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Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Destination Carnival - Wukk Up Galore For Cropover
If you are still looking for a Cropover Package, check this one out :
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Paparazzi Behind the Scenes Photoshoot
Paparazzi is getting ready for the launch of their brand new Carnival 2013 presentation of the same name next Sunday, July 8 and here is a behind the scenes of their recent photo shoot with two costume sneak peeks.
More pics here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.487688394581414.132295.426925843991003&type=3
Opulence
Indecent Exposure
Monday, June 25, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Random Carnival 2013 Thoughts
* Is Oasis launching a band for Carnival 2013? They have been mighty quiet on theme or a possible launch date? Hmmm
*Word is Anya Ayoung Chee will again have a section in TRIBE, wonder how true THIS is !
*Why hasn't Island People announced a launch date?
*Who are the MAS people actually involved in Utopia Mas?
*Wonder if anyone found the cellphone of the designer which was lost/stolen with photos of the entire 2013 collection of a popular Carnival band on it?
*Will YUMA launch a new Facebook page or are they forever going to silence their fans on the world wide web?
* Has Bliss really changed their launch date to the night before Fantasy's ?
* Is my invitation to the Fantasy lime up in Salybia lost in cyberspace? Word is they are renting out the ENTIRE resort for the weekend and only committee plus their friends are invited!
If anyone can remotely answer of any of these question you know what to do!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Spice Band Launch Tickets Now On Sale
Since the beginning of time, Cultures from all corners of the earth expressed themselves in one unified way, Dance! Dancing in every culture is one of the highest forms of celebration. Join us on July 14th @ Pier 1 Chaguaramas Wear white, bring your coolers and come celebrate Spice Carnival’s 5th Anniversary As we unveil our C2K13 presentation: "Let’s Dance" featuring a performance by Kes the Band Get your limited early bird $200 tickets only from committee members Limited Advance Tickets start at $225 Ticket Outlets: Woodford Cafe - Chaguanas and Port of Spain Off Rodeo - Grand Bazaar Caribbean Jewellers - Gulf City and Trincity Malls Mystique - Trincity Mall All Spice Committee Members Spice Let's Dance Hotline: 222-0475 |
Thursday, June 21, 2012
SHERZEL PRODUCTIONS KIDS SUMMER PARTY AND MAS BAND LAUNCH
SHERZEL PRODUCTIONS KIDS SUMMER EXTRAVAGANZA AND KIDS BAND LAUNCH FOR 2012.( I BELIEVE I CAN FLY)
NEW YORK CITY GET READY AS SHERZEL BRINGS DONNEY PARK TO BROOKLYN, KIDS RIDES, KIDDIES, BOUNCE HOUSE, FREE EATS, UNLIMITED SUPPLY OF DRINKS, LOTS OF FREE GIVEAWAY, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, ...... BRING OUT THE KIDS, IN A CHILD FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT AND HAVE SOME FUN...... ON SAT JUNE 30TH@ VOLUME 2... 112 VERONICA PL BET TILDEN AND ALBERMARLE PLACE, BK..... LIMITED TICKETS R $10 PER ADULTS $10 PER CHILD FOR MORE INFO CALL SHERZEL 718 607 7712
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Presenting Utopia Mas
Inception:
Utopia Mas was formed in November 2011 by band leader & designer Stuart ‘Whitey’ Sampson. After several years of consultation and the eventual offer of a General Manager position with one of Trinidad’s major bands, Stuart decided it was time to bring out his own band.
Stuart’s a man who is passionate about mas, whilst living in London during the mid 1990's he became involved in Notting Hill Carnival working with Glissando and then T&T Mudders Jourvert band. He then became involved in Trinidad Carnival in 1995 and has played mas every year for almost 20 years. Having chipped and whined and jumped and waved through the streets of Port of Spain from Jourvert to Las Lap he is highly experienced in the highs and lows of being a masquerader. Drawing from these experiences, good and bad, it is from this angle that he has approached forming the new band Utopia Mas putting the needs and desires of today’s masquerader as a priority.
