A friend of mine sent me a message, all aghast, yesterday at the tidbit of information she was given concerning the increase in down payment money from $1000.00TT (regular costume) to $1500.00TT in TRIBE!! If this figure is indeed true that means masqueraders will be making a deposit of almost half of their costume cost come August, so if you have your deposit money stashed away in anticipation, it is best to fatten it up just in case.
With all the talk of recession, one has to wonder if costume prices will increase for 2010; personally I feel that a rise in prices is in inevitable and I expect to pay more for my costume for 2010 than I did in 2009. As much as I would love to be able to pay the same price as I did this year, I have paid the same price for my costume two years straight and do not think a pricing hat trick is in my cards for 2010! I am almost afraid to say what my costume budget is in fear that it will be a benchmark figure, however I can see elaborate frontlines costing the same or possibly even more than Spangled Cotinga and Pheasant this year so that is what I am expecting to pay for my costume.
Now, I am not your typical masquerader, I have a certain priority when it comes to costume and prices, once I believe the costume is worth it to me I will pay for the costume AND the experience because I factor that into my financial planning for the year, every year. Many of you masqueraders have already expressed trepidation when it comes to costume prices for 2010, the fact is we are in a recession and many people are struggling just to make it to Trinidad for Carnival, far less being able to splash out on an expensive costume.
My question to you today is how important will be costume price in determining if you play mas at all or in selecting the band you play mas with? Will the hype of a certain band or costume sway you to play regardless of cost or will your pocket guide you, even if it means switching bands for a cheaper costume? Finally do you think price will be used to price out masqueraders from certain bands for 2010 , curbing the demand and how will this affect other bands waiting to sop up the overflow of masqueraders who cannot afford to be part of the tribe?
14 comments:
Why is an price hike inevitable? Exhange rates are perhaps more favourable than they have been for years. Plus I imagine the current global trend of discounting everything may apply to their purchases as well.
I would love to know the justification for a price increase.
Costume price is important to me..despite the fact that I think mas is always worth it. But its more a factor as to which section I play in rather than if I play mas at all. With that said though, I will still only play in a section that I like..but I guess the cost limits it a little. For e.g. I liked Spangled Continga this yr..but not that much to pay 3600. In my opinion, that was a little costly given the costume and I think if u're willing to pay that cost for backline, bess u just add a few hundred and play frontline.
I am a TRIBE masquerader and I do not see myself switchin bands to play with any less of a band. If a year comes and I simply cannot afford (or rather am unwilling to pay the asking price) I figure I'll just leave the country on vacation (cuz Lord knows I wont b able to take it if I stay here).
I definitely hope that masqueraders wont be priced out..but you can never tell.
All in all..I am an avid masquerader who is willing to pay the price for a costume that I absolutely love and that I find to be reasonably priced (my reasonable may be unreasonable for others). I definitely hope that I won't be one of those priced out from playing mas
Sauce, I think you have been blessed to be able to pay the same price for your costumes 2 years straight.
The backline option to my 2008 costume was more expensive than the FL of my 2006 costume. I know that several factors are at play, but when you're working with the same salary range any price increase weighs heavily on the costumes (or even bands) you can consider.
If I love a costume I will spend on it, but it has to be within my budget. I have a lot of other (F.H.O) fees to factor in so wilding out and spending too much cash on the costume ALONE is a no no lol.
I'm not sure if bands can price out masqueraders tho. This year was a record in terms of costume prices and yet all the very expensive costumes sold out quickly in various bands. Seems like nothing can keep people from their mas :)
I read an article a few months back where the Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs claimed to be working closely with the Ministry of Trade and Industry & the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) to ensure lower costume prices for Carnival 2010.
We'll have to wait and see what comes of that.
i played mas for three year from 2007 to 2009 and each year i put away $350 a month towards carnival which gives me a grand total of $4200 to work with (that is what i can afford)
2007 - i was able to play frontline, got boots, accessories aplenty plus monday wear and accessories
2008 - i was able to play frontline, used 2007 boots, accessories aplenty plus monday wear and accessories
2009 - i was able to play backline, got new boots and limited accessories plus cheaper monday wear
2010 - i hope that backline costumes are around $3600 - $3800, i also hope that a costume matches one of my boots (black and tan)and well i may have to use limited accessories and use something i have already have for monday
beyond 2010 - unless there is a miracle when it comes to costume prices or i get a fat increase in salary i don't see me jumping on the road in island people again i certainly don't see myself in another band
lol lol lol lol my mom wanted me to post the following
the last year she played mas in 1982 she paid $425 for an individual costume with wayne barkley
Hahaha. Thats brilliant TC. My first Harts costume cost me $800 and that was mad money to spend on a costume in the 90s!!
I remember my first adult mas costume was in 1996 and that was when Legends first emerged..paid 850 for it. but those were the days of pre all inclusive anyway..
that coupled with profits and inflation = increasing prices.
thing is it is an inevitability imo that prices will reach where many cannot go, unless people are willing to sacrifice paying bills, or are able to really justify the expense of paying for costume etc etc etc.
i doubt very much that there will be a boycott of costume buying in order to force prices down, people don't think like that, its about whatever mas experience they want to enjoy and that reigns supreme
but i wonder how does harts costumes now compare to the other all inclusive bands? aren't they cheaper still?
after 3 years of being fed up with the way i saw mas going, and not playing i decided to make a come back next year..my budget is fully justified as i can well afford it. lucky me. but what about the others who really cannot, who will be tempted to hang their hats higher than they can reach it?
will mas playing now become the domain of the all inclusive exclusive? and yes band might well use costume prices to weed people out...it's done with real estate, education, why not carnival?
i was thinking about increase me carnival saving to $400 a month and that will give me a total of $4800........that will be for 2011 and beyond
but i really have to wonder will it be enough
"yes band might well use costume prices to weed people out...it's done with real estate, education"
I said that last year and i know that that is one tactic that may be use this year
hmmmmmmm 800 and 850 alyuh say hmmmmm wishful thinking here.....i wish that it could go back to those prices.......but its just a wish
I don't see what all the fuss is about higher prices for costumes!!! People.... we are living in times where prices are increasing in different areas regardless of the recission. I am an avid masquerader, and I have no problem paying a higher price for my costume if the price is worth the fabulous costume and the unbelievable experience.I was a Harts masquerader, but when Harts raised their prices last year I switched to Tribe because I would not have gotten the all-inclusive experience in Harts at their higher prices which I got in Tribe. Also there are some news bands which are attempting to compare themselves to Tribe when they shouldn't be doing so. Let's face it.. Tribe offers a product, quality and service to its masqueraders which are superior to that being offered by other bands. I ageee with Aneka.. the weeding out is done in different areas of business and society, why not carnival???? It also separates the serious maqueraders from the non-serious masqueraders!!!! Also, the paying of a higher price for a deposit lessens the burden of having to pay more at costume collection, at which point.. we partying and feting and spending money in other areas!!!! This would also lessen those "scalpers" who buying costumes and re-selling at a profit!!!!! I don't know about you all... but i have my money in hand come registration day!!!!
I agree with everyone here.
However we have to remember that Carnival have ALWAYS been an exclusive club thing; from the plantation to now. So weeding people out is nothing new. It's history. Certain bands always catered to a certain demographic e.t.c.
This boils down to one's own budget and criteria. If anyone sees a costume that tickles their fancy AND they believe that the experience is worth it AND it fits in with their budget, then a decision is made.
If a costume cost too much for you, then it was not made for your pocket. Do you.
For kicks here's my price history:
2003: Poison regular costume, all-inclusive (all-inclusive was optional back then)plus Monday wear included- $260 US
2009: Island People backline all-inclusive (all-inclusive is a given now)and Monday wear is a pair of hot shorts - $575 US.
What a difference 7 Carnivals make!
For me the essence of carnival is playing mas and my airline ticket already purchased. If anything has to give it would be a crazy as$, overpriced fete (or two). 10-15% over what I paid in 2009 will not impact my decision. At 20% or higher I will consider cutting out a fete or two or perhaphs consider another band.
$1500 deposit????
wha de rass?
My first time playing mas was Tribe 2005. Think the costume/experience price was somewhere around $2500 or something like that.
In both 2008 AND 2009 my basic costume price was $3100, however this yr I took some options that brought my costume price to $3500.
To me I budget each year for a 25% price increase, sooo even if prices don't increase I'm covered.
Not sure if I'll be playing next year though...but it's got nothing to do with costume prices.
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