Harts First Look

Review and more photos to follow, in the meantime here is your first look at Harts 2009 Carnival presentation "Persian Empire"

Click on the photos for a large view..

Busy weekend!

Three band launchings in two nights, pass the red bull as I will be attending ALL three!!

Tonight we have D Krewe and Harts...





And on Sunday Island People....




Look out for the photos!

News from Island People Mas

Carnival aficionados,

We invite masqueraders and supporters of all Carnival Bands to experience a launch like no other in Trinidad & Tobago. No matter where your loyalty lies (LMAO) we welcome you to enjoy our 'ground-breaking' presentation this Sunday, August 17, where we take the level of Carnival Launches to 'new heights'.

We’ve given you an enchanted forest, a desert of beauty, and brought out the animal instinct in you. Sunday, look towards the sky for a view of the Earth.... Heaven on Earth – It’s what you make it.

A Special THANK YOU to all of our loyal supporters!

ISLANDpeople MAS
“The Fun Has Really Just Begun”

Oh! By the way... Although you may have seen the unofficial leak of our 2009 Carnival Calendar on the internet, we invite you to collect the printed version of it this Sunday at the Launch. We’re flattered to know our annual calendar is such a hot and awaited item that someone felt the desire to share it.

And since they are not upset about the "leak" *cough *yeah right* cough* of their photographs HERE THEY ARE!!

I took the liberty to remove the calender details from off the pics so you can have a better look at the costumes:

Click on all the photos for a super sized view




Rays of Light


Ocean Whispers


Angel Falls


Afrodisiac


Paradisus


Love


Heavenly Sky


Natural Mystic


Chocolate and Caramel


Touch


Midnight Bloom

Carnival

More pics from Island People's launch will be coming to you on Sunday night/Monday morning. Pity I will not be able to go LIVE as I did for TRIBE as I will be attending the launch as a regular patron with no media access to set up the equipment.

I am afraid there is simply no way to run a laptop for hours plugged into thin air!! So, make note of that for all those who will be wondering why there is no "LIVE FROM ISLAND PEOPLE LAUNCH" as I did last year.

Oh well, all I want to see is COSTUMES!!!!!!FRONTLINES!!!COSTUMES!!!AND MODELS FLYING IN THE AIR!!!

Boots! Boots! Boots!

Having selected your costume of choice some of you ladies are probably shopping around for boots so here is a listing of online stores that sell fairly inexpensive boots that can work for Carnival.

Go Jane

Urban Original

Make Me Chic

Amiclubwear

Wanted Shoes

Sheik Shoes

Barefeet Shoes

Cutesy Girl

Shoe Ocean

I bought one of my two pairs of boots from Shoe Ocean and have no complaints. The boots were very comfortable, great colour and they held up very well so I will be reusing them again as one of my boots for 2009 (Monday), however I am in search of a new pair for Tuesday!

Some tips on ordering boots online where you do not have the option to try on in person:

*Make sure that the site is secure, I prefer to use PAYPAL for online transaction with the lesser known establishments. There was no problem with me ordering at Shoe Ocean using paypal.

* Flat boots are more comfortable but if you want height, platform wedges are a good choice.

* Look for boots with round toes, instead of pointed toes, to give you wiggle room.

*Pay attention to the height of the boot shaft in the description (usually given in inches) this will give you an indication of if it hits at mid calf or under the knee.

*Rubber soles are more comfortable for jumping up in all day than hard soled boots, plus they are skid proof. I would also recommend looking at the flexibility of the sole, remember you will be dancing in these boots all day.

*I Additional insoles provide added comfort however it will require you buying the boots one size up from what you normally wear.

*Boots can be spray painted any colour, once primer is used, however using tan or white boots as a base is easier than trying to get a black pair of boots lighter.

*Boots with folds and/or wrinkles are more difficult to spray paint that a smooth booth.

