So, I made it to Element’s “Introduction Party” last evening and, as predicted it did turn out to be quite an interesting night indeed! First off, when I pulled up to 51 Degrees, a TRIBE billboard greeted me announcing their 2009 presentation:
Since I had heard about this billboard prior to arriving at 51, all I did was chuckle at the timing of this display’s appearance as only a few weeks ago the billboard was still announcing TRIBE’s Ignite Carnival Thursday fete from February of this year.
We had no problems entering the invitation only soirée, and upon seeing a member of Element’s committee dressed in the band’s official wear, the hubby remarked that the logo looked QUITE familiar; you be the judge:
The night started off late, as we were as well, since we were to arrive at 8 but the presentation did not come until two hours later. Meanwhile I was observing those who turned out to the event, including Howard Chin Lee, popular party promoters, and many a familiar face from TRIBE/Red Ants sporting Element wear!
Now, I have been hinting about this “parting of ways” between certain members of TRIBE since last week, and I did tell you that
all will be revealed soon. Well, even though I had heard all the stories of who had been dismissed and who left/defected, it was still a surprise to learn that the band leader of Element is Douglas John, as though I had heard he was no longer with TRIBE , previously another name was given to me as Element's band leader by my ever industrious informants. For those of you who are not blessed with an elephant memory as me, Douglas was the designer responsible for TRIBE’s frontline costumes as well as production of their headpieces for 2008.
After I got over this surprise, the other team members were revealed, including ex Atlantis girl/TRIBE committee member Charlene Lum Wai , Jodi Herde ( both now Production Managers for Element) as well as section leaders Giselle Berkeley, Corrine Camacho, Natasha Ali, Candace Imam, Cindy Javier (all girls section) Eyes Wide Shut , Red Hoes, Jodi Littlepage and Jamboree among others. The makeup of this committee is supposed to exemplify the band’s motto of “All as One” I suppose. Truth be told, the composition leans itself over to the side of Harts albeit I am thinking that segment of the Carnival population is not the target audience for Element, however.
Prior to Douglas John’s introduction as band leader, we got a preview of the Element Logo via a short movie of sorts, and the logo looks exactly like the “elements” used in the movie 5th Element, which by the way is one of my favourite movies and one that I have seen countless times so it was quite easy to identify the “Earth”, “Water”, “Wind” and “Fire” symbols that have now been “borrowed” by this band; I guess the masqueraders are the 5th Element??
Element Logo
Stones from the movie 5th Element
Anyway, to the good stuff, what Element is all about:
*Options for masqueraders in that the band will offer Luxury All Inclusive costume package, All Inclusive with lunch only and All Inclusive with a drinks cart. Now, I really do not want to seem like I am picking on this new band but I had to question a committee member when I heard of this new offering if they were sure that Element is not the rumored TRIBE 2 as the non inclusiveness sounds very much like the rumored second band that was supposed to be managed by TRIBE for Carnival 2009! I was told, emphatically that Element is completely divorced from TRIBE, ok then!
*In spite of having these tiers of costume packages, masqueraders will be free to roam all over the band, with which ever costume package one chooses.
*The band will be catering for no more than 3000 masqueraders.
*Costume prices will be the CHEAPEST available as they have sourced materials that are not the standard “beads and sequins” which is promised to offer the masquerader nouveau costumes (as told by a committee member).
*There will be 12 sections in the band.
Well that was all I was able to gather from the nights events and speaking with committee members, I even managed to get some info on TRIBE and Island People’s presentations, but of course that will be revealed at another time. My feelings on Element you ask? Well, based on who I see on their committee and the persons who showed up for “support”, i.e to macco, if they play their cards right and do indeed deliver stellar costumes at cheap prices they might just well offer some good competition for 2009. The idea of the All Inclusive and Non Inclusive living harmoniously in one band reminds me of Poison; however the cart business reeks of Harts don’t you think?
All in all, like I said, it was an INTERESTING night and I leave you with some video clips of the presentation, where you can hear it all straight from the horse’s mouth.. enjoy!
Douglas Speaks... Charlene's vote of thanks...DO NOT FORGET TO CHECK CARNIVAL JUMBIE'S BLOG FOR HER TAKE ON THE NIGHTS EVENTS.
