Carnival Jumbie

SOCA SWITCH!!

2011-12-26T22:30:00.004-04:00

Yeah, yeah , yeah. I fall off with updating the blog again. Really and truly every year I try to update the blog consistently throughout the year and it never happens that way. Mentally I have a 'season' for carnival. It ends Ash Wednesday and Today is absolutely my FAVOURITE day of the year. It's when Carnival officially starts for me, time to get serious, time to get ready peoples!! Today is Soca Switch! The day that the radio stations start bombarding us with new soca everyday. The day that fetes start ruling out, it all starts coming together for the big day.

So status update ? Buss!!! I have a costume that is not paid for. I have a pair of boots for Tuesday but probably need to get one for Monday as well. Ok I have Monday wear...kinda....cause I am contemplating changing it. Exercise??? The Carnival gods are laughing hysterically at me right now.Not a treadmill see me yet! Fortunately for me, good genes got me back to my pre-preggie weight pretty quickly. Issue is, my goal was to be less than that seeing the my costume is crazy skimpy.I still have time as I really don't have far to go but I think I'm a bit complacent since I could be fine as is. I fraid to check the scale for Christmas damage! I was motivated enough today to do my workout playlist but I have yet to figure out when it will actually get played.

I'm going to keep this one short.I've been holding my tongue about all the carnival bacchanal going on but may put in my two cents from here on out. FIFTY-FIVE DAYS AND COUNTING BITCHES! Get off your ass!

Dear Island People......

2011-08-15T23:00:00.003-04:00

So apparently due to the whole uproar from the general public (and I imagine a bit from the bloggers) about the quality (i.e. they oogly) of Island People's Heroes presentation, they posted on their facebook page that they would eat some humble pie and rework some (i.e all) of the costumes. I must say that is a FABULOUS idea but I dunno why some people singing sound praises for Island People's customer service for doing so.

It is definitely not an unheard of practice, lest we forget that Bliss reworked all their costumes last year after similar grumblings of the masses (and bloggers). In the past few years at least one costume has died a quiet death annually at Tribe's hands. They are shown at the launch and maybe even at the mascamp, never to be seen again. (R.I.P Flamingo, Trakson Warriors, Cyclon). I actually kinda liked Cyclon, dunno how that got the guillotine. The justification is usually that the drop one section to open up a more popular one.*whispers* Sometimes they just plain oogly. Listening to your market and responding accordingly is crucial to having a successful band with such fierce competition out there. I dunno if IP does this or not but I know for a fact that other bands have focus groups before the final crop of costumes are selected to say 'yay or nay'. Based on that, costumes can be reworked or scrapped. Given that even with this procedure , whack costumes still make it to the final presentations but its a good precaution.

Anywho, with the notice of Island People's revamp they requested that people go and 'Like' the costumes that they prefer in order to assess which ones will get the revamp or the axe I suppose. Since everybody and their tante is now a costume critic ,many people have since taken the opportunity to lambasse some of the costumes outright. I myself stumbled across Nocturnal and commented that "A costume with zero likes....nuff said". Strangely enough, my comment was deleted. Now considering that they have asked for 'constructive criticism' and yet people with comments such as 'Hell to the muhfuggin,No!" and "My eyes burn me..get rid of this crap" still remain, I am perplexed to think how my comment could have been construed as offensive or unconstructive and hence required deletion considering that it was stating facts at the time. Regular readers would know that when I do a review, I tend to be quite detailed and when it's something I don't like, I often recommend tweaks. This is primarily because I (and others) have been accused of just being 'haters' or 'bad mind' to certain bands or designers for personal reasons. To me, If I tell you exactly why I don't like/like something it cannot be said that I have any sort of bias. No critique is is unsupported by evidence and where personal taste prevails it is clearly indicated.

I am such a fan of irony and I had a good laugh when I recalled that around this same time last year I visited the IP Mascamp to get better close of pics (was also invited to the media launch last year, like meh pass get lost in the mail this year). While browsing, I was approached by one of the IP band leaders and asked my opinion quite randomnly (I assume) about one of the costumes. I proceeded to give my honest critique and I suppose he was impressed enough with my comments to say that I should join their team the next year. I jokingly replied that I am extremely good at criticising but have never really designed a costume from head to toe. He responded that he was serious. Now I never pursued the matter although it was something I would have loved to do, I had too much going on personally at the time, but I'm kinda sorry I didn't with the end result. I don't proclaim to know everything about costumes or costume design, but I do believe that I have a pretty good eye necessary for the field I work in.I am sure that if I were to design a costume that it would be so outrageously expensive to produce that it would get trashed same way. However, if I was to get the 'wuk', these are some of the changes I would make, of course sent formally:

Dear Island People,

Allyuh need to fix some of dem costumes. Hear what to do eh...

TO BE CONT'D

YUMA:PRESS PLAY Review

2011-08-15T21:05:00.002-04:00

Well I don't really have to tell anybody that YUMA pulled out all the stops for their band launch. Enormous stage, free drinks and hot costumes! The one thing I really love about Yuma is the way,from day one, they pay attention to the consumer and address every grievance that people may have had with other bands. You want nice male costumes, look nice male costumes. You want to know why we not playing soca, we just giving a tease of carnival (LOL). They had a justification and an explaination for everything they did. When you think about it,If Yuma can manage to right all the wrongs of other bands they will be the perfect band. However getting past registration may put a spanner in that dream, there is just no easy way to do it without pissing off some people. This band had lots of 'wow' moments during the presentation. I almost fell off my chair at one point.Ok well this should be pretty quick, here is my take on the costumes:

SPAWN

Nice standard costume. I liked how they covered the backline bra with the sequins in a diagonal pattern as opposed to the typical straight across. The little details like the skull and the brooched straps cute.

HEAVENLY SWORD

Of course the stand out point of this design is the halter fabric bra on the backline. I prefer a halter bra generally because its flattering on any body type. The top has a little sparkle to it and although we (the bloggerati) generally frown on under decorated bras, they just get away with it with the heavy working in the bra band. I would like a closer look at the waistband for sure. The Fl bra looks gorgeous with the gems. Although I did not notice it at the show , the top and bottom seem to be a bit off in colour when viewed in the pics. Will have to take another look at that.

CALL OF DUTY

I am genuinely amazed that this costume worked out so well.Like this could have gone so wrong but it was done so right. This is 'thinking out the box' in the right way.It's different but still cute and attractive.I personally would have preferred fabric instead of feathers on the bra but its covered in a way where it looks solid at a distance so I would still go with it.Love the touches with the cord, love the waistband with the brass buttons. The beret is a nice touch but my hair doesn't work well with hats.I would definitely rock a Rambo headband though. Well the frontline has some fantastic bodywear. Design wise, its on point.Love the brass notions. Like really, I don't mean to gush, its not even really my style but respect! The shade of green in the backpack was throwing me off a bit but everything else is so on point , I'll live with it.

AZTECA

WOW.I love everything about this costume. On point with theme.Well you know I get chain up with the colours one time. Love the use of the turquoise stones, especially in a shape/way I have not seen before. The FL is to die for! That top design. *faint* The bra is still decorated underneath it! PLEASE SEND ONE c/o Carnival Jumbie.

GOLDEN EYE

To be honest, it's not one of my favs but its a pretty costume. It's very simple and if you don't want too much frou frou , it works for you. I personally don't like that fringe used on the headpieces especially the long one on the FL. It's Carnival and as I have said before, you can get away with it. I guess with my hair again, it will never work for me. The chain making the the V on the waistband is a cute touch.

APACHE

LIKE WOW. My favourite part is the overlay on the bra for the frontline. There is nothing I would change. Absolutely gorgeous. Notice the bras are decorated even with the fringe at the top!

ANGRY BIRDS

I like the FL, but with best sales person working that costume , how could you not. The bra and belt are super bling and its super skimpy. You see the back?? wayyyy Love the movement in the backpack. The individual.....ummmm I dunno why the talked up the fact that they used that black leatherette on the bustier, not only does it look off but it looks like it will be hot as hell. I don't really like the stiffness of the wings and I would love to see how they making out on the road in crowds with that. I hate those gloves.

FINAL FANTASY

I had high hopes for this costume,being a Final fantasy peong. Not quite sure how it tied in with the game but the giant individual wings made is what almost made me fall off my chair. It's too much for me but Wow. I love the bodywear for the frontlines. I'm a bit on the fence about the backline bra design, I need to see it up close. It sucks to be them standing next to the FLs lol.

TYRIS

Well ,if you have beenn reading along you know I am campaigning to ban salmon/flamingo pink from Carnival. Ok maybe next year cause this costume is very nice. Solid backline, love the FL.

The FL bra and backpack are awesome. Great movement in that backpack.

TRANSFORMERS

This would be my least fav of the band. It's not a bad costume for a first time but I think the designer's inexperience is clear. The design is very simplistic and with the primary colour scheme it looks even more basic. What irked me most of all is the extremely poor fit of the bra on the frontline model. All her boobs was squishing out the underneath and sides. If it doesn't fit , get another model that does!! It looked horrible!

GOD OF WAR

Love the FL wings and the use of the multiway monokini. However I am a bit on the fence about how it was decorated, the waistband especially looks a bit scanty. I need to see that backline up close. I'm either going to love it or hate it.

LUXOR

WOWSERS. Love the FL.Absolutely love the collar with the monokini. Love the waistband side pieces.The Fl is really over the top, can't wait to see that pricing. The backline is decorated really well but not sure about the BL headpiece. I doh know how much more they could have squeeze onto that individual, it's huge.Gorgeous.

BEJEWLED BLITZ

And that it is! The splash of colour in the headpiece is what makes this costume. I love that although its a largely monochrome body wear, some of the gems pick up the rainbows of colour in the light. Interesting collar on the FL and the pants on the individual are hot! It has not escaped me that since the launch photos of a similar costume from Rio's Carnival have surfaced. It's no secret that many of the designers in all bands use Rio costumes for inspiration, and many individuals bring Rio costumes as what they are going for in the design of their costume. Well at least they did not reproduce something oogly. I am quite sure nobody is going to say "Oh my gawd, it's looks just like that costume,I'm not buying it". Let's not forget that whole Zune affair with IP and Tribe's Persian Gold. That was in the same country the same year. It happens.

Ok so My top picks (no order): Luxor,Apache, Azteca

Least fav picks : Transformers, Golden Eye

Good luck getting in!smh

ISLAND PEOPLE 2K12:Heroes Review

2011-08-13T21:20:00.004-04:00

I was really in two minds about whether or not to do a review on Island People .This is primarily because I did not go to the launch and I know I would not be playing with them. When I saw the costumes ,I was so disappointed that I also felt reluctant to even bother. Then I found myself looking at the pics repeatedly and I realised I just needed to get it off my chest.

I must commend Island People for trying to be as creative as possible and they always seem to try to relate their costumes directly to the theme.With that said, I think generally the costumes were just poorly executed. Here we have their teaser with cartoon stylised versions of their sections which all look kinda cute. As others have pointed out , they would have done better if they just had them all look exactly like that. What bewilders me is how a design team could have collectively looked at their production and thought 'We looking Bessssss'. I am not even going to hate on the excessive use of spandex because in context it is understandable in relation to the theme and I also happen to love the 80s (spandex ruled then). What super hero doesn't like spandex? I don't know why Island People likes to make 5 versions of every section. Is it that they are not sure which one people will like or is it to give people so many options they must find one they like to play wit them? To me it just confuses the look of the band.

KAIMANA

If I'm not mistaken this is Sonia Mack's section. After what she produced last year, this costume is a poor follow up. I just don't understand it. It has too many different design elements going on, I dunno how the petals ,the beading, the architectural headpiece, the appliques and gems were supposed to look cohesive. The bra option on the individual that seems to have a white base is just awful. The beading hanging from it and the corresponding waistband is also a bit tooo 80s. It seems to come from a time when costume design was not very mature. We have come so far since then, this is one design that needed to stay in the 80s. She did a big skirt last year, it worked then, this petal framed skirt does not. But hey , it's blue. People like blue. Right?

NOCTURNAL

Sigh *bbm hand over face* . If I could save this costume, I probably wouldn't. The only thing I like is the bra on the backline version. Maybe I will let the cape slide in the spirit of heroism. I will even peg the colour combo as 'interesting'. I do not like the bird looking cutout used in the backline waistband . The headpiece is just a bit two out there for me,, it looks like it would have been more suited amongst the aliens in last year's presentation. I would love to see what superhero can manage with all that goings on. The other two versions with the wire bra are just plain scary. The bras are a weird shape, the fabric hanging from them is silly.The circles make me trypophobic and the waistbands just look cheap. I really want to like the spandex leggings but they look a bit out of place on the costume. They need to start over with this one.#fail

SOLAR FLARE

The backline is a very standard bikini mas costume and I guess its wearable however I would love to know how the 'V' s tie into anything. I don't particularly like the two types of feathers on the BL backpack, I think they look odd together. I guess its supposed to look like flames coming out her back. Cute headband though. The cuffs look like they belong to a flamenco costume and why everything have to have V's all over it so? The FL monokini looks like it could do with some more gems, I find they are depending on that spandex to do all the work in 'making' the costume. Having that much of the spandex exposed cheapens it. I could not help but wonder if it was lined. Worse yet, I hope they make brazilian waxes compulsory for all who sign up. The spandex arm pieces really should fit snug, having them look like arms warmers is not flattering.Judging from the placement, maybe V is for vajayjay? Wait, no, the male has a V as well. Well what's left is a individual or another FL? I only like the backpack but I could envision the cape soaking up all the drain water in P.O.S. The bra is reminiscent of 'flame boob' and the little ruffle on the waistband is odd.

OYA

One of the better ones in the line up. The backline could do with some upper arm pieces cause without the cape it looks quite bare. The monokini and bustier options are cute too. i think the white cape looks like a bedsheet on both options. If they insist on having a cape then I would prefer it be a bit more translucent or a different colour than white. Sheer silver maybe? I dunno but not bedsheet. I would not wear the facemask personally but you can get away with it.

WILDHEART

The only other thing I love more than the colour teal is animal prints. I was really hoping to get both next year (hint hint it's not too late!) . I like the brown version better than the pink but its ok as well. It seems unanimous that these two backline models looked the best for the night. I might lose the silver cape, again I think a more translucent fabric would have been better. The frontlines look a bit crazy with those thigh high animal print leggings. No change that , if the bodywear was a solid pink/brown and they had the leggings it could work. I would have to agree with Saucy that it just had too much animal print for one costume. All the accessories did not need to be in print unless they went with a solid colour bodywear. And suppose I want to wear sunglasses? Like I can't with that visor.Hope its removable.

KALYPSO

Although I am not in love with the colour combo, generally all the versions are ok.There are a few tweaks here and there I would do. Mostly in terms of gem placement. I don't like how the monokini is decorated, it looks a bit juvenile. I also wonder how it would fit a bigger busted person because it seems very narrow on top. I am still a bit bothered that the monokini looks like its lacking structure (which a lining would provide). Pink spandex for guys? #uberfail

ELEMENT

This is my favourite of the lot. It's probably the only one I would actually wear. Good colour combo. I really like the design of the bustier . The boyshort version fit very poorly on the model so I hope that is just a sizing issue. I don't like that the back is just some strings on the Fl version but the monokini fits much better.

VELOCITY

The backline bodywear is ok. The Fl monokini is very risque in terms of its cut, there is very little left to even decorate. The average woman cannot wear that style and have it look flattering. The model looks like a size zero. Much more cannot be said for this costume. Oh , yeah the male costume....just with the pink spandex shorts I want to see who wearing a long pants with a spandex top that has peekabo nipple action. And why is the Eye of Thundera part of this costume?

FIYAH

When I saw this costume , the first thing I did was call my rastafarian bff and tell her she could finally play mas again. All joke aside, its hard to look at this costume and think about anything other than the combination is rastafarian colours. However, the colour blocks also makes it look very Carnival Friday primary school. The male costume being most guilty of this. I think the tri colour beading could have worked but the combo with the bra is a bit much. I can't support a completely undecorated bra. The monokini is kinda cute but don't like the backpack. Does the costume come with the big stick?

THE SCARLET I

A lot of hoorah about this costume. Out of all I think it hits the theme and is a decent costume at the same time. I am not a big fan of wings but it was well done.i.e not tacky looking. The bra is borderline flame boob but it was done much better than other incarnations as the feathers are pointing in the opposite direction, so I will give it a pass. Red is not one of my favourite colours so I may just be a bit rough on it but overall one of the better costumes.

SIREN

I like the feathered headpieces, backpack and the backline bra.The fascinator style head piece being the exception. The waistband is a bit too much like a giant applique for my taste. The slack spandex accessories just not cutting it. I don't want to feel that cape is spandex too. Good luck with that and the heat.

So very much like the other bands, out the box does not negate the fact that it also has to be attractive to the wearer. Compared to last year's presentation I am quite disappointed that the offerings weren't more appealing. Island People will have a run for their money considering some of the new bands on the market and the fact that Richard and Anthony have the place locked in terms of costume design. Would like to big up the Trinidad Carnival Costume Pics crew for making life easy for the bloggers, I don't even have to take close ups anymore lol. Good job.

Soon to come BLISS and TRIBE:Take Two and YUMA.

BLISS 2K12:FIRST LOOK

2011-07-30T14:48:00.004-04:00

So the intimate experience had their launch last Thursday. It seems that they are trying to maintain a sort of separation of identity by having a separate launch. That concept would probably have gone over much better if they did not basically have the same theme.Its not like they really follow the themes anyway so I'm kinda confused by that logic. I was not too impressed with the last minute decision to charge people to come to their launch. There were many people who attended Tribe's launch expecting to see Bliss' costumes. Some of those people were not even interested in Tribe at all and they were rather peeved at having to fork out a next set of money. I am sure there are still a lot of people who are weighing the pros and cons between Bliss and Tribe. It comes down to two things I believe, crowd size and costumes. Some are willing to give up their fave costume in Tribe to get ease up on the jam session while others just going where they best costumes are. I think there will be an increased demand for Bliss spots just because they have gotten past their first year and many people were able to get their groups into the same section. Well don't hold your breath, if Bliss is to maintain their product, the numbers will not be increasing.

My take on the costumes in general is that they are all nice. That's it. Just nice. There is not really anything that wowed me that said that I should abandon all others just to have that costume. It is still a hard follow when Tribe showed all their individuals and Bliss had to show frontlines. Again, Bliss has stuck to their tried and tested bikini mas formula and produced simple costumes in nice colours which will move (out the showroom). Having the shoot on boats just reinforced the bikini mas image. One or two have a little flair to them but its what we have seen before. So much so, that I am starting to wonder if Tribe doesn't have a warehouse somewhere with all the excess materials and they just trying to use up leftover gems/notions. There are many examples of reused items in both productions. I did my review primarily using the booklet and referring to some pics from launch. As always , final comment is reserved for when I see them in real. So, here is my take:

MONACO

I think this is one of the few which I thought the design was really creative. It can be difficult to create a costume using more material than gems but it was successful here. Albeit the colours are most associated with Caged Canary and the group produced two fringed costumes last year.Ok wait, lets make that I really liked the bra top. I am sure it will be a fav for all those who seek to hide some flaws. I would have still preferred to see something on the bottom than just a plain panty. I used to wear a plain panty on Carnival Monday long time. I don't expect that my Tuesday costume should be the same. I guess since the fringe is wrapped around to make the bamcee piece they thought it was ok. I can understand the reasoning but still think its a bit of a short change. The necklace and the headpiece are also well put together. Those cuffs like they came from the warehouse. Is there a backline in this?

KUALA LUMPUR

Green and Peachy Pink are the two colours i think are most difficult to design with. This is one of the better green costumes I have seen. Tribe has a pretty good track record for nice green costumes with Honeycreeper and Mulberry under their belt and they are all quite different. I was suprised to see that the bra has green sequins on it. I can't remember the last time I see sequins on a Tribe costume. They have become so known for gemming out the bra and higher end materials. I guess in this recession they have to reduce costs but fortunately it was done well and mixed with gems so I am not going to fault them for it. I just hope the cost of the costume is reflected in that savings. I am liking the ring detailing in the bar and waistband as well. as well as the backline headpiece. I am getting tired seeing that backpack so many times in one year but hey its one of the better backpack styles.

BALI

Its interesting to see how different this costume looks in different lighting. In the book its a deep purple/burgundy and in pics it looks almost red. I think its pretty however this is a good example of reappearance of previously used materials. The gems, I have seen before I was too lazy to go look and to say where but thats ok cause I found an example a few pages before in the booklet. That is, Monaco has same gems as well. An increasing trend with them is hanging gems from the top edge of the bra and leaving the rest bare. To me this is what Oasis did to keep their costs down and I kinda expect more from Tribe. Its Tribe's fault for giving me that bad habit of expecting fully worked up bras.The wrought iron looking shapes are very similar to what was used in Izumi clan (Blis 2k11). I am not sure how I feel about the side wings. They look nice in pics but I think the road will be the true test. I am glad to see something innovative in this costume, don't recall seeing that before off the top my head. Nice costume overall.

BORA BORA

This costume probably peaked my interest the most with its very distinctive body wear. I do like when they incorporate patterned fabric into a costume and I am loving the chunky blue gems. I have mixed feelings about the feathered arm pieces. As a friend pointe dout to me, they look like seaweed. Maybe thats the point, I dunno but it is still one of my favs.

THAILAND

This costume is just pretty standard. Sticking to the formula. Its pretty enough, the backpack on show was really over the top. I would like to see some of the detailing close up. We could have hoped for something a bit more. When I think of Thailand I think costumes from "The King and I". Don't really see how this costume relates to Thailand.

CAPRI

Well the good thing about this costume is that you could probably wear it again after to a DDI party. Although the ruffles are cute, it just does not say costume to me.I am not too pleased by how the ruffles seem to fall on the bra. Would have to se it up close. It's a really blinged out swimsuit basically. The backline looks like you would have to tell people is mas you going to play. The collar seems like it may have an issue sitting up as well. Not sure what the intent was there. I also have mixed feelings about the blue tinged feathers, they just seem kinda random and not tied into the rest of the costume. If you want something shiny and light, I guess this is you here.

TAHITI

Ok firstly, FYI, Bora Bora and Tahiti are part of the same country. Might want to rethink that section name. I like the colours and I really like how the regular bra was decorated.I would prefer if both sides were decorated the same way even if they insisted on putting the feather accent. This bra style looks good on just about everybody. The wire bra is one that is a hit or miss depending on who wears it and how much nip action is revealed. I don't particularly like the stuff hanging from the boobs either.The paillettes on the side of the waistband and on necklace kinda concern me, I always feel like I am going to get sliced and diced by a handful of paillettes but they might be ok.

WAIKIKI

Ok,sorry for this again but Waikiki is a neighbourhood on one of the Hawaiian islands. I don't think people go to Hawaii just to visit a neighbourhood. I not really sure about their theme if they going to name sections after some countries, mixed in with cities, mixed in with neighbourhoods. #imjussayin. Overall the costume looks ok but personally it's probably my least fav. I just don't like the daisy looking appliques.I guess its arguable that its supposed to be hawaiian flowers but I just don't like appliques generally. I do like the grass skirt look of the gold fringe and the cord detail on the side of the waistband. The headpiece and leg pieces of the frontline are really nice but I am a bit confused by the arm pieces which I will have to see up close.

Ok so it have a million pics online and again I am too lazy to insert them here.As with Tribe I think the majority of costumes are on even footing. Maybe that's intentional so people don't all rush one section. My favs in Bliss get their edge because of their innovative design. My least fav just has the misfortune to have a design element I don't like in any costume.

