Fete Prices ....so far

Ok people, I have heard that Diamond Vale Breakfast Party is priced at $450.00...around the same price as last year I believe. However, sources say Beach House is now $800.00, that is a $200.00 increase over 2008.. for a fete with no live bands (lots of Moet though!!)

At this stage Amnesia is looking more and more appealing as one of the cheaper All Inclusives for the season! As a matter of fact maybe we need to start scratching all inclusives off the list yes!

Carnival Websites

Here are two fete related websites for you to bookmark this year:

The first is the newly revamped Island People website with information on all their fetes for 2009.

And the other is Ticket Federation where you can purchase some fete tickets online; at the moment they are offering Rainforest, Hysteria, Jamboree Sunday and Wicked in White.

End of Year Survey Results

The results are in, and much thanks to all of you who participated in this first ever survey. I know there were many questions with just as many varied answers! It was not an easy job sifting through all the data as 145 people took part in the survey .Some responses I had to cancel out, like when asked which costume was a favorite and the answer was "all of TRIBE" as I was looking for specific costume choices.

For transparency you can take a look at all the response data in spreadsheet form HERE. In collating the top three responses however, I tallied the total number of responses to get a hierarchy ranking,though in some cases there was a tie. Without further ado here are the TOP THREE results:

Best Male Costume For 2009
1. Afrodisiac(Island People) and African Love Bird (TRIBE)
2. Brazilian Macaw (TRIBE)
3. Green Honey Creeper (TRIBE)

Honorable Mention
Pheasant, Peppercorns, Spangled Cotinga, Parrot (4th)
Midnight Bloom (5th)

Best Female Costume For 2009
1.Spangled Cotinga (TRIBE)
2.African Love Bird (TRIBE)
3.Caged Canary (TRIBE)

Honorable Mention
Rays of Light (4th)
Kiskidee (5th)

Best Frontline Costume For 2009
1.Spangled Cotinga (TRIBE)
2.Caged Canary (TRIBE)
3.Brazilian Macaw (TRIBE)

Honorable Mention
Peppercorns(4th)
Bird of Paradise, Paradisus, African Love Bird, Black Diamond,Ocean Whispers (5th)

Best Overall Presentation for 2009
1.TRIBE
2.Island People
3.Brian Mc Farlane

Worst Male Costume of 2009
1.Dealers (Elements)
2.Together We Aspire (Trini Revellers)
3.Cock Fight (Ronnie and Caro)

Dishonorable Mention
Treasure Island (4th)
Cesar's Palace, Mystere, Love (5th)

Worst Female Costume of 2009
1.Lady Luck (Elements)
2.Mirage (Elements)
3.Love (Island People)

Dishonorable Mention
Angostura Bitters (4th)
Roulette, Together We Aspire (5th)

Worst Frontline Costume of 2009
1.Lady Luck (Elements)
2.Mirage (Elements)
3.Iguana (D Krewe)

Dishonorable Mention
Flight of the Scarlet Ibis (4th)
Egyptian Dancers (5th)

Worst Overall Presentation of 2009
1.Elements
2.Trini Revellers
3.D Krewe & Evolution

How Happy Are You With Costume Prices for 2009 with 1 being very disappointed and 5 being very happy?
1 - 16
2 – 30
3 - 59
4 - 16
5 - 7

Band With the Most Hype
1.TRIBE
2.Island People
3.Spice

Band With the Least Hype
1.Elements & Kaotic
2.Spice
3.Evolution

Band With the Most Unjustified Hype
1.Elements
2.Spice
3.TRIBE

Best New Band of 2009
1.Spice
2.Kaotic
3.Elements

Worst New Band of 2009
1.Elements
2.Carvalho mas
3.Kaotic

Are you Playing Mas for 2009?
* Yes - 129
* No - 3
* Undecided -3

If Yes, Which Band are you playing mas with ?
62 TRIBE
37 Island People
10 spice
6 Kaotic
4 D Krewe
2 Ronnie and Caro
2 Pulse 8
2 Harts
2 Elements
1 Legacy
1 Evolution

Government Says Carnival Goes on as "Normal"

Minister of Culture Marlene Mc Donald has no doubts that Carnival 2009 will be a success even in the face of the global economic crisis and the fact that the Trinidad Guardian headlined on Sunday that fete promoters are worried. The Trinidad Express reports the Minister's confidence:

"I have been advised that the sales of Carnival costumes are going quite well and that the travel is as usual, (the same) as 2008. So at this point in time there is no reason for alarm with respect to whether we are going to sell our seats and what not, over the Carnival period. We don't envisage any reduction in people playing mas or in people visiting our shores," she said.

