The section Taal is now sold out in Island People, lets see if Bindi will be next, but I am really wondering how long it will take before the entire band is sold out this year; reminds me of when TRIBE went the "different" route with "Ole Time Something" and never sold out.
Africa Frontline is sold out from Ronnie & Caro, seems like their 2010 presentation is also getting good reviews.
First band to launch Spice, is yet to slap a sold out sign on any of their costumes, why is it taking them SO long to sell out at least one section? Very, very odd....
Never got an email from TRIBE with my receipt but was told it can be requested at the mas camp for those still waiting, they will print it out for you....hmmmm.
What is D Krewe waiting on to launch their website and professional costume shots are all over facebook? We want prices and more pics!
Trini Revellers really needs to update their website with some information on their band launch, isn't it supposed to take place this month?
Is it just me or does Glen Carvalho have very similar section names to Pulse 8!
Midnight mas is supposedly making a comeback for Carnival 2010, will it do well I wonder?
How come Harts is yet to release the price of their Mas Sweet Mas/American Indians costume?
How come Harts is yet to release the price of their Mas Sweet Mas/American Indians costume?
And where is Genesis for Carnival 2010, anyone knows?
70 comments:
D Krewe reg is supposed to be starting today.
Seems like the only band there was any real rush for was Tribe! With Harts in a distant 2nd.
How is Tribe printing out a receipt any use for overseas masqueraders?! Tribe if your listening, I don't want a receipt! That's cool! Just give me 2 male costumes instead!
I still can't believe that TRIBE got pong so bad for 'Ole Time Something'. I effing loved that presentation and thought it was a really good idea.
It is just another thing that proves my theory that people REALLY don't want anything different. They just seem to enjoy complaining about costumes, then will end up registering in the featheriest, sequinniest, biggest costume they can afford.
Designers, take note. Make your costumes big, feathery and affordable. Spice got the first two right, but messed up on the third!
Oooh, and wouldn't it be super exciting if there was some sort of Carnival espionage going on? A Glen Carvalho spy working in Pulse 8.
Oh me, oh my!
Or could it be that Pulse 8 has section names and a theme very similar to Glenn Carvalho? If I remember correctly Glenns website has been up long before Pulse 8 (early this year) and his section names have been posted for months.
So does that mean that we shouldn't expect our TRIBE receipt via email? We need to head down to the mas camp?
Oh CJ, this I was not aware of. Oh me, oh my! Maybe Glen should be sweeping his mas camp for bugs and only having conversations on park benches, in code.
DQ, I'm sure if you request a receipt, they will email it to you, though Monique did tell me that receipts will be emailed out soon as they're still inputting data from registration.
I wouldn't worry about it though. Because as long as money has been taken from your credit card, your costume is more or less guaranteed. I didn't get one until I requested my receipt in January this year and they emailed it to me, no worries.
Love your post today Saucy. MJSbunny you crack me up, lol.
monday night mas making a comeback?
i hope they restrict the route to around the stadium, or have real tight police and army presence...because that go be some confusion.
as for bands and all their confusion i feel ppl watching their pockets for now. but don't be surprised that when the frenzy takes over it will be just that frenzied rush for costumes.
and bunny, you should know by now that ppl eh want nutten different the best thing to do is to give them what they want and laugh all the way to the bank!
I am in love with Ronnie and Caro's 'Saucy in de Marketplace'!! With or without my girls, I in dat!!
Spice really threw me off with those prices; Tribe never really impressed me, besides w/ Osage; and IP well, let's say I don't feel like $533+ should be spent on ANY of those costumes! I still want to see Pulse 8's presentation.. Hopefully Saucy posted the worst of the band with that grass skirt nonsense, bcuz I expect better from them!!
It seems as though people are really watching their money. I know my crew here in the states is not really feeling the costumes and the airfare is ridiculous right now. Last year this time we had our housing, costume and most of our flights. Our theory is that Carnival will be effected by the recession whereby you will not see bands sell out sections (Tribe being the exception) and a lower attendance especially from those people residing abroad. If we do decide to go it will be a last minute decision.
I agree with Lea completely...ppl are watchting their dollars and cents..but I believe once Carnival fever hit them later down the road, it will be a whole other story...