My top picks (in no order) : Bora Bora, Monaco

Least fav: Waikiki

TRIBE 2K12:TAKE ME TO... REVIEW FIRST LOOK

2011-07-25T00:49:00.010-04:00

As luck (or life) would have it I did not make it to the launch. I was not too torn up about it because I did not really expect to be in the country anywho and had actually left my costume downpayment with a (trusted) friend. When I do attend, I usually don't stay too much past the costume viewing because I don't think the party has been my speed in quite a while. Fortunately Triniscene made it easy by bringing their live stream. Not only did I save money and an outfit but I did not have to deal with looking for a park or feeling obligated to hang out longer than I wanted to because of friends. Their live stream is really as good as you can get if you cant be there in person. I got pretty much the same view as I would if I was in front the stage elbowing people to get pics (avoiding that another perk). I even got to hear Saucy's running commentary which kept me well entertained.I also like to reserve final comments for after I see the costumes in person. The following is very preliminary:

If nothing else, TRIBE is very consistent. Overall, pretty bikini mas with attractive colours. I don't understand why they seemed to have used such a small spectrum of the colour wheel. There were times when I was not sure if I was looking at another version of the same costume or a different costume. Design wise occasionally seemed that they took a little from here and there from recent costumes and made a new version. I think showing only frontlines was a bad idea. I understand that it may have been either to keep the showtime to a minimum (albeit it is a launch) or maybe to create a bigger impact. However, the frontlines and individuals won't be available to the majority of the masqueraders. These are the people who are making and breaking the band and I for one would be very annoyed and disappointed if I came to see which costume I wanted and left with very little but maybe a preferred colour option. If you are a FL H.O. then you were in your glee! I was glad to see that most of the wire bras were in the style of Amazon/nia which to me is the only wire bra that I have seen that I would consider wearing. Sexy and it's the only one I have seen that seems to work on almost every boob (i.e without exposing nipples). What I did not like was that across the board the waistbands seems to be minimal. Its to a point where it no longer seems that they trying to be sexy , its like they running short on materials. I like skimpy costumes as much as the next carnival skettel but I am starting to feel a bit shortchanged. So...section wise:

SOUTH BEACH

Absolutely gorgeous. I love this one! Love the style of the style of the bra. The gems on the bra look just wow. Yes it may be Charmeuse 2.0 + Amazon/nia backpack in terms of colouring and style but its definitely a great upgrade. One of my top 3 for sure.

RIO

I'm kinda 'meh' about this one right now. The colours on video and in pics makes it seem very monotone. There is very little contrast between the bra decoration and the base /feather colour. I am hoping and am pretty sure in reality the working on the bra will be more pronounced but it looks pretty flat right now. I would have liked to see a bit more bling on the backpack for the individual in particular as well. Seems like a very safe choice to me.As i said before I prefer the other style of wire bra. Again, i did not see it in person and I think its well worth a closer look.

ST.TROPEZ

The inidvidual was very over the top and definitely peaked my interest. I like how it looks like fireworks going off around you. I guess its appropriate to be paired with a wire bra and a standard waistband. I wondered if the silver starbursts were similar to the material used on the first version of the Bliss' Ice Warrior (which was revamped, sorry 'poofed'). That foil material looked kinda cheap to me then so I hope that is not the case here. The frontline is nicely done. I would have to agree with Saucy about the asymmetry of the backpack. I dunno, when I first saw it I wondered if something was missing and then I was like Ohhhhh, it's supposed to be a style. It looks alright either way I guess but I would have liked it more if it was evened out.

JOHANNESBURG

Very happy to see something as interesting as an animal print monokini. I love animal prints. That was after I thought,"Didn't we already go to Africa with Peter?". I think it looks lovely as it is but I'm a bit worried about how it will look on the road. I fear that it will be a bit muddy looking in a group. Maybe the collar needs a bit of contrast, some lighter tones or a bright red. Just some thoughts....but I do like it.

VEGAS

The colour peach scares me in Carnival.I am quite sure that I have proposed it be banned from Carnival permanently at sometime in the past. It was a bit difficult to get the true colour of the costume from video and pics but my first impression is that this might be the first peachy pinky costume I actually like.(R.I.P Flamingo).I say LIKE eh. Absolutely love the individual bra by itself but not too sure what to make of the waistband. The bra did not look like it fit the model very well but hopefully thats just a sizing problem. For the frontline, although I notoriously hate standard appliques, I will let it slide this once cause it does appear well done. The bra could do with a bit more gems just to fill in the flat space but it could also ruin it if its not done in a strategic way.So I will leave it alone. The colour may not compliment all skin tones but the fact that its not a oogly peach costume is a plus.

FIJI

I must admit I am totally biased when I see these colours. That is half the sell with me there. I also like the detail that this designer puts into her costumes which is why I have played in her section several times. With that said, I love the string bikini bra. I think that style enhances those who aren't working with much on top and for me its more comfortable. The rest of the costume is itty bitty (like we carnival skettels like it) and I love the mohawk head piece with the gradient colours. I am hoping that even with its size its as light as the Loulan headpiece and its much more crowd friendly. I prefer to have the extra beading on the bodywear as in the individual than to have a bigger headpiece. I hope those wings are going to be an add on option also. I will take wings and leave the headpiece yes. (Yay wings!). OMMMGGGG now noticed wings are attached to headpiece. That is fantastic! Backpacks are just more than I want to deal with on the road so I am very glad to have this option in a frontline. I can't wait to see this up close! #winning

DUBAI

The colours are lovely. Oh wait, I said that already.Oh wait, its a different costume. My bad. I honestly didn't notice until I saw pics after the fact. Between the two, I prefer South Beach. Mainly because it has more beading than Dubai. Would still like to see it up close but I am already worried about the bra being a bit bare in the cup area. Personally I like to see heavy beading or gemming on a frontline. I think that's part of what you pay for.

CYPRUS

Humph! Papa Yo! Like Tribe having a float next year to put all them girls in FL Cyprus. I eh sure if that costume legal nah. This section should have been called Rio cause that is as close as you gonna get nekkid. Everytime I think they can't get more nekkid they prove me wrong! Now I can appreciate its creativity. I think the design of the bra is different and I do like it. I personally may shy away from the cutouts in the bra but its cute. I could even rock the bottom piece when viewed from in front if I was in top form. However ,although I don't particularly mind my ass hanging out , I think having it outside like if I never put on a draws at all is a bit much. I absolutely hate those 'headpieces' but its Carnival and no one will judge you for wearing it. I also have mixed feelings about the monokini version. I like the style of the monokini but the feathers on the crotch somehow make me thing of "lucky poonky" and the feathers edging the plunge make me think of "flame boob" both unfortunate costumes from "the band that shall not be named". I will reserve my final opinion for when I see it in reality as it does have other good features like the gems.Cyprus redeems itself fully as from what I see the backline may be one of the best in the band. The next question is, If you don't look like the model how you wearing that frontline?(Edited to add:Wait, i think I answered my own question: you don't! Maybe that's the intent hmmmm.)

SANTORINI (with one "N" Triniscene)

Ok yes it have the same gems from Amazon, but I love the body wear. If nothing else it looks like you getting something for your money. The headpiece is sky high which is great. I like the design of the hand pieces but the quality (from pics) looks a bit like it was made out of orange bristol board. I may be wrong, would need to see it up close.

CANCUN

Teal overload, i love it lol. Loving the individual bra. I need another look at FL bra which seems to be just as lovely if it's as worked up as I think it is.The waistband is extremely tiny. Totally forgivable with the ridiculous amount of feathers. Yes its a colour variation of what we have seen before but it's a fantastic colour and a sure to be popular.

MANHATTAN

I love this frontline. Simple but very attractive. Tribe love a collar eh? The colour combo is along the lines of one of this years' Bliss costumes (substitute purple for teal) but it does work well together. It may have looked a bit dark on the night but I think it will be ok on the road as their is some colour variation (as opposed to the monotone of Johannesburg). The bodywear will dazzle so arguably the darker tones in the headpiece may balance it out. Not sure how I feel about the backline bra which seems to be sequined covered. Somehow even though I know it has something on it , it still looks plain because in pics it comes out like a solid colour.

IBIZA

Achaean Odyssesy is that you? Don't get me wrong ,Its a lovely costume but its a version 2.0 of Achaean. At least it could have been a different colour! Ok, I personally don't like red costumes so I was not a fan out the gate. I do love the design and it is definitely one of the more interesting costumes in the group. I would still put it in my top picks.Let's hope they recall the issues with the torso lengths that occured with Achaean. I'm still kinda wondering why they sending Gabrielle with that version and not the other individual version to Ms.Universe.Too much to travel with? By Trini standards the headpiece and accessories are nothing new and I am sure there will be similar ones from other countries who recently seem to be coping the carnival costume style. I doubt anyone will come with anything like the bigger individual.

I am not even going to waste my time with the male costumes. Best they just give them what they want, a short pants and a id band and done the talk. I can respect the Ibiza male for the effort, although that's may be an 'individual'.

Top picks so far (in no order): South Beach, Fiji, Ibiza, Manhattan.I would like to give an honorable mention to Cyprus as well. I would not pick it for myself but I am sure it will be a hot seller.

Least fav : The rest are on pretty even footing and I don't think any are flat out ugly so I won't single out any.

With all these '2.0' and sometimes '3.0' versions of costumes Tribe played it safe but I suppose in the end the formula works as I honestly can't trash any. If one or two get a little tweak it will be just that and not major revisions. If you need to see pics of costumes it have a million on the internet and I eh able to insert them here. Remember this is only my preliminary take, we still have backlines to macco good and to see the costumes in real. I have been known to go 180 on some of my likes and dislikes.

The Return

2011-07-22T00:01:00.004-04:00

Well whole of this year Carnival my theme song was Machel's song "Coming again" cause all I coulda say was "I shall return, I must come back.". I broke my own rules and got taken out the game so unfortunately I did not make it on the road. Bad mind alone had me holding on to my costume till I could bring myself to sell it (i.e when I stopped being in denial of missing the first carnival on the road in 15+ years. Yes, 15 I said.) So sad, so sad. I had seriously considered buying it and putting it in a corner just so I could look at it. *sigh* Oh well, I survived the torture and although I may not be as free to come and go as I was before, I am determined to be on the road next year.(God's willing. Please God please.)

Anyhow you take it , I usually go on hiatus in what we refer to as the 'off season' which is the short time between Carnival and the first band launch. I am not sure how many band launches I will be able to attend this rounds. Honestly, I good to stay home from now till Carnival Monday. Just give me meh costume. I have always been more a road person than a fete person. Being a regular Triber, the anticipation of their band launch always brings me out the woodwork and gets my blog rolling again.

After that run in with my doppelganger (refer to previous post) and with my very hectic schedule, I have not quite decided what the focus of my blog this year will be. I don't know if I have either the time or the patience to run down pics at events and upload etc etc. In the earlies this blog was mostly about my own personal routine to get prepared for Carnival (hence the tag line above) and along the way the bloggerati was born. It still boggles my mind how that happened but we have lots of fun lol. I may just revert a bit to the ole school seeing that my band launches may be attended via triniscene. If nothing else , I have a challenge. How to get back in bess shape after having a baby, while taking care of a baby. Good material there , the mampee factor was never more real to me lol. So we will see how it goes, can't promise I'll be as regular with posting, after all getting back in shape is the priority!

I AM Carnival Jumbie BITCH!

2011-02-08T17:36:00.004-04:00

In all the years I have been doing this blog, I have had a lot of challenges to deal with over the years. For the most part it has to do with trolls leaving rude comments on some of the posts and people using my pictures for their own sites or to sell products. As annoying as they may be, I have taking it in stride and dealt with it. Way back in 2007 I did a post called D'Original Jumbie poking fun at the idea that Machel sing a song called 'Jumbie' after I had already been blogging as Jumbie for some time. But never in my wildest dreams did I think I would bruk up on such an asshole as I did very recently last week or that I would have reason to ever defend my very existance!!

For those of you who have been long time readers, would know that I first became known as regular commenter on Saucy's blog. After some time I decided to do my own blog as I was talking way too much on Saucy's posts and wanted to give a different angle to what she was doing. For a time that worked but this whole carnival blogging thing got a life of its own. Readership on the blogs went up, so much so that Saucy migrated from a blog server to a regular website address. There was a demand for the info that we provided the behind the scenes action, the gossip and more than anything our pics and costume reviews which both foreigners and locals seem to put a great deal of faith in. With the effort and lots of hard work that were put into out posts at our own expense bands and designers started to take notice and we were able to effect change in several cases to benefit the masquerader. Much to my own surprise, at some point we became legitimate media personnel with invitations to many of the major events. In all this time as media invitees Saucy, AC and I with a few others have always supported each other. We have always exchanged information, pictures and even hooked each other up a few times as well. Despite not having known each other prior to our blogs we have always respected each other and given due credit where credit is due and never tried to compete with each other. Each of us have had our own contribution to make and have represented ourselves as individuals in the business.

So imagine my surprise that after over five years of building the name Carnival Jumbie as a member of the (sometimes notorious) Bloggerati that I would get a message from a fellow colleague saying that someone had created a Facebook Fan page for Carnival Jumbie for a blank website and was , in their opinion, trying to rip off my name. Good looking out my friend cause she was also a previous victim of bootleg impersonators on said Facebook. Well one visit to the page and I totally agreed because not only was this person calling themself Carnival Jumbie but they were advertising themself as the source of carnival info and promoting a site that had eerily a similar name to my own blog.Not only that, but people on my fb friend account were joining the page under the impression that it was me!! Now I also had created a facebook friend account under the name Carnivale Jumbie about two/three years ago and had all my readers join that account. At the time, I chose to do a friend account rather than a fan page because I like being able to upload my pics easily and felt I could interact better with my readers that way. Why Carnivale and not Carnival? Cause FB is retarded and would not accept Carnival as a first name. I kept it consistent, linked it to the blog, used the same profile pic and contacts so ppl would know it was indeed me. It worked very well for my purposes and helped to me to maintain my presence on Fb in my limited free time by being able to tweet @carnivaljumbie . So although it would have been more polite to email the individual privately, no contact was provided for me to do so and since from all appearances they seemed to be ripping off my pen name I posted on the wall that they should cease and desist because they were infringing on my intellectual property (i.e Carnival Jumbie). I also advised one of my readers on their comment that it was not me and I did not have a fan page.Well who tell me say dat!

This dude thinks he is more CJ than me!! Not only did he get very nasty he wanted to accuse ME of being an imposter. Well I really felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. The man as evidence of his rights want to link to of a whack website on one of them free hosts with a carnival schedule from like 2007 or something so with a title at the top as Carnival Jumbie. And he wants to tell me that because he went and registered www.carnivaljumbie.com that he is CJ. Well all I eh do is die laughing because apparently his empty website supposedly registered in 1997, his fb page created last week and his archived link has more legitimacy than a person who has been actively blogging as CJ for the past 5 years and is RECOGNISED by local bands as an individual worthy of their acknowledgement. The man rationale right is that I am CarnivalE Jumbie and he is Carnival Jumbie so even though he created a page last week and i have mine like 3 years with 500 friends I trying to be like him. Ummm ok well i explained before how that CarnivalE thing came to be but umm wouldn't this website name or maybe the fact that I have carnivaljumbie@gmail.com or @carnivaljumbie on twitter be a clue? Wait nah, the GREATEST of them all , is apparently nobody does read my blog. Hmm well like i smarter than I think cause I eh know how you does ratch hundreds of thousands of hits. Anyhow you take it if NOBODY was reading this I would still do it . However, it still remains, I out here long time and people reading this long time NOT your shitty site.You really so desperate to get in party free?

Dude what you smokin? The only reason people joined your fan page is because they thought YOU WERE ME!! Cause it makes sense that overnight you have 100 friends ? Oh you fancy huh? LMAO. WHAT A PSYCHO!Like you going right in the same bag with them next psychos. how can any RATIONAL person come up with that logic????? Right now you riding on the work that I have done for the past five years and the reputation that I have developed and trying to profit off of it. Well a lower piece of trash does not exist to me and I go be damned if i taking that jus so. So of course I let FB know my concern and faster than I expected they deleted the fan page. Well like the man was eating sour grapes because he obviously took turn to complain on me. And quite suprisingly (as i said fb is retarded) after approving my propriety complaint fb then suspended my Carnivale friend account. Not for copyright oh nooo, cause I won that, but for not putting my real name in field (like i even knew that was a violation). *ROFL*

Compared to the other Bloggerati , I was late in the game to join FB on the whole. Cause I don't really like fb , but it has become a necessary evil for what we do. So if i personally have a friend account on fb, I don't really care. What DID piss me off is the fact that the fb account is not really for me at all. It is for the general public to be able to see the pics of the costumes and events that we go (GET INVITED) to and to be able to share them with their own peoples. Now that, that pissed me off because along with the account, so are the pics that were uploaded. He eh hurt me, cause I still have all my pics, but for all his talk about being the voice of Carnival, he just deprived a very wide audience of something that was important to THEM.

So asshole( not you dear reader, the wannabe CJ), where were YOU during the Silver Mess saga? Have YOU ever been in the top 10 to register for Tribe? I doubt it cause we know all those people. Where were YOU when the bloggerati were accused of crashing the "Band that shall not be named" ? Do you even know who that is? Wait, where yuh was at Yuma launchES this year? You sure you want my personna? Cause it have a few people you probably should not turn your back on either lolololol. You asshole are the NOBODY. You jus come and feel you have rank? You need to EARN your respect around these parts. And you don't get respect by trying to ramp with Bloggerati. Yeah anybody can be a carnival jumbie, but you will never be THE Carnival Jumbie. I AM Carnival Jumbie bitch ! And we eh done yet......God doh sleep and neither do I .

MAKEUP BY MISSY 2011

2011-01-10T20:42:00.003-04:00

Once again Melissa has taken the guesswork out of Carnival Make up. She now has available new makeup packages for Carnival 2011! She is making things even more personal this year as colours are being customised by section. Just email her your section and your quantity and she takes the guesswork out of everything.

Option A). 2 Colours plus gems.$150TTD

Option B). 3 Colours plus gems.$190TTD

All containers now have sifters, so that it is easier dispense the pigments , without the mess.

These are highly pigmented colours at approximately 1 tsp each.

Email makeupdean@gmail.com and be sure to join the facebook group "Makeup by Missy" for more pics of colours available.

MACHEL RETURNS!!

2011-01-08T12:11:00.002-04:00

For those of you who have been eagerly anticipating "The Return" of Machel Montano into Carnival 2k11, you don't have much longer to wait!!! The first and only place to see Machel in concert is at Soca Spree Six which is being put forward by bmobile and BVT Entertainment.

This event is carded for 28th January,2011 in none other than Tobago! Sounds like its going to be a big show with a star studded cast which includes Patrice,Zan,Farmer Nappy, Lil Rick,Swappy, Shurwayne Winchester and You, Shal Marshall and TC ,JW and Blaze AND a suprise Reggae Artist. Ah booking meh ticket now!!!

The venue is the Garden Side Street CarPark. General tickets start at $180, General Group Tickets at $800 , VIP at $350 and VVIP if you know where to get. If the anticipation is killing you , hold on to the new Machel dropped today, "Hard Wuk"!

New Band Alert:Creation

2010-12-07T13:37:00.007-04:00

When you thought it was over there is still more!! A new band was released this week called "Creation". The band theme is based on the book of Genesis. It may suprise you to know that this band is being produced by the Roman Catholic church and promises to have clean adult revellery for Carnival Monday and Tuesday. Prices should be about $2000 and all costumes will be made locally. And of course, no alcohol.The band was designed by Mrs. Lisa Bhajan and was featured on TCN network yesterday. Looks like Macfarlane has some unexpected competition!

MACFARLANE 2K11:HUMANITY OF LIFE

2010-10-11T21:38:00.003-04:00

VIEW GALLERY HERE

PULSE 8 2K11:OUT OF THE WOODS

2010-10-01T23:16:00.004-04:00

LAUNCH PICS HERE

RONNIE & CARO: SURVIVOR BAND LAUNCH

2010-08-29T02:48:00.002-04:00

Allyuh look pictcha!Review soon.

RONNIE AND CARO BAND LAUNCH

Island People:Shades of the Universe Mascamp

2010-08-27T14:56:00.002-04:00

Took a pass by the IP camp ,was told that registration will be starting tomorrow.Oh and for all of you who want that Saturn Individual ...its a hot $7500!

Island People Close Ups

SPICE 2K11:THE SIGNATURE COLLECTION

2010-08-25T15:25:00.003-04:00

Well I took a pass in the mascamp today for registration since I had yet to see the costumes close up. They did nothave the numbers that I have seen in some of the other mas camp openings but I must admit I was pleasantly suprised at some of the costume. I might be inclined to do a review later . Here are some pics

SPICE GALLERY 1

SPICE GALLERY 2

ISLAND PEOPLE 2K11:Shades of the Universe Review

2010-08-21T20:26:00.010-04:00

Band Launch season continued with Island People's Presentation of 'Shades of the Universe". As per usual I was running a bit late for the media launch and was filled with dread at the thought of traffic to get to Pier 1. Fortunately there was none and I was able to make it with time to spare for the launch. The red carpet runway was laid out and it was with much anticipation that we awaited the start of show. I was quite delighted to get a look at at least one version of all the sections prior to the band launch . As is always the case, the models ran back and forth from the stage giving very little time for us to get good pics and note the credits. Fortunately this was later remedied by a photo session for the media which allowed me to get some close up detail shots. I was a bit surprised to hear that one of Tribe's 'exclusive' designers was contributing to Island People's line up. Interesting..... Anywho we were well fed and the bar was well kept while we waited for the band launch to begin.

It was alleged early on that the show was to start at 11pm. One look at the crowd (and the still lack of traffic coming in to Chaguaramas) and I knew that was not going to happen. We saw 12am with a bit of crowd improvement and I was hoping for the go ahead by 12:30am. We were not so lucky . A tortuous hour later trying to fight the night dew and the show finally began .None of us were shocked that they started the show by spraying for mosquitos. I will never quite get how bands don't understand that we can't see costumes through smoke! Island People however had the perfect solution by having a long drawn out presentation with models trying to move in slow motion with a few alien dance intermissions every so often. I was able to get some pretty good shots while they did their pause towards the back of the stage but they still sped along through their robot motions closer to the front of the stage. The odd positions did not do well for detailed pics but I can appreciate the effort to stick to a theme. The show ended off with Swappy decked off in his own 'out there' outfit. I could not help but think back to one of my first ever band launches for Poison where we had Machel perform with his live band. Times have certainly changed as the focus is completely on the costumes.

Ok so lets talk costumes......I will applaud Island People for taking some risks in their designs to draw people in and try and keep with their far out theme. Overall I will say they had a good presentation and as with all large bands I have my favs and my not so much.It comes as no surprise now that the costumes are super skimpy. Maybe I have seen too many costumes this season but I am a bit weary of nekkid costumes. So here is my personal take :

TWILIGHT PHENOM

I think it is marketing genius to have a section specifically geared to the 16-20 age group that is alcohol free. Cost wise this is also proposed to be within the 'youth budget' which is the justification for a simpler costume made with economical materials. Kudos to them because I know to ask mom and dad for money to pay for a carnival costume is a hard sell for some young people. They have a good case now! That is maybe until mom/dad actually sees the costume.For the age group it is a bit on the sexy side. To be sure, I asked my mom who did allow me to play mas with them in costume when I was 16 (and 15 if i wanted to). She also did not like the idea of a sixteen year old in that outfit with the very narrow and low belt and a cutout bra. I did not even bother to show her the back which has very little coverage. In this case, a standard boy short or monokini would have given the youth an open and shut case when they made that pitch. I could probably live with the collar but I am really not feeling the headpiece. They both look a bit 'school carnival' for me. It would have been cuter if they just used the purple spheres or better yet give them a cute head band.Maybe it just needs some more colour contrast or a few gems in the circles to make it a bit more eye catching. My first one feather Poison headpiece was far more nostalgic. Its odd that those crescent shapes on the male costume seems to be popular in several bands this year.