She added that the question would be better posed to the Minister of Tourism, "though from where we sit we have not seen any downward trend".

She also goes on to say that the official launch of Carnival 2009 will take place on January 7th and the Government has allocated 120.6 million dollars for the staging of the festival.

While I am glad to hear that Carnival 2009 will go on as normal, in respect to the Government and infrastructure, I think Minister Mc Donald needs to take a tour of the mas camps whereNO sections are sold out at this time and have a little chat with the band leaders and see who really shares her confidence!

SOURCE:
www.trinidadexpress.com

First Fete Casualty

Republic Bank Fete carded for Saturday January 24th has been canceled due to the financial climate/recession/economic downturn.... who's next ?

More Monday Options

This is for the ladies looking for tube tops, Wet Seal has these on sale right now:

Sequin Covered Bandeau comes in Royal Blue, Fuchsia, Purple and Lime Green (perfect for Green Honeycreeper) at $12.50

Foil Bandeau comes in Royal Blue, Purple, Aqua Pool (perfect for Spangled Cotinga) and Black $5.00


And finally, some sequin shorts even though I am not digging the white waist band too much; comes in gold and black $20.50

Sell Your Carnival Photos

Someone sent me information on the site " All Carnival Photos" today via email and it seems like an interesting concept; you sell your Carnival photos for a set price to persons willing to buy. And you do not need to be a professional either, all for free. Check out the website HERE.

click to enlarge

Carnival 2009 Event Listing

Saturday January 3rd, 2009
TRIBE Short Pants Cooler Fete - The Ice Factory - $125-150.

Friday January 9th, 2009
St Francois Girls College Annual All-Inclusive - St John’s Hall, Wrightson Rd, POS - 4pm
Legacy Cooler Fete

Saturday January 10th, 2009
Blazin' Fire Services Fete
Unite - UWI
Privilege 'Hysteria' Cooler Fete St. Anns

Sunday January 11th, 2009
Trinity College's Soka In Moka - Trinity College,
UWI 18th Annual All-Inclusive Carnival Fete - UWI Grounds (St Augustine) - 2pm
Island People Amnesia
Jess & Friends

Thursday Jan 15th, 2009
St George's College Georgian Jubilation VI Fete 2009 - College Grounds

Saturday January 17th, 2009
Outta De Blue - QRC All-Inclusive - QRC Grounds - St Cair, POS
WITCO One Fete

Sunday January 18th, 2009
Friends for Life All-Inclusive - Pier 1

Friday January 23rd, 2009
Bazodee Friday - Pier 1, Chaguaramas - 9pm

Saturday January 24th, 2009
SoCar Drive - UWI
Bishop Anstey All-Inclusive - Bishop Anstey Grounds, POS - 4pm
Blue Range All Inclusive - Diego Martin

Pearl Gardens All-Inclusive
Chutney Glow
Youth Fest 2009 - Jean Pierre Complex
Republic Bank Fete - Pier 1, Chaguaramas - 3pm

Sunday January 25th, 2009
Hilton River Lime
Nikki Crosby's Children's Show
Yorke Inc Annual Carnival All-Inclusive
Veni Mange - Pier 1
Sounds of Kabuki Sweet Soca Stew

Friday January 30th 2009
Bazoodee Friday - Pier 1

Saturday January 31st 2009
Privilege's 'Wicked In White' - QP Oval, 9pm
St Mary's All-Inclusive - St. Mary's College (Pembroke St, POS)
Randy Glasgow's Chutney Girls Night Out - Penal


Sunday February 1st 2009
Yorke Inc All Inclusive
Hilton Trinidad's All Inclusive Fete (D'Xtreme)
Boujoix - Bel Air Recreation Ground

Friday February 6th, 2009
Central Bank All-Inclusive
TCL All-Inclusive - TCL Poolside - 7pm
Ladies First - Pier 1, Chaguaramas - 9pm
Randy Glasgow 6th Annual Ladies Night Out All-Inclusive - Jean Pierre Complex - 8 pm

Saturday February 7th, 2009
NGC Fête - Country Club
Agua Trinidad - The Paddock
RBTT Fete - Pier 1 (Chaguaramas)
South Cancer Society All-Inclusive
Chutney Soca Monarch Finals - Skinner Park- 8pm
O'Farrell All-Inclusive- Mobs 2, Chaguaramas - 8pm

