TRIBE Way of the Warrior Review

Just some quick notes on tribe 2011

All in all, I would say the experience was great. I have only ever played mas with two bands in my life: harts for years and years, and recently for the past few years with tribe.

I’ve never written a review before, but there were a few things that i took note of over the two days, and I thought that they needed to be addressed. i did NOT play mas last year, so I’m not sure if some of these issues arose last year, prompting people to migrate to a new band in 2011 or a more intimate experience. I had a blast, more-or-less my perception of tribe's organization remains for the most part unchanged. Nevertheless, I’m accustomed to a certain quality of service from tribe, and I think that there has been some decline in the areas outlined below:

LUNCH

On Monday, tribe ran out of food. This, as far as I know has NEVER happened before. Not only were masqueraders affected but staff as well. I overheard a caterer telling masqueraders that they were asked to cater for a certain number and it appears that the demand far exceeded the supply. I also overheard staff members grumbling that the band was short on food, urging others to "hurry-up to get because it running out", and others saying that "they eh working late today because they eh get no food". Masqueraders who were at the back of the band either did not get lunch at all or had to settle for the few remaining vegetarian-only options. Luckily, in terms of the food itself, the portions were HUGE, so masqueraders who did not receive lunch could have comfortably shared with their friends (assuming that they had friends in the band, and the said friends had not eaten it all). i do not think that this situation re-occurred on Tuesday.

BARS / BAR-STAFF

there was quite a lot of inconsistency between the various bar trucks, and the attitude of the staff on some of these trucks. For example, I was at the front of the band on both days, and thus was among the very first group of people to cross the stage. having exhausted my bottle of water which was acquired before the trucks departed at Keate street, I IMMEDIATELY found the bar trucks after leaving the stage to be told at one truck that they were "closed while d band on stage". I walked down to another truck and was promptly served without any issue. My friends had similar issues, being greeted by generally sour staff members who decided that an explanation was too much effort and got blank stares of hand gestures as responses. Even WITHIN a truck, at one point my wife wanted water and one of the women told her that “they were locked off for now" whereas i asked another lady with some sweet talk and a smile and was able to get what i needed. Nonsense! Another disturbing inconsistency (which i cannot recall ever happening before in previous years) was asking for coconut water and being told that it was for "chaser only" but getting as much coconut water as i wanted at other trucks.

SECURITY

Security was definitely relaxed this year. I thought there were more stormers than usual, and quite a few were able to stay in the band for hours without being detected. Even in the park there were a lot of people who should not have been there taking up space and blankets. I was not actually AFFECTED by this, but it the observation must be noted. This occurred on BOTH Monday AND Tuesday.

COSTUME QUALITY

I can only speak in relation to my section - Mayan Eagle. My wife's headpiece was falling apart before ever putting it on her head. The glue that was used to hold the adorning was POOR. Luckily I reinforced with crazy glue at home, so things remained intact. The male headpiece on the other hand was of MUCH better quality. By the way how practical was it for the ladies to go to the bathroom if the top was tied to the back through the loops on the hot shorts?

SIZE

I’ve always liked the 'big band bacchanal' but the band really is too big. As I did not play last year, I discounted the many reviews that spoke about this issue. But from my last point of reference (birds of a feather) to 2011, it SEEMS that the band has almost doubled. I was at the front of the band for both days, so did not have to deal with TOO much congestion, but getting to the wee-wee truck was quite an ordeal! Obviously the size of the band impacted on lunch being short on Monday and security being lax this year.

There were many things I loved about my 2011 road experience. The jump through St. James was great! Despite the overwhelming positives, the aforementioned issues need to be fixed. At the end of the day, were the logistics too unrealistic with two brands? Were the resources diverted or stretched too this? Tribe is the signature brand and product and it cannot seem to masqueraders that they are second-rate even to the company's newest brand, Bliss.

~quiksilver~