* Look at the type of material the boot is made of if you are going to be spray painting it, some plastics will not absorb the paint or the paint may flake off after being sprayed.

*Suede (faux suede) boots can be spray painted, you need to use fabric spray paint to get the most desirable effect.

Remember as the fall season approaches more boots will become available, so no need to rush and buy them now though there are some pretty good cheap boots on sale.

You can also check your local Target and Payless stores for boots! If you have a website to add to this list feel free to leave a comment with your suggestion.

More Heaven on Earth in the news...

Heaven on Earth is yet again in the press, this time in Today's Express, click on ALL photos for a super sized view!

Heavenly Sky

Carnival

Elements Costume Prices...

I take back every single thing I said about Spice prices being too hot; please note that I stand corrected!

For a debut band they are probably priced the most competitive FOR the quality and caliber of costumes I have seen so far; again this is based on the NEW bands where we have nothing to judge them by but costumes. Kaotic will rank second only because the materials used according to their creative director Ricardo Gomez is not as expensive as those used in Spice's designs.

Elements, prices are listed below and you make your own judgment, I will say that for FRONTLINE they are pretty expensive considering most of them consist of Boas that sell for $75.00TT at Samaroos, as in the case of Jubilee I just cannot see a $1400.00 difference for more boas. Also Cabaret, the non drinks inclusive section is pretty pricey!! At that cost it is best to play with a cheaper costume that is fully inclusive.. but that is just me!

Bellagio
Male - $2450.00
Female - $3395.00
Frontline - $4695.00

Mirage
Male - $2450.00
Female - $3350.00
Frontline - $4695.00

Queen of Hearts
Male - $2500.00
Female - $2995.00

Jubilee
Female – $3395.00
Frontline - $4795.00

Dealers
Male - $2500.00
Female - $2750.00
Frontline - $4350.00

Treasure Island
Male - $2450.00
Female - $3250.00

Cabaret (FOOD ONLY)
Male - $1895.00
Female $2650.00
Frontline - $3900.00

Lady Luck
Male - $2500.00
Female - $3195.00
Frontline - $4350.00

Sahara
Male - $2300.00
Female - $2995.00
Frontline - $3250.00

Roulette
Male - $2650.00
Female - $3495.00
Frontline - $4795.00

Caesars Palace
Male - $2350.00
Female - $2695.00

U.K. TRIBE Launch....

TRIBE REGISTRATION:
Great news for UK residents who want to play mas with Tribe next year in T&T but are unable to secure a costume online. WE WILL BE TAKING REGISTRATION AT OUR EVENT. That's right! If you've missed out online you will have a chance to sign up at our event on the 23rd August at the Camden Centre.

For more information http://www.carnivaltribe.co.uk/

Heaven Teaser.....

The Trinidad Guardian features a sneak peek of Island People's 2009 Carnival presentation "Heaven on Earth":

Click for large view

BY CHERISSE MOE

"An unforgettable experience on the road—that’s what Carnival band Island People Mas (IPM) is offering masqueraders for C2K9.

With an increasing number of mas bands to choose from, bandleader/director Dane Lewis assures that great things are in store for those opting to play with the band.

“We are all about celebrating and taking care of our masqueraders. It’s all about them,” he said."

To read the full article on what is in store for "Heaven on Earth" click here.

SOURCE: http://www.guardian.co.tt

Sold Out Section Update

I told you everyone who reached early at Cascadia were gunning for African Love Bird! That was the first section to be SOLD OUT.