When a band leader heard Stuart was bringing out a new band he asked, “So what makes your band different from all the others?” From inception it was always Stuart’s desire to bring together a core team who, like himself had grown somewhat disillusioned with mas in the 21st century, experienced people who were on the same page, who shared the same vision and are able to put a high quality product on the road whilst at the same time bring back some traditional elements of Carnival. Many bands are scared to say ‘bring back’ or ‘back to’ for fear of being labeled ‘old fashioned’ but there is nothing old fashioned about Utopia Mas. A modern 21st century band with all the comforts and special treats of today’s mas, sensual and sexy costumes but confident enough to ‘bring back’ some traditional elements of carnival.
Bringing back costume design: Traditionally, mas costume design has been the work of the band leader. It would be they who conceptualized the theme, designed the costumes and throughout the entire prototype and production stage would oversee production ensuring that the end product was a true and honest representation of their vision. In the last decade the mass production of costumes and the commercialization of Trinidad Carnival has seen bands move away from that art. Many of today’s band leaders are businessmen, not designers, and at no stage do they put pen or brush to paper. Costumes are mostly designed by professional designers who follow a set formula repeating profiles and shapes then sell their designs to a number of bands, who in turn, push and squeeze and manipulate them into the ‘theme’.
As Band Leader, Stuart is also the designer, having conceptualized the theme, put pen to paper and designed all the costumes sourced and selected the materials, created the patterns and fine tuned all 11 sections from inspiration to final product.
Bringing Back costume quality:Most important to the vision of Utopia Mas is the quality of costumes. From the first moment the band was formed it was a given that Utopia Mas would produce a quality product, well constructed, from quality materials and most important is that the costume you buy, that you open and take out the box and wear on carnival Monday and Tuesday looks like the one you saw in the mas camp, on the website and at the band launch. It is partly forthat reason Utopia Mas will produce their costumes here in Trinidad, employing Trinidadian staff to make costumes with materials purchased from carnival suppliers in Trinidad. This is after all ‘We culture’ ‘We carnival’ and as such mas bands have a duty to support the industry, the culture, the skills and crafts of Trinidadians. A key production team was integral to the band fulfilling thisand here Utopia Mas co-owners Michael Guy James and Paulette Alfred-Guy James, who with their immense experience in carnival costume production, as Utopia Mas’ Head Productionists along with their team at Guy James Studio will ensure the high quality beautiful product today’s masquerader expects. Made right here in Trinidad.
Bringing Back customer service: Anyone who has spent their Friday or Saturday before carnival at a crowded mas camp in a seemingly endless line for distribution would have probably experienced the sense of poor customer service. Something you would have heard said many times, especially from international masqueraders visiting Trinidad are the words ‘they don’t care’. An all too common feeling is that you’ve paid your money and now no one is responsible for rectifying what’s wrong. Utopia Mas has therefore designed a new distribution system to prevent any such issues occurring and ultimately avoiding your frustration and disappointment, instead, providing you with the same levels of customer service we would expect or demand for ourselves and that you feel a sense of appreciation for your custom. Aaron and Jessica Marquez have a wealth of experience in hospitality, catering and the service industry and will be ensuring that everything you experience from the moment you step in the mas camp to register to the point you drink your last drink at the end of las lap is a pleasurable one.
Bringing Back affordable mas: Carnival has become expensive. If you ask people who’ve never played mas before the reason why they don’t play, the most common answer is that ‘it’s too expensive’. Only ten years or so ago a frontline costume cost $700. When All Inclusive ‘sections’ arrived costume prices jumped to $1200. Now costumes have soared in price, some are even touching $8000. Utopia Mas is committed to producing an excellent product and great customer service whilst keeping mas affordable.