Rumour has it that the registrations for Spice are extremely slow with less than 100 overall registrations since they launch. At that rate the band will be smaller than last year, if they make it. Thank goodnes I with Tribe. Hopefully they will learn a leson about discriminating against full figured ladies and about being so greedy and full of themselves to jam people with price because they feel they are the new IT band. They have great costumes probably the best of the lot, but them prices outrageous. Anyway I hear that they are in serious trouble and that BIG discounts and offers are in the pipeline to try and save the band and insure that it actually comes off. Hopefully they won't discriminate with the offers and discounts as well.
Rumour has it that the registrations for Spice are extremely slow with less than 100 overall registrations since they launch. At that rate the band will be smaller than last year, if they make it. Thank goodnes I with Tribe. Hopefully they will learn a leson about discriminating against full figured ladies and about being so greedy and full of themselves to jam people with price because they feel they are the new IT band. They have great costumes probably the best of the lot, but them prices outrageous. Anyway I hear that they are in serious trouble and that BIG discounts and offers are in the pipeline to try and save the band and insure that it actually comes off. Hopefully they won't discriminate with the offers and discounts as well.
less than 100?!? wow if that is true Spice in SERIOUS trouble!
well i know of about 20 people who were going to go with Spice till the prices came out, and that's just people i know!
as for people watching their money, we are watching a little more carefully due to the unfavourable exchange rate, and decided one major expense had to go - so not staying in a hotel this year. nothing else is being scrimped on though!
serious? hmm....poor spice....
*bows head in memory of their former hype*
Oh btw..saw some pics of Pulse 8 in the Express this morning...thank God I didnt see any more grass skirts!!
LMAO @ Digame!!
i think IP will sell out more sections...the pace has a lot to do with the timing of the camp opening for registration...being the last month end before school re-opened...I understand there is a constant flow of registrants as well as ppl coming in to measure for when they come back September month end...so i guess we'll just have to wait and see
Lea and SLK, that's so true. Money is dictating every carnival decision for overseas residents. Airfare can cut a good chunk out of the budget, and the costumes costs are not helping. God forbid if you want to throw in a fete or two. Accomodation is another story for another post. The cost of Carnival now is the equivalent of a Mediterranean cruise.
People nowadays want to feel like they are getting their money's worth. For e.g, TRIBE sold out based on good service rep, Ronnie & Caro's Africa frontline sold out because it is a slamming costume in a band that has a decent reputation for service (and some folks still care about the costume), and Taal appealed to many young ladies with the feathers and cutesy design (I wouldn't be surprised a lot of the 25 and under set bought that out). Personally I think ppl are still pissed with IP that's why they they're slow to sell out now.
Oasis you're right, timing is crucial. People are preoccupied with other things this time of the year.
But all is not lost, it's just slow. When "de carnival jumbie" take them, things will pick up.
yea...I'm not really worried about IP not selling out...it's Spice that has me a bit disappointed b/c they honestly have some of the better costumes....what causing that for them? is it really the confusing as eff website? the paypal buss system? the bra size scandal? the $$$ issue? all of the aforementioned?!
even so...approx 100 ppl!!! that's insane!!
That refund was also probably the worst thing that could have happened to them, because if you give people back their money, some of them not going to want to give it back.
fuh real @ mjsbunny
Here is my prediction: Come December, Carnival Junction and Fine Ah Ban will be flooded with Tribe costumes for sell...and come Costume resell day, people will have their pick of costumes...I know too many people who paid deposits either knowing they were going to re-sale or wishing they could make a way to go to carnival...
It will be interesting to see where bands will cut back given the increase in Alcohol prices as I am sure they never catered for a 15% hike. I could see lots of bars running out of drinks on the road.
I think Spice's registration is low because their prices are too high for their craftsmanship. I love all of the frontlines, but $1000US is waaaay too much. Not me, nah. I only waiting for a costume I am absolutely inlove with.
ok so I'm watching pulse8 pics in today's Express.it's not all of that and a pack of chips...but it's not totally hideous either! I like tahitian black pearl...very sexy costume...lovin the headpiece...it does help that the model definitely knows how to work a costume!! other than that...no big whoop
Jazz, you are absolutely right. $1000 US is a lot of cash money for any costume (that is more than the current airfares from NYC!!!) and I better be in love and salivating over the costume for me to drop that kind of money.
