Jab Molassie - $2995.00
Burroquite - $4995.00
Red Indian - $3895.00
Stickfighter - $3195.00
Mad Cow -$4195.00
Baby Doll - $3995.00 *Female Only
Fancy Clown - $3895.00
Minstrel - $3895.00
Soumayree - $4795.00
Fire Man - $3795.00
Dame Lorraine - $4295.00
Suck Meh Nose Sailor - $3595.00
Paywo -$4195.00
Black Indian -$3995.00 (F),$4395.00 (M)
Bat -$4295.00
Jab Jab -$4095.00
I am not going to lie, those prices are HOT! Sources say that the materials used in these costumes are expensive; having already seen the finished prototype for most of the sections what are your thoughts on the prices?
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29 comments:
Is this an all-inclusive band? I personally wasn't payin this much money to play in what I think looks like brown cotton..I may be wrong eh, but I guess at the end of the day..this is not my style. To each his own
As usual Quality mas For the Deep Pocketed... (ie not me)
Minus the all Inclusive And dont forget "Wee Wee Truck"
The Prices are indeed HOT. One Section is already sold out - Red Indian. The band is not all-inclusive. Wow. One thing for sure, the traditional mas costumes would look beautiful on the road. I wonder what is included in this price, Breakfast, Lunch, Water, Soda, Beers? Inquiring minds would love to know.
IP,Ronnie & Caro, Spice etc going to get quite a few defectors. Only Diehard "marse" purests would pay those prices for a band which is NOT All inclusive.
ok Saucy now de man taking de pee! sauces can say what they want at least this time we had actual costumes to disect for pricing, they are the simplist costumes i have ever seen from MacFarlane but yet the most expensive?? that aint washing wit me i can see most of the costumes contain, lames, cottons, furs etc shredded odd and ends of fabrics these are all reletavly cheap fabrics prob costing no more than TT$30.00 or TT$40.00 a metre and seriously, Jabmolassi $2995.00 for a pair ah shorts a bra a basket on de face and a fork??? un linclusive??? sorry these prices are a joke and i knew they would be, over hiked prices for old time mas he should ah called it "RECESSION" instead ah "RESURRECTION" he priced the average person out of portraying thier heritage!! everyone maybe in awe of what he is doing but the price im not buying..............
This is probably not going to be a popular opinion but I find Brian Mc Farlane's outfit to be quite pretentious. Let me be clear, I am not saying that this is the case. Iam saying that as someone on the outside looking in, it seems that way.
They claim to be taking mas back to its roots right? But mas was about the "people", the "celebration", the “coming together”. As I understand it, the band is supposed to be one of the "purest" that has come out in many years in terms of interpreting the mas in its original and truest form.
So then how was the band launch so exceedingly exclusive? How was flying a very select group of journalists to Tobago on a privately chartered plane, ferrying them to the reef then taking them to one of the most expensive properties in Tobago, representative of "the people"? As much as people bad talk the bikini mas bands, anyone can go to those launches. To me, a more believable band launch for this theme and for the concept that they claim to be bringing forth would have been a complimentary launch in the Oval with the same meticulous planning and attention to detail that went into Tobago. Then I would have been sold. Then I would have said yes, they actually understand and believe in their vision. I have told this to people with mixed reactions.
These prices now make me think that perhaps I have been right. They are the same prices as those of all-inclusive bands… the bands that these "artist" types claim to be shutting out the “regular” man on the street.
So now Resurrection the Mas is priced higher than the “ultra exclusive” bands in that the prices are not all inclusive. The band launch was attended by less than .0001% of the population. The vision and execution seem terribly mismatched in this case.
The word “pretentious” keeps coming to mind. Look at us, we are visionaries, we do things in its purest form, we understand the origins and the principle of the mas, we are the only ones who really understand the thing … and we will price the everyday man out of the band because in truth and in fact he is not the person we want to attract.
Correction; masqueraders get juice, water and beer on the road with Mc Farlane.
If Mc Farlane want to bring Old Time Mas, maybe he should start with Old Time Prices..
I could not believe how HOT dem prices was? Brain doh know it have recession? And for all dat money yuh still ahve to buy yuh food and drink? Water, Juice and Beer is all he giving? And I hear that he gives you drink chits too, so is not all you can drink. After paying dem prices ah need some stiff drinks on road? And I agree with Bacchanalmas and Chris. Is true he replicated traditional mas, however true to the theme, dem never really had expensive fabrics? US$475 for ah gold pom pom shorts, a tail, fork and two horn? He mad in he tail ah wha? Cleartly this is ah rich people band as I cyant fork out that kind ah money. I aint see no innovation here when he just copy images from a print, that I too have hanging in meh house. And he have to check he history as some of them mas not accurate with the times he quoting. I guess somebody ahve to pay for de boat and plane ride to Tobago...and it aint go be me.