Sunday February 8th, 2009
Panorama Semi-Finals - Queens Park Savannah
Friends of Blood Bank Fete All-Inclusive - Trinidad Country Club - 2pm
Mc Leod Annual All-Inclusive - 2pm
US Embassy All-Inclusive
T&T Air Guard All-Inclusive - Prisons Sports Complex - 5pm
Maritime All-Inclusive

Friday February 13th, 2009
Misty Ridge All-Inclusive - Hadeed Ranch
Wild Meat All-Inclusive - Celder Grounds, Tunapuna
Carnival Under The Trees - Normandie Hotel, 10 Nook Av, St Ann - 8pm
International Soca Monarch Semi-Finals

Saturday February 14th, 2009
Red Cross Kiddies Carnival, Jean Pierre Complex, POS - 11am
Fatima College All-Inclusive - Fatima Grounds, Mucurapo Rd - 7pm
Carnival Under The Trees - Normandie Hotel, 10 Nook Av, St Ann - 8pm
Kama Sutra 8 - Country Club, Maraval - 10pm
Machel Montano's Alternative Concept 7 - Hasley Crawford Stadium - 9pm
WASA Fete
White Oak Chutney Brass 7 - Guaracara Park (Point-A-Pierre) - 9pm
AS Brydens 10th Annual All-Inclusive
Victoria Garden's All-Inclusive


Sunday February 15th, 2009
Jamboree's "JAMBOREE SUNDAY" Jamboree Park, Valsayn - 4pm
Heart Beat Hilton
T&Tec Soca Shoka IX - St John's Complex
CAREC All-Inclusive - Federation Park (St. Clair) - 2pm
Hearts on Fire All-Inclusive - Normandie Hotel, 10 Nook Av, St Ann - 5pm

Monday February 16th, 2009
PNM Fete - Balisier House, Victoria Ave. POS - 9pm
Mardi Gras- 10pm
Link Up Cruise V - Chaguaramas
Smile All-Inclusive

Tuesday February 17th, 2009
A.W.O.L. - Macqueripe Rd, Chaguaramas - 4pm
Bishops Junior School All-Inclusive Fete
Island style GLOW- 10pm
Eyes Wide Shut - Queens Park Oval - 9pm

Wednesday February 18th, 2009
S.O.S. - Maracas - 12pm
Fete with the Stars - Harvards
The Ranch Fete - Cunupia
Carnival Under The Trees - Normandie Hotel, 10 Nook Av, St Ann - 8pm
Bacchanal Wednesday - The Hanger, Chaguaramas - 9pm
Custom Boys Fete- Hasely Crawford Stadium, POS - 9pm

Thursday February 19th, 2009
Beach House All-Inclusive - 11am
Blanchisseuse All-Inclusive - 11am
TRIBE Ignite - Jean Pierre Complex - 9pm
UWI Splash - Chaguaramas - 9pm
T&T Police Assoc. Annual Carnival Fete - Police Training College
Alternative Thursday - Down de Islands

Friday February 20th, 2009
Fantastic Friday (Soca Monarch Finals) - Queens Park Oval - 7pm
Island People Girl Power - Jenny's Car Park - 9pm
Privilege's "RISE" Moka Cooler Party, Maraval - 9pm
Blue Range Cooler Fete - Diego Martin
D'Cooler Fete - Pier 1, Chaguaramas - 9pm
Red Eye V
VIP Friday - Narmandie Hotel
Fete'n On the Boat - Tresure Queen
Hedonism 3 All-Inclusive - Hilton Poolside
Fusion Friday - Macqueripe

Saturday February 21st, 2009
Green Revolution's "RAINFOREST" All Inclusive, Wilderness Park - 5pm
National Panorama Finals - 7pm
Trini Posse Fete - The Hanger, Chaguaramas
Island Style Insomnia Fete - Mobs 2 (Chaguaramas)
Dawn, Sunrise In The City - Jenny's Car Park
Lions All Inclusive Fete - Lions Civic Centre (Port of Spain)
Atlantis Ultra All-Inclusive - Club 'O'