Salsaman, if they run out of alcohol you can best believe there will be absolute CHAOS.
I predict whether Spice give discount or not, they will be in trouble. If they don't, they will lose money and have a small band. If they do, will they cut amenities? Less money = an unorganized band.
I am thinking the bands knew there was going to be a hike in goods and services in Trinidad,given the economic situation. I was hearing that our money was going to be devalued since March (hence the reason US dollars are so scarce!). Shipping has increased as well as alcohol so I guess now the bands can justify the 20% markup from last year's prices.
What really amazes me is the price of R&C costumes compared to Spice prices.
Spice really got way ahead of themselves and maybe missed out out being a real contender.Perhaps even website and admin glitches would have been tolerated if they got their prices right. Shame.
I'm definitely cutting back where I could. Devalue the TT$$ ... YAAAYYYY! I'm still in shock at the awful exchange rates I faced this year!!
Devaluing the Trini dollar further is NOTHING to yayy about.. that just means EVERYTHING will be MORE expensive!!
Not necessarily at the same rate of the devaluation. Let's not forget that while currencies all over the world dived at different points from of 08 to 09 ... TT$ somehow maintained it's value. Now I'm not an economist ... but in my mind a "devaluation" had to happen at some point. I guess you can look at it as cyclical as well.
AND, the answer to a falling currency isn't ALWAYS higher prices. It's a good opportunity for local industry to step up, and business often turn to attractive pricing to encourage spending.
And for me, anything is better that $8to£1!!
Oh and before I am dismissed by a professional economist! I hasten to add that this is based on my personal circumstane & experience in a country hit quite hard by the recession and falling currency and all that jazz.
I have seen many of my major expenses fall, and it often is much better to buy local.
From an economical standpoint it's not good for either country(s) to have a devalutation of the currency. I can honestly say that I was not thinking of the alcohol when considering the costume price, which is all inclusive. The problem is that the band cannot get around the price points of alcohol, therefore the monetary responsibility falls on the customer. This is probably where a band like Spice will have problems and be in the red financially because they are not able to sell out sections. Cutting prices and such will not even help them. Given all the consequences of the global financial crisis, this will definitely be a year of "make or break" for many bands and I suspect a few will fall.
Let’s really look at why Spice is not selling out because it could not be prices as some may suggest. In my personal opinion (that probably doesn’t mean anything) Spice has better costumes than Tribe. I compare it only to Tribe from my understanding they are supposed to have been the next big Tribe. So here is my list. It does not include all sections as I was doing this at work. So quickly
Spice FL
Caspian Sea $933 US, Wings of Isis $983 US, Imperium Romanum $850 US, Greece WHOPPING $1000 US, Shri Lanka $900 US, Thailand $950 US, Gates of Petra $833US, Morroccan Heat $883 US
Tribe FL
Charmeuse WHOPPING $999US, Eri $992, Xi Ling Si $916, Habotai $996, Lapiz GENEROUSLY $708, Mulberry $933, Zari $992
So explain to me why Spice being called way too expensive and Tribe given a bligh on this blog.
But seriously what is the real reason for Spice not selling out? I will be inclined to believe that other than Tribe loyalist the rest of the country and foreign masqueraders are taking a step back to guard their pockets. I know for a fact that Spice has way more than 100 masqueraders already registered.
Egypt, I will tell u why: Let me first say that I will choose Spice's frontline designs over Tribe. But $1000 is too much for its craftsmanship. The costumes are cute, but the craftsmanship is not up to par. By the time carnival over, half of the costume will be all over port-of-spain.
Lol Jazz. Sounds like IP's Rays of Light backline costume from last year...You might still find a feather or two on the street.
LMFAO!!! where do you guys get your info or is it just speculation? you guys are really funny, the best has to be about craftsmanship...LMFAO ohhh and 100 ppl in SPICE haaahaahaahaahaaaaaaaaaaa!
Egypt, Spice prices is just ONE of the factors that are contributing to them not having a high volume of sales. Late launching of a crappy website, size issues and horrible customer service is just a few other factors. I really had high hopes for them but when they started by sticking with the website, I said to myself this is an indication of more bad things to come.
You want to compare them to Tribe, let’s be realistic. Tribe has ___ years in the business (I really don’t know, think its 5), Spice is lucky to have a second year; I would rather take my chances with the more experienced band. You have an idea of what you are getting with Tribe but you are taking a gamble with Spice. Sad to see that Spice got caught up in all the hype and now they are paying for it! You have to creep before you walk.
