The only reason that I am commenting on the fact that I did not attend ONE fete is because I had so many people asking me why I wasn't at the Oval last night. Listen, as much as I would have loved to start of my feteing with ONE fete as I have done over the past few years I simply decided that I was not paying the price of $600.00TT for a fete where I paid $250.00TT in 2007 and $400.00TT in 2008. The scalpers were having a field day with this one though as ONE fete was sold out early, tickets were being scalped from $800.00 to $1300.00 I was told!
With the prices of fetes for 2009 pushing 100.00US on average I have taken the stance early on that I am simply not busting my pocket and will carefully choose which fetes I do decide to patronize. For example, ONE fete was off the list but Blue Range All Inclusive at half the price of ONE fete (with Machel and the same price as 2008) seemed like the better deal!There is life after Ash Wednesday and I do not go into debt to hang my hat higher than it can reach. Post Carnival I do not have to worry about all the bills left unpaid just so I can hob nob with certain folks at certain parties, folks who are getting complimentary tickets to these parties I might add, that is the irony of it all. While the "average" man is spending his entire paycheck to afford two fetes for the month the who's who of Trinidad celebrity are not paying a cent to attend all the fetes you see them pose up smiling at!
Carnival overall is an expensive event and I have allocated my money to priorities that are a necessity; going to a particular fete is not a necessity. My costume is already paid off, that is a "necessity", my footwear is in order that is a "necessity", makeup artist booked, lashes booked... those are my "necessities". Getting ready to hit the road is an additional expense that I personally do not mind as it is all part of my adopted Go Big or stay home mantra and this gives me much more satisfaction than a few hours at a fete where I won't be drinking and trying to avoid the food temptation as we are all on a Carnival diet!
So in conclusion to my non-fete review I really want to emphasize that I will be picking and choosing which fetes get my hard earned dollars for 2009 because frankly as long as I am playing mas fetes are secondary and if I do not go to a particular fete that "everyone" else is going to I will survive. Like I said before it isn't THAT necessary; having a ball on the road Monday 23 February and Tuesday 24 February , goes without saying that is priority #1!
With the prices of fetes for 2009 pushing 100.00US on average I have taken the stance early on that I am simply not busting my pocket and will carefully choose which fetes I do decide to patronize. For example, ONE fete was off the list but Blue Range All Inclusive at half the price of ONE fete (with Machel and the same price as 2008) seemed like the better deal!There is life after Ash Wednesday and I do not go into debt to hang my hat higher than it can reach. Post Carnival I do not have to worry about all the bills left unpaid just so I can hob nob with certain folks at certain parties, folks who are getting complimentary tickets to these parties I might add, that is the irony of it all. While the "average" man is spending his entire paycheck to afford two fetes for the month the who's who of Trinidad celebrity are not paying a cent to attend all the fetes you see them pose up smiling at!
Carnival overall is an expensive event and I have allocated my money to priorities that are a necessity; going to a particular fete is not a necessity. My costume is already paid off, that is a "necessity", my footwear is in order that is a "necessity", makeup artist booked, lashes booked... those are my "necessities". Getting ready to hit the road is an additional expense that I personally do not mind as it is all part of my adopted Go Big or stay home mantra and this gives me much more satisfaction than a few hours at a fete where I won't be drinking and trying to avoid the food temptation as we are all on a Carnival diet!
So in conclusion to my non-fete review I really want to emphasize that I will be picking and choosing which fetes get my hard earned dollars for 2009 because frankly as long as I am playing mas fetes are secondary and if I do not go to a particular fete that "everyone" else is going to I will survive. Like I said before it isn't THAT necessary; having a ball on the road Monday 23 February and Tuesday 24 February , goes without saying that is priority #1!
18 comments:
VERY VERY VERY well said. And for a powerhouse like you to be taking this kind of stand, its a biggie and I hope that some of the promoters see/ read this and realize that many people feel the same way you do!
Keep up the good work Sauce!
And yes, carnival Tuesday is my birthday this year, so yeah, THAT is the main priority!