Sunday February 22nd, 2009
D’Original Breakfast Party - Diamond Vale, Diego Martin - 1am
Sunny Side Up Breakfast Party - Palm Avenue West, Petit Valley - 4am
Dancing In the Sanctuary 'Headley All-Inclusive'- Windsor Road, Valsayn - 11am
Eye Spy - San Fernando Hill
Moka Explosion All-Inclusive - St. Andrews Golf Club - Moka, Maraval - 12pm
Brian Lara All-Inclusive - Chancellor Hill, Queen's Park West - 2pm
Harvard Club All-Inclusive Fete - Harvard Club, St. James - 4pm
Dimanche Gras, Jean Pierre Complex, POS - 7pm
Mania - Country Club - 9pm
Hilton Poolside - Hilton Hotel (Lady Young Rd, Port of Spain) - 9pm
Is Just A Fete (TASA) - Queen's Hall, Port-of-Spain
Cotton Tree Foundation All Inclusive Fete - Spanish Acres

Monday February 23rd, 2009
J'Ouvert (4am)
Parade of the Bands
Carnival Jump Up - Hilton Hotel (Lady Young Rd, Port of Spain)
Monday Night Mas - Paramin Hill

Tuesday February 24th, 2009
Parade of the Bands - Judging points @ Adam Smith Square, Piccadilly on the Greens, Queen's Park South
Pan Trinbago Pan on the Road - Victoria Square and Downtown POS
Pan Trinbago Las' Lap - Western Main Rd, St James

Wednesday February 25th, 2009
Beach Lime - Maracas Bay, Las Cuevas, Blanchisseuse Bay
Wild Meat Cool Down - Balandra Bay
Ash Wed Boatride - Treasure Queen (Pier 2, Chaguaramas)
4th Annual Ash Wednesday River Lime - De Freitas Ranch, Valencia
Annual Lagniappe - De Nu Pub (The Mas Camp), Woodbrook - 9pm

Saturday February 28th, 2009
Tobago Last Lap All-Inclusive - Flo Glo Manor, Canbee, Tobago

Fetes in trouble?

This is the headline blasted on the frontpage of the Trinidad Guardian today:

Some excerpts from the article:

Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s call on citizens to tighten their belts is beginning to affect Carnival 2009, scheduled for February 23 and 24.

So much so, several party promoters have predicted a bleak upcoming Carnival with less patronage at the general and all-inclusive fetes because of the upsurge in crime and Manning’s recent advice to citizens to band their bellies for the hard times ahead.

One of T&T’s leading party promoter Roy Maharaj said people would be heeding’s (sic) Manning’s advice thereby picking and choosing which fete they go to next Carnival, even though the country was not facing a recession “as yet.” ....................

In a bid to woo party goers, Maharaj said he would have to review ticket prices for his Carnival fetes, which have dwindled from 17 to a mere six over within the last few years.

“I would also have to come up with something different to attract patrons. You could have the best entertainers, venue and band, but if you don’t have patrons your show is guaranteed to flop.” ...................


Event-manager Joel ‘Signal To Noise’ Morris, also expressed similar sentiments that fewer people would show up at next year’s Carnival fetes.

“People would be sceptical (sic) as to where they go. It’s not that they don’t have the money. They would exercise extreme caution when it comes to spending,” said Morris.

“Of course, Carnival will be affected by the global financial meltdown. There is no doubt about it. People would prioritise when it coming to parting with their cash.”

As Carnival draws closer, Morris said the effects of the economy had begun to take shape with events getting smaller.

Stating that thousands of citizens look forward to Carnival as a vacation and relaxation, Morris said he would not like to see the entertainment landscape crumble.

Morris said even though food and alcohol prices had skyrocketed within the last few months, he hoped that some promoters and suppliers would maintain their all-inclusive fete prices.

“One would expect a lot of negotiations to take place between promoters and entertainers within the coming week since some entertainers have been asking for an increase in appearance fees.” .................
Creative Director of Island People, Derrick Lewis expects an excellent turnout at the company’s Carnival fetes next year.

Island People is the event promoters of popular fetes like Insomnia, Girl Power and Amnesia.

“We have seen good requests for tickets. How it (the events) ends up, we don’t know but our initial signs are very positive,” he said.

He admits that he has seen a reflections of the economic crisis on the entertainment industry. He noted that the company has had to do some belt tightening of its own to maintain the price of its Amnesia all-inclusive fete.

The all-inclusive fete, which will be held on January 11, is set at $495. There was no price increase from last year.

“This year we are going for lighter food. This is our way of dealing with the economic conditions yet still trying to maintain the same price,” he said.

You can read it in it's entirety HERE.

While I am glad to see that fete promoters are taking heed that the current economic crisis will indeed affect which fetes the public chooses to patronize, initial pricing suggest that some are not inhibited by this fact and have indeed already jacked up prices considerably over 2008 figures.