You wrote “I will be inclined to believe that other than Tribe loyalist the rest of the country and foreign masqueraders are taking a step back to guard their pockets.”
All I have to say on that is whatever makes u and Spice sleep better at nights, more masqueraders than you think was not planning to leave their respective band for Spice! I don’t play with Tribe and I already paid for my costume. The economic situation is just one of the reasons for slower sales for ALL bands but I won’t get into all of that.
I think things will pick up later in the year though. I mean really ... to ask people to make plans in July '09 for February '10 is slightly loopy!
It's in everyone's interest for the success of all bands, not just 1 or 2. Granted that it is up to bandleaders to make the right decisions to make that success more likely!
The economic issue has a lot to do with it, but it seems to be slowly getting better, and I beleive if exchange rates are more favourable it will encourage carnival tourism and later registrations from overseas, meaning more fete patrons etc etc ....
Positivity!!!
a quick question...those who already registered in Spice...are they getting in on the discount as well? I'm going under the assumption that the already registered SPICErs only paid their down payment.
I've been reading this blog for some time now and have not had the urge to comment until now.
As an overseas masquerader who decided to play with Spice, (having negative experiences with other bands and simple refusal to deal with the "who-you-know-let-me-please-oh-gosh-play-in-yuh-band" fiasco), I would just like to say that I successfully registered with Spice problem free. My costume was the same price as in other bands.
Admist all that has been previously mentioned neither my crew nor myself has had any problems or complaints.
With that being said, whether is me and my crew alone or a band of 100 or 1000, I doh care, as long as the music is good and the drinks flowing.
See allyuh on the road!
i have loved reading this blog for many years and im really disturbed at alot of the negativity towards spice. i have played religiously with tribe for 4 of their 5 years and can say that tribe has always had expensive costumes. so why the back lash against spice. whether or not they are a new band, the cost of the materials and labour for their costumes has to be equivalent to tribe. and honestly their costumes are much nicer then tribe. tribe does not have a presentation that warrants the cost of their costumes this year. so all this money is for the name. carnival is about fun and reclkess abandonment and all this back biting just reminds me of highschool foolishness. all bands have their bumps in the road.island people have been a consistent mess for the better part of their existence and yet people play with them every year. give spice and all the non tribe bands a break.
Chocolate, I'm sorry you see it as negativity, but I personally don't have any hatred or anything towards Spice.
The reason why people are baffled, is because Spice has no proven track record. Yes TRIBE is expensive, but people also know what they're getting when they sign up for a TRIBE costume. They know collection will go smoothly. They know drinks won't run out on the road. They know that we will stop for lunch and that there will be a wide choice of food, and that there will be enough for everyone. They know the music will be good. And most importantly, they know that if something goes wrong, they will be looked after.
So they will pay the thousands of dollars. TRIBE has earned the loyalty that people show them
But as for Spice? This is only their second year, and a lot of people are just very unsure of exactly what they will be getting if they fork out that much money. Maybe things might have been different if there wasn't a recession, but we are in one and people are taking this decision very seriously. Spice does not yet have a reputation that would make people feel comfortable in parting with almost US$1000.
They need to build up their reputation, work on gathering a core supporter base, who will play with them, regardless. This is what TRIBE has, and it has taken them years to do. Don't forget, they had their people from since Poison days.
But also, they launched during a time when there weren't many 'hot', 'young people', all-inclusive bands. Poison had become unbearably big, and people were fed up of it, so they jumped over to TRIBE. Right place, right time, so to speak. They saw a gap in the market and pounced on it. And I personally feel that this is the reason why it was so hard to get into TRIBE for next year. People left Poison when they got fed up of it being too big, and they will probably do the same to TRIBE. So they're trying to cut down on the numbers.
I've said it before, I am almost sure that those 2009 masqueraders who did not get a TRIBE costume, would have jumped over to Spice...if the price was right. And sadly, it ain't right. Nice costume or not. People don't sign up in TRIBE for the costumes. They sign up for the EXPERIENCE. Thus far, Spice cannot guarantee the same thing, but they expect people to pay almost the same price. Miscalculation!