FEMALE
African Love Bird – SOLD OUT
Bird of Paradise Frontline – SOLD OUT
Blue Tanger Frontline- Sold out online
Brazilian Macaw Frontline – SOLD OUT
Caged Canary Floor Member and Frontline – SOLD OUT
Green Honey Creeper Female - SOLD OUT
Humming Bird Frontline – sold out online
Humming Bird Floor Member NO WINGS - SOLD OUT
Humming Bird Floor Member with WINGS - SOLD OUT
Kiskadee Frontline – SOLD OUT
Kiskadee Female – SOLD OUT
Pheasant Frontline – sold out online
Ruby Topaz Floor Member and Frontline – SOLD OUT
Spangled Cotinga Floor Member and Frontline – SOLD OUT
MALE
Pheasant Male – SOLD OUT
Macaw Male – SOLD OUT
Ibis Male –SOLD OUT
Green Honey Creeper -SOLD OUT
African Love Bird - SOLD OUT
Cotinga - sold out online

Heavenly Sections

pssssst... straight from the Calender.. I see some section names have been changed! Can't wait for Sunday... heard the first EIGHT listed are HOTTT!!!!

Rays of light

Ocean whispers,

Paradisus (Sonia Mack)

Heavenly sky

Natural mystic

Chocolate and caramel

Midnight bloom

Touch

Love

Aphrodisiac,

Angel falls

Carnival

Cascadia update!

The smart TLC holders have already begun showing up at Cascadia, the earliest one arriving at an unbelievable hour( which I will not reveal) suffice to say she arrived there before the sun came up!

Kudos to that young lady (a blogger) who secured the #1 spot, I am 100% positive she is going to get her costume of choice. That shows some determination! Interestingly some of those there took the day off from work, some skipped work altogether while the lucky ones are vacationing so have all the time to spare.

The gathering of about 20 or so masqueraders are well equipped, not only do they have TLC Cards and registration info on hand, they also walked with cases of STAG chilling in a bucket, snacks, magazines and even a portable DVD player, settling down nicely for the 6 hour wait! These masqueraders have heeded all the advice of getting there early and they are not making joke! The popular section of choice? African Love Bird! Even the guys that have showed up are all gunning for that section.

Note the STAG chilling in buckets

Numbers are being assigned to persons upon arrival and currently they are being accommodated in a tent in the car park, further reducing parking space, and supplied with refreshments . Upon inquiring to why the waiting room is now under a tent I was assured they will be moving "upstairs" to air conditioned comfort soon. However, I am sure those who arrive later on will have no choice but to wait under the tents as upstairs is filled, before moving on upstairs.

For all those who plan on arriving at Cascadia soon, note the rules:

So if you are sitting at home or work and plan on arriving at Cascadia later please do not be surprised that you are NOT first or anywhere near the vicinity of the top 20! As they say, the early bird catches the worm.

Good luck to all those registering today both online and at Cascadia!

Question and Answer with "The Sauce"

• What has Been Your BEST And WORST experience as a Blogger? Ie With People Who make Comments, In Trying to Get Info ie "DE sauce", With Band Leaders or member saying things about you.

The Best Experience as a blogger is having been able to forge a network with other like minded Carnival lovers/enthusiasts and developing friendships with people I would have never met otherwise. The network is so strong that blogger “limes” occur outside of Carnival and even outside of Trinidad and Tobago on a regular basis. The liming has taken us to Punta Cana, London, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Hawaii, New York… brunch, baby showers, fetes and soon a wedding!

The worst experience is people thinking that I have to please ALL the people ALL the time, this is my blog so the content is going to be first and foremost from my perspective; I cannot fathom why people still have a problem with that, if they don't like what I have to say the choice is theirs: do not visit! If I have no one visiting the blog I would still be typing away as with my very first post! I never anticipated that any one would read it... even though they did and the rest is history.

• How do you deal with the Fans, Crazies, Papparazi, stalkers, Psychos.. ETC......

Well you will be surprised to know I have not encountered any crazies, the papparazi only come out for Carnival, on an every day basis they are not camping out around my house, lol! I like to think that for the most part I am still anonymous/incognito to many people. Fans, if they figure out who I am and I am in a good mood I will fess up, in a bad mood (i.e. anti-social) I will be like “Saucy?? Who?”