It is therefore quite surprising that Amnesia retained their pricing and may be one of the cheaper, popular all inclusive fetes for the season.. who would have thought! Now lets hope others follow suit so that the more fetes we can afford the more people will attend!

Insomnia comes to an end in 2009

Well, I was there for the very first Insomnia, back then it was a new concept in breakfast parties (reminiscent of Tico Skinner's fete but for the cooler younger crowd) and I am thinking won't it be great to be there for the finale...

Insomnia will come to an impressive climax in 2009.

It will be the finale of arguably the most talked about event in Trinidad and Tobago for what it represents – the energy of the people …our joie de vivre. Islandpeople along with Island Style plan to take our passion to party to the next level.

Introducing: the ultra VIP; the Sunset Ship; park and ride zones a media shuttle by yacht and enhanced traffic management flows in what we expect will be the biggest and best Insomnia experience ever. Look forward to a bigger breakfast, efficient bars , excellent security and of course big clean fun, temperatures cooled by the showers in the water park and soca addicts given their full dose of the sweet infectious vibes. Don’t even think about sleeping…… it’s impossible! Insomniacs come early, stay late!

Much talk, where is the action?

Whatever Happened to the Carnival bands "Taboo" and "Of Men and Gods" (Centaurians G.T)?

Both debut bands went so far as to produce costume sketches, the latter with much conviction that they were bringing something new for Carnival 2009.

Taboo


Centaurians G.T


And now... all silence on the front since October....interesting!

Masquerade's website is up!

Finally after many delays Masquerade's website is up with this message:

We do apologize for the delayed launch of the website but unfortunately this was beyond our control!! We sincerely hope that the journey thru the site was well worth the wait

For a look at the sections from their 2009 presentation "Let the Music Play" visit the website here.

Thanks for the Bligh!!!

Trinidad Carnival Diary has been named Best "Trini" Blog by Scorch Magazine in their special one year anniversary edition! Aww, I feel so honored to have earned a "Scorchie".

click to enlarge

www.thescorch.com

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Calorie Counting

If you were as insane as me to start your Carnival diet and fitness plan BEFORE Carnival the next two days are going to be a test to your willpower in the face of ponche a creme, pastelle and sorrel none of which are on the list for the South Beach Diet!!

So here is a Christmas Calorie counter just for you! Be good, remember Carnival is officially less than two months away!

click to enlarge

SOURCE:
www.thescorch.com

Poll Results

African Love Bird was the leading choice for the President, however this is a wrong guess...sorry! Ready for the real answer?

The Presidential Choice!

What is up with Masquerade?

Masquerade launched their 2009 presentation "Let the Music Play" on October 3rd yet talmost three months later their website is still not functional!

To make matters worse I have been checking the website since Wednesday of last week (when it was advertised to launch) and the only thing being updated is the official launching date ; it went from Wednesday, to Thursday to Saturday!

This is what can be seen on the website, today Monday the 22nd of December:

I just cannot understand the "don't care attitude" when it comes to promoting your band to the public!

D Krewe Re Do

D Krewe has made some changes to yet another section, this time it is Falls that benefits from an overhaul:

Old Version Frontline


New Version Frontline


Old Version Backline


New Version Backline

And although they chose to go with the ever popular feathered collar that has become a signature piece for Carnival 2009 right after the monokini, the new frontline version is immensely better than that tendril laden umbrella headpiece! I guess withe departure of premiere designer Kyle Matas from the D Krewe fold many changes are now afoot!

Getting Ready..

You know Carnival is soon coming when preparations start taking place around the Savannah; right now vendors booths are being constructed. Later they will be painted, occupied and opened for business:

Wee International Mas Camp Visit

Wee International's Mas Camp on Bournes Road St James cannot be missed with the band's logo and costume cut outs perched on the roof top. The camp is actually welcoming and nicely laid out decorated with candy wrappers of course. Although the camp is closed until after the Christmas Season there is an "open" sign on the gate just in case anyone is interested in seeing the costumes.

To be honest the costumes look just as they do on the website for the most part, with two sections at the camp not shown on the website.... as yet. They are Hypnotic Munch and Popcorn Kisses (pictured below):

The costume with the most impact at the mas camp for me is Cherry Pop, the frontline has a feathered collar which is not shown on the website and the colour really does "pop". I asked the very helpful employee how registration has been and was told "pretty good"! The missing sections and frontlines will be on the website soon.