FOREVER ORBIT

Yeah, I don't really get this one as a costume. The monokiniversion kinda looks like one of those 'one size fits all' lingerie numbers that come in a box , not on a hanger. The slashed tube is also not something that seems very practical, I was able to check if there is some sort of lining. It is really a matter of personal taste if you like or hate this costume. I personally have yet to find the appeal of large amounts of lace in a carnival costume. It is also a bit questionable about how much 'design' really went into this one when it all seems pre packaged. If I pretend for a second that it is a costume and not night wear with a back pack then I would have to ask if different torso lengths will be accommodated in connection to different boy short sizes. There is also no waistband on the frontline whatsoever. From the back it looks boring. The head band makes for a bad tan line. Thebackline two piece is actually an improvement! On the plus side , I can see people saying "That one covered, I wearing dat!" but sheer lace is not very forgiving. I wonder if they are going to market that monokini as a frontline without backpack as seen on stage cause I think its a waste of money to buy that monokini by itself without the backpack option.Not even an extra arm accessory between the two versions plus a downgrade in headpiece with the monokini?? What is also completely perplexing to me is why do a black on black costume? Completely dead! Space is full of colour , just ask the Hubble people. This needed to be black and purple or black and orange or something. I think my money would be better spent on another section that is a lot more interesting. Yeah this one could really stay in orbit...forever.

ORIONS STARBIRTH

This is a one of my top picks for Island People. Loved the headpieces and the collars as well as the colour combination. The bra is decorated simply but nicely. I really like how the wire bra is done on the frontline and connected to the neckpiece. I do have to wonder if the waistband got lost in space cause it is almost non existent. It is actually more a decorated panty than a waistband in truth. Sexy is sexy but this looks more scanty like they ran out of material because the four strands of gems used on each side of the front are so tiny themselves!! Is that another built in T-string? The gems in the back just disappear at a distance as they are so fine. Value for your money? Jury is still out on that one. A pity cause I do love it from the waist up. I think it will be one of the first to sell off as there is a demand for super skimpy.

METEOR BURST

Well if you are planning to do this front line I sure hope your body and your boobs look just like the model. The pattern from a distance looks interesting almost like a dress mannequin with body lines. The shoulder pieces are not going to help with your modesty that's for sure. Very bondage like and NEKKID not naked. I am a bit concerned with all these connected parts..how does one adjust that?Note that the panty is not connected to the 'cage' of the costume. It is a bit more obvious on the backline where you can tell that the 'waistband' is actually connected to the bra by the vertical gems.I wonder how do they ensure the torso lengths and that the 'waistband' horizontal piece falls at the right spot on the body. If it comes up short you will see the waistband and then a gap of skin and then the bottom piece.Ok ,I have a habit of ranting about torso lengths cause it is always a problem area for me, I don't fit in many standardmonokinis or all in one jumpsuits. Besides being tall overall, I also have a long boob to waist torso length. That would be my greatest reservation about this section but I do think its interesting and I like the headpiece.

GALACTIC DUST

I am a bit on the fence about this one.I like the colour and the general design especially the fabric tendrils.Its a bit reminiscent of Natural Mystic in that sense. The flower applique is just not working for me. In general, I personally hate generic appliques on any costume , I think its a cop out to actually designing something especially when its just used in a row on the waistband and then one on each boob. Fortunately in this case , that was not done with the bra but it was done on the waistband and the headpiece. I would have liked it a lot better if they had used the applique in a similar fashion to the bra in the waistband. I think because it is so obviously a flower is what really throws it off as I don't see how that is space related. The landing strip of flowers in the head piece is also completely unnecessary. However the flower in the headband is kinda cute as that where flowers should be, in your hair. The frontline is done much more attractively and is very nice. Love the backpack. Yet another one of the ever popular bejewelled panty. I would love to see how this is priced with very few feathers.

ZUNE

When I first saw this costume I said wow thats hot! I love the colour combo with the chains of different sizes and colours. Very punk rock meets outer space. Absolutely love the arm piece and the leg piece. Paired with a wicked backpack and hot wire bra. Interesting head piece comprised of large gems.The model was channeling Nikki Minaj. Yeah, I would rock it. It was not until I saw the backline on stage I said "Wait a minute!" And then I got very annoyed. The similarities between this costume and Persian Gold(Tribe 2k11) is just too much to overlook. Funnily enough before the launch I had a convo with a friend in regards to Orions'Starburst's bra which she insisted was a carbon copy of Amazon (Tribe). I disagreed and without debating 'who copy who' I actually made a case that its only so many ways you can decorate a bra and it is perfectly reasonable for two designers to come up with a similar pattern independantly. This costume just shot my theory to hell. I had to wonder if this was some sensational episode of Project Runway. Designs are typically done way in advance ,but we have certainly seen first hand what can happen overnight e.g Bliss costume revamp. By reason of being first out the gate it would suggest that Tribe had first dibs on the design and it would also suggest that if they wanted to, IP had more than enough time to mod their own version. I am not accusing anybody of wrong doing but this costume is like Persian gold's evil twin. Like in the movie's (or Heroes) when people look in the mirror. I may be taking this personally as Persian Gold is one of my top picks but the similarity in even the details is disturbing. Similar colouring,similar feathers in the backpack, similar style of backpack, similar arm accessory and it seems like the arm was translated to the leg complete with feathers coming off the top (like Persian armpiece).The frontline panty even has the same detail whereby the chains are attached to the rings. But wait, weren't those chains done in Caged Canary and weren't those gems used in Loulan? Wow.Just wow. Hold up!The backlinebra is fully embellished and I almost went home when I saw the hood. No, seriously? The more i look at it the more aggravated I get. The back view of the panty is just poor though.Good job on the glove though, that's different. I do believe that in the booklet that the exact same pose was done with Touch.

LUNAR CYCLE

Good going on this one. I especially like the monokiniversion as it look like quite a bit of detail was done in decorating the monokini itself. The waistbands are barely there in both versions! The backline waistband style does look very familiar hmmm. Love the back pack and headpieces. I think the individual costume just looks like it would be fun to wear and be a Lady Gaga for a day. Very interested in seeing the price of that costume.One of my top picks.

MARS BLISS

Interesting colour choice for Mars considering that it is considered the red planet. I just don't really understand this one overall. Kill them with applique so it went wrong for my tastes already. The backline just looks like very little thought went into. I like the style of the frontline monokinibut I would have to agree with Saucy that the construction left a bit to be desired. Unfortunately, I think Saucy'strypophobia is contagious and it kinda freaks me out also. The frontline speaks to me more of coral with the branches and the colouring than planets for some reason.A really good sized head piece and backpack but I could have also done without the applique runway up the front of the headpiece. Good luck with that wire frame around the front of the face, the tan line will not be cute.How do you wear sunglasses with these? Overall just meh!

M51

Great colour. Yes, a bit reminiscent of Touch but again its only so many colours in the rainbow so I won't harp on that. However, is that an applique I see? This costume actually has more of a waistband than many of the other sections in the band. I was liking the monokini until I saw that the connecting part was pink lace. Huh? I really don't understand why that was neccessary. Love the large headpiece version. Overall a safe pick

VEGA

Green costumes and I generally don't get along but I think this one was done well. Definitely risky to mix the green shades but I think it works. I really did not appreciate this costume until I saw it under the lights and it is really one of the better ones in the band. Love the far out frontlineversion. I am a bit iffy about the feathered neckpiece cause I think that might drive me crazy all day but that's an easy mod. The headpieces are really pretty as well. One of my top picks. Ok but the male headpiece...does that even make sense? How you drinking with that on your head?

SATURN SANCTUARY

When I saw the frontline version of this at the media launch I was like its nice but the gradient beading is something that has been over done in recent times. I liked the colour combo and I loved the shoulder pads. I think I liked thebackline version better . I would have liked to see something a bit more fan shaped on thefrontline headpiece and the three lines coming down onto the forehead seems a bit odd.The backline headpiece is very cute and I prefer the style of the curved lines over the forehead. The individual of this section was definitely a wow moment. I absolutely love it. Those leg pieces are stunning! The body wear and the shoulder pads from the frontline and I would be on!

NEBULAR'S HYPNOSIS

I liked it for the main fact that its basic and blue. And yes that may translate as a bit boring or safe but hey you can't go wrong either. This is definitely the section for those who don't want too get to far out with the other costumes and want to stick to the bbf formula. The backline does look a bit lacking with a small headpiece and no arm accessories. Its still cute and easy to manage on the road. The frontline is very pretty and I love the bra cut. However, we did see that newer style in YUMA for the season which is fine but I would agree with Sauce that it is probably the best feature of the costume.

QUASAR

Compared to the other black costume this is definitely a winner.Its strange that they would have two black costumes in a band. Maybe the thought was space has a lot of black but as a science geek I don't subscribe to that thought. (Olber's Paradox).Its also kind weird that a quasar as the most luminous object in space would be black.Ok science lesson over. Anywho, this costume and its numerous options scream Sonia Mack. Its kinda hard to tell what is backline and what is individual.I pretty much like all the bodywear options especially the bustier. I absolutely love ,love the individual with the giant skirt The smaller version is cute too. I would have to do something about the peekabo nipple though. Lets talk about this netted panty on the 'frontlines'.....ummm does that have a lining in the front? That net body suit is for only the brave but I do like the overlay. It does remind me a bit of Oracle (Yuma). I cant stand the headpiece with the landing lights up the front. I do think the section overall is one of her better designs. Oh btw Male Quasar, Artic Warrior called, they want their wolverine claws back.

My top picks (no order): Vega, Quasar,Orion's Starbirth, Lunar Cycle

My least favourite: Mars Bliss, Forever Orbit , I want to say Galactic Dust but imma gonna let you slide.

Banned from my sight: Zune

Ok so overall a very different presentation by Island People. I think there are a lot of choices for all tastes and all levels of confidence. I would have to say that I prefer their last two years to this one. Not as many OMG moments as I as hoping for. I think there may be some issues with fit in some sections. I think all the sections need to take a second look at the rear view as they all seem to be lacking. I expect that my costume look just as good from the back as from in front. Decorating just the front of the costume is both lazy and cheap and don't use the skimpy card to justify it. The costumes are strong enough that I think they will do well and they definitely have a solid following regardless. Island People need to ensure they have a good pricepoint with all the competition out there.

Island People 2K11:Shades of the Universe

2010-08-21T02:49:00.005-04:00

Here are pics...I hadda sleep on some of these costumes before I do any review.

BAND LAUNCH PICS

MEDIA LAUNCH PICS

YUMA MAS CAMP OPENING

2010-08-18T14:47:00.006-04:00

I made a visit to Yuma's mascamp opening today and I must say they have a very impressive set up. It is located on 12 Alcazar Street , St.Clair which can be a bit tricky to navigate sometimes with the double parked cars. If you miss it , its opposite the blue building (Lonsdale). I lucked out on a parking spot but I also noticed a carpark next door, not sure if that will be available for use. I am love the fact that both Full frontlines and floor are being displayed. The way they have suspended the headpieces over the mannequins is also pretty cool and you can walk 360 degrees around most of them. The accessories for the costumes are also on display. They also have a guy walking around with an Apple Ipad that you use to see the studio shots.The website is set to be launched today . There are numerous staff members walking around to answer questions and give prices . When I thought they could not treat people better...it have a man outside with umbrellas to walk you in just in case. Humph! Well without further delay (SAUCE) here are the prices as given to me today. Official prices should be taken from the website.

All males for all sections :$2,790

FEMALES:

ARIES

Backline $3,490 + $600 for lg headpiece

No frontline

SCORPIO

Backline $3,690

Frontline $ 4,990

GEMINI

Backline $3390

FL ??? maybe it was an individual we saw

SAGITTARIUS

Backline $3190

FL??

TAURUS

Backline $3,690

Frontline $4,790 + $1200 Backpack

ORACLE

Backline $3,690

Frontline $4,990 + $1200 Backpack

LEO

Backline $3,490

Frontline $4,290

CAPRICORN

Backline $3,190

Frontline , including lg headpiece and shoulder $3,790

VIRGO

2PC Backline $3,290

Monokini backline $3,490

AQUARIUS

Backline $3,690

Frontline $4,790

LIBRA

Backline $3,690

Frontline $4,290 (no backpack)

CANCER

Backline $3,490

Frontline $4,790 (with backpack)

PISCES

Backline $ 3,290 +$700 collar

Frontline $4,990

Downpayments are $1800 for frontline and backline is $1200. I think generally the prices are good. There is a good range so you can budget accordingly. See here for pics from inside the camp.

BLISS: PART TROIS

2010-08-17T15:02:00.007-04:00

Ok so we have to make sure to keep up with all these changes in BLISS!! Here now is their (kinda) new section Amazonia. Its basically the sme design as Amazon in Tribe but with a different colour scheme. They are both very pretty but I think I am leaning towards this version just an itsy bit more. For the full gallery and close ups click here.

In other news, Ice Warriors just lost its feathered collar. Now I don't know if the frontline will have the collar option or if you can purchase it for an additional price but it just went poof! What is left is kinda blah, the collar really made the costume complete. However this section is pegged to be the 'ultra inclusive' section for those with champagne tastes.( I want to see if it will be a champagne budget as well)

We are still hoping that the "Indian" makes last call as people are anxiously waiting to see what it looks like before commiting to anything. The Bliss site is now up with prices minus some of the newer costume versions, keep checking for updates.

BLISS : THE REVAMP

2010-08-14T17:37:00.007-04:00

Well a little birdie told us that the Bliss costumes were going to get a little facelift. Well I expected a slight tweak or two. I certainly was not expecting a complete rework of Ice Warriors and Solaris. So here is Solaris and Ice Warriors take two:

SOLARIS

Solaris is almost unrecognizable. Most of the costume has been completely scrapped with the exception of the tubular gold chain. Most obvious is the colour change which went from gold/orange/ yellow to blue/ lime green. The design on the bra and the waistband are completely chaged.The back of the waistband is a piece of cloth that hangs to one side. The frontline version has a backpack instead of the large armpieces before. I think much better use of the gold chain compared to the previous version and the colour are fantastic . Down the the bracelet accesories......I am truly shocked, 110% improvement!

BEFORE

AFTER

ICE WARRIORS

I had to do a million double takes on this one. The colour combination is now teal/grey/purple. No trace of the former shade of blue. The icicle headpiece and the oversized back pack are gone. We now have giant fetahered shoulder pads and a cute headpiece. Please note the funky pink walls in bliss mascamp sometimes causes some distortion in the colouring and I was so excited that I forgot to take an overall shot with my digital camera instead of my blackberry.The transformation is amazing. Similar style gems are being used but a lot more colour brought into the costume.

BEFORE

AFTER

I really need to give the designers a round of applause! Well done! This is what i was hoping to see in Bliss to begin with! I can see some people jumping off the TRIBE bandwagon very shortly. For close up pics of both new designs click here.

But wait! Its not over yet !! Cyclon is a "dead man walking" and will be removed from the lineup as well. As we speak a NEW costume is being photographed for addition to the band. Stay tuned!

YUMA 2K11:LAUNCH REVIEW

2010-08-10T11:33:00.016-04:00

As you would all know by now ,on Sunday,YUMA had their launch of their first ever presentation for Carnival called "Zodeak". I of course have to thank the YUMA crew who were kind enough to give us unprecedented access to the backstage prior to the show. Myself, AC and Saucy were afforded the privilege of being to witness the whole production from beginning to end and it was indeed and experience.

The venue was an interesting choice, a part of the Oval Carpark that I had never seen used for an event. It turned out to be a good gamble as the crowd was just enough to make the entire place look full.The stage set up was also extremely elaborate with several giant screens in the backdrop. The sponsors Coldstone, Jack Daniels, Dixie were all set up and ready before the doors were officially opened. I must say from the get go you can see the backstage also appeared very well organised; all the costumes were laid out and from well before the show there were ladies fully dressed in frontline costumes.Kudos to those ladies who spent no less than 5 hours in costume in heels! We were all given a full walkthrough of all the costumes by section and allowed to observe the elaborate detailing.

Well my thoughts? In general I think YUMA had a point to prove that they could compete with the other established large bands especially if they want to be successful. It took some thinking before we could find a phrase to describe what we were seeing and we finally decided on "Shock and Awe". They pulled out all the stops when it came to bling,costume size and sexiness to just continuously have that "WOW !" factor throughout the presentation. In some cases it worked to their advantage, others not so much but without a doubt people went home talking about YUMA. Overall I think there may be too many costumes in earth tones and the models seem to have some challenges with some of the backpacks but as they say.....go big or go home so I will put it down to unforeseen circumstances. Please note that my critique are always a personal opinion based on personal experience and longevity playing mas in costume. I always respect a designer's effort and inspired design thought regardless whether I like the end product or not.Ok so costume review time :

THE ORACLE

This costume is absolutely gorgeous.Love love love! My opinion from the media launch has definitely not changed The detail on the bra is fantastic and the colour was definitely a good pick for the incorporation of the peacock feathers.
I love how the decoration goes up the bra straps. The frontline bodywear is my absolute favourite of the entire band. The headpieces are sky high!The individual backpack seems a bit unstable but that should be an easy fix. I was a bit concerned about the wire bra for the individual as it clearly did not fit her but it is also absolutely gorgeous. Some people think the shreds of cloth are a bit much in the backpack but I love them as I love to see them trail off as the models moved across the stage. When you see this one coming , get out the way!

ARIES

Interesting colour choice for this sign. The interpretation was meant to be the remnants of flames i.e ash and soot. Don't quite understand how that is associated with a ram ..maybe cause its a sun sign? However, I am not too bothered by theme and interpretations.The birthstone most associated with this sign (Diamonds) is used quite generously in the back line version. Backline is a nice pick and

a safe bet. I think the individual bustier is fantastic. Not sure how I feel about the wings but the plunge neckline, the spikes and the detailing with the whole dominatrix feel. When the model walked with this and you saw how the top of the bustier moved , you know Beyonce might be calling for a borrow.

TAURUS

This costume is definitely in my top three! Actually no, this is my favourite! Just wow. This is not usually one of my

favourite colours but it was just done so well! The belt, the bras are so well detailed, absolutely gorgeous! This is one that could have gone so wrong with the horns but it was incorporated into the headpiece so elegantly you can barely notice it. When you do notice it its like, that's just fabulous. Backline, Frontline, Individual all fantastic. The variation

of the frontline neckpiece had me doing double takes. Those jewel pants on the individual ..very daring! The decoration is really something to see up close.

LEO

Leo, Leo,Leo. Sigh. Ok, so as i saw the backline model being dressed I said hmmm. Alright, loved the hanging gems from the bar similar to Island People's 'Rays of light'. I understand that its supposed to represent a lion but in my opinion furry boobies, or furry anything for that matter is really not very flattering. I still kept an open mind and hung around to see how this was going to end up. Then I saw the waistband with even more fur with just 3 little pieces hanging in front and I was like nooo this is not going where I am willing it to go. In fairness, I am a bit biased when it comes to furry bamcees due to a personal unfortunate costume experience. So maybe its just transference at play here but I would have lived with the bra if it was the only portion with the fur. It would have been better if they used some leather and made her an african queen. Then we have the frontline.....humph! For shock value it gets an A+, for people who really want to play mas...it gets an D-. I actually like the front of the frontline alot better than the floor, even though its furry, as you can see the pattern of the animal print much better than in the smaller areas on the backline.The headpieces are quite a risk with all the hair used .You will either love it or hate it. I am not feeling it just yet ,maybe it will grow on me (no pun intended) as I appreciate the interpretation. I thought the lion nostril design was quite creative but I could not help but wonder what happens if it gets wet? Hmmmm. I liked the plunge neckline on the bodywear, even liked the side chains. I absolutely cannot endorse the back of this costume. Its just too much for something that I don't particularly care for to begin with. Skimpy is one thing and I love a skimpy costume, this is flat out nekkid.Not naked eh..nekkid! I dunno who will seriously wear this (without tights at that) but I am not sure if that's the clientele YUMA is looking for or if I really want to lime with those who would.

VIRGO

The floor is baby pink and white and the frontline is all white.Another interesting colour choice. If it was up to me I would ban baby pink and lime green from the colour spectrum for Carnival as they are very difficult colours to get right. They did a pretty good job with this one mostly due to the fact that the beading is so detailed. I would have to agree with Saucy when she says that when its put together its nice. I like it but don't love it. The frontline however is fantastic! That I absolutely love!! If you blinked you missed it but I was lucky enough to catch a few shots on stage and see it close up before hand. One of the best frontlines. The male version had huge wings which he seemed to be barely able to manage. Forgive me, but I hope his pants were lined cause he may be giving us a different type of show on the road.

SAGITTARIUS

Another earthy toned costume. I think the side skirt on this was actually kind of cute. Modest yet still sexy. I liked the bra and the use of the bronze circles in the decoration especially on the foot pieces. Not sure if I am feeling the tubular chains, it seems that was a very popular material this year amongst all the bands. It just always makes me think of its use in costume jewellery. I liked it a bit more when i saw it connected to the waistband across the body. The arm accessories and the headpiece on the frontline are very pretty. I have some reservations about the braided weave incorporated into the headpiece. Yes,its a play on 'horse hair' which is the symbol of Sagittarius. I think the model who had a similar hair colour to the weave used in the headpiece braid was able to pull it off .That pic is actually my one of my favourites that I took for the night.However it just looked odd on the the model who had her own darker braids who had a much longer headpiece braid to begin with. Suppose a girl with blonde hair chose to wear the costume? then it becomes a bit weird. If you could have said on registration, Yeah I'm a number 4/30 then I would work with it. Either that or you are pretty much forced to wear your hair up. I hope its optional.

SCORPIO

This costume caused quite a stir on stage. Honestly it had to grow on me a bit.I loved the bloodstones used on the costumes but was a bit on the fence about how the monokini was decorated.Then I thought about it so more and said, ok, it kinda looks like a scorpion stingers and that's when I decided to like it. I agree with Sauce that we would have liked to see a tail or a bustle on the frontline as well . For me its more because the back looks a bit boring. I think I like the two piece version in the individual better as it looks like claws grabbing onto everything.It should be noted that these bras are lined on the inside for comfort. I am not really a fan of the backline however, I think it just looks a bit too cluttered.I would have liked it more if just the edges were lined with the bloodstones. Its a very bold gem to use so densely. I like the waistband even less. The headpieces and accessories are all fantastic so I would say overall a good costume but not OMG in my books.

AQUARIUS

Not to much different to what I thought from the launch. I just have to say the individual is stunning. I love the cut of the bra , the waistband. The cascading feathers in different shades of blue. Bling for days.Gorgeous! Hope those g-strings don't get people in trouble!

LIBRA

One of my favourites. This has a similar bra to Aquarius on the Fl but both floor and backline bra are very worked up with lots of diamante. It has a simple design but if you are a diamante lover and want to blind people in the sun, this is for

you! I swear this costume was glowing in the dark backstage. I love the use of the x-style bra on the backline.I would like to recommend a slider band to hold it together instead of stitching it down because it was clear that the model has issues with the fit. Other than that one issue, gorgeous.

GEMINI

HMMM I am very on the fence about this one. Green is a very difficult colour to pull off. I think the backline is much better than the frontline body wear wise. They use two shades of green with some gems and some pearl details. The pearls are used sparingly in the backline and its a cute touch. The frontline body wear is really not to my liking. There are certain elements to it that I like but together it does not mesh well with me. The medallion by itself is nice and I like the idea of the pearls hanging but the pearl strands seem to be very low cost material for a frontline.The bar is very well worked up but it looks odd on the lime green base. I think its the colour of the swimsuit that disturbs me the most. The bejewelled panty is really just awful between the colour and the placement of the placement of the stones it is hovering on tacky. I also don't understand how it is supposed to be worn because the model had to place the side bands high on her hip in high cut fashion although the front sits dangerously low. If it is worn any other way you would be flashing people. The leg pieces look very ole school. Its such a pity because the backpack and headpiece are fabulous. Overall the section is one of my least favourite but I agree with Sauce, the model definitely rocked it.

CANCER

This costume is a bit worrying for me . It has a whole lot going on. I liked the cups on the backline and the large gems used to hang from it but that's about it. The rest of the costume is a whole lot of applique/edging strung together.
A bit of transference here again, I never liked this sequin material, it has been used in several costume including Tribe's Jamette. I did not like it on that costume either and sorry to say it looks well... a tad bit cancerous. It is then paired with this band of applique with diamante which in my view does not tie in very well with the sequins. Then a there a few off-colour gems which I am not really sure how they got there at all. I am going to have to say the neckpiece is just not cute and quite blah. Given that there are some interesting details like the tie in the back of the bra but not a whole lot going on in the waistband back. The backpack and the headpiece of the frontline is probably the best part of the section overall. Now if I overlook the sequins material I can actually like the idea of the frontline legpieces. However, most sane people certainly wont be wearing high heels on the road and god forbid they wear sneakers with a frontline costume so I have to wonder how this will look with boots. It will be a bit odd having to lace up those thigh high leggings over boots. I will leave that for AC to figure out. I like the style of the bra and jewelled panty but again, the sequins just don't sit well with me. The panty in this one also sits extremely low, you can't afford to miss wax day with this one.

