all industry staff dreads but does anyway cause it brings in so much $$. And unfortunately Caribana has earned a bad rep to the rest of the general public.
I miss the good old days.
Sauce, if I can find them I will send pics of the old Caribana from the 1980's... Trinidad reminded me of those good vibes that's why I loved it there so much :-)
Northern Gal, I'm sorry if you have taken offence to my sweeping generalizaion. I should have made my point a bit differently. I guess my experience with young Americans at Caribana has not been terribly positive ( and I have been attending since a child in the early 80's and remember the route along university ave fondly and the days when the carnival spirit was truer to its roots than it is now). Times have changed and more often than not, I feel that people are there for reasons that aren't compatible with the celebration itself - including using video cameras to capture women in a way that most reasonable women don't want to be portrayed. And yes they are not all American - but I when I am repeatedly asked where the hip hop parties are 'at', asked ignorant questions about T&T and videoed without my permission in a way that makes me uncomfortable by this group I can't help but form a negative impression. And I know I'm not the only one. Having said all of that, I will be the first to admit that there are badjonhs of persuasions.
Saucy, I didn't mean to cause trouble and my first time posting too... I love the blog btw.
dr.acula no trouble at all, just open discussion between everyone which is cool.Trust me, this discourse went down with much diplomacy.
Dr. Acula...you are right it was University Avenue not Yonge Street!! i forgot!!
and don't feel bad it contributes to good discussion and may bring into light the downfalls that is bringing a negative rep to something that once was so open carefree and beautiful, so that we can bring that back.
Personally, as someone with a non-Caribbean background, and pretty much as I most say in Trinidad I was (pleasantly) shocked at how open, friendly and accepting everyone was, given I did know alot of ppl already from University up in T.O. but even strangers were so nice to me..a blatant tourist.
It is more often than not the exact opposite in Toronto, I usually get the "who the hell is that blonde bimbo, who does she think she is and what the hell does she think she's doing here?" looks... ha ha.
Talk about bringing a negative & a bad rep to it, nairian you must be referring to some club behaviour (the violence, negative attitude, and ignorance of the general public increases drastically... & act(ing) out like rebellious teenagers) not the parade itself.
I definitely would not say "it's lost it's culture, uniqueness and friendliness.. It's overshadowed by commercialism, money flaunting, and oversexed behavior." Remember what you said "You have to keep in mind that this isn't the same as Carnival although inspired by it, it has a different vibe and you can't expect the same experience as that in TnT."
And everything changes, just like Trinidad Carnival is not the same at all from the 80's, of course Caribana will have changed, too.
Karabana, you make a very good point. I did end up contradicting myself somewhat.
Alot of my friends do still thoroughly enjoy Caribana, I guess the negative experiences I have had just tainted the experience for me.
As for clubs, I've been in the industry for 9 years, I've worked everywhere from Guvernment to Inside, Fluid, Republik, Dream, Tonic, Metro, Rumors, etc.. I'm not saying the parties are terrible, they are usually pumping, and ppl leave having had an amazing time, however, as Security (let alone a female bouncer) it is an entirely different experience. You have tourists who don't know the laws or rules up here, alot more over-intoxication, agressive behavior etc. than the norm..or aren't used to taking instruction from a woman...
Caribana and Labour Day long-weekends are definitely the most stressful.
Pls don't get me wrong, I love Toronto, the club scen is a little to young for me but its good, I have a blast at the Soca parties they have up here and my Trini friends drag me to..
On ordinary weekend I love working in the industry, I know all the regulars and have hardly any issues ever, it just seems to escalate to a whole different level during Catribana.
Yeah, I guess as security, you see the worst in ppl... Like with anything good, you've got bad (ex: Trinidad Carnival)... Caribana is NA's largest cultural event for a reason, it brings ppl from many countries here, which is a good thing, but, with that, you get the bad - ppl wanting to cause trouble bc it's not their city. It's just that I hate to see how Caribana gets an unfounded bad rap in the media, you know how not that many yrs. ago when there was crime that weekend, it'd be labeled as a "Caribana shooting/stabbing", when it wasn't even at a Caribana event!! That'll never change either, it's such an automatic scapegoat...but don't get me started on how the media portrays black & WI events in this city, that's another matter...
Well the email this person wrote is DEAD ON. I have only been going to Carnival in Trinidad for 2 years and the experience is in my eyes much safer and enjoyable that TO or BK. This is due to the length of the carnival route and also what many people said already most peoples respect for mass and the massive security force in bands in Trinidad.
Still every year because I have that yearning for Carnival I will travel to Toronto and play mas. I like it better than NYC because there is more room to jump and I love the location (near the water). I played in Brooklyn once and said never again. I have seen people stabbed on the Parkway and gun fight breaking out (and I usually leave by 6). Now I get dressed in one of my old costumes and jump on the side walk near my cousins food stand. I guess I"m there mascot! HAHA. This year may be different since I already have my Legends costume from T&T this year and can play in Brooklyn. I probably will jump with them half way and then go to my cousins food stand.
Trini Princesssa, I like it better than NY carni too, which I've done once, but I would play again.
ALL TORONTO MASQUERADERS, we're limin at MACHEL's FREE concert this Sunday!!! ... see my blog 4 details... :-)
Karabana you hit the nail on the head with the auto-bad rep any Hip-hop/Soca/Reggae party gets here in T.O. It's a shame that a few morons with no manners ruin the reputation of some really good parties.
Have fun on Sunday!
I am playing with CN and i don't think i am an "IT" girl. I have played with them since they started and it is strictly because of coustume originality. They have some of the sexiest for those who want to be and then some with cover up for those who don't want to show so much. All in All it is about theri costume originality. I have repsect for all Band Leaders in any case because we all know if it wasn't for the money Carinabba brings in they would have stopped it long time ago. So they have to put up with a lot of restrictions and *do's & dont's*
Much Respect to "The band Leaders"
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