• If Yuh had One Costume Theme You would Like to see Portrayed Wha it go be??

RIO! All Brazilian Samba girl mas so no one can accuse me of not sticking to a theme!

• Since starting your blog I always thought your blog was more consistent and informative than most entertainment websites out there, what are your plans for the future of 'Trinidad Carnival Diary'?

The plan is to add more interactive user content and make the blog more user friendly in terms of accessing material. I would also love to be able to add some feature for streaming video LIVE from band launches and on the road for Carnival. The other plans I am keeping under wraps for now.

• Between work School, Carnival and life in general, I often find it hard with the posting consistently, with all the other things that must also be going on in your life where do you find the time to keep banging out them post Saucy??

Good question! Maybe it helps that I am not one of those people that needs much sleep to operate and that I always have something to say. My thinking is the day I have nothing to say, is the day I will have nothing to write… that day has yet to come.

• I've been thinking a lot about this TLC issue (since I'm bring some genuine tourists with me aka not Trinis who live abroad). Do you think that TLC, limited online registration opportunities etc limit the ability of foreigners to come and participate in our mas? I for one would never advise anyone to come here to watch mas (as one would do in Rio - cuz its not spectator friendly)

The TLC card is only applicable to one band and another band has a similar system in place. However there are approximately 16 other large to medium Carnival Bands to choose from that parade in Port of Spain only. I think that offers you LOTS of choices to play mas in Trinidad if you choose to do so. Most bands offer some sort of online registration, it is not as limited as you believe it to be.

• What do you think about the price increases for Carnival - from costumes; to accommodation (some not worth the price) to fetes? I was looking at packages to Brazil, and some are cheaper that what I'll be spending for my stay next year. Do you think its a reality we just have to face; do you think it will ever hurt patronage?

Inflation in Trinidad is affecting every thing, as someone who lives here I have seen prices skyrocket for even the most basic items in the super market not to mention for other goods and services. That being said you can still come to Carnival in Trinidad and not break the bank. The prices for SOME costumes have increased; you can find affordable costumes in Carnival bands if you look. Accommodation is cheaper if you book a guest houses and have a group of people to share, however these guest houses and even apartments are booked up solid very early. Similarly with air fare the earlier you book the cheaper the cost of your ticket.

The thing in keeping costs down is planning, planning, planning the earlier you start organizing for Carnival the better. I will say that fete prices are most likely going to increase again next year and you should know that you do not have to go to ALL the fetes. Frankly you go to one popular fete and you see the repertoire for the season as the bands perform the SAME routine at all the fetes! I would say choose your fetes wisely and sparingly. There are some package deals to Trinidad Carnival available online which include hotel, fetes and costumes. Maybe you can take a look at those and compare them to Brazil’s at least the air fare to Trinidad will be cheaper!

• As a carnival newbie I had a question about costume accessories. On many websites costumes are shown with necklaces, earrings, bracelets/bangles, etc. Are these part of the costume, meaning are they included in the all inclusive price of the costumes or is this just to show off the costumes better? Thanks!

More often than not what is seen on the website advertised is what you get, including accessories. If you are not sure and need more information on what comes with your costume you can always email the band with your query.

• Saucy you do excellent coverage of band launch and costume reviews, thus exhibiting your creativity, in that light have you ever thought about designing a section in a band and or bringing out your own band?

Bringing out my own band NO, too much stress! Designing a section? Surprise, surprise I have done this already with a friend of mine though I was not actively involved in her section. Fashion design has always been a love of mine, I have even won award in that arena (pat self on back) and my designs have showed up in local music videos and commercials! I do not have the time to dedicate to that passion anymore unfortunately; maybe I should stop blogging and start back designing!

• Saucy, in four short sentences or less, what is an ideal Carnival Tuesday for you?Have you had that experience(s)?
  