PISCES
YAY for Pisces! Ok I am biased , this is my sign and I am so happy to se it be as good as I hoped.It is fantastic! Absolutely love the frontline bodywear. I love the use of the different shades of blue and green in thebackpacks and headpieces. Blue meets bling and its fab-u-lous. The back of the waist band could have done with some more fringe hanging but that is an easy fix if you so chose to. The bustier is just wow! Love the movement in it and all the different colours. The larger winsg lread a bit more bat like than fish like with the blue candy floss but I can work with it.

CAPRICON

From the time I first saw the colour combo I knew I would like this one. Not since Poison's El Dorado have I seen a gold and black costume that I was really feeling. I love the beaded circles detail on the headpiece .This costume is simple and easy while still very cute. I really liked the jacket for the frontline but I think I would personally prefer something a bit visually lighter like the chains. So thast no real objection there. I loved the footpieces, I dunno how you supposed to walk in it but they are very pretty.Hmm , maybe you can turn that into a collar....or into arm pieces.

In general I think YUMA showed that they will be a force to be reckoned with and had a very good showing. I can't wait to see prices as the materials used in these costumes are not cheap but good sense would dictate that they would have to have a similar price point as other popular bands to be competitive.

YUMA BAND LAUNCH

2010-08-09T01:44:00.004-04:00

WOW ! What an interesting night! Check out the pics, review to follow soon!

For launch click HERE

For Backstage Pics click HERE

TRIBE IGNITE UK

2010-08-07T09:58:00.005-04:00

Your turn London!

TEAM BLISS!

2010-08-07T00:22:00.020-04:00

So Tribe had their mascamp opening for their new band Bliss this evening. The crowd started filtering in quite early. I guess either hoping to catch more Roast Pork or knowing that the parking situation is always a pressure. Much to my disappointment there was no roast pork in sight. I would not be left with my belly in my hand however as there was a never ending flow of hors d'oeuvres and if you was REAL hungry there was the biggest mini roti I have seen in a while available for the taking. As an advocate of the Bliss concept I was very glad to see it well attended. The new Bliss mas camp is located next door to the Tribe mas camp within the same compound. It was not long before bandleader Dean Ackin said a few words and welcomed everyone and then invited us all to take a look at the costumes on display.

So thoughts after second look:

TITANS

Probably the best of the lot. This costume is attracting the largest majority of the attention. Almost everyone who has

made the decision to be in Bliss wants this costume. The designer is offering so many different options that it would be difficult not to find one that fits you. There is the two piece, the monokini, the cold shoulder, the plunge, the big backpack, the small backpack, the big head piece, the small headpiece, the big belt, the little belt and who knows what else! From my understanding you will be able to mix and match whichever you want. Love that customis

ation option but I just hope they can keep things straight! The costume is every bit as beautiful in reality and I was glad to see some nice detail on the belt and neckline. I was even more pleased to see that the monokini has and adjustable center piece for different torso lengths. I am loving the diamante crown for the Frontline!

SOLARIS

I was never a fan of this costume and I although i like it better now that I have seen it with a full bra, I am not really sold on it. It has an interesting all metal waistband which was made using a tubular chainlink that has recently become popular with costume jewellery. There is only a little bit of colour in the body wear as it is mostly gold on gold. As I said before I can only presume that the intention is to minimise the body wear to enhance the elaborate arm, leg and head pieces that the floor version comes with. Although quite generous for a floor, I don't particularly like any of them especially the headpiece. The arm and leg pieces are a good design but seems like it was not executed quite right.The feathers look too droopy and there is this "half of an orange feather" stuck on each piece for a sad looking contrast. Maybe its because its a prototype, but I thought the arm band material which is also used for some of the cut out spikes were not of the level of quality workmanship I have come to expect from Tribe. Overall the minimal contrast makes it bit dull in my opinion.

IZUMI CLAN

This is my personal favourite. I am really loving the colour combo.The wrought iron-like detail is very attractive. The waistband is literally held on by two leatherette strings on each side which makes it extremely skimpy!!!! I probably would have preferred a bit more to it because it makes the main emblem portion of the waistband with the long cloth look a bit like a 'pin the tail on the poonky' play piece. It is so nicely detailed and so pretty that I am more than willing to overlook that. The back is a mirror of the front. I would probably cut the cloth anyway (from the top as to not lose the ombre pattern) and maybe use the scraps to make the side ties fabric.The headpiece is also very pretty but I am tired of headpieces and would probably opt for a simpler option if available.Unfortunately the frontline bra was not on display but judging by the book cover (no pun intended) its very racy. If you gonna rock the frontline it would be a shame to do so without the wire bra.

PELE

Another popular option among the sexy ladies. The plunge bra is an eye catcher indeed! The costume is nicely detailed but very reminiscent of Machu Pichu (which as I said before can never be a bad thing) with a lot more diamante. I was able to take a closer look and noticed that there were some more traditional wooden (?) beads included on the hanging parts of the costume. You might think this is a bit

inconsistent with all the diamante bordered gems but it seems to work quite well. My only concern was the fit of the bra, I suppose the mannequin was not the right size but food for thought, those of us with not much volume in the upper booby area due to breast shape (not size) may have some gaps in the top as seen in the pics.The mohawk head piece looks great but again, I hope I would have an option.

CYLON

I think those on the fence about this costume should see it in person. Close up, it is much more attractive than I anticipated it to be and its really growing on me more and more.You might need a bit of swag to rock those shoulder pieces .The costume itself seems to be meticulously put together using materials that individually would be unassuming.I am really liking how the patterns of the squares and circles vary throughout the costume giving its robotic look. In the booklet the model

looks fierce but I am still trying to figure out what is the difference between the floor and frontline in the book. I assume its an error.

ICE WARRIORS

I think my first impressions have not changed much with this costume but the 'like' factor went up a few notches on seeing it in person. Pretty costume and a safe choice. My only concern is that I think either the head piece or the collar needs to be reduced in size. There is too much interference between the two and they overwhelm each other. In reality the collar does not stand as straight up as it appears in the booklet and I would hate to have to hold it up all day like the model does in the studio shots. Furthermore, I hope the strings used to tie the backpack on display become straps (as they typically are in

Tribe) as they will certainly cut into the skin.

CAPRICA

Edited to add:Yeah I somehow skipped this one.

I think the body wear is very nice and the beaded curtain on the waistband is done well. I have a similar concern as with Solaris about the quality of the arm ban material.The arm pieces themselves make the costume quite broad. Don't plan on being able to wlak side by side with your friends. The head piece is not my favourite style but is very elaborate. Overall still one of my favs.

Last, but apparently least, I would like to offer my condolences and say R.I.P to Traxson Warriors which although it made it to the main band launch,it did not make it into the Bliss mas camp or the booklet. It is fair to say that it has been deposed to oblivion where other costumes such as Flamingo have suffered the same fate. I don't think it shall be missed but this strongly suggests either the popular section (Titans) just got bigger or the band just got smaller. I am putting my money on the first possibility.....supply and demand. The Bliss website is due to be up on Tuesday with full pricing. For full gallery click here.

Carnival Kicks Promotion

2010-08-05T20:14:00.003-04:00

Well its never too early to look for boots! Why not win something in the process? Carnival Kicks has a promotion on for the month of August:

Every week Carnival Kicks will update our status via facebook and twitter with a shoe-related quote or lyrics of a song related to shoes or dancing. Fans/ Followers correctly name the person who issued the quote, or the name of the song AND singer(s) of the lyrics quoted and qualify for a chance to win 1 fabulous prize each week during the month of August.

Submit answers by commenting to the status update, Re-tweets, or posting on our wall.

Week 1: Pair of Sexy Hot Shorts

Week 2 : Pair of Nippies

Week 3: Pair of Dizzy Flip Flops

Week 4: Styling Tape

Please note , you have to 'like' their facebook page or follow them on twitter to qualify for entry. Winners will be selected at random via facebook or twitter.

OASIS REGISTRATION OPEN- PRICES

2010-08-03T15:15:00.007-04:00

Oasis is now open for costume viewing and registration :

Golden Eagle
Frontline $3,895
Female $2,995
Male $2,295

Ghost Flower
Frontline $3,700
Female $2,995
Male $2,295

Kolibrie
Frontline $3,950
Female $2,995
Male $2,400

Gilia
Frontline $3,950
Female $2,995
Male $2,350

Djinn
Frontline $4,095
Female $2,950
Male $2,350

Downpayments are $1200 Frontline and $900 regular. Not bad at all!

BLISS VS TRIBE

2010-07-29T18:48:00.004-04:00

Well unless you have been living under a rock, you would know by now that the management of the band TRIBE has decided to produce a new separate band called BLISS. BLISS is being touted as the "Intimate Experience" with the smaller band size while TRIBE is still the "Ultimate Experience". Since this revelation I have been bombarded by questions about the differences between the two and find myself almost being a marketing representative for the new band Bliss So much so , that I did not even want to tell anybody about when I first found out because I thought it was such a fantastic idea. I have personally been campaigning for a smaller Tribe band for some time; there was my social commentary The Tribe Mentality where attempted to determine what was the driving force between the obsession to get into Tribe,then there was The Lost Tribe where I lamented the loss of the 'Tribe experience' and then there were several other rants about TLC. I also have this theory that Tribe being spawned from Poison had a great advantage and increased probability of being successful by being able to learn the ropes and get their working formula sorted in Poison before creating their own entity. In such a way, I have no doubt in my mind that BLISS as spawn of Tribe can be just as successful as they already know the gameplan. I am therefore an avid supporter in the venture! Will I actually play with them???...well that remains to be seen.....

Firstly, I think a reality check is in order:

TRIBE intends to reduce their band size for 2k11 to approximately 4000 ppl or so
BLISS will be a small band with approximately 2000 ppl or so
There is no more TLC
According to a Bliss committee member: TLC is not a requirement for Bliss nor is previous participation in Tribe.You just need to know a committee member willing to register you.
It is unclear how the abolishment of TLC will affect the TRIBE band sequence of registration.
You cannot shuttle back and forth between Tribe and Bliss.Each masquerader id band entitles you to ONE band i.e drinks, permission to be behind the ropes
Everybody can't be in Tribe!!!
Everybody can't be in Bliss!!

In my opinion, part of the reason for creating Bliss is so that all the people who can't get into Tribe will have somewhere to spend their money that is still in the realm of Tribe but not have to move to another band completely. This is not a bad idea at all cause you still 'kinda' in Tribe and still get the level of service that you are accustomed to. This works even better for those who don't want the jam session Tribe.

Unfortunately I think BLISS is shooting themselves in the foot (or maybe even the head!) for several reasons:

The Costumes: You would think that as a new band they would ensure that the costumes are ALL hot!!! Now I think the costumes are pretty good but very few can be considered great. My personal hypotheses: If I pool all the costumes and take my top 5 picks, my first 3 will be in Tribe and my 4th and 5th would be in Bliss. Even though I loathe,hate and detest the overcrowding in Tribe I am CERTAINLY not throwing down a hard $5 grand on a costume that is my 4th or 5th choice! Comparatively if my costume selection went like #1 in Tribe and #2 in Bliss or even vice versa I would be there in a heartbeat!It only takes one look at Saucy's polls to know that in Tribe the popularity of the costumes are evenly distributed between 3 or 4 sections. In Bliss ,one costume has almost half the popularity! So true talk, doh lie!! Point in fact again, Knights Templar vs Ice Warriors. Same designer, one in Tribe and one in Bliss respectively. Templar is clearly superior so if I am fiercely loyal to this designer why would I not go for her best costume first?And yes I know that Bliss size is limited and I not telling TRIBE how to run their operation but I should also point out that people will want to know why this private section designer has a section in both bands while others do not. I'm jus sayin....
The Costumes!! Lets not forget how skimpy they all are ! I love my skettel costumes and I am not playing in any section with no set of cloth but some of the choices in BLISS take things to another level. Yes wire bras are popular but contrary to popular belief not everyone wants one..especially not in if you just want a floor costume. So Bliss as just excluded the average female masquerader who has an average body type who does not want to be so risque by limiting their options (on top of their first 3 choices being in Tribe). Considering that they have also placed many of the older Tribe committee members (25-35 age group) on Bliss' new committee it can be expected that many of their market are also more mature and quite likely more modest in their choices. So having older people market over skimpy costumes to older people (25-45) makes no sense to me. Its almost to the point where you wonder what you are getting for your money cause I am not seeing as many of the wonderful accessories like Templar has or Xi'an has on most of those costumes. Should I therefore expect a cheaper price???
Marketing: Exactly where are the costumes? No seriously, where the site?Where the book? Where the mas camp? Hell, who selling for allyuh?? Tribe sent out this info blast announcing the band Bliss and since then ...nothing!!! You guys seem to forget that it has now been a week that people have been talking TRIBE costumes non stop! They go on the site they stare at the costume , they hold telephone conferences with books in hand, they shopping for boots and they designing monday wear...all based on a TRIBE costume that they can SEE. To add insult to injury, we all know the demand in Tribe is so high so if I have access to a private section that I have stared at for a week , even if i was contemplating Bliss I am going to make sure my spot in that private section is booked! Why? Because I am not going to hang my carnival future in my bff band Tribe on uncertainty for something I have not seen or have any info on. I have nothing to compare, no prices, no perks. I would love to know how they splitting the music trucks up.
Exclusivity: Right now Bliss seems to be so exclusive that everyone is afraid to even try to get in! Because of the lack of information and explanation of the registration process, many people I know who are interested are either intimidated or turned off at the prospect of Bliss. At the end of the day (past costume choice) they still want to be with their friends and no one wants to feel that if they get themselves in, their friends are going to be out. Bliss has not hit the road and they already have a stush reputation.By being so clandestine in all their dealings they are actually repelling some of their target market.

So in summary, the typical current Bliss masquerader is 30 something (average), with a really hot body, who knows all the right people to know, does not care about how much they like their costume, happened to decide up front that they want the smaller band and did not really like Tribe costumes to begin with. Any how you take it,it's going to be really difficult to find 2000 people that fit that criteria.I really do not want Bliss to suffer the same fate of "Poison 2". If you don't know what that is then you should probably be in Bliss! Bliss please get your act together!!! Let us know what is happening!!! Its an easy fix...hot costumes...more information....where do i sign up! Don't let me down!

BLISS 2K11: REVIEW

2010-07-27T01:57:00.006-04:00

Well I certainly got my wish when I asked the TRIBE gods to give me a smaller band. Unfortunately I am not sure if all my other criteria has been met because although I wanted a smaller band I did not want to give up the stage or my favourite costume. It will really be tough for some people to decide between the two depending on what their priorities are..size? friend quota? costume? stage?

If nothing else these costumes were designed to keep people moving as there they are all very skimpy. Floor sections with cage bras well boy! This might be the most ventilated band ever, less people, less costume. Soo my take on the costumes:

CAPRICA

Things were off to a strong start with this one. This is one of my favourites. I really loved the colour combination. It really caught the light very well. I like both versions but would probably pick the starburst headpiece version for myself.

ICE WARRIORS

Its a basic costume but still very attractive with a popular colour combination. The waistband gives very little coverage and is more like a gemmed belt really. I do like the gems used to decorate the bra. I do think however, that the collar on the FL is hidden by the massive head piece. So much so that in pictures they blend into each other.

PELE

Very nicely done but everything here is teeny tiny. You MUST be in top form for this one!I am really loving the plunge bra option for the floor. Its interesting to see a cage bra option for floor as well. Reminds me of Machu Pichu which is one of my fav costumes of all time. The Frontline monokini is gorgeous but I am not really feeling the choker. Love ,love the headpiece!!

CYCLON

Well this year is definitely the year of the shoulder pad and I love them! No feathers and lots of silver give this costume the robotic look that I believe the designer was going for. I really like the headpiece.

SOLARIS

I don't know where they hiding the rest of this costume. The frontline is so skimpy it is almost invisible, i dunno if that was the intention. I guess the beauty is meant to be in the accessories like the leg/arm pieces and the head piece. Even so I don't really like the leg pieces. Would love to see how much this one will cost.

TRAKSON WARRIORS

This colour combo is always difficult to get right but I think it came off pretty well. I really like the bra but not so sure about the waistband. I think the headpiece could have had a bit more to it to give some sort of wow factor. The sleeves are an interesting idea but I would like to take a closer look at them before I decide if I am feeling them or not.

IZUMI CLAN

Another one of my favs. A very pretty colour combination and I love the detail on the bra. The waistband is also very skimpy but it has some detail and the fabric helps to balance it off. The floor shoulder pads are too cute! The frontline is also gorgeous and I love the necklace! The wire bra is very daring but I like how it ties into the waistband.

TITANS

A top pick for sure. Love all the monokini options. The use of the fringe is very well done. I would have a hard time picking which version one I would want if I was in this section.Love it.

So my top picks are (in no order): Izumi Clan,Pele, Caprica, Titans
My least favourite : Solaris

Tribe seems to be taking their time to get Bliss' website up and running and I would love to take a closer look at them all. I think if you choose the Bliss experience you wont have a problem finding a costume you really like however the choice may be driven by how much flesh you are comfortable with showing. Choose wisely!!!

TRIBE 2k11 : Way of the Warrior review

2010-07-26T11:29:00.005-04:00

Ok, my apologies for not getting this out sooner but had a whole lot going on this weekend and staying up after the launch to blog was just out of the question. Right! So TRIBE !!!! I really must applaud Tribe for their marketing strategies this year with the social media. Most especially for those teaser videos!!! By the time the teaser video with the costumes was released I was bouncing off the walls in anticipation.

So lets talk launch.... we found ourselves back to where it all began in the Savannah. I actually prefer this venue because although you may have some parking issues, I would rather fight for a park than sit in traffic for 2 hours. Also the venue holds so many more people that it does not feel like a outdoor sweat box as Pier 2 tends to. As per usual I was running late only to realise when I got there that I had left my memory card for my camera home, so meggie if you were expecting pics. Quite unfortunate cause I actually had one of the best spots I have ever secured without having to elbow anyone out the way or fight with the 'real media' for shots. I got some pics via my blackberry which should have posted to twitter @carnivaljumbie but didn't! So please peruse www.carnivaltribe.com , Saucy's galleries and the many other online media outlets pics.

I did not have to wait long for the show to start and thought the stage looked great with the all white background and the long runway. In general the show was good not great. Compared to past years the models did not look like they got their rehearsal time in, several looked very confused and even bored at times. I was quite amused to see one having a full conversation while on stage when trying to decide if she should proceed or not. I was pleased when at one point a portion of a costume fell off and the model maintained her fierce stride, I was horrified when on her way back she stopped to pick it up. I really wish they would spend some more time with the models to display the mood they want as well as where they supposed to walk. And of course it would not be TRIBE launch unless we got to watch costumes in the dark. I really cannot understand why after all these years they STILL cannot get that crucial factor right!!!! We all came to see costumes and we need LIGHT to see costumes. It was quite ironic that they actually had a male costume equipped with built in lights.... yeah that one we were able to see.

As we all know, we were to be presented with costumes from both Bliss and Tribe and as two separate bands i will comment on them separately as well. In general, I prefer Tribe's costumes overall compared to Bliss as I can see many more options to my liking in Tribe. This might surprise some people as I have been one of several clamoring for the Bliss experience. With that said, I want to play in a TRIBE costume in Bliss.This goes to show you how important costumes preference may be to some ppl and it may even outweigh their band preference. Both bands have extremely skimpy costumes! So here is my review on Tribe:

GLADIATORS

Like it don't love it. I think it has a really strong presence visually but some of the details are just very typical to what I would expect a store bought 'gladiator' costume to look like. More precisely the strips hanging down and the arm bands are a bit boring . I would absolutely love to bling out that shield with gems so I hope that would come with the costume. I think what troubles me the most is the bra, is it a bra or is it a bandeau top?It does not seem to have much structure to it which cheapens the look. I guess I will find out soon enough. For those of us who are not very well endowed, a bandeau top is the equivalent to me duck-taping my breasts flat, they will disappear. I would definitely want the option of a strapless bra for this one like we had with Dragon. I do like the asymmetric strap detail . Of course the headpiece is fabulous. Its a safe costume with a literal translation and what you see will be what you get.

MONGOL WARRIORS

I really appreciate the design elements in this costume and I love it. The shoulder pads are fantastic and for that alone I would play in this section in a heartbeat. Rihanna eat your heart out. I can't wait to see it close up to figure out how she got the bra too look like a copper metal moulded bra which is very Princess Leia (my number one female warrior) and I love the bent wire details around the bra. The wrist pieces just rock and I love the waistband with its different levels of banding. I have yet to figure out how you get into it and from experience I hope there is room or adjustment cause if you are a bit thick in the waist those bands are going to just cut into your skin and be very unflattering. The FL version is even more edgy and I was a bit on the fence about the spikes in the headpiece. But I do get it and just for the inspired design I will give it a thumbs up.

PERSIAN GOLD

I think I am going to have to give this costume my top choice award! I love it. Wow! There is nothing I would change. Now before anyone says I am a bandwagonist because I played in this designer's section twice before, let me just say two things. One, I voted for a purple costume for next year as its a colour I have never really played in and two, my all time favourite colour on the planet is teal. Purple+ a hint of teal= no brainer for me. Aside from my personal preference the costume is well put together in every detail. It's just gorgeous. As Saucy says, yes its a girly warrior but really very few of my costumes have ever directly gone with the theme. I don't particularly care either way. My intention was to scale back a bit on the costume but how could I when the FL bodywear is calling my name? I have always gone for the bras with a halter style as it helps the cleavage.Although I am not a big fan of the bejewelled panty where the gems are stuck directly onto the bottom piece,this was a clever way to get the same effect thing without being limited by the fabric stretch. I love how the rings are used to hang the belt decorations which means the stretch is not limited by the fabric. You can tell how particular the designer is with the almost obsessive detail in the bra.I I absolutely adore the arm pieces and I think that's my favourite part of the whole costume. I have had bad backpack experiences before so I probably would not wear it anyway as beautiful as it is. I will be too happy get a rest and have that small FL head piece after Loulan.

XI'AN WARRIORS

This costume caused quite a stir when it hit the stage. The headpiece is sky high!! This is one of my favs in the band. I love how they used the metallic feathers rather than regular feathers for the headpiece and backpack of the frontline. The floor costume is gorgeous with its dripping gems and the frontline is just fierce. I like the style of the cage bra and although I am not a personal fan of the bejewelled panty , it looks good. You definitely need a banging body to pull off this one!

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

A very pretty costume. I thought the choice of colour was a bit odd for the theme, I am sure the Knights Templar never saw hot pink in their time but I am sure it will be a very popular section. As with some of the other sections I think the arm pieces are my favourite part of the costume. The floor waistband is extremely skimpy and it basically depends on large gems for coverage.My one issue with this section is that the floor and frontline are too similar. A casual observer would probably not notice the difference other than maybe the headpiece size. I always modify my costume whether it is floor or frontline but I think that if I were to have the backline here that it would not be a stretch for me to bring it up pretty close to a frontline. The frontline does have the perk of having a blinged out arm piece for each hand.

IROQUOIS

You can't have a TRIBE without the traditional american indian mas. The headpieces are fantastic. The floor costume is simple but effective. I really like how the diamond pattern was translated to the frontline wire bra. I actually prefer the wire bra option to the monokini option because I like how the wire bra is decorated compared to the monokini. .I do think both versions could do with some more accessories. It would love to see a bustle option on this costume. This is sure to be a popular pick.