Chris, you make a very valid point. Especially about the exclusivity of the launch. And yes, portrayers of 'marse' often are quite pretentious and appear to get off on their own sense of importance. You're not alone in that opinion.
Chris u hit the nail on the head! exactly how i see it now, very very Pretentious, exclusive launch and exlusive prices for exclusive people!
it was way to easy for any designer to take inspiration from that famous painting we all know only too well it was the first painting i was shown when i was 14yrs old, but as i said before taking inspiration is one thing, simply carbon copying it! pricing it out of most peoples reach and then getting a few people from the band house to get talk going about "eh eh the cottons and reminants of fabrics we using this year does be real expensive! they edged wit reald platinum and gold this year" oh and guess what you aint getting no drinks except juices water and beer! haaaaaaaaaaa come on. as someone said this is a replication of old style true mas, where the old time prices??
i know theres people standing back watching these comments going but wait this is Mac Farlane! u cant dis de man so! he is god in mas! well he aint my god! and he aint fooling me wit all this!
Amen Chris and Bachanalmas, could not have said it better myself and Carnivaljumbie your post almost made me fall off my chair lol.
Like Minshall, Mac Farlane comes with these drawings every year. Every year I am astonished by the final product as compared to the original drawings. I always foolishly cast the same expersions as you, then the band wins. Everyone in P.O.S is looking forward to see the costumes, because at the end of the day they're out of this world. Before Mac Farlane came unto the scene, the little lag there was between Minshall, do any of you honestly remember who won large band, King of Carnival, Queen of Carnival? Very few of you I'm sure. Creating an image is costly, Mac Farlane's Kings and Queens aren't cheap, and if he's minshalls copy cat then his king and queen don't fork out for the whole costume.
Why don't any of the new modern "hip" bands have a presence at these events? I'm sure f it made financial sense they would be, but NO, they aren't. So the few that still keep our dying traditions alive, STOP HATING.
FYI, In some of the population's eyes, TRIBE, SPICE and IP are expensive and rip-offs.
My family has played with Minshall and Mac Farlane (more recently) religiously. ANd believe me, it IS the true carnival experience. You don't need alco, man or woman to wine on.
I appreciate your comment BOO. I honestly cannot understand why people are hating on these prices because it not all inclusive and they don't love the costume. Go 'long den! I mean on one hand you justifying paying for a costume where the revenue goes either in the pockets of the designer or to foreign entities (cloth and jewlry stores or Chinese workers). You jjustify it because you claim it is an experience and there is "free: flowing drinks, etc etc. Then when an artist comes with his interpretation for his select crowds you want to lamblaise and dissect the prices to compare with your chosen band. I mean come on man. I use to watch mas all the time when I was younger and I could never afford to play even back then. So mas playing has always left out a select few. In these modern years the gap is getting wider and wider or should I say the banks are getting smarter and smarter offering loans for carnival and thing. I am a firm believer of paying for an artists talent and a designers hard work and effort. Mc Farlane's costumes are not "made in China" and duplicated to be sold. You are paying for a vision and a talent. If you want to spend your money elsewhere for rum and vodka then that is fine. We all justify our splurges however we feel. But I can say that as a spectator of mas I look forward to seeing diveristy in presentation and costumes. Some of you may think that mas is all about the masquerader and if you do then I believe that we have already lost the essence of carnival.
People People....calm down....We are Forgetting One thing and that Is Every singe person Value things Differently.
what may Be expensive to one person, Is Value for money to another. It is all about Where we Perceive our value from...
While someone who is a "Beads and Feather" Masquerader would find a $4000+ un-inclusive costume ridiculous. another individual who has a fatter pocket with no regard for price would look for value elsewhere ie. (Maybe a more sedated experience with a better chance of winning B.O.D.Y).
So while Most of us including myself would think $4000 is a high price to play mas without the extras.. There are those who dont care about those things. And Mc Farlane's Band caters for those individuals. so I agree with "Boo" to an extent Please Lay Of the "Haterade"...
If the Band Is Not For you stick to your Personal values and Pocket book range. and Make sure what YOU get is valuable to YOU!.....
Ps. If I was very wealthy I would NOT Care what i paid to play mas,as long as i was happy in the end... With Or without Alcohol,food Etc.etc.etc.