I will give it to you in four short WORDS- Crossing the Savannah Stage!!!!!!! That has been the BEST experience ever for me in playing mas, regardless of which band I am with. It saddens me that mas virgins may never have that experience for years to come if at all ever again.

• Were you a saint in a previous life?The reason I ask is because of the level of patience you display while answering some of the most inane/silly questions posed to you on this blog.
  

Saint? I do not think so lol. I have actually very little patience in real life; I think my alter ego is a much nicer person that the “real” me!

• Also, I hear you have a fan club called Saucy's Sheeple. Where can I sign up and what are the benefits extended to members?
  

You are asking the wrong person, fan clubs are run by the fans so you will have to find one of the sheeple and ask them!

• I have a question for you Saucy Wow!!What secret section you in!! I await your reply!
  

I am not IN a secret section, MY section is a secret.. comprende?

• What SPECIFIC advice do you have for a carnival newbie who is also Jamaican and who lives in New York?Some Trinis in America complain about non-Trinidadians (particulary Haitians and Jamaicans) being involved in carnivals up here. Some even want to have North American carnivals that are exact replicas of TnT with no Bajan/ Vincy/ Lucian soca and no cultural contribution of any other country.
  

As a carnival Newbie I suggest you peruse the “Carnival Virgin Survival Guide”, start planning early and read up as much as you can on any and everything Carnival related. No one complains about non- Trinidadians being involved in Carnival here, in fact we want you to come and experience the greatest show on Earth. In the Carnival bands you will see flags from all countries displayed on masqueraders and for the International Soca Monarch show contestants come from all over the Caribbean; that should give you an indication of the patronage Trinidad Carnival receives from our Caribbean neighbors.

• How are foreigners treated during Carnival in TnT? Including the fete season and the cool down season.

Foreigners are VERY welcomed during Carnival by the time you leave you will consider yourself an honorary Trini!

• When is the official date of on-line registration for non TLC Holders?

As per TRIBE’s website it is Wednesday 20th August.

• Once I register and I pay for my Costume, do I automatically become a TLC card holder?

You will have to refer to TRIBE’s guidelines on this matter as the rules for TLC changed this year. Persons were only awarded TLC cards if they registered directly at the mas camp/online in 2007 during the August/September period. I cannot say what will become of the TLC cards for 2009.

• What are benefits of Holding a TLC card other than First preference Reg.(I wish I had one)?
  

Actually apart from discounted tickets to TRIBE related events, the only benefit for having a TLC is that you get to register on a different date from Non- TLC holders and that is it.

• If Tribe is sold out, What other bands do you recommend to play in and why?

I suggest that you look at all bands that have launched, choose a costume that you like, discuss it with your friends and then make a decision on which one you would like to play with. I do not recommend mas; that is a decision solely for you to make.

• How many pre carnival fetes does Tribe throw?

I believe they have one fete which is Ignite.

• What parties are a must go to around Carnival?

Everyone has a different list of “must go parties”, I hesitate to recommend. Some of the popular ones are Bacchanal Wednesday, Eyes Wide Shut, UWI Splash, Salybia, Beach House, Ladies First, Insomnia and Brian Lara’s Fete. By no means is this comprehensive lists of ALL the “must go “ fetes just a few that I can safely say are very popular; you may want to consult with your fete crew to decide on which fetes you want to attend.

• I HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION. IF SOMEONE IS COMING TO TRINIDAD FOR THE FRIST TIME AND WOULD LOVE TO PLAY MAS. IS THERE SUCH AN ORGANIZATION THAT ALLOWS SOMEONE AIRFARE, HOTELS OR GUEST HOUSE ACCOMMDATIONS, WHICH INCLUDE YOUR TICKETS TO THE LATEST PARTIES, COSTUMES OF YOUR CHOICE IN THE BEST MAS BANDS, FOR ONE SET FEE. WOULD THIS BE GREAT FOR FOREIGNERS OR RETURNING TRINIS. JUST PAY ONE PRICE FOR AN INCREDIBLE TIME FOR THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH, THAT IS TRINIDAD CARNIVAL.