SASHURA

I must admit this costume took a bit to grow on me.It is definitely one of the better costumes from this designer in recent times. My first impression was "I hope that is not irridescent purple plastic sheeting in that waistband". Thankfully its not, its completely gemmed out and I like both the bra and the waistband. I think I would probably have preferred if the waistband had chains hanging instead of the strips but that's an easy mod. I was also a bit concerned about the white fur at first but when I saw how it was used in the foot pieces to look like mock fur lined boots I was sold. The head pieces are nice as well. I am a bit on the fence about the shoulder pads on the frontline. I live the shoulder pad idea in principal but this version is a bit too wide and too busy to be cute. I think the length and type of feathers was not the ideal choice.I would definitely like it much more if it was just a collar . I don't understand why you would have such an overdone shoulder pad and then still have upper arm pieces. Then there is the back bib..why?Overkill. The jury is still out on the frontline bra until i see it in person.

AMAZONS

Beautiful colours and one of my top 3.I love how the bra has the illusion of being made of metal. The waist band is teeny tiny but has lovely feather accents. The frontline is absolutely gorgeous! The back pack is one that really made me saw wow! Wow! Really can't say more than I love it.

MASAI TRIBAL WARRIORS

I love the fact that the male and female are contrasted with a multi colored female to a black and white male. There was a lot of hype to this costume before the unveiling and I must say I am not disappointed. I cannot wait to see the beading on the bra close up as it seems so intricate. It is really fabulous. As is the norm, the costume comes with fantastic accessories and is that a standard I see!!??? Can't say when is the last time I saw one of those but love the idea with the draped cloth. I also like the beads draped across the chest. There is so much colour in this costume that it will look vibrant on the road and I think the male and female mix with create quite a striking show.

ARCTIC WARRIORS

I have very mixed feelings about this costume but I think it is my least favourite in Tribe. I really think I need to see this in real before I make my final conclusion on it. I like the monotone and the construction of the head piece, arm and leg pieces.It looks like the bra and waistband is blinged out which is good but I am not sure if I like how it was decorated especially the waistband We shall see. The finger pieces are a novel and interesting idea but are actually very Thai inspired.I think what really disturbs me is the frontline version of this section which was the first version I saw close up on stage. There is really nothing I like about the costume other than the head piece. The wolverine claws are not cute and the bodice portion had me wondering what if you could stab yourself if you bent over.Not the best bra and I do not like this waistband at all! Oh btw the male costume headpiece gave me bad flashbacks.

MAYAN EAGLE

Fantastic!I absolutely love this costume, the colour alone sold me. The design of this costume is both original and innovative. Imagine a costume with no waistband!! All the decoration is within the neck piece. The neckpiece itself is just gorgeous. The style of the body wear is different to what we have seen before and I this is another costume where I can appreciate the design elements in this costume. I love the bra from the back as well. Although I love it I don't think the style of the body wear is suited to me personally but it surely will be a top seller. When i saw the booklet one of my issues was the chain belt should have been made with the circular decorations. I was glad to see just that as a larger circle belt was used at the launch. This section has my favourite male costume hands down.

Ok, my top picks in no order : Mayan Eagle, Persian Gold, Amazons, Xi'an warriors, Mongol Warriors

My least favourites: Arctic warriors and Gladiators.

The rest of the party was just a blur and I spent most of the time chatting with friends about the costumes and not paying much attention to the party itself. The party itself is rarely worth staying for in my opinion but it was a nice lime all the same. Next up...Bliss!!

YUMA Media Lauch:ZODEAK

2010-07-16T01:00:00.001-04:00

Well this evening we finally got to see the most anticipated sneak peak presentation for one of the newbie bands,YUMA. The launch was held in a lovely upscale residential venue which is quite familiar with some of you who partied in the CRIBS days. The bar was fully stocked and the hors d'oeuvres were never ending!

The theme of the band is called "ZODEAK" which is inspired by the traditional Zodiac signs plus one more section for the "Oracle". After a short introductory speech by Yuma's representative, Terri Leigh Bovell we were presented with the frontline and backline for the sections called " Aquarius "and the "Oracle". At the forefront of their design team is Richard and Anthony who are well known for some of Tribe's big costume hits in the past and were also very much involved with the first two SPICE productions. I apologise for not remembering the names of the other members of the design team that Terri mentioned. We were all disappointed however that the lighting was so bad that getting good pictures were almost impossible unless you were on stage with the models.

I have never been one to bite my tongue when it comes to my opinion on costumes and truth be told I have both bashed and sung praises to Richard and Anthony in the past. It is without reservation that I say that I was very impressed with the presentation this evening. I was expecting them to be nice but I did not expect them to be as bling and as hyperbolic (yes i looked that up) as they were. So here is my take :

ORACLE

The frontline is absolutely fantastic. Gorgeous!! It is so stunning in person that I dare say I can find no fault in it. I have not even seen it in the light close up yet and to me its as perfect as it can get .The shade of purple seems to be very rich (it may look slightly different in the light).The body wear of the FL is a different twist to what we have seen with some of the longer neck pieces recently and all together gives the illusion of a one-piece short bustier. The waistband is super skimpy (but what 'hot costume' isn't?) but still appears well detailed. Both top and bottom are bejewelled with bling. The wings...omg...those wings. I LOVE the curve of the wings in the backpack..this is not no bat out of hell costume.....this is truly an elegant design. The wings are comprised of peacock feathers but they are purple tinged as opposed to the typical green tinged variety. In addition to which there are further hanging fabric entrails in the back. On top of all this is the huge headpiece. A whole lot going on but the collective effect is just wow. The backline is just as beautiful and the headpiece for that is also so large it is unheard of in recent backline offerings. I would love to know if that is standard or an option. I also heard that there is an even bigger version to the Oracle FL. Humph well Oracle is right, I can definitely see my future in this one!

AQUARIUS

Bling,bling and more bling.You might go blind if you look directly at this costume for too long. I am a sucker for a blue costume.... always was. I mean ppl may say this colour is overdone but fact is, it always stands out and is always a great seller. The colour will always be a winner in my books no matter how many times its done. I must admit when I first was introduced to this diamante netting material in SPICE's recent press release I did not like it. However Yuma has taken this same diamante net and done much better with it. If you want to be dripping in bling, this is the costume for you. The FL has diamante net mini dress over a partially (?) decorated bra and a string bikini. For a FL I think the bling dress is a lovely idea . I do have some concerns as to how this may fit ppl of different shapes and sizes and wonder if there will be some size restrictions in this section. I doubt the manufacturer makes S,M and L in this. It is more than likely a one size.(I could be mistaken). Of course allowances must be made for the movement of the loose fitting dress on the body but when it falls the right way it is very cute. For some, it may be a chore to make sure its always falling the right way if the fit is not quite right.I would definitely like to take a look at the neckline of the dress which has gems hanging and the extent of the decorated bra underneath. The headpieces of both FL and BL are gorgeous blue and blinged. I absolutely love the foot pieces with the flare from behind the legs. It is very Greco-Roman with the winged feet! I quite like the bra of the backline but I have some mixed feelings about the waistband. It looks pretty for sure! However, there is quite a sizable piece of material covering the bamcee and although it does not give much coverage because of the voids in the net , I personally would like it more if it was narrower or cut in steps so that became narrower. I am pretty sure the reason it is the way it is is because of the limitations of the material itself so there may not be much they can do (or you can do). The model was also wearing a more conservative bikini bottom which is definitely not a Brazilian cut bikini. I hope they have a brazilian bikini option cause I don't think I would dare wear that t-string thong lol.The front waistband also looks pretty but I found i had to look at it from a distance to see what I think they were going for which is is a blinged out sarong with a front tie. When I look at it like that I like it, but from the sides it has a hankerchief shape that I am still on the fence about. Overall its still gets a thumbs up as although I may not like every detail it is still a very attractive costume.

I unfortunately did not get a media package as I guess we bloggers have yet to get 'media' status hence the lack of 'media passes' to get into events that we tweet/blog about. Please view my few pics here and Saucy's pics over here. If this introduction to YUMA is a sign of things to come well I'm very glad to meet you.

Oh....right btw..to my friend driving PBP 7714..the next time you want to come ppl function and lime late try yuh best not to be forcing a park and blocking people in. I could have been in my bed a hour ago. :-p I would like to thank the Yuma committee member who was very helpful in getting out that jam.

J'ouvert in July

2010-07-15T13:33:00.004-04:00

For those of you going through Carnival withdrawl because your Palancil prescription has expired... Cocoa Devils will save you. This weekend they are having their J'Ouvert party at Pier 2 .It's $350 all inclusive and yes, prepare to get dutty. i.e you will get a bucket of something over your head.

Now I have never actually played J'Ouvert (yes the Jumbie never has,long story) but anyone who has knows is one of the most fun filled parts of Carnival. For those who have never dared, its a good opportunity to break yourself in gently before the real deal in 2k11.

TRIBE PORK LIME

2010-07-10T00:33:00.010-04:00

So Tribe had their pork lime Friday night. Its a semi annual event that they have just to get together and have a nice time with their colleagues and friends. Attendance was by invitation only and they were indeed checking names at the gate. However security probably was not as tight as they intended and I saw quite a few stormers making their way inside lol.

The festivities were scheduled to start about 6pm and people slowly but surely trickled in. The pig was already roasting away on the grill. One very interesting cutter available that I have never seen before is the 'Chip stick' which is basically a spiral cut potato on a stick which is then deep fried. You can then put an assortment of powdered 'flavours' onto your Chipstick. Flavours range in everything from garlic to pizza and even fried chicken! Quite a novel idea and it was a big hit in the lime.*Yum*

By about 9pm the lime was turning into a full jam session with food and drinks flowing and a live dj. I must say , hands down that is the best roast pork I have ever eaten. Unfortunate if you were one of the ones who missed out on that! The latecomers were consoled with geera pork with paratha and jerk pork with potato salad. The crowd became thicker as the evening progressed and several people commented that the crowd may very will be those who have the access to get registered in Bliss. I don't doubt them lol! The evening would not be complete without the recommended dose of Punchy Punch and the lime was no doubt in full swing up until the music was turned off. Tribe again justifying their new tag line that "Nobody can fete like we."

SPICE:Signature Collection First Thoughts

2010-07-08T12:22:00.004-04:00

Well I was not one of the privileged few to attend Spice's Media Launch for 2k11. In general ,I prefer not to make too many comments on a costume I have not seen at a launch or at the mas camp for myself in fairness to the designers. Saucy was able to take some pretty good pics which she is kind enough to let me borrow for this post . So at least which I think I can still give a first impression.

Overall, I think its a good start to a relatively newer group of designers. I like the colour combination used in Tres Chic (d pink one) and I definitely concur with Saucy's observation that the necklace is a carbon copy of Mystery of Loulan's necklace this year. Looks like gladiator foot pieces are here to stay as well. Its still very pretty and pending closer observation I am inclined to give it a thumbs up and I think its the better between the two.

Jubilee Diamond is also attractive overall but I can see myself having some issues with some of the detail . Its a white and silver costume so I wont criticise the colouring although I tend to like some more colour if I were to choose for myself but the sparkle in the diamante helps in the sunlight to give it a lift. I guess the cage bra is here to stay as well. I personally am not a big cage bra fan although I think on some people it looks fantastic. What I do not fancy is cage bras that require pasties underneath to be wearable as is the case here. The head piece is cute too , a bit reminiscent of "Sunken Treasure" but on a more blinged scale. The wings are fantastic and its probably what I like most about the costume. Overall although it looks cute I think its a bit sparse, the necklace is minimal and so are the arm and leg pieces. Maybe that's what they are going for...skimpy and then fabulous in the backpack . However, as a consumer I get a bit disgruntled when my waist band has minimal decoration as I certainly won't be wearing wings both days. What does that leave me with for Monday if I want to wear my costume? I reserve my final consensus when I see it close up. I am definitely interested in seeing what else they have in store.

Oh and I must give thumbs up to the design team for being very well put together themselves for the occasion.

BLISS IS BORN!

2010-07-05T16:14:00.004-04:00

Well the secret is out today!! Official word from Tribe that they will be offering a second smaller all inclusive band as well as the original TRIBE. As per their info blast today :

"As Carnival continues to evolve and the masquerader demands shift,TRIBE's cutting edge approach enables us to adapt to these varying needs.As such, Tribe has heeded your suggestions and willoffer two different Carnival experiences for Carnival 2011. We are pleased to introduce two smaller bands,TRIBE & BLISS, which will improve managability and manouverability on the road, thereby significantly enhancing your Carnival Experience.

Those of you who enjoyed the "organised bacchanal" can continue to "palance" in TRIBE..THE ULTIMATE CARNIVAL EXPERIENCE. Those who desire a much smaller band with the same high quality product and service that they have become ccustomed to in TRIBE, now have teh option of BLISS...THE INTIMATE CARNIVAL EXPERIENCE.

This carefully studied and planned approach allows each band and its respective masqueraders to have its own distinct identity with each having its own parade route and band management."

Well I for one am glad that my prayers have been answered and have great respect for the fact that Tribe is consumer aware enough to actually take action and do something to solve their overcrowding problem. Personally I am on the fence about which one I would choose. With reduced numbers and still a very high demand across the board (and TLC is where?) it still remains to be seen how they going to decide who gets to go where. Its already serious stress for any 'group' of people to register in one section in Tribe...imagine trying to get your whole crew into Bliss! Then you need to think about whether you want to stick to your preferred designer.

Although I appreciate the 'intimacy' that Bliss proposes...it doh mena I want to palance any less...I just want to be able to palance in my costume without 10 people on top of me and 3 people trying to break my backpack/headpiece. Well we all wait with bated breath to see how this works out.

Oh btw..newbie bands that is a spanner in yuh wheel if I ever saw one. Humph!! Hope them costumes HAWT!!

Skullduggery: The Dance of Deceit Band Launch Review

2010-07-05T00:37:00.007-04:00

I was most looking forward to this launch for several reasons. One, of course, it is the first official launch for the season. Two, the promotional material for the band has been most impressive and intriguing. A lesson some other newbie bands should take note of. And three, the entertainment.....you can't go wrong with 3 Canal and I looove David Rudder...for $100? Can't go wrong!!

The event was held at he new Anchorage (I presume its still called that ) which really and truly just got a bit of a facelift...its not all that different but its still a good venue for an event of this size. The turnout was quite good and upon entrance we were greeted by the first of the many ,many skulls of the night. The decor although minimal was quite effective with neon fabric strung across the ceiling. What got your attention were the numerous characters dressed in skull-wear with neon colours and skeleton leggings,chains, bustiers and the like. Some were trapped in bamboo cages while others were left to roam. At one point we had some hanging from the ceiling!

The action started with Charlie's Roots , they seem to be getting in gear to be well present for the season. Soon after 3 Canal hit the stage and give a very energetic performance. During the performance there was a side show with the fire breathing blue devils. It was during the next lull that I decided to get something to eat. Well who tell me do that ? Like half hour to get a burger...there was absolutely no system to pay and collect (or line for that matter) and the man act like he was doing me a favour by selling me a burger. Steups.

Ok so then we had the costume presentation hosted by Michael Cherrie. The stage itself was quite small but it did the job as I think the crowd was still able to get a good luck as the costumes made their way through the crowd to the stage. One of the best things was that they put a little platform on each end which elevated the costumes even more. At times it was difficult to hear the costume introductions and I missed quite a few of the monologues. Well now for my costume comments.

I was quite pleasantly surprised that there were so many sections. I really have to wonder here what band size category they are looking to compete in. Overall I liked the production, and it was every bit as interesting as I hope it would be and in that respect I was not disappointed. I do have some concerns about how practical some costumes will be on the road although I do think they will create quite a show regardless. One thing I loved about all the costumes were the recurring skeleton leggings. What a welcome change from the blah stockings we (might) wear every year!! I am sure that is going to help out a lot of people lol. See full Skullduggery pics here.

BAA-JOHN

I love that they had a graphic tee as the costume top. Although that is a tee I would buy as a souvenir , it would become a tube for on the road for sure! The caged undercarriage is quite dramatic and although it might take some getting used to in order to manoeuvre it should not cause too much discomfort. I would have liked to see a bit more working on it but I guess it would begin to get heavy. The tattoo sleeves are nice to look at and go well with the theme but I know for me personally will be a bit to hot. The male costume was simple and maybe a bit too casual for me as a 'costume' as most of them were . I suppose most men like to wear something not too complicated but those long pants are iffy.However it looks like the pants are those adjustable ones with the zip that allows you to alter the pants length. If that is the case..problem solved! From my position it was difficult to get a really good close up but it seems that many of the skulls were affixed with safety pins to add to the industrial look. It also work out well if you plan to use the pants again.

BAMBOOZLE
Out of all the costumes I think this is my least favourite. Its a great theme and I guess the mix of colours is too illustrate confusion but I really don't see what the head through the picture frame has to do with anything. It just looked very uncomfortable and the full bodysuit is not going to win any points with me either. I don't even want to ask about the orange spheres. I find it difficult to envisage a group of ppl with their head through a picture frame trying to interact with each other on the road. Hmmm..that may need some tweaking.

BLIGHT
This costume was a stark contrast to all the others as it had the least amount of colour. Not really sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Again, I like the ease and convenience of the tee but I preferred it here paired with some puffy sleeves. The leg pieces in the white fur (?) just was not in my personal taste although it would be a nice accessory if it were in tulle. The cat on the cat is not really recommended but.... ok its an unlucky symbol. I don't know how the pants on the men's costume can be helped since it seems to be made entirely of white fur (heat!!!) and i doubt men want to go down the road in a white tulle pants lol. and the headpiece on the men is a black cat......????? hmmm. Not sure how to feel about this one.

BOL-FACE

Bol-face was one that I also did not quite understand where they were going with it. I liked the use of the black sheer over the coloured base to make the skeleton pattern but maybe the contrast needed to be a bit more. I don't really understand how the Bol-Face theme comes into this as it just has a few orange skulls (which i imagine represent the band itself).I think in general, from a garment construction perspective, it looked quite ill fitting and I don't know how they can ensure that this has a flattering fits on each individual who registers. It also seemed to have less decoration than most other costumes. and is more like a bad prom dress. The headpiece is bewildering, and it was difficult to really get a good look at it as the models kept their heads tilted down most of the time. I was trying to determine how well you can see with this basket overturned on your head. I guess Bol-Face is a play on Bowl-Face??? Can't see myself wearing it and you can forget about peripheral vision. If it rains..you safe!

BACCHANAL WOMAN

I'm not really sure what makes this woman a bacchanal woman. A cosquelle woman might be a better description. (And I mean that in a good way ). It was difficult to see how the skirt was supposed to fit, I would have liked to see the model drop it at some point in time. For that reason I can't tell if i like the costume or not. As with Baa-John, if you were to take away the overlay the base would be very plain. A pair of hot pink sequin booty shorts would have been fabulous. I love the head piece on this one as well as the lunch box standard. The first thing I thought when I saw that is if it could open and close could that would be the best carnival bag ever !! Yeah so I would like to see bacchanal woman become cosquelle woman and that would jump it from I like to I love.

GREASE-HAN
This was another of my favourites. I was a bit intimidated by the thought of a full on cocktail dress on the road but I think anyone can totally rock this one. The interpretation was very well executed in both male and female versions. Love the headpiece and the umbrella. Don't know how that man is going to feel in the full on suit all day...a waistcoat would probably be just as effective. One of the best showings of the night!

HORN-CHILE AND HORN
Ok so I guess a horn begets a horn chile..fair enough.... but for the record..woman does horn too. I would have like to see a horner woman too. Nonetheless I think the horn chile was very whimsical and the model definitely sold the costume with her antics. I loved the knee highs but the full skeletons on the dress is a bit reminiscent of the "dead baby" ala the infamous "Baby Doll" costume that was ultimately condemned from Tribe's line up in 2007. I probably would not have thought nothing of it if i had not witnessed 'dead baby' for myself but its kinda hard to get that image out your head once you have seen it. Stick to the skulls. I loved the model's enthusiasm in portraying the horn. That full suit might need to be sleeveless but I was glad to see the waistcoat underneath. The fact that it was a man-halter...not so much. The male head piece was also fantastic and overall another great portrayal.

JAGABAT
Loved it. I need to give the model a round of applause too cause she got very much into character. Love the wings ,love the makeup, love the costume. This was an excellent way to do a Jagabat lol. One of my top 3!Would not change a thing.

MACCO
I really liked the use of the newspapers in this costume. This was another one that did not look like the fir was quite right. Liked but did not love, I think it could do without that longer part of the skirt or rather if the bustle was constructed better. It looked a bit of a mess. Loved the newspaper leggings though. I think the headpiece needs some work as well. The model kept her head down most of the time on my side so I had a hard time figuring out how it looked upright and to me it looked a bit too floppy for someone who supposed to be maccoing.I would have liked it more if it fit similar to the Grease-Han headpiece. The same could be said for the male who hid behind his umbrella. I loved the umbrella but the male costume was difficult to see.

MAL-YEUX
So this costume appears to be a very literal translation of evil eye. I must say I was a bit confused at first because I have a few Arabic friends and they always told me the blue eye was a symbol to ward off evil(and I checked,it is) .So I guess the costume is meant to repel the bad eye and not represent bad eye itself.I dunno. I liked how they used the chains to make the skeleton frame on the body and I like the colour combination. Overall its a very literal interpretation made with very basic materials so I would be interested to see how much this one is going for.

MAMAGUY
I liked this costume, if for nothing else its sense of humour.The tongue in cheek take on bikini mas as mamaguy is very well thought. The waistband itself does not seem to be of the best quality but I am not sure if that's intentional or not..but I guess it works either way. The bones on the collar and the mesh skelleton bodysuit is a nice touch as well. Even the male costume is a full out pretty mas compilation. The male headpiece is a bit lacking in the feathers department, again..intentional or not ?

RATCHIFEE
I know Sauce like this one but for me its one of my least favourite. Maybe its cause I don't understand it.Plaid for Carnival ? hmmmm. The backpack..why? Maybe that's the point? It just ratchifee? Oook moving on.

SKETTLETON
LOVE EEETT!! Love the skeleton bustier with the hot pink piping.Love the rainbow skirt. Love the poofy sleeves. I would probably rock it without the long undercarriage but its still great regardless. Even the play on words is great.

TWO-FACE
Another over literal interpretation.I dunno, I am not liking the smiley faces and I don't particularly like how the costume was put together. The men's version was also not very attractive. The method to the madness escapes me. A bit disappointed with this one as I think it has a very strong theme.

VIE-KI-VIE
Now I really liked the bustle, the sleeves and the headpiece on this one. The T-shirt dress on this one left something to be desired. As I said to Sauce, it looks like I could make it home. Given the tee had a great graphic on it but the dress looked poorly constructed.

WARAHOON
This section was ok . Nice colour combination and the male and female were tied together well.

SKULLZMAN
This male costume was simple but I really liked the skull and chain overlay on the black tee. I have a feeling the guys are going to love the skull walking stick.

SOUCOYANT
This costume was definitely a crowd pleaser. As AC said, there is some irony in the fact that the finale costume was the one that was a bikini especially after the tongue in cheek "Mamaguy". I really liked it nonetheless. When Tribe was doing "Ole time something' I was begging for a Soucoyant or a La Diablesse. Glad to see someone came up with one!! It's a winner! The model was fantastic in this also. Absolutely loved the bustle. Personally I am not a fan of red costumes in general and I may have like dto see some orange or yellow tones in there since soucoyants are supposed to be made of fire. The collar was also very interesting, I would love to see it close up. The one thing I probably would change is the poonky skull, a bit unnecessary.

So overall I would give Skullduggery a thumbs up on their presentation as there is a whole lot of creativity involved here. I really like the fact that they seem to have found a middle ground between 'sexy' mas and traditional mas. I think many younger masqueraders would consider them although judging from the crowd in attendance their audience was more mature. I still want to see a La Diablessse in there somewhere...what more deceitful than that?

So my top picks (no order) : Sketteleton, Soucoyant,Jagabat,Grease-Han
Least Favs(no order) : Ratchifee, Two-Face, Bol-Face

The night could not have ended better than with a jam session by David Rudder and Charlie's Roots. Rudder never fails to disappoint and gave an energetic performance that was on par with his full concert showings.

PICS AND VIDS NOW UPLOADED

Get in yuh section!