Bringing Back fun on the road: Sometime, somewhere, somehow carnival changed. In many bands now there are too many trucks, too many things that should not be there, bands of 3000 masqueraders or more are squeezed through the streets and what used to be playing mas and having fun is now more about avoiding the wheels of a truck, or feeling like a sheep being herded along. Utopia Mas has all the comforts and special treats you need without the overkill of all the ‘stuff’ you don’t. Less space for ‘stuff’ means more space for you to free up yourself. Our Events Manager has 20 years of experience hosting fetes and carnival road management, along with Band Leader Stuart he will be ensuring that everything on the road is run professionally, safely and your security and comfort is Paramount. And talking of free-up, an element of pretentiousness has crept into mas. To play in some bands you have to be part of a clique, or have a link to get in, perhaps be a certain complexion or even deemed to be attractive enough for the costumes. This is not what mas is supposed to be about. Playing mas is about having fun, freeing up yourself, expressing yourself, play mas and like yuhself. This is carnival. Trinidad is the rainbow nation, all colours, races, creeds and sizes. Together we aspire, together we achieve. Utopia Mas is an all inclusive band and when we say All Inclusive we are not just talking about the drinks trucks, If a man or woman is confident enough to wear a costume then who is to say they are not good looking enough? So black, white, red, Indian, Spanish, Chinee, Dougla, tall, short, thick, thin, man, woman, straight, gay or lesbian, Utopia Mas is an all inclusive band and ultimately we are about having fun.
Bringing Back loyalty: You only have to go back to playing mas in the late 1990’s and bands were full of people who year after year would bounce up with each other on the road. You would see the same faces each year and it was almost like everyone knew everyone else in the band. It was that sense of ‘family’ that meant the bands really looked after the masqueraders. Today masqueraders still have a sense of loyalty toward the bands, through good and bad, they are there on the road with the same band year after year, but now, often when things break down, the band does not show the same level of loyalty to the masqueraders. Part of Utopia Mas’ vision is to ensure that you, the paying customer receives excellent customer service and the feeling that loyalty is a two way street. We hope to show you over the years to come that we appreciate your loyalty, we understand what it means and that you will become a part of the Utopia Mas Family.
Bringing Back appreciation: The Utopia Mas family will have some things we will make noise about. We’ll make a big song about our costumes, we’ll dance at yuh wedding about our customer service, and we’ll wave a flag to celebrate the fun we create. However, there is something we will keep quiet about and that is our appreciation. Our appreciation that we have money to buy a costume, we have legs to dance with, hands to hold a drink cup with, ears to hear the music with and eyes with which to take in all the colours. And we as a family will remember that there are many who do not. For this reason Utopia Mas is dedicated to supporting orphan children in Trinidad & Tobago and supporting Trinbagonian children who need surgery. We will not make a noise about this, we will simply do what we can, and you the masquerader will be kept informed of the good works your money has contributed toward.
Stuart Sampson
Utopia Mas
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Falling IN With Fall Out
Happy Labour Day to all those in Trinidad and Tobago, THIS is where you should be today! If you don't have a ticket, sorry the event is SOLD OUT.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Cropover Calling
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Cropover All Inclusive Package (Accomodation, Ground Transport, Parties)
Contact: carnivalcalling@gmail.com
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Waka Waka Mas For Montserrat’s 50th Annual Festival
Maryland, USA (June 15, 2012) - With excitement building for Montserrat’s 50th Annual Festival this December, the Waka Waka Mas band has begun showcasing their presentation, "The Treasures of Alliouagana", which was inspired by the rich culture and history of the island.
Alliouagana is the Amerindian name for the island of Montserrat and its cultural heritage is regarded as its most valuable Treasure. On New Years Day 2013, Waka Waka Mas will present three of these treasures in the form of distinctive and colorful costumes on the streets of Montserrat.
Oriole (Orange) – represents Montserrat’s African heritage and the national bird, the Oriole.
Shamrock (Green) – represents Montserrat’s Irish heritage and the island itself also known as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean.
Sarobei (White) – represents Montserrat’s Amerindian heritage, and the silky Sea Island cotton that was once a major export of the island. Sarobei is also the Taino/Arawak word for cotton.
The words “Waka Waka” are an African rally cry that translates to “Do It”, as in a task, which embodies the attitude of Waka Waka Mas. In this their first major initiative, they hope not only to encourage Montserratians to come home, but also to spread the excitement of this year’s festival to non-Montserratians particularly from neighbouring islands to come and join in or witness what will be a memorable 50th Anniversary celebration.
U.S.-based band leader Dudley Skerritt was inspired to create the group based on his early memories of the Montserrat Festival. He reminisces, “I have such fond memories of being at the street parade trying to keep up with the people dressed up in vibrant costumes and the revellers enjoying themselves to the songs of Cepeke and other calypso artistes.” He says, “The Treasures of Alliouagana is a chance for those who participated back then to bring back the glory days -- pre volcanic eruption and pre Hurricane Hugo -- and for those like myself who were on the sidelines, we can finally take part, to create new memories and at the same time remind the youths about our culture.”
