Dear Island People Mas
I am a three time masquerader with your mas band and therefore was triply disappointed at the service that was meted to me by your organization. There is a need to personalize this because it was I who made the conscious decision to fork out a mammoth $2,695.00 in the hope of having IP mas deliver to me nothing but a surreal experience on the road. Many things contributed to this and I believe it is incumbent on the management of IP mas to unequivocally apologize to all its loyal masqueraders for the multiplicity of issues faced on the road.
SECURITY
It is my honest opinion that a CEPEP gang could have done a much better job than the Security Sweep team IP boasted of having. Stormers infiltrated the band on both days and will even go on to say that it was evident that some of these illegal masqueraders were associated with some of our “illustrious” security detail. Additionally, even some of our masqueraders took the liberty to bring their sisters, brothers, man, woman and cousins six times removed illegally into the band. Personally, I do not care who you love or don’t…once you do not have a legal band on your hand you should be ejected forthwith from the band.
I had first hand experience being harassed by these “wining space bandits” as I was chipping to the Victoria Square stands on Monday.
It makes absolute no sense having a robust looking team of security officials who are more concerned about wining and getting drinks, and not concerned about the safety and security of the masqueraders who make IP management millionaires.
LUNCH
As far as I am aware, the name of our 2009 Presentation was “Heaven on Earth” and not “Dogs in Pound”. I would like to know if the food you presented to us on Monday and Tuesday is the quality of food you eat within the confines of your homes. I even saw with my own two eyes a senior member of IP management discard his box of food after a few bites. If that is your idea of “lean, healthy meals”, please in the future provide us with fattening tasty food. I did go to the gym prior to Carnival and will burn off the fat and calories in wining. Additionally, I do not like to feel like I am waiting for food in a Somali refugee camp. The lines and hassle for food were beyond ridiculous.
MUSIC
I was particularly disturbed this year at the fact that the soca Mafia obviously became a major shareholder within IP mas this year. Why it is Island people had to be the ONLY band in which ALL its trucks played that Wild Ants song when crossing the judging points? Obviously, you were not privy to the plethora of Road March contenders who had songs which were better loved than the one your Deejays FORCED us to jump to. We all love Machel’s music- don’t get me wrong. But this year, that song was not road march- you knew it and he knew it- and it was unfair that you subjected us to multiple repeats of that soca infestation.
Additionally, can you please tell your road management and your truck drivers that every section needs music? The trucks were labeled with where they should be positioned but obviously some level of illiteracy and/or ignorance pervaded the band, and deprived some masqueraders of their just share of sweet soca.
Every masquerader had a different experience but I believe these were the three main problems I had, and masqueraders in general. I will not go on to mention the empty goodie BMOBILE SPONSORED bag, the water and other drinks running out on Monday, and the food truck way in the back of the band; I am sure someone else will.
POSITIVES
1. Costumes – I had no problems at all with costume collection or the costume itself. The costume was exactly like the replica in the mas camp and was a bit overwhelmed at this fact. Pleased was an understatement to describe how I felt when I collected my costume.
2. Masqueraders- ISLAND PEOPLE MASQUERADERS ARE THE BEST MASQUERADERS EVER!!! The camaraderie and spirit and vibes in this band are really out of this world. Despite the mess IP management did, the masqueraders all came out to have a great time. Once you had a hand band you had license to dance with any masquerader. THIS IS THE ONLY REASON I WOULD CONSIDER PLAYING MAS WITH IP again.
So my dear sirs- it is incumbent of you to do a serious post mortem on your presentation. I am sure your must have heard the wide ranging complaints posted on many a website by both locals and foreigners. The negative PR is not doing your band any good. Once my crew agrees, and finances are there, and because of the quality of masquerader IP attracts, I am willing to give you just one more chance. There are many other options that treat their masqueraders like customers and not dirt.
Just remember, mighty conglomerates have fallen and therefore IP is not immune to collapse. Shape up or ship out!!!
Sincerely Yours
Jason Wickham
Slightly….just slightly disgruntled masquerader
26 comments:
love your review lol, but 3 times! ok then, but you did say you are to blame so hey! I played with them once and that's all it took! I don't run down trucks i am a frontline masquerader and I hate stormers I am for the most part naked and I don't want my man to be beating no one around carnival time they would say it's advantage based on his size so I had to bounce! but much luck to you in the future with whatever you decide, you had fun so that's a positive part...