2010-07-04T12:36:00.004-04:00

Ok I just found my new favourite show! Imagine bringing reality t.v to Carnival!! Well Doux Doux Darling Productions is doing just that. Headed by Natacha Jones and Dawn Cumerbatch, Doux Doux Darling is developing a 13 part reality series called "Get in yuh section" all based on designing mas!!!! Sixteen contestants will put their mas designing skills and creativity to the test all with the promise of winning the opportunity to design for an entire section of a popular local band. The contestants will be sequestered for a period of 3 months and will be mentored by 3 Canal's Wendell Manwarren. The show is carded to be shown on CCN TV6 in November.

I am so excited to see what becomes of this!! This event was featured in today's Trinidad Express Woman but it had such a BLAH title I was like how would anyone know what this was really about. For more information email douxdouxdarlingproductions@gmail.com.To apply email getinyuhsection@gmail.com.

Pay de devil.

2010-07-03T00:30:00.005-04:00

Things have definitely changed since my early days of playing mas. Back then, a band launch before Boxing Day was blasphemous and the hottest section could be bought for $800 TTD. Although people may not have had as long to put aside for their costume at least they did not have to find some people’s whole month’s salary!

Well in this age of recession, the ever critical band registration period fast approaching and the fact that a series of unfortunate events have had money jumping out my hand, I have started to sweat a bit (for the first time in history) about where exactly this costume downpayment money coming from. I realize I have to get my hustle on !!! To be honest , I had actually considered giving it a rest next year because my dear band of Tribe just does not seem to have any intention of addressing what I believe to be their biggest issue…their excessive numbers. In all fairness, I had plenty of the jam session in Poison days and I don’t recall any serious issues with the numbers other than the torturous wait to cross the stage but that is arguably a road management issue and not a band size issue. I was still shocked to hear that Tribe’s customer polls resulted in a majority of people liking the jam session. When I really thought about it I realized it has a lot to do with your previous experiences and your financial status. When I was begging a costume or had it bought for me I would take whatever I got which usually meant whatever was left Carnival Sunday. On the road I wore just the basic bra and waistband and maybe the ‘one feather’ headpiece. As I got older and started pelting out my own money for a costume then the choices became wider, the costumes by this time were much more elaborate and I demanded value for my money. So whereas before the jam session was bearable with a barely there costume, the jam session does not work for any frontline costume! Furthermore, if ALL you know is a jam session how would you even be aware of the benefits of a band with controlled numbers like Tribe circa 2005. (That is directed at smallies who only know Tribe as a jam session). I think the majority of people in my age group would much prefer to go back to the breath of fresh air that was Tribe’s and Island People’s first two years in terms of numbers.

Nonetheless, I think the only acceptable excuse for not playing mas is being dead or knocked up (but hey, that’s just me) and I am neither just yet .With all the competition on the horizon now I can only hope that the numbers will be spread more evenly amongst different bands and we can all enjoy ourselves freely regardless of what costume we are wearing. More so… I also hope that the prices will be competitive!!! So with only one more payday or so inside before your band of choice opens registration I suggest you get yourself in order and get YOUR (legal) hustle on to ensure that you can pay that downpayment. So here are a few of my suggestions to come up with the money:

Sell stuff. No time like the present to have a garage sale. I have tons of stuff I have only worn once and even more stuff that I have bought and never worn and then decide I don’t like it anymore. Even if its used, you would be surprised ! People will buy anything. I have had people try to buy a handbag off my shoulder already. Video games , dvds, figurines, dinner ware, bedding, books nothing is safe! But PLEASE don’t sell stuff that does not belong to you!!!

Recycle! Yes you can literally collect some glass bottles and carry them in for refunds. I am sure quite a few of you have a case home from the world cup lime. However there are people who will also purchase your old costume (see above). Several Carnival or parade events happen all over the world throughout the summer and people are willing to pay. Gay parades rock! Some time ago I actually put my costume on ebay..ok so it didn’t sell but I have gotten an offer for this year’s costume that will cover my downpayment. But be fair people ,you will not get a 100% return on a USED costume.

Cut back. When times got rough, I really surprised myself by how long I could make just $100 stretch. I thought to myself, why don’t I do this all the time? You don’t have to buy lunch everyday , go in the club every weekend, buy sushi every Friday or even use Oil of Olay deodorant. Avon works just as well for the fraction of the price. Every little counts….focus!!

Offer your services. Although dancing on table tops and the like has become quite acceptable in the U.S and Europe I don’t recommend it. What you can do is offer some other talents. Maybe take orders to cook lunch for your coworkers for a small price. Teach (academic)lessons over the summer to a small group of children. Tis the season of summer camp. Please doh set up the youths if yuh dunce or give people bun bun rice to eat. Also, if you get involved with the band of your choice early on (volunteer or model) you usually get some sort of concession either in terms of payment to offset the cost of your costume. You also get first draft for more events later on in the season.

Get a job at a sponsor. It is a fact that the band sponsors e.g Bmobile, Digicel get a quota of free costumes. The bigger the sponsor, the more costumes they get allotted. Some bands allow you to choose your section, others give you the dregs and some like Tribe offer a secret section for sponsors.(That’s the costume you never see till Carnival Monday on the road). If you just want in on the action , I would not be too picky. Free is free. Just make sure to hold your job till Ash Wednesday.

Play ah mark. Ok this not guaranteed to win you anything but to win you have to have a chance lol!Whatever you do , don't play 4,8,15,16,23,42!!!

Sell your soul. I don’t mean to the devil (although you might still need to chat to him if you want in for certain bands). But asking any friend or family member for money for your costume is tantamount to selling your soul. Cause as long as they have that on you , you are at their mercy to do their bidding. You become a chauffeur, a gopher and a baby sitter instantaneously. My advice ..don’t ‘borrow’ money get it ‘given’. I am fortunate that my birthday is always in the vicinity of Carnival. If by Christmas I think I may be a bit short to pay off my costume then I start campaigning for ‘costume contributions’ as birthday or Valentine’s day gift. You can’t be reproachful for a gift now can you ?:-\

Finally, to all of you who ‘trying to decide if to play’ …. BIG STEUPS. Stop being in denial and sign up because when you see everybody else getting their costumes in order you are going to be jealous .You will then proceed to call your friends and annoy the hell out of them by moaning and groaning how you want to play now and get a costume for you. Be warned…..doh call me!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!C2K11!

2010-07-01T22:50:00.003-04:00

Hellllooooo everyone. I would like to welcome you all to a brand new Carnival season. It seems that with band launch number #1 happening this weekend , all the marish and the parish have come out the woodwork. So today has unofficially become the start of the season and hence the start of my blogging. Unlike Saucy I take a 'off season' which is the period between Ash Wednesday and the first band launch where I cancel my gym membership and eat everything to my heart's content. And I must admit I have been a bit lazy cause although a whole lot of interesting stuff has been going on behind the scenes I have been just been operating as a source and not a journalist. As the time draws near (and ppl throwing words for me to get off my ass and write something hmmmm) its good to have everyone's different opinions on all the goings on to give all our dedicated readers a varied perspective (however biased it may seem lol!).

So what do we have...we got a plethora of new bands...First to the plate is Skullduggery taking a bold move by launching early. They are churning up a whole lot of interest and I must say I am quite intrigued to see what they bring to the table. Their marketing thus far has been quite commendable. I am hoping to be there to see the action for myself this weekend (send something nah) more so since I see 3 Canal and David Rudder in the fray. I absolutely LOVE David Rudder as he is cool and ole school. Then of course we have YUMA who is still somewhat of a mystery. Then we have Oasis rising from the ashes of the now defunct Elements (not my fault!!) who seems to have gotten some rejuvenation financially judging by their very fancy bandhouse on Rosalino St. I certainly hope they fare better this rounds. Then we have some shaking up at the established bands Tribe and Island People partially due to the new players in the game. All the while there are some musings in the background that could be a game changer for all the pretty mas bands , it remains to be seen who will survive that death blow! All I have to say is humph, it will either work to their advantage or be very very bad for some bands.

Now that we have a new government and a new culture minister (peace OUT Marlene,Marlene,Marlene. Say it 3 times for all of her) and one that is deep into our culture, Mr.Winston Gypsy Peters, hopefully we will have some more positive changes in the festivities. I almost jumped for joy when I heard he is talking about taking things back to the Savannah, a matter that completely escaped Marlene,Marlene,Marlene who for some incomprehensible reason said that 'masqueraders prefer the road at the Savannah'.Gypsy holla at me, I have your solution to the problem that I think would make all those for and against the Carnival center happy.

Carnival is bacchanal...let the bacchanal begin!!

Beyonce I AM: VVIP Experience

2010-02-18T23:36:00.007-04:00

Well being the Carnival baby that I am, I was not a big supporter of having Beyonce around this time. Not so much because I felt it would hurt the promoters (which can easily be contested by attendance numbers at Beachouse and Lara) but because I done spend ALL my money by Ash Wednesday. So I had no idea how I was finding myself inside. This aside from which I was not really bound to see Beyonce period, but I was missing meh Machel for the season. Some of the general public was most disgruntled this week to see special 'packages' being offered for group ticket packages. In reality you only got $70 off VIP tickets but I would be kinda of annoyed too if I only found out today that Island People was selling tickets to their masqueraders for $300 General. I would aslo like to flush BMOBILE's mobile ticket outlet at the savnnah for running out of linx machine paper at 12pm on concert day. Really? You was not expecting ppl? Who really want to walk with all that cash ?steups.Anywho, I find my way in the VVIP and although I have many other reviews from last week to post, I might as well start here and go back. (BTW I forget my phone AND my camera home, like I was excited).

So i arrived about 5:00pm at the King George to park and took the shuttle to the venue. Bmobile failed to mention that you had to pay to park which is absolutely ridiculous for anyone who paid that VVIP or VIP money.The shuttle was efficient enough although we had to back track into the traffic to get to the entrance.I might add that the map published in the papers was not very helpful.Well I intended to eat my belly full but was quite shocked the line that met me at the food station.
First off, it had signs that said ,"Doubles, corn soup, Quiche, Gyros",yet the only thing serving was roast beef sandwiches. They were several bare tables and just two long lines going in either direction. As hungry as I was I sent someone to line up for me but I was most annoyed when anthem started playing and Machel started his performance before we actually got any food. Well at least the bar had Jonny Walker and Red Bull. Doh mind that if you did not do some exploring you would not know it had several bars throughout the venue cause everyone was just rushing the one at the entrance. I think I was most disgusted with the catering by the end of the night because every time I went by the bar the Johhny Walker was either taking he good time to restock or it was done and they were sending you to other bars. The food always had a long long line even during performances and most times there was only one food item serving. I never got my gyro or even see when the doubles man came and went and the quiche was way too salty (that must be why they had no line). I only managed to get a bess corn soup because the soup man like he had like me and let me skip. What kind of catering service serves their food in stages??I decided to make a trip to the opposite side of the venue to see if there were more available food stations and was quite suprised to see that the venue was laid out so that the entire front half was VVIP. I honestly could not see where VIP was located and if you was in General......humph yuh might as well have been in Diego Martin. And yes it had more food stations but they were just as over crowded as where I was before.

Speaking of conveniences, it was nice that they invested in some Andy Loos but why bother if you going to supplement them with regular portable toilets? Well I strictly used the Andy Loos but was most annoyed when I was forced to try a portable toilet and there was no water in the sink or toilet paper in it. Thats aside from the fact that it also had zero lighting and the men and women's toilets were side by side.Really? That is not at all cool for the money that they asking for.

Well onto more important things....I missed a few minutes of the beginning of Machel's performance but I was definitely glad I was present and accounted for. Machel win! I wine and wine and wine till I could not wine no more. Maybe is just cause it was his first performance for the season, maybe I am just a skettel but he did not disappoint at all. If you gave him a extra hour it would have been an AC worthy performance.All I was saying is "why this man could not have do this last week!" Maybe I am PREFER SOCA VIBES but I think he got more forward than Beyonce. But let me deal with the stoosh ppl in VVIP who come to watch Machel in stilettos. I find the VVIP crowd was a real vibe killer and you would swear is opera they come to see STEUPS. At one point I say I had to go in the front the stage where the real jammin was going on. PPl in the crowd was standing up in their evening gown with the hand crossed.Ahmm is the SAVANNAH !Where they feel they was going??

Machel performed a selection of old and new tunes. However most of them were abbreviated versions. I think the time restrictions that were placed on him were really cramping his style. I would like to give a big BOO to BMOBILE for that. I would have been more than happy to hear him for another hour but I guess they were fraid he would mash up too much for Beyonce to follow. But like they was afraid to give him anything at all cause he performed with NO LIGHTING and NO SCREENS. I don't know how anybody behind VVIP could have seen him and he had only a single spotlight onstage. I kinda picked up there was something going on behind the scenes becasue Machel made a few comments that seemed to suggest that he had some issue with Beyonce's camp like "Allyuh could go ahead and take pictures of me!" and a few times "What you go tell Jay-Z if he was here " (to I tiefin a little while hmmmm??). But meggie for you haters cause by the time he bring on Busy Signal he had won over the crowd. Well when he bring he suprise guest Destra to close the show with "It's Carnival" he was King and she was Queen. Beyonce had to cool it cause I could have happily gone home after that. Beyonce doh get tie up , this is Trinidad. It still have ppl drunk from Carnival and in this country Machel is King.

I doh even feel I want to talk about Beyonce herself nah cause I was most annoyed when during the intermission video screens started to get lifted and lights started to be tested. So what ? We boy not entitled to that ? She walk with them screen and lights or what?I not taking anything away from her as she is very talented and put on a international level show with all the stops and background footage but doh disrespect the Soca King in he own house. Blaze and JW gave a small talk in between and they only had to play the "Palance" riddem and the crowd was hyped. Like they was on a ban too cause they never sing the song. Also the DJ get ban from hyping the crowd too because he was playing a set of obscure music very softly.

Then the show start just so..BRAM! No introduction needed I guess.Beyonce also gave a full range of songs with short costume changes in between. Some highlights included when she move to a more centralised platform that was set up in the VVIP crowd itself. If you were in VVIP you got a really personal performance from her as she spent a significant portion of her time on the secondary stage. Her performance started high tempo but quickly got into the slow tunes and to be honest, I was ready to fall asleep. I was so not impressed with the go slow, maybe still on the adrenaline high from the 'opening act'.Throughout the show, I did note that she only briefly adressed the audience directly. Most notably when she picked a dude from the audience and sang to him directly. Well I thought he was going to pass out right there yes. Allyuh want to know what the MOST ironic thing is? You know what get Beyonce the most forward???? She started to sing "Check up on it " and it was mixed in with the Palance riddem. Well Trinis pick up on that one time. Well then she sing two " Palance" and make two "Palance" and the crowd mash up with that one. (I sure it on youtube by now). That goes to show, she STILL had to sing a soca to get she best ratings in Trinidad. But whereas she may have acknowledged the culture considering the controversy surrounding her prescence, she eh really respect it enough to sing more than two words of the song or to do a collaboration with Machel. I feel she would have really earned more respect from the ppl if she did. I think her most moving performance was her closing number of "Halo" which really shows the strength of her voice which was combined with a tribute to MJ.

On the way out people was again lining up for food. Looking to squeeze every cent I guess. I don't really feel that I got $1600 worth of anything in the whole VVIP experience. Yeah ok, so maybe they needed to charge that to cover Beyonce's performance costs and that stage they had to bring but the patrons did not get very much. Doh mind it had REAL ppl in VVIP although is recession. If I was in VIP I would have been annoyed completely and if I was in General I was storming VVIP. Nice seeing yuh Beyonce but the King still reigns.

EDITED TO ADD: I forgot to mention this other ridiculous set up in VVIP. The VVIP was apparently also 'Coporate VVIP'. There were several raised areas with seating. There was this woman with her 10 year old daughter standing on the front of me on the ground. The poor chile could not see a thing so I told the mom she should try and go on the platform which was elevated. The woman tell me that they blank her as its 'Corporate'.Well I ask her if she did not cuss!! VVIP money and not a place to sit or get a better view of the stage? Robbery! BOO Bmobile BOO.

Blue Range -Blue Flame 2k10 Review

2010-01-25T15:51:00.004-04:00

Well I know I have been kind of off slack with my regular posts but as Carnival is bacchanal I felt like i needed a little rest from last year . Nonetheless fete still continues and as Saucy not going anywhere this rounds I will make my small contribution to the cause....

Now for those of you who don't know, Blue Range has two Carnival fetes: The all inclusive and the cooler fete as fund raisers for their community. These used to be referred to as "the old people fete" and "the young people fete" respectively back when the their all inclusive used to set you back a $65TT . Doh feel is only now this fete going on...is more than 10 years this fete has been taking place and I sure allyuh now hearing about it. That is because the Red Ants committee has taken over the promotion and some of the management of the fete and have completely transformed it into a true contender for bess fete of the year.

The number one reason for this is the price!! Blue Range is the cheapest all inclusive for the year! Starting at $400 ($350 for ladies if yuh know somebody who know somebody). Well I was too glad for that. I went down there from about 11:30pm and it sucks to be you if you did not have a best park lined up. Cause talk about pressah for people to get park! Blue Range has gone so far to offer a shuttle service for Blue range and the environs so you could still park in the outer edges of the neighbourhood and not have to walk a mile and a half. The fete has grown so much in recent years that the entire street in front of the tennis courts has been taken over to provide adequate space for the food stalls. There were also several food stalls still within the main park area. And when I say food...It had EEEEEEVERYTHING. Jerk, Geera, Patty,Souse, Pow,Bake and Shark, Mini roti and Benihana. SAY whaaaaaaat???? Yes man, Benihana was given way their best sushi with all the trimmings. Well I think that WIN yes cause I never went in no fete and see a sushi bar yet. Allyuh let me know if I miss that in UWI ,Bishops or ONE fete cause I was not paying dat!

Well the next thing you must evaluate is the bar. Well you might think they go do a bait and switch and give you Black and White and VAT 19 alone to drink. Nah man the Johnny Walker was flowing whole night. The Monster power drinks finished before the Johnny Walker ,oui. The Angostura Cocktail bar was providing the lightweights with several nice selections from their Carnival themed bar list. If you wanted a good vantage point of the festivities (and you had a link) they had elevated tents sponsored by Dunhill and Henieken. It still had room for several bars throughout the venue. I had no problem getting drinks all night.

The ladies love this venue as with the hard court surface you could step out in your best kit and stilettos. The danger of busting you tail while wining (or intoxicated) is greatly reduced. The ladies came out in their best fashion forward clothing as if it was a runway. Not all the fellas was as well put together however .Three quarters in an all inclusive??

The music had the party jumping. That 'No behaviour roadmix' is going to be a creeper on the road, take what I telling yuh. Blue Range did not disappoint with their offerings of entertainment. Although I must say I was a bit disappointed with the offerings of the performers.However keep in mind they perform with tracks and not a full band.The first I saw was Faye-Ann and Bunji. Faye-Ann was a bit lack lustre considering what she was coming off from from last year and I think she actually got more forward for singing last years' tune than her 2k10 tunes. I almost forget about Bunji completely till he throw in his two cents with his chant tune of 'Carnival is the baddest ting' . He got some forward for that but he was off stage voosh as he arrived. Next up was JW and Blaze and they brought the vibes into the dance. This duo flatten the place with which is the clear road march front runner "Palance". You may not know what it means just yet but you will figure it out quite quickly.Imagine these jokers (and you had to call them jokers cause dem is real kicks) could come in a party and sing PARODIES of other people songs commonplace on their morning show and get more forward than Bunji. "You are meh gooatee....." well yes! Like the party peaked right there cause Shurwayne Winchester's follow up performance went almost ignored. I and all thought they were just playing tracks when I turn around and say ,"Aye, aye is Shurwayne singing there?" He came and went with little fanfare.

By this time I think the greater portion of the party was drunk or well on their way. But you know what...it STILL had food to eat. As lock off time drew near the rhythm section came out and of course people were in no rush to go home. The wining was still going on as people headed to their vehicles. If is one thing Blue Range have is value for your money and good luck getting tickets next year cause they are always in short supply.

The Carnival Challenge

2010-01-08T16:58:00.003-04:00

Ok so, this started out as a joke as I was really bored in work today but ppl seem to be enjoying the idea...Here is the challenge:

1. Create a new photo albumn on facebook called "I name BACCHANAL"
2. Upload pics of yourself in every costume you have ever played in to the albumn.
3. In the Caption field enter costume details

Scoring:

Score 5 points for every pic
Score 5 points for the costume name in the caption
Score 5 points for the name of the band's presentation that year (e.g "What Lies beneath" NOT Tribe)

Some questions have already come up...
Only one pic is allowed in each costume!
You can submit pics from your youth in kiddies carnival for the extra edge!

When you are done place your total in the photo albumn title or the main comments section of the albumn.Feel free to create your own note and tag your own friends you want to challenge if you want to share the fun (or idleness). You can also tag your friends you want to challenge in your albumn when you're done so they don't cheat. Word of caution set your security settings to ensure only those you WANT to see your pics can see them .

Please share your totals and your pics (if you want) either in the post comments or you can link me on FB : Carnivale Jumbie. All you winning here is bragging rights lol

Makeup By Missy 2010

2009-12-04T14:39:00.010-04:00

Once again Melissa has taken the guesswork out of Carnival Make up. She now has available new makeup packages for Carnival 2010! There are different options this year.

Option A). 2 Colours, 60 gems.$150TTD

Option B). 3 Colours, 60 gems.$190TTD

All containers now have sifters, so that it is easier dispense the pigments , without the mess.

These are highly pigmented colours at 1 tsp each.

You will also get a chart with suggested colour placement.

Spirit Gum is also available for an additional $30.00

Loulan Option 1

Loulan Option 2

Threads of Morocco

Zari Backline

The Growing Palette

Melissa is also available for Christmas Parties and Carnival bookings. Don't stick as she is almost fully booked up! You won't find these colours in any store as most are custom mixed for the costumes. You can also request custom combination packages for other sections or bands that are not pictured here. To place your order, ask questions or make a request email: makeupdean@gmail.com OR you can visit her facebook group 'Make up by Missy' and request to join.

Tribe 2k10: Double Take

2009-08-06T14:36:00.004-04:00

So I had the opportunity to go take a look at the costumes up close and as always I do a follow up review . I don't really think you can give a completely fair review until you see it close up. And true to that ,there were definitely a few pleasant surprises.The website is up as well and I am thrilled that they made an effort to show the backs of the costumes. It was also nice to see headpiece options in the mascamp for almost every section. My guess is you will be paying last years' prices for the small headpieces but we shall see.

THE MYSTERY OF LOULAN

My opinion on this costume is still the same. Still LOOVE it! I do know some people there voiced concerns as to how the colour will look on different skin tones. In all honesty it may not be for everyone but I think because there is a gold sheen to the neutral colour , it will work for most. For me the selling point is the splash of blue amongst the neutral tones.

SILK OF RAJASTHAN

On the plus side there are a lot of nice accessories. Somehow it seemed to have even more cloth than what was shown on the road. With the exception of the green piece of cloth I thought it had for some reason. It is still not one of my favourites, I think the bar and waistband decoration is just too busy for my taste. The head piece options are cute as well.

ERI

This was also pretty much as expected.Nothing really to add to this except that the waistband has a ring in the front.On a closer look the appliques used were very different to what one typically sees so for that I give it a thumbs up.

ZARI

I really think the bra on this could have done with some more work. Its nice but I would have liked to see the bra filled in more. I love the base colour but I am still not impressed by the hanging earrings everywhere. It looks like it could have taken some more beading on the waistband as well. If I was to sign up in this section I think I would add some brown beading on the waistband and then string some gems.

TYRIAN PURPLE

I liked this even more in real, I think it moved up my list somewhat. The bra is very well done even though I prefer the deeper purple to the more burgundy colour of the bra. The chains on the belt are actually small plain coins which I prefer to the larger ones on Threads of Morocco. The design also seems much skimpier than I expected , for me that is a plus but maybe not for everyone lol. I think I would wear this costume as is and not change anything.

SERICA

Maybe I just don't understand this costume...the white cord, the white cape, the busy decoration. I dislike it even more in when I saw it. I don't even like the head piece any more. Even the choker has a piece of white cord added to it. Why does it have those clunky rectangular earrings on top of it all? This is the only costume I really struggled to find something positive about. Lets hope this suffers the same fate as Flamingo.