As for those who keep on going back to IP? I haven't a clue! Not me sah! Never!
To Lea, im not quite sure where you got your info, but I played with Rays of Light this year in IP and my entire crew of 10 went home with ever piece of their costume in tact....headpiece and all!!! That costume was the most durable of all the bands i have played with....
Shells- i did not get my info from anyone else as i saw first hand ROL headpieces littered on the streets as i was in IP Touch. Everyone's experience is different and it is great that u and ur crew had a great costume experience. However, my crew of ten saw so many ROL headpieces that some people did not have the same experience as you and ur crew.
Well thank God for our experience...that throughout AAAALL those feathers littered on the street from ROL wasn't from us...
Shells - yes definitely! What band/section is your crew planning on playin' in for next year?
Are you guys really serious? Carnival is supposed to be about freeing up yourself and having a good time. Had I been a newbie wanting to play mas and reading this blog I would have been so turned off thanks to people like you two masjumbie and mjsbunny. You guys take what is supposed to be a time of no stress and worries and turn it into a melodrama with your hysterics. Really, masjumbie, Spice has LESS than 100 masqueraders??? Go check your facts and come again. They had an average of what, 1000 masqueraders last year? So you mean to tell me that you really believe that 900 of them listened to hysterics like you, instead of relying on the experience they actually had and decided not to go back? From reading the reviews from Spice masqueraders, you couldn't figure out that they gave them a great experience last year? It sounded to me like Spice's masqueraders were extremely satisfied, so tell me, why wouldn't they go back? Because people like YOU think that they should not? And btw, why are you SO concerned with SPICE when you are playing with TRIBE? If you're not even playing with them, then they really should not be of so much concern to you, so what is your REAL problem with them?
I think that its better if you focus your energy on TRIBE and THEIR mishaps. Spice is a 2 year band, so they are now coming out, making their mistakes, and supposedly learning from them. What is TRIBE's excuse? Just 2 months ago they had a registration DISASTER! And yet you and so many others are still going running back to them, BEGGING that they take your money and let you in THEIR band. Superb service or not, Tribe's basic attitude this year was "Dear loyal masqueraders, UP YOURS" They pre-registered who they wanted to, and left the rest for the likes of you to fight up with. And fight you did, didn't you? Without making even so much as a peep, the Tribe loyalists jumped right in and fought each other for the scraps that TRIBE threw their way. The costumes were not even that hot, def not worth the price, the band last year was uncomfortably crowded (that came from the mouth of pple who played with Tribe since poison days) and registration this year was a total mess. But these things you will overlook because well, "its Tribe". How pretensive!! Face it, Tribe DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU.
Don't even get me started on the costumes that they threw together and slapped some prices on this year. At least Spice gave appealing costumes for the prices. They hired two of THE BEST designers in the game now, and hats off to R&A because they did an EXCELLENT job. People wanted more feathers, more bling, and that's what they got. And from the sounds of it, they also gave a quality road experience, but nothing good comes cheap. NOT EVEN IF ITS NEW!!!
Oh, and btw give the whole "Spice is discriminating against plus sized masqueraders" talk a rest. If you went to a store and they did not carry "plus sizes" (which MANY of them do not) would you go on a rampage and say that they're discriminating and drag their names through the mud? NO! You would not. You would simply move on, take your attention and money somewhere else! Sorry to break it to you, but when it comes to clothing, or in this case costumes, all sizes are NOT created equal and its that simple. Who knows why Spice's FL are not catering to larger sizes? Perhaps they are just not available. That is not uncommon either. Sometimes certain cuts and styles are not available in larger sizes. (and this is just MY speculation, not "facts" as you constantly claim to have) Whatever the reason is, you can't tell people who they should and should not support. They don't have your size? Well, too bad for them, they just lost YOUR money. No need to go on a rampage against them. Seriously, just move on!
oh wow.... O_O
Classy- what an ironic name.
So how much have you invested in Spice, and exactly WHO in TRIBE pissed you off so much?
I'm sorry you find me so off-putting. But I see nothing wrong with what mas.jumbie has said. While your post is full of anger and vitriol (for whatever reason), mas.jumbie's and mine were fact based. Mas.jumbie just did some simple calculations which made a lot of sense to me.