As I mentioned before there are several online organizations that offer package deals to Trinidad Carnival that include everything you listed; just do a google search. Please note that I am not endorsing any of these tour operators, I am just providing you with information that was requested.

• Saucy,Does TRIBE stand for something? how come whenever you type that word, it is in all caps?
  

TRIBE does not stand for anything, it was the name of Pleasures Carnival section in Poison, 2004. When Pleasures Carnival united with other Poison sections to form their own band in 2005 the name of the former section became the name of the band. If you notice the logo for TRIBE is all in caps, hence the reason I also type it in caps.

• I also want to know your secret section. Thank you. oh and um, can you let me know before tomorrow at 5:30pm? Thanks.

You will see what section I am in on Carnival Tuesday, you should know by now I keep my section a secret, but you can always take a wild guess!

Trolling Much??

Someone sent me a link to a must read blog and though it is not Carnival related I think it is an excellent read ! LOL, made my morning. The blog topic is "Social Media Frustrations: Trolls, Psychos and Haters". I love these definitions:

Trolls typically encompass all the psychos and haters online. However, it is possible to troll and not be a psycho or a hater. Trolls usually disagree with everyone no matter how illogical their argument is. They will do everything in their power to try to make everyone upset and fighting with each other

Psychos are the ones who do the following: stalk people online, dig up personal information on their opponents and post it for others to see, take all the online drama so seriously they literally drive to other people’s houses to take pictures and veil the photos with a threat. Additionally, they usually rifle through numerous accounts to continue their conquest of making another person look bad. These people walk the thin line as it pertains to criminal activity since they are empowered by the anonymity of the Internet.

Haters post derogatory remarks on any topic usually targeting race, sexual orientation or religion. The only value they provide is the debate within a normally-acceptable discussion. These people wouldn’t dare say their remarks said online due to their insecurities, but again, the cloak of anonymity on the Internet only encourages this negative behavior.

Another good read is The Value of Internet Trolls.

And this article from Rave News, here is a sample below:

Who Told The Message Board Trolls About Blogs?
December 7th, 2005 by Jim Kukral

There’s a scary thing happening these days in the professional blogging world. It seems that the message board trolls, you know, the ones who have spent years yelling like jerks on message boards all over the Internet, have figured out that they can bring their toxic behavior over to blogs.

Who told them? Wasn’t me, I swear! Those web trolls are sneaky trolls!

I stopped reading message boards about 3-years ago to get away from message board trolls. Now they’ve infiltrated the blogging world and I’m once again forced to be a part of their incessant name-calling, screaming, tantrums, outrageous claims, stubbornness, lies, more lies, even more lies, did I mention lies, and general genetic acumen for always being right, no matter what.

I think the biggest characteristic of a message board troll was their ability to create chaos and noise about very small issues, causing them to inflate to bigger than life. Skillful to say the least.

You know who you are. You’re now blog-trolls. I’ve outed you.

For the rest of the article click here.

PHOTO SOURCE

TRIBE Individuals...

Upon further investigation as to why the Green Honey Creeper frontline has disappeared off TRIBE's website I was told that the photo pictured below for BOTH costumes are Individuals.

Scarlet Ibis



Green Honey Creeper

Though I was told that there was never a front line for Green Honey Creeper I know I saw it listed on the website as well as a price for it at $4995.00.. .maybe they changed their mind and made it an Individual after the fact. Suffice to say that Green Honey Creeper Individual is GONE as in no longer available and you can add Bird of Paradise and Brazilian Macaw individual to that list as well.

Both of the Scarlet Ibis Individuals are still available for interested parties as well Fire bird, Snowy Owl and Parisian Frilled Canary. If you want further information on availability and prices of the individual costumes call Vanessa in production at TRIBE 625-6800.