LAPIS LAZULI

I actually liked this much more when I saw it. I now understand when looking at it dead on that the bra is done to look like a mock corset which now makes it much more interesting to me. I still don't like the placement of the chunky gems on the bra but its definitely more flattering that I expected. The waistband ties in well the bra and has a similar detailing. In general it is still a very basic costume but it is a good colour and will look good on almost everyone.

FIRE SILK

This was the biggest surprise for the night!! The bra actually looks very well done with a silver sequined base and the red wire overlay. It is definitely wearable and is no longer at the bottom of the pack. Now I think those big red gems cheapen the costume. And i mean literally the gems look cheap compared to the other materials used on this costume and those used in other costumes. The red feathers highlighting the genital area also needs to go.

CHARMEUSE
I really love this costume, simple and sexy. The colours are just gorgeous. Be warned though, there is nothing hiding your bamcee or your front on this costume. It is extremely skimpy. Apparently they are leaving it to the long cloth on the headpiece to cover your butt! While skimpy equals good for me, it bothers me a little bit that so much of the panty is visible underneath. Maybe the panty could be blinged out as well. I believe the torso piece is detachable so that it can be worn separately (whew!). If they were really innovative they could have made it adjustable but I cannot be sure. For a floor section this has a whole bunch of accessories. This is one of my personal favourites.

OSAGE

The colour on this really pops. I had some concerns about the sun flower shaped applique on the belt but in the end I decided that it works with the costume. I think I was a bit biased about it from my first impression so thats why I let it slide but it is still one of my favourites this year.

THREADS OF MOROCCO

Funnily enough I really am not feeling this costume as much anymore. I definitely took a dislike to the coins hanging from the belt . Yes, yes I know its Moroccco themed but I preferred the smaller version used on Tyrian Purple. The gems on the belt and bra have borders and are very large. I still don't really like the gems going across the nipple rather than at the bra edge. Don't get me wrong, it is still a very pretty, very nice colour combination. I just don't think its for me.

XI LING SHI

Very extensive and detailed workmanship on this costume. Still very nice however the vertical waistband piece seems a bit stiff. Although it is well worked up, there are no gems hanging from it. Maybe because it will definitely be a stocking ripper.There is however, a lovely piece of yellow and turquoise dip dyed cloth attached which gives it some movement. Still too Cotinga for my liking but a sure stunner on the road.

MULBERRY

This costume is growing on me more and more everytime i see it. The diamantes on this costume make it look very regal. Even though the bra itself is not worked up, the use of pleated silk on it was a good alternative. The colour is a matter of preference and may not appeal to everyone but its still very attractive.

In general many section did a spandex gladiator foot piece decorated with gems. Although I like it , I think too many sections had the same thing. Maybe it was intended to be the linking factor between the sections.

We are still anxiously awaiting prices which I think will still be a determining factor for many people. Maybe even for those who are considering moving to Spice. Hopefully the will be out soon.

TRIBE 2K10 :SECRET OF SILK REVIEW

2009-07-26T10:25:00.006-04:00

Ah yes, I guess the 'off season' is officially over. Although Spice beat everyone to the punch by an early launch , I was still in hibernation so more on that another time. With a frenzied attendance the Tribe launch was definitely one of teh most anticipated for the season. If you were unfortunate enough not to have a ticket on the day then you could have bought one from anywhere from $320 to $900. This is unheard of especially considering the brochure 'leaked' last week and half of Trinidad saw the costumes in adavance. I have yet to understand why people rush the event since the only thing worth seeing is the costumes. I think the party itself usually leaves something to be desired. I for one had no intention of sitting in 2 hours of traffic and made my way to the venue to open the gates.

As usual, Tribe starts their presentation at the entrance. I think the decor was a bit on a smaller scale and less elaborate than previous years but it was still well done in line with the theme . After all, we in recession right? Well you would never have thought so with the amount of people lined up to get inside from early o'clock. It looked like they were herding cattle. We were entertained throughout the night by the Shiv Shakti Digicel girls. Ok they weren't really Shiv Shakti but they dance like they was from Thailand whole night. I doh want that wuk at all!

I know no one really cares about my review of the party itself so I will just make a few comments. One, the change of the stage orientation allowed for more of the crowd to see the presentation. However the stage was so high that unless you were over 6 feet tall getting a decent pic was impossible. Yet again the models ran through their paces, as in literally ran. Fortunately their routine allowed for stationary shots. Many of the costumes found themselves in the dark which made also made it impossible to get a shot even if you had a professional grade camera with zoom lens. It was a great improvenet that they actually said the names of the sections as they were on stage.Also they actually got the HD camp to perform after the presentation!! No Machel but hey, at least they had performances!

Ok costume time.CHECK HERE for my pics from the night.

THE MYSTERY OF LOULAN

Well the drama definitely started with a bang!Everyone has been eagerly awaiting the sophomore presentation of designer Solange Shaw-Gopaul. We were instantly wowed with an over the top headpiece for the Premium and Super options. This costume is absolutely gorgeous. It has an interesting colour combination of nude, gold and blue which I cannot recall being done in recent times or ever for that matter. The design of the strapless bra and waist band for the Premium option is also gorgeous and appears even more revealing with its muted bas colours. To ocmplement it you have a fanatastic pop of blue gems. I just love how she went with the chunkier gems in the design for all costume options. The waistband is as skimpy as could be (not as though that is a problem for me) and very well done. If head pieces could kill, their would be blood on the dance floor (R.I.P MJ *sniff*). The Premium head piece could also be a weapon of mass destruction.Floor length feathers???!!! It is huge and completely stunning. You will be walking in the shade all day!I have no idea how people managing with that on the road but watch out and get the F out the way!! There is nothing I can find wrong with this costume. Nothing!Super sexy, super skimpy!!I LOOOVE IT!

SILK OF RAJASTHAN

This costume designed by Peter Elias was very predictable in my opinion. When I heard the theme, I just knew that he would come with a red indian themed costume. with cloth hanging between the legs. Compared to his popular and gorgeous presentation last year, this is definitely a downgrade.While I like the simplicty of it , at the same time it has very little wow factor for a carnival costume. For those who dont lik eto weighed down on the road, it is a good option and dont expect to get any coverage out of those cloth panels as it is still very skimpy. The sides are just ties. I realy don't like that the same material is used for the bra, waistband and one of the head piece options. With all those bells hanging from everywhere you will be jingling all day.The design itself is also very reminiscent of some of Sonia Macks past costumes. However if you were a guy, you got one of the better costumes in terms of its relation to the theme. Its a typical ethnic Indian attire but I don't know how many dudes really want to wear a turban and a long dhoti pants on the road. Those pants look like they will be a furnace!

ERI

It is indeed 'Eri' how much this costume seems like the way Silver Mist (Tribe '07) should have been. I still have nightmares about that costume.The colours are the same however the design is clearly superior. I am not a big fan of silver decoration on a silver base but and I don't really like the actual choice of beading used.Maybe I am just still traumatised by Silver Mist and am having trouble looking past that .However the costume does have the saving grace of a fabulous head piece and back pack. You spend most of your time staring at that anyway. It interesting that the coth used is a dip dyed piece of fabric, I liked that touch.

ZARI

This costume is very simple. Not a whole lot going on . This is another example where this seems to be a downgrade by the designer. There costume last year puts this one in the shade. I like the colour combination and the bra appears to be worked up nicely. I dont really like the beading at the underwire of the bra as it seem sto be throwing off the whole thing a bit. It was very difficult to get pics of this section at the launch. The belt is also nicely beaded but I don't particularly like the circular hoops hanging from the belt. It reminds me very much of a pair of earrings that I have so I keep thinking there are earrings hanging from the belt.You can get away with it on the bra but I think on the waistband its a bit of an overkill. Maybe if they had tiered the rings on the waistband instead of having them in a staright line I may have liked it more. Oh wait, the model is wearing the hoops as earrings lololol. Ok there you go..earrings on the waistband.

TYRIAN PURPLE

I think the bra on this costume is fantastic, both the working and the cut of the bra is attractive. I would have like to see a bit more on the waistband but it is still very attractive and oh so skimpy.The one piece of cloth hanging down the front seems to be an afterthought. I think it could do with some beading hanging down on either. If i was in this section I would either do that and leave the clothe or remove the cloth completely and fill it in withthe chain.side as well, just to fill in the front a bit. The bustle and headpiece on this frontline is also fantastic. I love the colour combination of the deep purple and blues. This is one of the best designs that Gail has produced .

SERICA

So the Thai inspired headpiece is nice......Seriously I can't find many positive things to say about this costumes. Its defintely towards the bottom of my list. The other floor headpiece is probably the only one in the band I think is just plain ugly. The bra and waistband have this working on it that is just plain confused. I am all for contrast , but I doh know how the white tie in with the whole thing. I guess cause they going for the Greco-Roman theme so they literally had white plus red. The white and gold cord on the waistband cheapens the costume and it looks off.The beads and cord hang straight down in the front in a way that is not even graded and I don't know why they decided to make the waistband asymmetric by adding more cord over one thigh. And then we have the white cape.....I doh mind that it have a cape but the white just looks out of place. This section also does not seem to have a frontline option , I thought I may hav emissed it but the brochure also just has two headpiece options.If that is the frontline then its surely not worth the extra expense.

MULBERRY
I always say that designing a green costume is usually very difficult. Super Mo Mo made this look easy with this costume. I was iffy about it when I saw it in the leaked brochure even though the frontline was fabulous but was sold on it when I saw it in reality.She kept it simple and used the fabric as the costume focal point. The fabric covered bra was simply highlighted with complemenatry cololours and just a small dash of fuschia for contrast.The frontline accessories seem very functional and will stay out of your way, although you may still poke someone's eye out.The caged bra for the premium option is also gorgeous but seems I don't think it fit very well on the model.It seemed that her boobs were squished and ready to lap out at any moment . That may be a hit or miss depending on your measurements.Its not a risk I am willing to take on the road.

LAPIS LAZULI

The photos in this brochure can be very deceiving for this costume. The bikini is actually purple not blue and the gems are shades of blue. The headpieces are nice but I don't like the bra design. I think the colours and the materials chosen were very pretty but I don't like how it was used in the design of the bra pattern. I don't like the vertical line of the silver beading and would have prefered to see it angled a bit more in contour with the shape of the boobies. The waistband itself is nice but the beading hanging down is very short. Even though there is a lot of working on it that I am sure was costly, the lack of length in the beading and the lack of additions to the anything hanging from the bra makes it appear to be average and boring when viewed from a distance. The cape does give it a bit of a kick.

HABOTAI

Welcome back Lana!! I am so glad she is back in the game cause she always brings something worth looking at to the table. Now I love the colour, the beading on the bra and waistband is simple but nice. A lot of diamante in this costume and you just look blinged out! Then again, she let the fabric do some of the work. I also like the blinged out head piece which frames your face. This is not for everyone and I am sure leaves a horrendous tan line but it is looks gorgeous in pics if you wnat to be on the cover of the Daily Express.The only thing I don't get is the black tassles. I don't mind the black but why it has to be tassles??? I would take every one off. The backpack for the frontline is also over the top and stunning. I think the chop sticks are a bit questionable but hey, it is an asian inspired costume. The bustier individual for this costume with the wide brimmed hat was definitely very different .I am not sure how i feel about the floopy hat but its stillall very couture. With this option you dont seem to get a waistband.

FIRE SILK
One of my least favourites. This pretty close to a red and silver version of Silver Mist with a poonky feather in the front. Again, maybe thats why I don't like it. Its not an ugly costume although the poonky feather needs to go but its just not doing anything for me. The floor headpiece is tame compared to the other sections. The Thai looking back pack for teh frontline nad it head piece is a big improvement although I think they could have given the frontline a different bra. The accessories for both frontline and floor for this costume also just look cheap. Compared to the other costumes it is just blah.

CHARMEUSE

Welcome back Lana!! Wait, did I say that already? I LOOOVE IT! The colour combination is so pretty and using teh circles to make the belt is fabulous. Yeah it may be reminiscent of Macchu Picchu (Tribe Year1) but who cares!! Cause Macchu Picchu is still my pick for best costume ever. Its super skimpy, super sexy and yet it has the cloth pieces hanging as an elegant touch. Only thing I would be worried about is that torso connection which are notoriously problematic but it seems an easy fix. The headpieces are also gorgeous and the frontline back pack.The Individual back pack is out of this world.

OSAGE

I don't think there was a person who did not say "WOW!" when they opened that brochure and saw this on the first page. This is hands down the best costume Gail has blessed us with.The most unique part of this costume is the 3-d orange gems used on the bra and waistband. Everyone knows I am not a fan of appliques but it actually works fabulously in this case. I would not change a thing.Even the leg accessories are cute. Just fabulous all round. AH-PLAUSE.

THREADS OF MOROCCO
The brochure has most people wondering for a costume that seems this nice, what could be wrong with the bra that they had to hide it? But no fear, the bra is heavily beaded and edged in big gems. It makes it look plain from a distance but close up its more appealing. I am on the fence about the bra for myself personally but its still beautiful. If Macchu Picchu and Isis A has a child it would be this costume. I now knocking them for it because they were both gorgeous costumes and has produced a gorgeous child. It did however take a bit to grow on me.I was not sure of the beading hanging from the waistband but when i saw how it was used on the front line bra and headpiece I really like it.The frontline is just hot for days. My congratulations to all who have the confidence to wear that bra whichis little more than a pastie with a curtain of beads. The accordian material gold capes is ole school but works well with the costume. The headpiece is also very over the top.

XI LING SHI
Ok, Ok, it is a gorgeous costume. The colour combination just jumps out at you. The frontline option is just dripping with diamante from every crevice. Floor length feathers in two tones. Its one and only downfall is that it looks like a remix of Spangled Cotinga. So much so , that is has been given the nickname Spangled Canary.(I eh make that up eh!!) As pretty as it is , I just can't seem to overlook that it seemed to use some of the leftover material from last year.I am all for saving the planet but I think it came too close on the heels of Cotinga. For someone who actually played in Cotinga it got crossed of my list immediately. For those who did not get into the overcrowded Cotinga section ...Yay! Now you have a second shot.Gorgeous all the same though!

RANDOM INDIVIDUALS
I don't know what to say about a few costums that seemed to be just thrown in as an afterthought and could not be connected to any section. In particular the green and pink that was seen after Silk of Rajasthan. The poor girl spent the whole time on stage holding up the headpiece. The costume itself was Fugly.It looked cheap and tacky. Then they had the butterflies which look like they went in Island People storage warehouse and sneaked out a few.I stood up there trying to figure out how the wings were attached and it just had a rod stuck into the side of the waistband. Really? But them all in the garbage.

In summary:
MY Top 5 : Loulan, Charmeuse,Osage,Threads of Morocco,Xi Ling Shi.
MY Bottom 3:Fire Silk, Silk of Rajasthan,Serica

Check Saucy for her two cents.

TRIBE 2K10

2009-07-26T10:25:00.000-04:00

The Lost Tribe:Carnival 2k9

2009-02-26T12:12:00.005-04:00

So usually I would have two separate posts for the review of Monday and Tuesday on the road. I am not even going to go through the effort because I think the two days were almost identical in the overall experience.

Now I had intentionally laid low over the weekend because I was fighting the cold and did not want to jeapordise my chances for hitting the streets. Monday morning I was still a bit drugged up but most excited for the days activities. This was clearly reflected in my Monday wear which comprised of a full kit with ,matching boots and all. As per usual my crew was running late and had to haul tail to catch the band on Park street. Although the weather was a bit inclement it was holding up nicely and the sun was blazing nonetheless. It was quite obvious from the get go that Tribe had not cut their numbers and there were a million people in the band. However we still seemed to be making a good pace along the roads.

I was glad that the DJS gave the crowd the opportunity to 'vote' for their Road March prior to crossing the stage at the Savannah. This resulted in Destra's Bacchanal being played as opposed to Faye Ann's song. I personally feel Destra's composition is by far a better road march composition than Faye Ann and was too glad that I did not have to hear Faye Ann all day. It should be noted that Tribe is a very ugly band to look at on Carnival Monday and Tuesday (pm). If you are a tourist, this is not the band to watch costumes, its the band to party. I personally think women could at least make a better effort with their Monday wear. You don't have to wear your costume but oh gosh man, a extra hot shorts is $60 from Tribe and looks much better than a pair of denim shorts and a wife beater tank top. At the very least try and get a colour that matches your section! I made a point to bling out both days , hopefully I can try and set a new standard for Monday wear. I know Saucy was not easy herself either on Monday. There were actually some entire sections that were MIA on Monday e.g Golden Dove, Owl. I literally saw not more than 2 people for each of those sections on Monday.

I applaud Tribe for their organisation on the road and for the lunch stop. However I think its time they realise that they definitely need to provide more tents and blankets for lunch. They should just get that big tent they use for the Indian Expo in Macoya and put everything under there and give we some cold breeze. I guarantee you no one likes to sit in blazing sun or pouring rain to eat lunch. One gripe I have with them is that in the 5 years that I have been in Tribe they still seem to have the SAME number of bathrooms every year.Now I could be wrong but what I do know is that the LINES never seem to improve from year to year. And aside, ladies if you have to pee you need to start stripoing from outside the bathroom in the line and waistbands get put back on outside the bathroom. They have a full length mirrors outside to fix make up and freshen up. That is not for inside a stall. The lunch stop Monday was also waaaaay too long and my 'International food' which consisted of corn pie, spanish rice and baked chicken was way to dry.

After lunch Monday was just a huge mass of people following behind a truck. The security actually seemed to be making a great effort to keep non masqueraders out of the band. That is of course with the exception of the gentleman who was holding the rope and wining on me at the same time.When I asked if he was not working , he told me that was his wuk too. It was then I noticed that security no longer had numbered T shirts which make it impossible to identify individuals. It wa also difficult to pick out security supervisors.

I definitely was not too impressed when we bent the corner on Tragarete road and I realised we were heading straight back to Stanmore Ave to wrap up the day. It was still daylight at this point and was probaly just barely 6pm. Never in my entire 13 years playing mas have I ever wrapped up so early from playing mas. Being that I was not feeling 100% I was cool about it and figured that the next day would be more eextended.I would have been much happier if theyhad made a little block and come back again.

Tuesday I reached the band a bit later than usual. I actually had to take the shuttle for the first time ever and must say it was well done.Breakfast was still serving when I arrived so I was happy with that as well. It was nice to see that people were actually in their sections but it was early still. Shortly therefafter Tribe security pissed me off. I had a visiting friend who has played with us for the past 3 years who is unfamiliar with Trinidad. While getting ready to cross the stage a security personnnel grabbed her and began to pull her out the section and told her to get in her section. She had to tell him to take his hands of of her and tried to come back to us to tell us what he had said. Firstly, Tribe is not competing for anything, they werenot even registered for competition. When they were, they never made a big deal about being in your section especially as we always stay to the sides and not in the middle. So of course we were all annoyed by the rudeness and the physicality of it all.Before she could even take the two steps to tell us that she would meet us lower down after the 'stage' another security personnel accosted her again. She again was forced into a physical and verbal confrontation and ultimately chose to walk further down to meet us on the 'stage'. This was absolutely uncalled for especially considering Tribe could not possiblyhave won anything or lost points for it.

My headpiece was thrown on a truck shortly thereafter because it was just too hot. How ironic it was that it would begin pouring rain before we even made it around the savannah.I was absolutely soaked in no time and it looked like it would not be letting up for the rest of the day. Fortunately I have a friend who lived close by and was able to freshen up and change into my 3rd pair of stockings during lunch. By the time we got back to the band, there were congregating on Elizabeth St. I made the mistake and leave my friends for a moment and it was impossible to find them back in the jam. I had to climb a wall to make myself visible for them to find me .In doing so I sw lots of costumes from different bands. The majority of which came from Elements.(I not talking about the Elements people in Tribe costumes eh , that is for a next day).

In my humble opinion it was at this point where it began to go downhill in terms of the 'Tribe experience'. My section happened to be with Hypa Hoppa's truck. This truck was in the middle of the Red 96.7 truck and the Xcaliber truck. So basically the entire band was trying to monopolize teh space between these three trucks in the middle. It was impossible to move freely far less dance freely. It was even harder to breathe as the quality of the air was renk.Drinks was a fight up as well. I am quite sure that the drinks truck grew once again. Some of them were extremely tall and I saw several people with difficulties getting drinks. One guy who was taller than me came up behind me and ordered over my head and got his drink first. Then I realised we were taking the same route as Monday...umm so what happen to St.James?It move?

Then we had the people who in the jam insisted on travelling through the band in the opposite direction . If you wish to do that, just pass on the sides!! Especially if you still have on a headpiece. On that note, if you feathered headpiece is soaked and it looks like a skeleton on your head its time to THROW IT AWAY. It cannot be saved!!! These same said people are the ones who want to be carrying on the baddest and stabbing people at the same time. By the time we were on Ariapita Ave, Hoppy was pleading for people to get in their section and quickly realised the futility of it all. He eventually resorted to telling the judges it is 'One Tribe so we refuse to get in our section". The crowd was beginning to get unbearable at this point and the worst thing about it is that they were only masqueraders around me. I can't say there were many stormers. That tells me that Tribe just has too many people period. Everybody can't be in the Tribe, there has to be some cut off point at some time people please!! A trip to the bar became an excursion and you were never sure to find back your crew even if you all went together. And then a bar lady has the audacity to tell me 'one drink per person' after I have to fight thru 10 000 ppl ???NAH!

So said so done, it was just a pass by Victoria square and we were back on Stanmore and party done. AT exactly 6:40pm we were back on Stanmore Ave. In my entire life I have NEVER finished a parade route so early. Given that they had an 'after party' which I did not even attend because nobody TOLD ME that was the plan. But I would still have preferred more time on the road actually moving.

In all I still enjoyed myself on the road because I am obsessed with Carnival and being on the road in costume is half the battle. Better yet since I was able to jump in more than one section this year. If it was not for that, this Carnival will be very low down on my list of 'bess Carnivals'. When I first registered I was so relieved that Tribe was making an effort to reduce numbers after listening to their masqueraders complaints from last year. Whatever their good intentions were it was clearly not followed through. Right now I feel like a Poison Deja Vu. That should be their theme for next year 'Deja Vu'. Because the outrageous size followed by the addition of Machel is very reminiscent of the downfall of Poison.Honestly if this was your first year on the road with Tribe, you eh get the 'Tribe experience' yet. MY Tribe experience involved no waiting or fighting up with drinks, no suffocating masses of people, no men (masqueraders or otherwise) accosting me for a wine and all the room in the world to play my mas. As it is I need protection from people in the band because they don't give you a chance!!! If you can irritate a die hard masquerader as myself Tribe then clearly changes need to be made. I love and applaud your organisation, your stellar customer service, your gorgeous costumes but all of that becomes NULL AND VOID if when we reach on the road your masqueraders are uncomfortable.

In all fairness I did hear rumours of bootleg id bands being sold for IP and Tribe at $600 a pop which could explain why there were so many more people in the band on Tuesday without costumes. I noticed this on the road before I heard this speculation but could not notice any difference in the bands that I sw in un-costumed people. How anybody could pay money and come out in regular clothes on a Tuesday is beyond me!!

I tell myself I playing individual next year. But I saw how even the individuals and the FL masqueraders had an impossible time making their way down the road. Why the hell would I want to go through that? I hope they had friends to get them drinks cause that would have been a lost cause. I was not suprised when I heard some people left Tribe and went by Spice etc just to get relief from the jam. There will undoubtedly be many people who dont care either way and jam or no jam they paying their money just for the 'Prestige' of being 'in with the in crowd' in Tribe. Tribe, I just letting you guys know, a lot of your foundation crew are hating it more and more. My carnival crew has been with you from since Pleasures days and left the band early! Something that is completely unheard of in our circle and has NEVER happened in 13 years even with Poison. I myself hardly even drank alcohol just because it was a nuisance to get it.You guys desperately need to get things back under control!!