Yes people wanted more bling and feathers, but people talk a lot of shit. I mean, Spice's costumes aren't exactly flying off the shelf, are they? All those feathers and bling are the reasons why Spice's costumes are so expensive and people aren't taking the bait. Case in point being IP. They went 'different' because people were sick of all the feathers and sequins. Well, look at the first section to sell out- Taal FL was FIRST in the ENTIRE band to go. Oh, and yes, it was the ONLY costume with a feathered headpiece and backpack. Look at TRIBE as well. The men complaining that they sick of the boardshorts and they want different stuff. Well, if that is true, why was the last costume to sell out the ONLY non-board short costume in the band??
I WANT Spice to succeed. Oh, believe me I do! Because it will temper the costume re-sale market and als hopefully leave more room for us TRIBE loyalists. I believe there is room in the market for everyone, but Spice needs to be realistic.
So bring it, 'Classy'. I stand firm in my opinions. I am glad when any band has success. I'm so pleased for R&C and was really looking forward to Pulse 8's launch. I just think Spice shouldn't be hanging their hat higher than they can reach, which is what they seem to be doing.
Oh, and by the way, 'pretensive' isn't a word. If you want to put down someone and their opinions, at least break out the dictionary!
Spice had 1000 masqueraders this year? Really? Wow.
LOL.. "pretensive isn't a word" indeed. But there is no need to get petty mjsbunny. And btw, after reading your post, you are in no position to attack anyone else's grammar. So take it easy.
And just to clear the record, I have no money at all invested in Spice, and no one in Tribe pissed me off. What did piss me off were you people turning carnival into pure confusion. Its not so much fun when someone else calls out your precious TRIBE, is it? And really, masjumbie was just doing simple calculations? Perhaps you should take another look at those comments. What I see is someone who is out to bring down Spice's name, for what reason only masjumbie and probably Spice alone knows. According to masjumbie, Spice having less than 100 masqueraders was pure fact. Well, bring out the proof then. Let's see that registration roster that masjumbie must have to know these facts. Oh wait, that's right, masjumbie DOES NOT HAVE any proof. Oops!
As for what you're saying mjsbunny, it seems to me that you are suggesting that people don't know what they want. Interesting.
Btw, what about what Spice is offering is so unrealistic? Let's see; fabulous costumes.. check, fabulous service.. check, great on the road experience.. check, all around good quality.. check. So why should their costumes be cheaper again? Oh, that's right, they're not TRIBE so they should undercharge for their products. Yea.. that makes alot of sense! Brilliant!!! Give me a break, get off of your soap box, and get over it!
Saucy aka "The Sauce", I really don't know the exact figure re: Spice masqueraders this year, that number was an estimate.
But Classy Carnival is synonymous with bacchanal!! lol
Well Classy, so far the fabulous service has included people getting their deposits back, and some overseas masqueraders NOT receiving the promised telephone calls.
But great service, yes. Indeed!
Look, I don't care if people want to give TRIBE grief you know, because Lord knows they fed-up receive my five-page feedback letters the week after Carnival. But the reason why I will defend TRIBE, is because TRIBE has taken steps to protect their brand. They listen to their customers, and from PERSONAL experience, they are always looking at ways to improve their customer service.
Yes, mas is supposed to be about having fun and what not. But it has also become a huge money-making industry. If people didn't think there was money in mas, there would be fewer bands on the road come Carnival Monday. My point is that Spice, which is ONLY IN ITS SECOND YEAR, does not yet have the luxury of making such financial demands of masqueraders.
TRIBE has learnt through trial and error. Say what you want about Monique and Dean, but they run an effing tight ship and they know how to treat their customers. Monique has phoned me on my overseas number to discuss my feedback letters and address my complaints. They listen to the people who made them. A lot of the people who run business in Trinidad could learn a thing or two from them.
But to the outsider observer- mainly me- Spice is ignoring the customer...namely with the bra issue. I'm sorry, but that clothing store analogy is pure bollocks. Just doesn't wash.
I still feel that you are in some way affiliated with Spice, because your vehemence cannot come from some impartial in the whole debate.
However, at the end of the day, I sincerely hope that Spice makes it onto the road with their '1900' masqueraders. I have nothing against them and their band...just their insanely stupid bra policy!
P.S. I apologise for my grammatical shortcomings, but it's hard to type properly when you're giggling at someone's ludicrous statements.
