Dear Saucy,
I am a long time reader of your blog, but this is my first time commenting. I must say, it is becoming quite a tedious process reading all these negative feedbacks about Island People Mas. This is my second time playing with IP, I played with them in 2007, which would probably be considered their worst year. I was given a bra that was way too small for me, waited 3 hours to pick up my costume, not to mention had my goodie bag thrown over a fence at me.
When I decided to play with them again this year was just for the sheer love of the costume. I honestly prepared myself for the worst, and was presently surprise when things were not as bad as I expected. I went to get my costume on Friday, the lines were long, but expected since I am not the only foreigner in the country. I paid that day and left as I had other things to do, went back on Saturday evening and was in an out within 30 minutes. Mine and my girlfriend's bra was way to big which they gladly switched mines, my girlfriend was not so lucky to get her size, they gladly switched her entire costume and gave her a refund.
Monday on the road we had a great time, I requested a fish meal and was given pelau with which I am pretty sure was cooked with meat and had a piece of fish thrown on it, but was too drunk to notice.
Tuesday was my birthday, so needless to say I was drunk for most of the day, Hennessy is my drink of choice and in the afternoon when the band ran out, I saw some guys on the side of the road with a bottle and they (in true trini carnival spirit) gladly filled my cup. My only major complaint Tuesday was the rain but should I too jump on the bandwagon and blame IP for that as well.I say all this to say, carnival and playing mas is a time to escape from all of life's everyday problems, like paying bills, crime, the economy and those of us in the North, the winter.
I have been playing mas for over 10 years. I played when there were no all-inclusive bands, when we had to walk with our canteen of rum, or buy beers on the side of the road. Go to Royal Castle for lunch or have a friend bring pelau in the trunk of their car. When we had to use the portable toilets or stoop behind a car or a wall with your friends blocking you to pee. Granted the cost of a costume today is much more than we paid years ago, but no band is perfect, not even Tribe, if you read Jumbie's blog. We really should not depend on a band to make or break our carnival experience, it's only 2 days and we wait all year for it.
I personally, will play with IP again, if they have a costume I love, and I am sure there are many people, just waiting with bated breath to jump with them again.
For those who posted negative reviews, or were just unhappy with the IP experience, you know what Saucy says religiously, "there are many other bands out there."
Thank you Saucy for bringing carnival to those of us who are not in Trinidad. Kudos to you on your up to the minute coverage on the band launchings, then going to the camps and getting individual pics, we cannot thank you enough for what you do.
Thank you for your time.
I am a long time reader of your blog, but this is my first time commenting. I must say, it is becoming quite a tedious process reading all these negative feedbacks about Island People Mas. This is my second time playing with IP, I played with them in 2007, which would probably be considered their worst year. I was given a bra that was way too small for me, waited 3 hours to pick up my costume, not to mention had my goodie bag thrown over a fence at me.
When I decided to play with them again this year was just for the sheer love of the costume. I honestly prepared myself for the worst, and was presently surprise when things were not as bad as I expected. I went to get my costume on Friday, the lines were long, but expected since I am not the only foreigner in the country. I paid that day and left as I had other things to do, went back on Saturday evening and was in an out within 30 minutes. Mine and my girlfriend's bra was way to big which they gladly switched mines, my girlfriend was not so lucky to get her size, they gladly switched her entire costume and gave her a refund.
Monday on the road we had a great time, I requested a fish meal and was given pelau with which I am pretty sure was cooked with meat and had a piece of fish thrown on it, but was too drunk to notice.
Tuesday was my birthday, so needless to say I was drunk for most of the day, Hennessy is my drink of choice and in the afternoon when the band ran out, I saw some guys on the side of the road with a bottle and they (in true trini carnival spirit) gladly filled my cup. My only major complaint Tuesday was the rain but should I too jump on the bandwagon and blame IP for that as well.I say all this to say, carnival and playing mas is a time to escape from all of life's everyday problems, like paying bills, crime, the economy and those of us in the North, the winter.
I have been playing mas for over 10 years. I played when there were no all-inclusive bands, when we had to walk with our canteen of rum, or buy beers on the side of the road. Go to Royal Castle for lunch or have a friend bring pelau in the trunk of their car. When we had to use the portable toilets or stoop behind a car or a wall with your friends blocking you to pee. Granted the cost of a costume today is much more than we paid years ago, but no band is perfect, not even Tribe, if you read Jumbie's blog. We really should not depend on a band to make or break our carnival experience, it's only 2 days and we wait all year for it.
I personally, will play with IP again, if they have a costume I love, and I am sure there are many people, just waiting with bated breath to jump with them again.
For those who posted negative reviews, or were just unhappy with the IP experience, you know what Saucy says religiously, "there are many other bands out there."