For all who played this year and who have never played and still want the Tribe experience, is better you try the Spice experience or the Elements experience (God spare them all) because at this point the Tribe experience , at least when it comes to the Tribe road experience,has been lost!!

I am a Spangled Cotinga skettel!

2009-02-17T12:58:00.004-04:00

After some delays yesterday at Cascadia ( no fault of Tribe), I was finally able to collect my costume in Cotinga. Since then,I have heard a slew of complaints about the costume and I must put in my two cents on the matter as I am in the same boat with them all.

By now, most of you should know that I was also unfortunate enough to suffer through the Silver Mist debacle last year and was one of the first people to get the mark that things were not as they should be. So I for one am picky when it comes to my costume and not putting water in my mouth to say it as it really is. As a direct result of the SM issue, Tribe improved on their inspection procedures during production of the costumes to ensure quality control. For this year alone I have heard reports of several instances where the costumes were reworked to improve or fix slight defects (before distribution!)

First off let me say, my costume looks almost EXACTLY like I expected it to.I say almost only because I myself did not overscrutinize as I would usually do and didn't notice that the costume has gold detailing and not silver. I have boots that would look better with silver detailing but I can acknowledge that it was MY BAD that I did not pick up on it sooner. So I eh vex with them for it and so what if I have to get new earrings. In truth and in fact I should have realised this from the get go because the chain was always backed with gold, a pic I posted on this blog myself. If anything, if you have questions you should just have checked it yourself. Ask a friend or email Tribe if you had to. If it is that somebody in Tribe tell you silver when it was gold ...well then maybe you have a leg to stand on. If not is is YOUR responsibility as a masquerader to check this before you spend extra money on accessories.

The one issue I had with my costume is that I had some gems that were fallen off the bra and were not in my box. Some of the gluing could have been done neater but nothing I could not just pick off myself. I did not even fret ( yes ME did not fret), I just ask the girl to get me some more gems and I will stick them myself. Tribe surprised me and all my going beyond that and telling me I getting a whole new bra. YAY! Better yet! The new bra was perfect! If I really scrutinise, (and I will later) , I am not sure my bra has the same number of beads as the prototype. Nonetheless my bra is well covered and thats all that mattered to me.

Ok so the headpiece in the original pics looked more like a fountain head. The newer pics with the black background showed two versions. I was GLAD when I got the fan version of the headpiece because I was not feeling the fountain head and felt it was an improvement. Yeah ok, if you LOOOVED fountain head , I could understand why you would be grumpy but its definitely still gorgeous!! Tell me what difference it will make once it get wet down?( as it's sure to)

Secondly all who say get their Cotinga costume and say "OH my GAWD ! It sooo skimpy!What I will do??!" . A big fat STEEEEUPPPPPS. What planet allyuh living on? Really? And which point was Cotinga not one of THE skimpiest costumes in the band? Thats like signing up in Brazilian Macaw and saying ," OMG why my boobies outside?!". Cotinga on stage , at the launch and on display at the camp since last year August is exactly as it is today. If you are reading this you might have stumbled upon the special mention I made about the back of this costume LAST YEAR ! Don't say I did not tell you so! It never had beads on the side and it was always NON existant at the back. For those of you who have not checked the link and want an understanding of how skimpy it is...think of the back of the waistband as a built in thong. But anyone who actually checked out the costume could easily have known this.

Seriously, it really irritates me when people sign up for a costume without checking it thoroughly and complain about things that were obvious from the inception. As for those who are upset that they did not get more beads... I ask ...why should you? Ok, the bigger bra sizes would appreciate more beading to cover the whole bra..fair enough. Give them some beads Tribe.But why you vex if the waistband only have 1 bead hanging on the side when it ALWAYS did . If you do not make special arrangements in ADVANCE then all you will get is the exact same things as everybody else. How Tribe could be responsible for adding more beads beforehand to satisfy an individual's idiosyncracies? Worst yet, why would anyone sign up in a section that is clearly skimpy and then complain it skimpy? If you signed up for a thongs..don't ask why yuh bumcee outside!! I tried on my costume with a thongs and even I feeling exposed so yuh know what...I might just cool myself and wear my regular bikini. Problem solved! I for one know what I was getting into because I took the time to check it out, front and back. And for all those who had the good sense to do the same and know what time it is, I want you to say it with me ....I AM A SPANGLED COTINGA SKETTEL! AND I LOVE IT!

AC7 REVIEW

2009-02-16T23:27:00.003-04:00

Well boy the traffic for AC like it started from EARLY. At around 11pm when i finally got out the house there was not a park in the environs of the stadium. Peopler were trying to fit all how on the sidewalks, double parking on ppl..all kinda madness. You would think after buying a 'Platinum' ticket you wouldat least have a chance at a parking spot in the stadium...but nooooo the stadium parking was reserved for the artistes and 'invited guests.Fortunately we had someone holding a spot close by and were able to park pretty easily once we navigated the traffic.

So we started the trek to the stadium. I apparently was the only person in my group who actually looked at the map in the papers to see where was what.Both general and Platinum had the same first point of entry. There were hundreds of general adminission ppl fighting up at the scaffolding gates. The police were actually just picking people out the line and searching them which can tell you how shady some of them appeared. We just looked at each other like WTF.So basically we had to walk arund the stadium along with the thousands of general people to get to the platinum entrance which was past the general entrance. Now I don't know if this is how it always I have been able to park inside the stadium on previous occasions but the arrangement seemed do defeat the purpose of 'Platinum' guests. We got to another checkpoint which which again had throngs of people. In attempting to run up the side of the masses we were forced into teh pack by police. After not moving anywhere for a few minutes we again tried to run up the side, only to realise that we were on the right track because they was one single lane for the Platinum patrons to bypass the crowd. In fact, this was the general entrance at the marathon tunnel. We were just lucky to see the sign otherwise we would have been stuck in the jam for hours. Sowe were able to pass through and go to yet another checkpoint which was the actual Platinum entrance at the covered stands. I almost died laughing when I saw a group of fellas going up the spiral stairs in the lobby which is very different to the stadium stairs and clearly led to nowhere! A guard had to run them down but they really thought they were going to the concert that way.I guess they have never been to the stadium.

Yet again the migration up the stairs and down the stands was congested since there were only two available stairwells for use and only two bridges to cross to get onto the grounds. The grounds were very well lit almost bright as day. It was clearly noticable that the Platinum section was lacking in numbers. I figured most ppl were still fighting up in traffic and it would fill up eventually. So we headed to the bar only to find that it was sponosred by ANgostura therefore there was no Johnny walker. I think the men in my party almost had an anxiety attack at this discovery and spent the next half hour going to every single bar to see what they could come up with. Apparently they had Blu vodka and Grey Goose available to buy by the bottle yet everybar was already sold out of it!! This meant that everyone was resigned to drinking beers and black bottle all night. I for one drank nothing but LLB. I could not believe in the Platinum section that the OPTION was not available to buy. Almost everyone I ran into was complaining about the lack of Premium liquor. Worse yet you also had to buy food.

During thsi period of srink hunting Shurwayne was on stage performing and I was basically ignoring him because I had seen him the night before. It did not escape me however that Shurwayne had included some familiar rhythems in his performance that I associated with Machel. I had made the same observation the previous night at Voodoo when Shurwayne used the track that Machel would use to introduce the 'Powderpuff girls'. At the time I thought litlle of it but shortly thereafter news filtered from backstage that Machel had totally tripped out on Shurwayne for using some of 'his' tracks during his AC performance. From all reports it was a pretty heated argument. (Machel later addressed the incident on a live interview on th elocal CNC 3 Channel this evening and minimised the incident).We were all anxious to see if Machel would even grace us with his presence.

The lights were dimmed soon after and whaddya know....parachute men in the sky! I was like WTF once again because I was QUITE sure that thsi was how he started the show last year. This time he did not even pretend to be one of the men in the air.Come on...better than that Machel. I must say Machel and Co. always give their all and they put on a great show but in truth and fact , their was very little difference between last year and this year. It was obvious that they did not have as many patrons in the Platinum section as they did last year.

Some highlights of the show included the performances of Busy Signal and Skinny Fabulous. Two kid stars from the Boy Boy Musical also had a two feature performances. Don't ask me how their parents gave them permission to be up after 2am. Strangely enough, the biggest forward of the night came from the Chinese segment where they introduced Chinee, winner of the Synergy Soca Star. I give him props for his achievements but would love to see what he comes with after his current song about being Chinee. He then introduced teh original Chinee soca star..Chinese Laundry. And you would swear it was Jay-z or something the way the place throw down!

Patrice and Zan pulled their weight with the usual selections. Pitbull joined Machel onstage as the show was winding down and it was pretty much a repeat of last years performance. Yeah ok , we all still love 'Defense' but he had little else to wow us. His newer tunes don't get much hype including the other one with Machel ( yeah the one where he calls every country and says they get crazy). Lucky for us (scarcastic) Lil Jon managed to make his flight this year but I can't say it made a big difference to the performance. Yeah, he might be a big hip hop artist if it was a summer concert but to come and sing your tunes from last year during Carnival...Lil Jon was kinda whack. 'The floor is on fire' went over well with the crowd but again Lil Jon had very little input into it.I was not amused when Lil Jon said he would be on the road and I am praying he is not in Tribe cause I definitely doh want to hear that crunk sheet on the road.

I actually made my exit during their performance which I can only presume wrapped up the show. This was mainly due to the fact that the set up was the same as last year and I anticipated another crushing mob when the whole VIP tried to get across to itsy bitsy bridges. We got out of there quickly and was speed walking out the stadium in 5 mins only to be face with the daunting task of cutting through the mob of exiting general patrons. We risked it as it was still early and only a few people were exiting and were then able to cut through to the back gate to exit the stadium.I was in St.James buying a burger within 10 minutes. I was spared the traffic which I am sure would have been just as paiful as that going to the venue.

All in all, if you went last year then you missed nothing this year.In fact , you probably did not miss anything in general that you could not see at one of the other fetes. I actually watched 'Boy Boy and the Magic Drum' on TV before I went to AC so their were no surprises for me.If you had paid money to go in then it was highway robbery cause the bars were crappy. Its still convenient for the older folks who want to sit and see the show but they also have to fight up for parks and deal with the masses of people to get to and from. Compared to the show Machel had two years ago with Peter Minshall's input, the show is heading downhill. There were actually more special guests last year and I think I enjoyed it more (maybe cause I had a few drinks). My advice, if you want to go to Machel's longest performance where he performs most of his hits, then go AC but if you want a whole drinks and entertainment package you are better off elsewhere.

VOODOO REVIEW

2009-02-16T15:45:00.002-04:00

Well I was not planning to do anything Friday night but just so happens a ticket for Voodoo fell into my lap and I could not let it go to waste! Although I know most people would have gone to Misty Ridge or Army fete, the Voodoo fete also sounded like it had potential as it was priced at $250 drinks inclusive. and thrown by the Sunnyside Up crew. It was held at Crew Inn in Caguaramas so it was an easy drive to the venue. I arrived around 11:00pm and was suprised to see then number of cars that were already there. I got practically one of the last available spots in the compound.

So a short stroll has us at the front gate which had this huge BATTERY inflatable arch and they scanned in our tickets. First impression......where everybody? The place looked empty but I figured it was still a bit early and they had time. It was hard to miss the ABSOLUT martini bar which was very well set up and included a lounge area with giant white bean bag chairs. I was quite impressed with the setup. A little while after I discovered a tequila bar and they were serving up the good stuff, the Jose Cuervo, and had girls walking around the party handing them out.The Margarita bar was also pretty impressive. It had no lounge but four different types of margaritas to choose from and they were WELL made. Th eother bars were stocked with the basics and Chivas instead of Johnny walker. Now usually I would blast a bar for this but their cocktail bars more than made up for it!

At the time I arrived I did not know it was a drinks inclusive and that you had to pay for the food. When I did get hungry I saw the selection was very limited to burgers, fries and hot dogs. I was a bit disappointed with the selection choices as for those watching their weight they were pretty much left hungry. I must say that the burgers were laffable, the patties were paper thin! And I am not exaggerating. If I have to pay for it anyway at least let me get a wider range. No bake and shark? Doubles?

Ok this is not really crucial but at first I thought that they did not have enough bathrooms for the people they expected. In the end it was just as well but they had only one sink and the male and female were just set up in a dark hole right next to each other. I should add in their defense they had ample product placement with CHARMIN toilet paper in all the stalls. How bougie is that ? You could have pick Soft Charmin or the Strong Charmin. Just in case you really needed to take a dump in a portable toilet you were fix!

Well my friends I and I took up residence close to the margarita bar. The venue was a bit awkward in some places as it was in the carpark and there were some obstacles and dividers throughout. It could have ben lit a bit better for these spots but in general it was a good space. A look around the venue saw that the crowd had not gotten too much bigger. It was an interetsting mix though. I saw ppl I thought would be in Misty Ridge and there was also the occasional tourist. They probably had about 100-150 people in all. I doubt they made money but everyone seemed to be having a great time.

The live entertainment was started off with Shurwayne Winchester who gave a very energetic performance. At one point a guy was screaming that he see Shurwayne do the exact same performance last year. For the most fun I would have to agree but i could not hate on Shurwayne too much because the whole band all looked like they were having so much fun on stage.His song 'Release the Energy' is actually a pretty good soca for the road and I am kinda surprised it has not gotten more airplay.

Next up was Kees and the Band who had to cut back their full band performance and stuck to singing on tracks because of the low turn out. They still gave an enthusiatic performance and had only minor hiccups with the cd changer. After this, I decided to make it an early night as I had lots of Carnival errands the next day. The vibe still seemed strong but I don't know if it would have lasted all night. In all I think they have a good potential to make that fete a 'must go' but I was not suprised by the turn out as I say very little ads for it anywhere prior to the event. They need to put more effort into their marketing and they may make a splash next year. So then it was onwards to AC...you don't want to miss that review!

Panorama 2K9 semis aka "I'm not drunk!"

2009-02-09T21:01:00.007-04:00

So I have not been to Panorama Semis since they took down the North stand. I was quite traumatised by that event. I was also braksing from going because the very thought of being in that hot sun whole day was a deterrent. I don't do hats so that was not an option for me. But I had a friend coming in for the pre-carnival activities and that was the one thing she had to do so ........I take the chain up!

So being that my vehicle is under repairs I had to bum a drop with some friends. This worked out just fine cause I had no intention of being a designated driver that night.However, no matter how hard I tried to get them to duck the sun they all wanted to reach early.Being Trinis...our 1pm arrival at the Savannah easily turned into 2pm. It turns out we were right on time. The place was just beginning to fill up and you could have still secured a good spot for your whole crew. As we were about to enter the front gates a short rain spell passed over but it held up pretty nicely thereafter.The sky remained overcast for most of the day(thankfully).

First off let me tell you..TSTT pan lime is the best deal you can possibly get for an 'all inclusive' side. I get my money's worth after the first drink. (Special thanks to the TSTT Marketing Team for good looking out!).Food, drinks, riddem section plus ticket for $250? What! It was clear early on who had the biggest crew....it was a dead heat between Bmobile and Red Ants Posse.Both of whom were well decked off in their coordinated outfits. These two sides had really organised bars and food distribution stalls and the riddem sections were not far. From the time I see Johnny Walker and Red bull running freely I know is a best lime. I eat geera pork, aloo pie, roti, chicken , bake and shark and pholourie to no end!There were a few other large sides who were notable including Island People and Angostura.Noticeably absent were some other 'large band' representation. Suprisingly present was a Kaotic pan side.

Now I can't speak to previous years on 'The Greens' but if ever the intention was to turn panorama into a big cooler fete then it was a resounding success. Up to now I cannot tell you who play and what they play.I dare you to find 5 people who can. It was all about the riddem section, the drinks and the lime. Nonetheless the vibe was off the hook.( See video below!) The tents were set up like a bazaar or a tent city and most of the crowd stayed close to the tents where their bars were. They were a few risers constructed near the entrance but they were so far back I dont know how it possible to hear or see anything if you were really interested in the true purpose of the event.The grass had a plastic interlocking floor system that kept the mud to a minimum but it still was a bit iffy when wet. I saw a few ladies with heels on...yes heels...and for the life of me could not figure out how that was practical. That was an accident waiting to happen.

Needless to say, most of the people I knew (or did not know) were very drunk, very quickly.I had a gentleman approach me who asked if my belt was difficult to loop.To which I responded most politely "not at all" cause I just had to see where he was going with this.He said," You missed a loop". I then had to point out to him that NONE of the belt was looped because it was too wide to get into the belt loops. Of course, he was quite embarrassed and I asked him to just stop while he was ahead and enjoy the rest of his night.

I found it quite interesting that the crowd inside was generally of an uptown persuasion and a fairer complexion. It was very much like any premium all inclusive that you could have attended.Even the Laventille Riddem Section was employed by Red Ants .I felt very comfortable roaming the venue even after it started to get dark. I know for sure that the large bands did not start performing until after dark but after being there for about 7 hrs and seeing the bar packed up and gone there was little motivation to stay past 10pm. That and the fact that I had drank a good portion of the Johnny Walker in the bar.

On our way to the exit we were cut off by the large crowd that had gathered to support the riddem section supplied by the Insomniacs. I must really give my hats off to this side cause they still had tons of energy for how late it was. My eyes may have deceived me but I believe that it was KMC himself that was on the riser that began singing 'I'm not drunk' which basically mash down the whole of Panorama. We definitely couldnot leave until that session was over.

I had such a grand time and was in such a good mood when I left that for just a moment I remembered what sweet sweet Trinidad used to be like before the bandits took over. The walk back to the car was not as pleasant as my day. It always sucks having to find your car , in the dark, in the savannah. Fortunately I had 3 strapping bodyguards for company. We soon found ourselves on the 'track' which i guess is where everybody else in Trinidad was liming who did not pay to get in the hoity toity 'Greens'. There was a huge MASS (no pun intended) of people. I was enthused at first cause I saw some of the big bands passing by like Desperados. This is the first time for the day that I was able to actually hear the true beauty of the instrument. The vibe seemed just as hype. As we approached Renegades the crowd got extremely thick all of a sudden. I had a crazy dude next to me shouting that everybody should walk with their hands in their pockets in such a crowd. How right he was. Moments later one of my large friends had his chain grabbed. Fortunately he had quick reflexes and was able to grab on to it before the little bandit got hold of it but not before it snapped. By the time he spun around he could not pick out who had grabbed him. Even if he did ,he probably would have risked personal injury. I am just astounded at the boldfaceness of todays bandits cause not only was this guy large but his chain was inside his shirt. That just sour the rest of the night.... I went home happy but disappointed at the spiraling decay of our country in such a time of merriment.

I am sure that I will be back next year but it seems that it will be with a new sense of caution. When it gets dark...like party done. I really hope that Carnival does not suffer the same unfortunate fate cause I'm accustomed shutting off the music truck come Carnival Tuesday.

BLUE RANGE ALL INCLUSIVE REVIEW

2009-01-27T14:37:00.002-04:00

Yeah, so I still late with it but say what.I think Saucy's review was pretty much on point. I always like this fete primarily because its cheaper than the rest and I always have a safe VIP park reserved. Its quite amusing to note that a few years ago this fete was classified as the 'Old People Fete' and the Blue Range Cooler Fete was the 'Young People Fete'. Well Saturday night seemed that like the young people take over. On top of that, it has grown significantly. The committee is now utilising some road space and had to reorientate the entire venue to pack in more people. Even though it was packed , there was still enough room to move around easily. No stress by the bar either. I am still trying to establish whether or not it had Jonny Walker behind the bar cause no one I spoke to actually SAW a Walker bottle. But I won't be mad at them, worth giving that up if it meant adding Machel and keeping teh price down. I can't believe people actually looking to scalp this party now. WOW!

I think they did well to simplify the menu and spend their money on the performances. Not that they got their money's worth with Bunji's performance. But the addition of Machel was definitely a plus. Its no point comparing his act to Bunji's because if you blinked ( or went to pee) you would have missed Bunji. So it was very easy for Machel to steal the show.I even heard comments that he performed better than he did in ONE fete with his band. I cant say for myself because I am also boycotting overpriced fetes. (Potentially next on the chopping block...Beachouse). I dont eat much in fetes to begin with. As long as I have some finger food to absorb some of the liquor and keep me half sober..I good. I really don't care to have tandoori chicken and anything of an exotic nature when I know I drinking and wining.

I have a feeling that demand for this fete will drive up the price,especially since the Blue Range committee seems to be trying to be a bit selective this time around. However, if they maintain it at this level, the overpriced 'ultra all inclusive' may have a hard time sustaining itself.

The Carnival Matchup Game

2009-01-26T15:27:00.004-04:00

I was most horrified yesterday when it was brought to my attention that the Trinidad Newsday had THIS article published in its 'Carnival Living ' Section on Sunday 25th Jan about Tribe's quick sales. I mean REALLLY.....how is it possible to get EVERY SINGLE section name wrong?? Even after they interviewed Dwayne Nobrega? All they needed was a booklet or a visit to the website!!! They have a RED costume labelled BLUE Tananger!!!! That was not a clue?? Terrible reporting!! Is a good thing they already sold out! I apologise for the bad cropping but I did not have a full size scanner and i was too annoyed to pay money to get it done outside.

Ok wait, maybe its a game!! Yes, match the costumes to the right names..win a prize!! NOT!!!

Tribe Costume Makeup Solved!

2009-01-10T23:33:00.013-04:00

So with all your Carnival Preparations you left your make up for last. Now you are scrambling to find colours and gems that match your costume. Or maybe ,you have no clue how you should make up your face for Carnival. Never fear, Melissa is here!

Melissa Deane has taken the guesswork out of Carnival Makeup for all the novices and stickers!It is a quick and easy way of crossing this Carnival necessity off your list. She has put together makeup packages for Tribe's Caged Canary and Spangled Cotinga for the BARGAIN Price of $155TT. Included in the package is step by step application instructions as to how to apply and blend the colours. So here is what you get :

CAGED CANARY

3 Colours of pigments :Gold, Sparkly Orange, Fuschia Coral (1teaspoon each)
60 Face Gems : Orange and Fuschia
Application Instructions
OPTIONAL - Spirit Gum to stick gems ADD $25TT

SPANGLED COTINGA:

3 Colours of pigments :Icy White, Winter Blue, Metallic Silver(1teaspoon each)
60 Face Gems : Baby Blue, White(Irridescent), Silver
Application Instructions
OPTIONAL - Spirit Gum to stick gems ADD $25TT

All of these colours are pure uncut pigments that will last more than 20 applications.They will last all day once applied as instructed. Some of the colours ,( blue, fuschia and orange) have been hand blended by the artist and therefore cannot be bought in any store. They are exclusive to this offer. For order information please contact Melissa via email at makeupdean@gmail.com. Currently she has only put forward colours for Spangled Cotinga and Caged Canary however, once there is a demand for other sections she will consider creating some new packages. Good looking out Melissa, one more thing off my list!!!

Downtown Jumbie

2009-01-10T22:28:00.004-04:00

So last week I decided that I had better get moving on these Carnival necessities and accessories list that I have and went into the Mall that is West to the place for tights...Micles. Well since Micles renovate , like they eh know what they really about. To me the previous version was much better organised and had a greater variety of thing. Nonetheless, I asked one of the staff if she had stockings to which she responded that they don't sell that. I further clarified that I meant the Carnival stockings to which she again say they did not have any. I asked her when they were getting and she said she did not know. I had to request that she check and the other girl also did not know. I sought further clarification as to whether they intended to get at all at any time and they also did not know. They then told me to check in Port of Spain branch. I was not amused and most concerned as to when they intended to get tights. Now that they are such a hot seller, getting size and colour becomes a problem when everyone is forced to stock up at the 11th hour. That's why I found myself downtown in Port of Spain today.

My friend and I decided to make it Carnival outing so our first stop was Samaroos. I guarantee you, if you really need to get stuff to bling out or put together any other kit then its best you go anytime around now. I doubt Samaroos will ever be as empty soon thereafter. So we again went hunting for stockings which unfortunately we were told Samaroos were not getting all the colours and sizes until the 24th January or so.Interesting to note, according to the staff, the packaging for the 'