Evolution Review

Thanks to one of the ladies who reads the blog for this Evolution review, please, keep the reviews coming, I would like to hear everyone's thoughts on their Carnival exeperience regardless of the band you played with.

Hi,
I love your blogspot.

My friends and I played with IP for last 2 years, didn't go back for obvious reasons. Anyway, we decided to give Evo a shot. Saw the costumes, love at first sight.

Evo. had problems, obviously, ( they new & they sold costumes down to the wire):

1. Most popular section (Teal), costumes were not packed, head pieces ran out, but they delivered eventually.
2. Costumes for 1 section never arrived ( they put masqueraders in another section, some got refunds). Another section was distributed on Carnival Sunday (way too late). I think all the other sections were ok.
3. Problems with food distribution on the road.

BUT, but, on the upside:
1. Mas camp officials were extremely pleasant & welcoming (nobody ain't roll they damn eyes at me or suck they teeth, NO "nasty-tude"),
2. The road music was the BEST I've had in a while (long time I ain't wine so, the DJ and them well show off), we heard soca from everyone, old & new!
3. The music & drink trucks moved at a nice, reasonable pace (I didn't sprint like I was in a DAMN 100m dash with Maurice Greene),
4. We ended around 8:30 pm on both day, which was sufficient time for "jamming" on arbitrary street corners (No lies & excuses about "unexpected traffic & stuff").
5. They eye candy was good, the vibe was nice!

They may have bitten off more than they could chew, but they gave a whole hearted effort to ensure that we enjoyed Monday & Tuesday. I am sure Evo. will try to work out their kinks so that their next production will run more efficiently, after all some 3-year old bands have done worse ( ok that was my last pot shot, maybe I'm still bitter about last year)!

It was good stuff, we had a ball!

Evoultion letter

I would LOVE anyone who played in Evolution to please send me a review. News reaching me is that costume collection was a nightmare of epic proportions; reports of costumes not being boxed and masqueraders being assigned costume pieces from off the floor, masqueraders being placed in alternate sections (as sections were not in Trinidad for delivery), lines outside the mas camp for entry into the mas camp, costumes not being ready on Carnival Sunday.. so if you played with Evolution I would appreciate a review. Here is the letter Evolution sent out to their masqueraders:

Hello Everyone,


On behalf of Evolution Carnival Band, I would like to extend my most heartfelt appreciation to all of you who supported the band for Carnival 2008.

I know that the journey started off on a very rocky note, but I do hope that everyone did ultimately enjoy themselves on the Road.

Thanks to all of you, the band placed fifth overall in the Large Band Category, which is an extreme achievement for its first time out on the road.

We realised that alot of things should have been better organised and alot of negative occurrences could have been avoided with earlier planning. Please trust however that a thorough evaluation of all of these matters will be done and recitfied for next year.

We are also encouraging everyone to please email us with feedback and suggestions on how we could make things better for you our valued masqueraders.

Please email me with all of your questions, concerns and suggestions. It will be our greatest honour to receive them.

Respectfully yours,

Your Carnival buddy,

Shynnelle

Evolution has arrived!

Finally the website for Evolution is fully up and running with costume photos and online registration option. The only items missing are the male costume options which I was informed is no longer going to be the white pants/hat pictured on the calender but actual costumes for each section and the frontline options for the sections that offer them.

Word is that the band is catering for 1200 masqueraders maximum as it is their inaugural year and that thus far 600 persons have been registered,guess that means online registration was launched just in time! I am still trying to get the hang of the online registration though as it takes you directly to a Senvia page; no form to fill in with costume choice and sizes.. weird.

Anyway, hopefully the male costumes and frontline options will eventually make it unto the website before all the sections are sold out! I have since given up hope of seeing any costumes catering to the unbuff mother of two, ah well maybe 2009!