Thank you Saucy for bringing carnival to those of us who are not in Trinidad. Kudos to you on your up to the minute coverage on the band launchings, then going to the camps and getting individual pics, we cannot thank you enough for what you do.
Thank you for your time.
20 comments:
You go girl! I'm surely one of those waiting in line to see what they will come out with for 2K10!
I'm sorry, but I was laughing so hard at "...had my goodie bag thrown over a fence at me", that it took me longer than usual to read the rest of the review.
No one's doubting that IP had good service. What people were so baffled about, is all those who had a rubbish time with costume, payment, collection, music, food etc, but then said "But the vibes was nice, so I'll be there next year."
And no, no band is perfect, when you pay for an ALL-INCLUSIVE band, that means meals and drinks are INCLUDED. So when drinks run out before the day is done, yes people will comment.
Ronnie and Caro on the other hand, did EXACTLY what a bandleader is supposed to do when things are going a bit tits up.
I could go on about the 'fish pelau' and what not. But I don't have the energy.
And no, I'm not IP bashing. Just amazed at the complaints that people come out with.
I couldn't agree with her more. Carnival Tuesday was also my birthday and I dont know if I was just too drunk to notice but I had a ball and was exceptionally happy with my costume. I picked up my costume and then changed a head piece (just because of the glue), went back the next day for a smaller panty, went back the following day for some more 'accessories'. I for one get to Trinidad 2 weeks b4 the carnival and have the time to do this, but dont get mad with IP. The week of costume distrubion, NO ONE WAS THERE! I was worried that only me and my crew would be on the road. LOL. IP will be seeing me for 2010. (If they come good with costumes)
The girl has a point...u can't let mishaps make or break your carnival experience and the people who chose to let certain things stress them to the point of not enjoying themselves to the fullest didn't waste their money bc IP didn't do things perfectly, they wasted their money bc they didn't know how to move past it and enjoy themselves regardless. A friend of mines did mention they ran out of henny and his response to that was ok I'll jump on the johnny bandwagon lol. ms bunny we know what an all inclusive band means but if they run out they run out...maybe they didn't estimate the amt of henny people would drink correctly but u also can't expect the bandleader to run to the nearst liqs store and say give me a case of henny stat! lol how long would it have lasted anyways? Anyways...I'm patiently awaiting 2k10 w/ IP bc as usual I had a wonderful carnival playin with them.
No girl, I will be right there on the road with IP. Yes I had minor issues, but its not enough for me to change my preference of which band I should play mas with!
I always say something...I know what I have...I eh know what I going to get! I played with them and had mishaps yes, but at the end of the day...I find it tedious moving from band to band all the time. I moved around bands alot, in and out, in and out, looking for I guess "a perfect band" and it scared me with every move, cus I'm never sure what I am going to meet in this new band. But then i realise, I am mostly responsible along with friends and family to make my two days pure bliss.
It's totally up to each individual, but I spend way too much money to leave it up to IP/Tribe/Legacy (all the folks i played with) to decide for me whether i should have a good time or not! No band is perfect, they all have quirks, we just have to know how to work it.
I jumped with Ip last year Monday and I had no problem with collection and love the costume and had no problem collecting it ( king fisher Bird). The goodie bag was lovely, the best ever. They gave out alot of snacks during the day on the road. I ended up playing only on monday, didnt feel the vibes of the band, maybe bc i am accustom to TRIBE. but overall my exp with them wasnt bad at all.
Nooooooooooo. They claim to be a premier band providing premier services. You guys are letting them off the hook after they charge an arm and a leg. We pay the extra money to be SAFE AND COMFORTABLE. I really dont believe allyuh woman paying all dat money. Allyuh cah be serious. I could live without the all-inclusive stuff.......but wait. But security is the biggest issue. Because allyuh use to going thru the trials and tribukations with these bands since 1900 dont mean it right. It wrong. You paying for goods and services and they are not being delivered. Emancipate allyuhself from d dotishness dat West Indians have been accepting and show the power of yuh dollar. Thats the only way you going to get respect and ultimately what you pay for. dont be a bobolee.
released it is very prudent to note that island people have not put out correspondence to their masquearaders (sp) highlighting and discussing the alleged major hiccups afforded on monday and tuesday...shame on you, island people (btw: they are reminding me of the aig execs).
exactly dajewel..dais de thing that have me pissed off with IP. dey cant even email us an apology!
ALLYUH AINT SERIOUS! lol...that's why IP keep doing this foolishness...ppl keep coming back! if that was here in Canada, IP would have been gettin served with papers for small claims court - ppl dont play with their money! yes I played with IP, yes they had some seriously fundamental issues (namely with the security), yes I still had a WICKED time on the road, but NO they will not get my money again!