I haven't commented in a while but I must say that I agree with Chris and the others with similar opinions.
Also I would like to say to BOO that while I may be one of the 'few' who remembers winners of the King and Queen competition in the years between Minshall and Mc Farlane, that I certainly don't believe those costumes were lacking in creativity or of a lesser standard than Mr. Mc Farlane or Mr. Minshall and their genius creations. I don't believe there was a 'lag'.Do keep in mind that there are innovative and dedicated creators of King/Queen costumes such as Geraldo Vierra, Geraldo Vierra Jr and Curtis Eustace to name a few who all consistently present dazzling costumes.
Perhaps this is some of the pretentiousness that is being referred to when we can't even give other people besides Minshall and Mc Farlane credit for producing 'genius' costumes.
McFarlane's prices are usually in the range of $3000. - $5000.TT VAT included (I kid you not with the VAT). No surprises there for me at all. What makes it SEEM ridiculous is that these costumes look very minimalist compared to "Africa", plus no 'top-shelf' hard liquor included. But he has stayed true to form in his prices -- there's no major increase. Not all bands can claim that.
So as with any other band, the die-hards will pay to play. Some people prefer to pay for art and craftmanship, which are not cheap. Whether or not the raw materials are expensive remains to be seen. It's the anticipation of the end product and seeing the end product post-sketches is what makes this band unique for today's mas (remember when sketches were the norm? Boo I agree with you on that). And THAT is part of the experience the McFarlane die-hards will pay for. That, and to play mas with the mature 'beautiful people'.
People will do as they will.
EMPRESS, i didnt compare no prices to any band nor did anyone else prior to your comment we didnt even mention another band! what i did mention is them costumes do no justify the price i am a mas man too i have a band in the uk! i also purchase my materials world wide including trinidad, you can go into Jimmy Aboud and Samaroos and find all the materials used in McFarlanes productions and price it up! you may say we lining pockets of the china and indian man but are you totally sure of the origins of McFarlanes products??? the year he did INDIA most alot of the stuff he used was pre made jewellery, body garments, head ornaments and sequins all origin from india and china! McFarlane not the only man producing mas in TNT Dkrewe, Trini Revellers, Ronnie and Caro, showtime and dream team produce most of thiers in house too! im all for paying for a vision and talent but when the vision is someone elses and mearly duplicated! thats pushing it a bit far!
question who on here would be happy paying TT$2995.00 uninclsive for a Poom pom shorts, Bra, Horns, fork and tail??
What’s all this talk about prices, and exclusivity, it’s a joke, I have to agree with Boo and Empress, Mac Farlane’s costumes are WORKS OF HIGH ART, TRINIDADIAN TOO, not cheaply made mas produced, easily replicated products of India or China, you’re not going to see these costumes on websites in the far east for sale before you get yours, this is MAS and if it’s expensive so be it! When the last year was anybody could say that a bikini/fun band, mas was comfortably affordable to poor man or woman in Trinidad.
Without a bank loan.
The Economics and culture of Carnival in Trinidad have been hijacked from the lower classes a long time ago, why people are pretending that Mac Farlane is the first man to have high prices, don’t the patrons of the fun bands defiantly defend the prices of their ‘package’ even though you could not actually drink or eat the equivalent, of what you spent in the one day you wear the entire costume, and some people never do actually wear the full costume, what then is Mac Farlane’s crime?
He stuck to the theme?
His costumes were designed by him and made in Trinidad by local talent?
He is putting the African roots of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival to the forefront, which is its rightful place?
The one high profile band that is out there putting the traditions of MAS on the streets in its full regalia is not worth the money?
It says a lot about how people value the culture of my little twin island state.
There is an element that comes here to shoot down legends of Trinidad and Tobago culture. One by one you have slaged of heroes of Carnival much greater than you will ever become or be recognised as. You have no respect for a culture that is not yours, and think you know more about it than the people who created it.
You sir are a Devil and is not ah Mas you playing.
Bachanalmas I never said that people compared prices. What I did was to compare people’s reactions and responses to the question asked. Prior to my response, some people stressed on the fact that the band was not all inclusive. If this does not implicitly suggest that you are making a comparison between Mc Farlane’s (“non all inclusivity”) and the other bands that are, I don’t know what is.
Additionally, you say that you are a mas man too so I am sure you are aware of the cost for materials. Yet costumes in the UK can be elaborately designed and still not be as expensive as some bands, including McFarlane’s, who design primarily for Trinidad and Tobago carnival. With that said, I would stand by the point that people assess cost and value differently and people with price items to cater to the market.
