My take on TRIBE's prices

All back line costume prices, save Isis which is still without a cost, were posted to TRIBE’s website yesterday, after a long wait and much anticipation from potential masqueraders. For comparison’s sake this is how 2008 prices stack up against what we paid for 2007:

2007:
Most expensive female costume of 2007 Jean and Dinah - $3295.00

Cheapest female costume of 2007 – Pierrot Grenade – $2595.00

Most expensive male costume of 2007 Warrior Spirit - $3295.00

Cheapest male costume of 2007 – Yankee Sailor – $2050.00

2008:
Most expensive female costume of 2008 Black Magic - $3299.00

Cheapest female costume of 2008 Butterfly Bliss/ Autumn Sprite – $2899.00

Most expensive male costume of 2008 (several sections) - $2399.00

Cheapest male costume of 2008 – (several sections) – $2350.00

The increase in prices of the cheapest costume is approximately $300.00TT or $40.00US, granted that the average price of a female costume last year was $2753.00 and this year it is $2983.40 (you guys know how to work out an average right) overall costume prices have increased by $230.40. While some may say any increase in price is unjustified, clearly the costumes for 2008 have much more feathers than 2007’s offerings and dare I say are even more elaborate.

To me the costumes have been increasing steadily by on average $200.00 each year so these prices were not a shock, in fact I had been hearing ludicrous rumors before that prices from TRIBE will start at $4000.00TT!! I get much more of a shock when I go to the supermarket every two weeks and see that prices there are steadily increasing, as I told someone I do not HAVE to play mas, or even play mas with TRIBE, but I do have to eat!! Inflation is driving up prices all around in Trinidad and Tobago and I would have to be very naive not to expect that costume prices would have been affected. Consequently I am quite prepared to pay for my costume as I have already budgeted for that expense.

The real fun begins when frontline costume prices are posted later today, from my guesstimate I can see nothing under $4000.00TT/$600.00US and I think Silver Mist and Mystique will be that price. Silver Mist has the cheapest back pack, which is all foam, and Mystique is just a souped up version of the backline with a few more feathers and a fin, so I cannot see it crossing the line over $4000.00/$6000.00TT. All those wanting to experience F.H.O.ism for 2008 please no cries of exclamation when you see the prices for frontline costumes!

Finally the 45 comments racked up in a few hours over the costume prices shows how hotly debated this topic is; the general consensus seems to be “yuh cyar play mas and fraid powder”!! If you cannot afford these higher prices, there are other bands apart from TRIBE and its counterpart Island People, both well known to have higher prices. These are only two bands people. For 2008 you can take your pick from Harts, Ronnie and Caro, D Krewe, Pulse 8, Dream Team, Trini Revellers, Legacy, Genesis, Trevor Wallace, Image Nation, Mc Farlane, Taboo and even a new band called Oracle. That’s 13 bands that I am positive will offer alternative costumes and prices, so no one is forcing anyone to play with TRIBE and pay the higher prices, which is an understanding I thought would be so obvious but for some people it’s not!