Let me just clarify...I'm not justifying whatever was lacking. My point was yes its a shame people had bad experiences but til now I have not. I don't just mean I had a wicked time on the road so I'm overlooking the problems. I simply didn't have any serious problems. Each year they have been accomadating to myself and my group, I've recieved good service, a costume that looked better than any photo on a website and a quality road experience. I'm not going to complain about the stormers this year simply bc I know if my backside aint have no costume its stormin I'd a been doin just the same. I wont fault anyone for tryin to enjoy they carnival. I'm not complaining about waitin on line to pay or pickup my costume bc it's just petty...u does complain to wait on line in the grocery?..probably not so y should this be any different. They gave me drinks and lollies while I waited so I aint mind lol. For those who had a sour experience yes handle ur business and take your money elsewhere, but I can't sit here and say I not gonna support IP when they have given me what I paid for...yall have to remember its a personal experience. I read some peoples mishaps and think well damn when all dat was goin on?! lol Think of it this way...if I switched to Tribe who's known for great service and I have a bad experience, bash dem and they service and say I aint goin back. Will others leave and say well things gone bad bc she had a bad experience or use their past personal experiences with Tribe and say well it was great for me I'm goin back next year??? ..just my 2 pennies ;)
This brought back some horrible memories of my first and only experience with IP in 2007 with that cold sappy pelau "with fish"; I can't believe they still serving that. Trust me, there's meat in that pelau
TriniVice
Yes I complain when I'm in a queue at the grocery. And you know what they do? The open up some more tills and get the queues moving. But in Trinidad? They watch you as if they doing you some massive favour by allowing you to pay them for the food.
As was mentioned before, Trinis need to learn to speak with their money and demand better service. If you're not getting what you pay for, then don't bloody pay for it again. What if someone wasn't eating meat for religious or medical reasons and they were served that pelau? Steups
But to those of you who had great experience with IP, then yes you got what you paid for so it's all good.
The whole fish pelau incident reminds me of Poison UK a few years ago, they were supposed to have vege meals but actually their version of vegetarian is fish. my rasta friend was like "but i'm vegetarian" and they told her "its only a bit of fish, just eat it"
er................ no
so let me get this straight... you pay for security, they let stormers all up in the band and you feel unsafe. you pay for food, they barely feed you. you pay for premium drinks for 2 days, somehow they manage to run out...they never really offer an apology or implement a solution... and you're going to spend your money there again next year because it wasn't "that bad"?! am i missing something here? maybe y'all have money to waste but i know i don't and i'll be damned if i constantly spend money with a band that isn't providing me premium service. i've played with IP and the service absolutely sucked. i should not have to get on like a jammett to get what i PAID for. no one there was doing me a favor and my costume wasn't free. their attitudes were horrible, the service was non-existent and no amount of "good vibes on the road" can change that for me which is why i haven't been back.
for those that love it, more power to you. enjoy your mas next year with them. i simply think you get what you allow people to give you and with their record, you would think their patrons would demand more or show them the power of their wallets.
Skinnygyal, and the fact that no communication has been submitted to ip masquearders is the biggest slap in the face....so much so that it seems that they b@tchslapped you all and just don't care cuz they know plenty will come back again and again(kinda reminds me of rihanna and chris)...amazing how ip management is blatant with the disrespect for their masqueraders...
i would like to point out that some of those that did have a good time seemed to be oblivious of the ramifications of the alleged major hiccups afforded by others...that if it didn't happen to them they shouldn't worry...actually all paying masquearders of ip should be highly offended because if it didn't happen to you this time around, it could happen to you sometime in the future
Dajewel, I disagree. I cannont be offended about something that did not happen to me directly or anyone for my group. I'm sorry but if I had a good time...why should I gripe about other ppl's issues? What would be my point? "Err ok, I had a good time, but those people didn't" "umm ok,,, so you want us to do what exactly for you?"
That makes no sense to me (note..i said "to me"), is gripe I like to gripe so?? I just don't get it..Everyone considers having a good time different...Everyone's breaking point is different. Everyone is spending their OWN money....
But then again,, that's just me,, if I had a good time,,,I had a good time...not to say I won't feel sorry or bad for the ppl that didn't have a good time,,I just wont make it MY personal issue. Come on...we're adults...to each his own.
Dajewel, I agree. I use to laugh at people when they complained about IP Because I never endured what happened to them. But this year is different and my complaints are not the same as others. This is the first time that I was not happy with IP.
this was also the first time that i was unhappy with IP.. the food was my main issue... I still cant call that pelau...
But i got my costume in 30 mins... had a ball...
Hoping for the best for Next year....
I will give them another chance because i only had that one complaint.. had a ball and the ppl.. FUN!
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