Jason - after all of your articulate complaints, I think you made a huge mistake by admitting at the end that you are willing to give IP another chance next year. What incentive do they have now to improve their services????? If 200 masqueraders wrote the exact same review that you just posted, yet all claim they are willing to give IP another chance next year, why would any changes be implemented by IP management? But hey it's your hard earned dollars, not mine. My dollars are spent on a band that recognizes that we are valuable customers & not animals that have no standards!
daaaaaaaaaamn thank God i stayed with my TRIBE.. i heard about IP problems but i didnt think they were that bad
I played with IP for the first and last time in 2007 for some of the same reasons that you listed but I see that they are worse then what I remembered. They will not change because regardless of how bad their service is ppl still go back to them. I am guilty of thinking about going back with them this year only because I figured that they would of had their act together by now. Everyone has trials and errors but IP has yet to learn from their mistakes or they just DON'T care to make changes.
Thank goodness I did not play with IP..... and in fact they will never get my hard earned money.
I gave IP a chance this year because I heard from friends that they had ACTUALLY "improved" last year so I figure why not. WELLL, I guess I chose the wrong year to play with them. Too bad there's not going to be another chance from me. Pity. The costume was HOTTTT. Loved it. And the masqueraders' vibes were great. Those were the ONLY good things with IP this year.
I agree with Jason though....The vibes sweet...cant get that anywhere else. I actually enjoyed getting wet in the rain...they just need to improve their offering
2006 was d 1st time i played mas at all...2007 i stayed out...2008 was actually GREAT!!! IP did improve...buh dis year..lord...
as cassie say...d vibes real sweet in IP...dey have dat...and many a masquerader would admit to that ..
buh is d service...last year i sent them a congratulatory note when they did well...buh dey real disappoint this year
and to my statement about giving them a next chance?? i guess is a west indian ting....look at rihanna :)
Sad to see that some ppl are too hard headed to learn, but hey, it's your choice! (dispite how ridiclous it is)
These bands will never learn or pay allyuh any mind because allyuh keep going back.
From a business point of view, allyuh stupidity is a good thing for them, so y change anything!
I do hope they heed your warning, for allyuh sake.
proud to be dumb kim....proud to be dumb
Sorry to hear that Jayos. lol
Some ppl seem to think that i'm anti tribe/ip! LMAO (BIG misconception)
The fact is u are all adults (i think) and you are free to do with your money as you please.
THESE ARE MY VIEWS, EYERYONE HAS THEIR'S.
I go still take ah wine come carnival time, no love lost!
Jason.....you are going back...which means YOU think its worthwhile to do so....after all it is your money and you choose to spend it however you wish.....
I totally agree with you...if you have a good time and want to go back and give them another chance despite the quirks...thats great!!!! Any which way you go...there will be issues....no band is perfect....
As Kim say....we are all adults and as far as I'm concerned, I don't see why ppl can't see you giving them another chance...it's your choice after all....!!
I'm reading this revciew and I can imagine mih best fren saying this. He admits readily that IP's security and distribution is a problem, says the food is cause for concern....den in the best breath says the masquerader vibe, the costume creativity, and on the road experience are fabulous.
He tried TRIBE last yr and was miserable for most of the day.
So I guess to each their own. Not everyone enjoys the same thing...makes this world a very interesting place.
i like shells comment d best...everybody likes different things from carnival
d fact is IP- from what I hear from Tribals who have tried IP, and everyone says it....IP HAS THE BEST VIBE ON THE ROAD....period....and that's why even when we get shabby service, at d end of d day when yuh cussin IP left right and centre, d IP masquerader is d bess....PERIOD
I could pee at the side of d road, eat at the side of d road...i eh asking for d hyatt....is carnival..i eh need d conveniences...ieh need no after party cause carnival is 4 d road...at d end of d day is 5 tings ah want
1. A decent costume
2. Deejays influenced by masqueraders and not the mafia
3. A decent food to eat and Mih drinks nah done
4. Security...meaning No stormers
5. Masqueraders with bess vibes
How difficult is that?? so far dey have 2 out of 5....
I've played with IP since their inception... all 4 yrs. With respect to service, in the earlies i gave them a bligh cuz it was a relatively new band... 2008 they came good... everything looked promising... but this yr things was jus poor! Service sucked.
But like many other vibes crazy masqueraders, i'm also guilty as charged! I luv d IP vibes like whoa... i'm scared that if i leave, a good dose of IP Tabanca might hold meh and slap meh around. I cyah deal with that!
So i am willing to give them one more chance.... lol jus one more.... yes i know i might be encouraging them in their slackness, but i have hope that nex yr they prove everyone wrong... wishful thinking... well i think it's worth it!