Canada-based band member Terrance Jemmotte, was inspired to get involved because, as he says, “I see Montserratians, including myself, playing mas in so many different places around the world and I wonder, why not Montserrat? What could be better than paying mas at home?”. Waka Waka Mas hopes that many will answer the call to play mas this year or just visit Montserrat during this special festival celebration and help boost the local economy which is still recovering from the devastating volcanic eruption some 17 years ago.
Skerritt states, “We are organizing this event to encourage Montserratians not only to take a long overdue trip home but to participate to make the 50th celebration a memorable one for all. Despite the challenges the island has faced over the years, the island has much to offer and there is still no place like home. As the official slogan goes, “It’s time to celebrate the Talent, Culture and Creativity, Montserrat Festival 50.”
About
Waka Waka Mas is a non-profit masquerade band, supported by a large team of volunteers across the globe to promote the rich cultural heritage of Montserrat by re-energising the New Years Day parade with the pageantry and dazzle that so many of us remember.
For more information about the Montserrat Festival and Waka Waka Mas please visit montserratfestival.com and wakawakamas.com.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
AQUA 70:30 - Chhewah and Sobeit
Update on FLY, that presentation is shelved for Carnival 2013 and will hopefully be seen in 2014 according to designer Darren Cheewah. Instead we can look forward to Aqua with Sobeit and Cheewah for Carnival 2013 instead. Here are some sketches/teasers from that presentation:.
Friday, June 15, 2012
New Band Alert.. Utopia Mas
More details on this new band will be revealed soon, however I can say that the band launch will take place on August 10, 2012. Save the date!
Utopia Mas
Theme: Out of the Darkness Concept: A void, a world of darkness, where demons dwell.
The light comes, does battle with the darkness and conquers it, dispersing the darkness The light brings with it colour, enlightening our lives, and because of the light we see the beauty of nature, it's colours. Without the light our lives would be spent in the void, the darkness, the dwelling place of demons.
Theme: Out of the Darkness Concept: A void, a world of darkness, where demons dwell.
The light comes, does battle with the darkness and conquers it, dispersing the darkness The light brings with it colour, enlightening our lives, and because of the light we see the beauty of nature, it's colours. Without the light our lives would be spent in the void, the darkness, the dwelling place of demons.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Battle of the Savages!
Well done TRIBE for sticking to the theme "Savage Beauty", which is the theme of Bliss 2013.
I cannot WAIT for band launch season to begin!
If you do not know what I am talking about then you need to re read this post from March 20: http://www.trinidadcarnivaldiary.com/2012/03/sohow-does-theme-get-stolen-exactly.html where I asked the question how does a theme get stolen.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
WHO GINE OVER FOR CROPOVER ? CAESAR'S ARMY
Join the ROMANS from Friday 3rd August to Tuesday 7th August 2012 for another CAESAR'S ARMY Adventure of RUM, SUN & FUN in Barbados!!
Package Includes:
- Accommodation for 4 nights at Accra Beach Hotel & Spa (Based on Double Occupancy. Breakfast Incl. Flexible arrival & departure dates available)
- Ticket to Main Events:
(CAESAR'S ARMY Welcome Party, Scorch Cruise, Booze Cruise, Becks After Booze)
- Airport Transfers & Transport to & from all carded events
- CAESAR'S ARMY Cropover Gear
(T-shirt/Vest & Cup)
Package Cost: USD$800
NB: This package does NOT include Flights.
Costumes and other events are optional. Please email us for all costume/party enquiries.
This package is also a FIRST come... FIRST served package so reserve your spot TODAY.
50% Deposit required for all bookings by 30th June 2012.
Balance due by 27th July 2012
Bookings are NON-REFUNDABLE.
For Bookings & more information please send email inquires to: caesarsarmy@gmail.com
When in Barbados, do as the Romans do so its TIME TO WUK UP !!!!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Fantasy Carnival At Woodford Cafe
Fantasy Carnival T&T will be live and stageside to Unleash Your Inner Savage at Woodford Cafe Unplugged Tuesdays tomorrow.
