Taking flight....

As this bird prepares to take flight in a few hours I leave you with some pics to tantalize your imaginations!

p.s. Guess which diva of a designer is rumoured to be bringing a section that features a local bird that gravitates towards the "Labasse"!!!!????? I know for one you will not be catching me in black but sources have said the costume is "very nice".

Humph, I just can't see myself parading as a vulture through the streets of Port of Spain come Carnival Tuesday, however this local stylist and fashion designer will have their fans eating up their designs as usual !!!

Real Rewards to Come?

I was reading Ms Carnival Diva's blog and she has posted an email that she wrote to TRIBE inquiring about registration for first time masqueraders as well as rumours that a certain Island People designer would be joining their camp. The response was QUITE interesting and I suggest you visit her blog to read it yourself. But the one thing that stood out for me was this part:

There will be ample opportunity for many of our past masqueraders to play with the band. Priority will however be given to persons playing with us for their 5th year etc.

Does this mean that masqueraders who have been wholeheartedly "loyal" to TRIBE from their deubt in 2005 will get a special day for registration above everyone else? If so, I think it is long overdue and a very good gesture for the reward of REAL loyalty.

I know first time masqueraders might see the system as somewhat unfair since the popular sections will sell out first, but I personally know of persons who have registered with TRIBE then sold their costume to play with another band and applied for a TLC card based on the fact that they registered to play with the band once. They then have the same opportunity to register along with masqueraders who have played faithfully every year since 2005, even though they have never played with TRIBE!

In addition, there are those who register in two bands, including TRIBE knowing full well they plan on selling their costume AND do not transfer the costume to the person who bought it effectively keeping their TLC. Not to mention that there are some people who will register in two bands just for having the option of choice. This system of hogging TLC cards is not fair to first time masqueraders as these people effectively block a spot for a new masquerader and later sell the costume for a profit on Carnival Junction!

So, if these plans are put in place for registration this year I applaud TRIBE for finally making the TLC card worth something for those who have been truly loyal. I know my opinion might not be popular, especially for those of you without a TLC card or those with a TLC card who have played only one or two years and are anxious about securing the costume they have their heart set on. However, TRIBE instituted the TLC card system and I have always found that it was deficient since it did not serve the purpose of rewarding loyalty, as everyone whether you played one year or four, had the same chance at getting registered.

Other loyalty programs offer rewards to persons based on how much they consume a product not so? You gain free miles, and a free ticket, the more times you fly or you are eligible for free subway faster the more subways you purchase so hence based on this system on rewarding loyalty those who have displayed loyalty by playing with TRIBE the most should be privy to something special faster than those who have only now started playing, don't you think?

Guess the name ..............

Ok, we know the theme for TRIBE is "birds" and I have a feeling that that some of you already know the name of the presentation, so let me get your best guess for what the name of the band will be; for the record I like "Birds of Paradise" which was a suggestion left on another post.

While we are at it how about guessing some section names too!? Here is my FIRST guess of a section :

Since I am also guessing that the birds may be all species found in Trinidad, here are my other picks for section names:

Kiskadee
GreenHeron
Oilbird
Hummingbird
Jacamar
Mot Mot
Blue Tanger

Don't forget to leave your guesses/suggestions as a comment! TRIBE is being uber-secretive about their 2009 presentation, though I have heard prototypes are in the works already!

Dear TRIBE....2008 version

Well, it took me long enough to write my “Dear TRIBE” letter, as always other bands wishing to take note can apply the recommendations made:

1. Extended hours for costume pick up – I know you all thought the hours of 5:30 to 9pm was catering to the after work crowd, but starting distribution earlier in the day would help alleviate the line up as one bounces around from station to station. I for one will gladly leave work at ANY time to pick up my costume, since fast track for me was not THAT fast.

2. Mobile snacks on the roads is needed, something between breakfast and “lunch” to ease the hunger pangs of masqueraders who skipped breakfast , must eat on time or who just like their belly!! I don’t know how much I can complain about the tortilla chips and peanuts, too salty, but the Mario’s of course is always yummy!

3. Hire a quality control officer; one whose job is to visit each and every costume being manufactured to ensure that the six feathers advertised on the headpiece is exactly the six feathers masqueraders will get when they open their box come costume collection day.

4. For the premium price we frontliners are paying, the “ultimate experience” needs to step up the game! Yes, the complimentary photographs were nice, thank you very much. But As I was reading WUZDESCENE Blog I saw her raving over these “luxury loos” called Andyloos featured at Brian Lara's fete, and I think it would be PERFECT at the lunch stop for exclusive use by frontliners and individual masqueraders . To your credit the PARC units were clean HOWEVER using one of those is like being a sauna!!! I am not fussy, so we will pass on the Ultimate Luxury design and go for the cheapest Andyloo set up, The Millennium.

5. Bring back the resting bus and get rid of the smoking bus! Smoking is bad for your health and really, that has got to be the most underutilized vehicle on the road. Masqueraders who were ill were forced to leave the band and find refuge somewhere else. I know this happened to one of the ladies in Lady of the Lake frontline and if there was a resting bus she could have used it to recuperate instead of making a trek from South Quay to her aunt’s house in Belmont and then having to find her way back to rejoin the band!

6. Please do not raise prices!!! Ok I can understand that everything is going up in Trinidad, I was shocked to see the price of cheese and milk when I went to the supermarket last week, so I know that this will be used as a justification for raising Mas prices once again for 2009. However, it would be nice to have costumes remain in the same price range as they did this year, or else I fear some people will be priced out of TRIBE. Personally I have no complaint with the prices for Frontline Costumes this year and will be ecstatic if they remain the same price for 2009 UNLESS we get some SWEET amenities as frontliners, such as the Andyloo lol.

7. Can we NOT have more masqueraders for 2009??? Even though I was to the front of the band, I did not even bother to walk any further to see just how massive it was but I have gotten enough reviews and complaints that the band was TOO BIG.

So, that is all I have to recommend really, I am sure others will put in their 2 cents on other concerns or advice that they, as masqueraders can give to bandleaders. Please note that though others may have different concerns and will make recommendations as such, these are the areas that I see need some tweaking in the overall sphere of my mas enjoyment.