No Jayos, "IP HAS THE BEST VIBE ON THE ROAD....period" is not how I would describe it. I have played with IP, their first two years. While in 2006 I had a blast, in 2007 I had an absolutely miserable and horrific time on the road.
I say it's a matter of your taste, your approach to your on-the-road experience and the people you cavort with on the road. While I might be willing to give IP a chance again sometime in the future, as it is now that does not look likely, not for 2010 in any case.
IP masqueraders...don't feel guilty...this was the first year that I complained about IP out of all the years I played with them, and for a second, I thought of migrating to Tribe, but I am always reminded of the crazy vibes we have on the road with IP and how you can't get that with Tribe, lets not talk about the sexy men too...and like someone previously, you may go to Tribe and get the best service, but the vibes dead...so its up to you what you want to do...you are the one paying for the costume. NO BAND IS PERFECT!
Vibes being dead in TRIBE is relative to the masquerader I for one had a very good time on Monday and Tuesday.. my vibes were alive and kicking!
I hadda agree yes IP vibes are something else! But I think everybody done know IP=Jamishness!
and again not everyone wants that "Jamishness" lol.
I'm truly baffled by all this talk of vibes. I thought once you had your crew or your tunes, the vibe would be wherever you are...
You know what would kill my 'vibes' though? Having no music to cross the Savannah, having to run down the food truck, having to eat cold, tasteless pelau, having to get on stink in a queue to pay off my costume and being treated like as though IP doing me a favour by letting me play with them.
TRIBE has fabulous service, gorgeous costumes and wicked good vibes (for me anyway). For me to go and play with IP, Brad Pitt will have to come down to Trinidad with Taye Diggs and Morris Chestnut, and pay for my costume and lime with me whole day, BOTH days yes!
Saucy you are so RIGHT!! Vibes is what you make of it. I played with IP their first 2 years and I had a TIME and the costumes was BEAUTIFUL! But lawd everything else was a mess...from the food to security to costume distribution (the first year I played they was closed on CARNIVAL SATURDAY at 12pm because of a function...people was outside CUSSING!!)
I have a great time with TRIBE and get on just as "bad" in Tribe as I did in IP...so that no vibes/social thing is so not true.
This year I went to the Stadium on Carnival Friday to meet friends and watched as people were picking up costumes. It is just madness that they had people lined up (standing up) in the hot sun. I waited for about 15 mins and got fustrated. At least at Cascadia you have music, food, drinks, shade and CHAIRS while you waiting LOL
IP = Jamishness....yuh right about that!!
I however think d Jamishness should be among d IP family and not IP family's family and friends.
I had a great time on d road...buh that time was because i jus crazy, i had a bess crew, and IP masqueraders are THE BEST!!!....The management of IP have to do their part and not leech of the strengths of their masqueraders...is money we payin man!!! Do all yuh damn part to deliver quality service dais all!! Copy Tribe...me eh care!!!
Last year dey had people serving yuh on d road, ah had no rush for food....me eh know why dey change up something that worked
Jayos, I think it really boils down to:
What you want on Carnival Monday, Tuesday?
What you paid for?
What you wanted was what you paid for?
Would you pay for it again? and again? and again?
At first I didn't think you got what you wanted, with the security issues, and problems with lunch and music. But, you paid for it again this time, and you are clearly willing to pay for it again! I don't know why we Trinis are so willing to pay for discomfort, complain after they "fix they house wid we money" rather than withold our finances and demand what we deserve!
I really think you made a moot point, because if allyuh vex, and den say "we go come back next year" then the vendors achieved their goal! Repeat customers! Albeit upset repeat customers, but nevertheless, they got your money, and to heck with improvements. Do you really think, with all the talk of economic slowdown that bands are really going to offer more than they did this year? Maybe not, especially if we giving them a vex bligh again!
Maybe some portions of Tribe and IP could merge, and give great service with the BADDESS vibes on the road...I'd love to see that!
Yea fo real Jayos... 2008 service was lookin up, i was not expecting this yrs tragedy. Oh well... i iz one ah dem Trinis who hadda burn rel bad tuh learn. One more bligh for IP... jus one more....
Yea...true that Arlene.... there should be an Island People Tribe! Someone should grab this idea and go with it... then we can all be a happy carnival vibin family! lol
Island People Tribe! is Poison 2! Nah man ;)
Poison had a time, now it is legendary. Let's just enjoy the fun memories, please. lol
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