The question is what I think about the prices and not necessarily whether or not I would pay for the costume. There is a market for everything and although some readers on Saucy’s blog may not be willing to fork out that amount for this type of mas that does not say that it is not fairly priced or that no one would wear it. I recall the year when Peter Minshall had his masqueraders wear their own lingerie and her provided accessories. The band was still sold out.
So what do I think about the price? I think most bands this year are overpriced! All inclusive or not! As for Mc Farlane’s prices in particular I think people will pay for the unique experience that his band offers.
As for Mac Farlane not being the “only man producing mas in TNT” I never said he was.
ok Masassin, its clear those comments were directed at me as they always are when i come to a forum to air my opinions and views, i never once stated i would be greater than McFarlane, nor did i diss the culture so hang on one sec you really trying to say McFarlane is carnival??? puting aside all the big bands in TNT and POS more to the point, are there not bands creating the same spectacle if not better than McFarlane??? im talking about traditional bands??? all of a sudden McFarlane does it and everyone must drop down all over the place???
i may not be greater than McFarlane as thats not my style so i could never compare myself to him but lord heavens know im greater than you! if i have rights to the culture or not u have no idea of my background nor where i come from so choose your opinions carefully!
anyway Empress this post initially "What we thought of the prices?" i think they way too high for what you getting along with several others on here but thats my opinion regardless of what the great masassasin has to say in my regard
While we hear arguing bout price (which I still find is too hot), alyuh know that some of the more expensive sections done sell out in d band? LMAO!! Trini ppl blessed yes..clearly :)
Since I have been making a comment or two on Saucy's Trinidad Carnival Diary (almost since inception of this wonderful blog), I have always said the next breakthrough INNOVATION in Trinidad's mas WILL COME from the "average" Trinidadian(s)(I am bit biased to Trinidad) who is/are fedup with the unoffordability of the "mas" current form and expense. And I have stated that Tribagonians do not really understand or APPRECIATE their OWN culture.
But every year I return to the Land of the Hummingbird I keep hoping to see that serious street Carnival messiah. I will not give up hope. One reality of our Carnival "mad" EXCLUSIVE minority is more that 55% of Tribagonians do NOT give a damm about what we do on the streets of our towns and cities in our love for the Carnival culture.
I do laud MacFarlane for "Ressurection The Mas", because we NEED to see the original mas in a high quality HAND MADE aesthetics of a modern sense of quality, which is certainly not inexpensive to produce! I seriously believe to characterize Brian MacFarlane as "pretentious" is not a fair observation. He is quite serious about the/his ART! For band lauchings, he chooses areas in Trinidad and Tobago that are essential to the themes of the bands (read his explanation for why the Bucco Reef, for Resurrection...), and he pulls them off (the lauches) with style, flair, seriousness, and reverence. Peace.
Sometimes I really feel that Saucy should permanently disable comments. Why people can't just state their views without attacking another who does not share their opinions. The exchanges were going pretty civil until post 13 and I don't know why TRIBE name does always end up in de lacoray...............
Greg, I totally agree with you.
I think every band has its specific target market, and while the McFarlane's interpretation of "the marse" might be deemed costly to some, there are masqueraders out there that actually see his presentation as havng the "it" factor. All the damn costumes are cheap to make, it don't matter what band we're talking about, so why is it now that we using McFarlane as a scapegoat for the argument against exorbitant prices? STEUPS!!!
McFarlane is entitled to provide his version of the optimum experience to his masqueraders. Point blank, End Talk, Crick-Crack! On with it then!
Greg, i agree too the post was a simple debate about the prices, which was the topic of the initial post, but for some reason Mas assassin feels the need to personally target myself, especially if i am commenting on anything to do with Trinidad Carnival, he has major issues with the fact i am a major player in the UK Mas arena and doing big tings over here! and he feels i have no rights to it even though i grew up in carnival for 21 years and have be designing for 11 years!
all i was focussed on was the prices as that was the main topic! i too dont understand why every band is compared to Tribe?, it dont make sense as some band sare in leagues of thier own!
me personally i think most bands are totally over priced! but i have never paid full price for my costume apart from when i played with Tribe, but again this post was referring to McFarlane we had posts already on Tribes and Spices prices........
Wow Greg ... the irony of your comment!
I have refrained from commenting as much as I find it much more informative and enjoyable to simply read without contributing. Too often a perfectly good post with sensible and hilarious comments is reduced to childish bickering and personal attacks.
I know this has nothing to do with the post an no one really cares whether or not I comment ... but I felt compelled to say.
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