Oh what a tragedy, they actually GAVE BACK money to people. That must be awful! Correct me if I'm wrong, but did they not also hold the costumes for these said people until they paid back the money? I do believe that another band might have sold the costumes same speed that they refunded the money. It was a mistake, and all bands are entitled to them.
And let me get this straight, your problem with Spice is that they don't hold your hands and pat you on the back like you believe Tribe is doing? I supposed a phone call from Spice to hear you whine would appease you then. Tribe listens to their masqueraders? Well thank God for that yes, I see they have responded well to the complaints; the band is MUCH smaller, and more comfortable, and the registration process has become much easier. :-)Oh, and the costumes are much cheaper also!
I suppose you and I will never agree on the financial issue. I believe that a quality product is worth paying for. You believe that a NAME ie; Tribe is worth paying for. So I digress.
I leave you to your delusions of grandeur. :-)
soooooooooo......hmm....what about that midnight mas comeback huh!! :-)
Thank you Digame!!! I have been waiting us to change the topic. When would midnight mas be held?
Monday midnight @ Lea :)
Love it! :)
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!! :-D
lea....seeing that u played in touch this yr....plan on playing wid IP again? or dat is it for u?
Digame - Honestly, dealing with IP was a hot mess last year, but my crew and I made the best of it (absolutely LOVED our costumes) and had a blast. However, this year we did not see any IP costumes that were calling our names. We don't want to spend the money on something that we are not in love with so we are on the fence. Not to mention airfare from NYC is ri-damn-diculous right now!
What about yourself...what band are you playing with?
wow wow wow. carnival gets people real passionate. i believe that attracting as many people as possible to carnival and supporting mas bands in attracting as many masquaraders as they can will only benefit Trinidad's economy. This blog reaches alot of people and i have to say that as an oversees masquarader, i recieve alot of information from it. i personally can take it for what it is and mitigate fact from opinion . but believe me not everyone (especially oversees ppl )who read this blog can do this. i have told many people who want information about specific mas bands or carnival in general to read this blog.and have had people ask me if i knew if the comments that were posted were true.its sad because this blog has the potential to be really informative for people who are new to or considering playing mas.
so in the spirit of carnival lets infuse some positivity in our exchanges and posts. the world is reading and carnival it too important to tnt culture not to be everything it can be.
I really wasn't trying to drag Spice's name in the mud. I couldn't wait til they launched. I am NEVER a person to go with the IT band. I usually rally up a large crew and get them to try a younger band. I am an overseas masquerader and why would I want to play with people from where I live? I want to play with the bachanalists. So last year, I tried Evolution and it was a MESS. NEVER again. I won't go into detail. So I was really looking forward to playing with Spice. When I saw their costumes, I only fell in love with the frontlines. Their frontline sections are the best I've seen thus far. As far as the rest of the costumes, I will settle for Caspian Sea. I eh payin $1000US and who wants to spend that kind of money settling for a backline. That's not negativity. I REALLY wanted to play with Spice.
@ lea girl I'm so conflicted it's not funny!
I'm gonna be frank....I was really routing for Spice wid Isis being my fav! but the hype died down for me after the two delays for registration...and then some of my friends are alot bigger than a 36 C...so dat got de x
IP costumes i must say are alot nicer upon viewing it in person....I absolutely LOVE their concept and commend them for actually sticking to their theme! what puts me on edge is their reputation of having terrible service and lack of management! the other smaller bands not really standing out to me...so I'm in limbo! LOL!
Chocolate the comments are just that, people's opinion;I would take each and every one with a view that it is coloured by personal experiences. Your friends should as well.
The factual information relating to the bands, costume prices, band launch dates etc are what is posted on the blog as well as my own personal costume critique.
I hope that people choose costumes/bands on what appeals to them, their demographic and population rather than the subjective ramblings of some masqueraders as well as myself!!!
This is not the NCC, NCBA,TIDCO or Tourist Board after all :)
Amen Saucy! :) I agree, everyone's expereince is different and this blog is GREAT about delivering information about bands, launches, fetes etc. Last year was my first Carnival and as an oversees chic I read this site everyday from band launch until departure so I could prep myself while also speaking with my more expereinced crew. I didn't really start reading the comments unti after Carnival. The comments are opinion and all that matters is what you like and your crew likes.
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