Brilliant!!, it eh have no other word tuh describe what yuh say Saucy.... i agree with you I done say 1 big fete for me Max! (Tribe Ignite) since i Playing mas I dont need tuh spend out meh money. As i prefer the "De Road" over "De Fete".
*hitting the table hard like parliament* YES YES!! BRAVO!! BRAVO!! I second dat! And ya see that part ya say about NO DEDT, GYUL ya made me cry with joy! Why must we pay $800 dollars on a fete? In some cases that is half of people's salaries.
2009 is not a year to be in dedt! Not this year. The Tee-Shirt for this year should be - ROAD RULES - More Fun, Less Money
i totally agree with you position... your money...
I only surprised that some of these fete promoters/co-ordinators doh see you as a CELEB...
i must say i agree with you saucy but i certainly say by now them promoters would have been giving you comps to promote there fete
I agree with you 100%. I also don't want to end up getting too run down and get sick come Carnival Monday and Tuesday. It has happened before and I refuse to let it happen again! Missing a few fetes won't kill me, but I know I'll have some family and friends trying to put me on a guilt trip 'oh, but you only home for 2 weeks...'
As I turn and look outside at the pristine wilderness and at a snowdrift as high as my window...I smile and say, "Well said!" No fetes for me this year, but this Snowy Owl will be prepared to hit the road hard!
Celeb? Don't make me laugh! I pay to go all my Carnival fetes just like any other "average" masquerader/Carnival aficionado :)
Could not have said it better myself.
I am soooo glad you wrote about this! because people look at me weird when I say I rather play mas than go a fete!Down to my mother, the queen masquerader herself... watch me like 'what?!'
IMO I rather spend $3000 on 2 days of non stop jamishness than pay $300 to go about 5 fetes...to see same ppl... performin d same ting....to get vex when they wanna gimme dog food for my money and all that jazz....i think not!
Times hard and money is hard to come by but easy to lose...i am not about to throw it away on folishness
Carnival is Mas, Pan, and Lyrics (some of it government "blows")! Fetes is a year round Trini joie de vivre.
Thanks for getting your priority correct! :) Never give that up!
Look Saucy Diva going down the road in fierce Monday and Tuesday gear. Another year, another indescribable ephemeral time, the investment well spent, we move forward.
Great post Sauce!
And who is holding the honor of doing your make up for Carnival this year???? Enquiring minds need to know :-)
Saucy, you get a godl star for this post!! I couldn't have said it better myself. I'm going to a couple of fetes but very few and I'm certainly NOT about to break the bank just to say i went to x.y.z fete. it's as if these promoters fail to get a good grasp on reality. they're out here raising prices left, right and center and somehow forget that the people they're advertising these fetes to are trying to save asa much money as possible. hell, many of us weren't even sure if we should still go to carnival with the economy the way it is. it's a slap in the face to see some of the prices for these fetes. steups.
I agree with you totally and here is our experience. Overall opinion: definitely not worth $600 TT!
For that hefty price: No TP in the women's bathroom, premium scotch and vodka ran out, acts were not as entertaining as those provided at Amnesia for $495 (they did not seem to provide their full act with guest performers etc.), no souvenirs (cups, whistles, rag, etc), food ran out during the night and very limited trash bins. We think though that there was a lot of hype about the fete itself that caused tickets to sell out early thus, driving up the black market/scalper prices to $1300. However, although the fete had many patrons, it was not as full as one would have imagined it would be.
It was a very disappointing customer experience. We should have done what you did and made a stand and stayed away from that "One"!
and this is exactly why I refuse to spend my hard earned money to fete in Couva to say I went Beach House this year...just like this fete, $700 for that just not worth it...I feel greed will make many a promoter go in the red this year...cause people either just doh have it or refuse to spend it...
I do love my all inclusive fetes but to pay 600 to 800 for me and my husband a piece is a bit harsh we still got to live and this is tighten your belt time. I may afford temperature, ladies night out, licensing or army and soca monarch as long as destra is singing her super hot hit sassiness
Well said Sauce.
We all must have our own priorities and principles for life and Canrival by extension. Nice to see yours posted... I can only imagine the type of comments people must have made to drive you to do this type of post.
would anyone recommend going eyes wide shut?
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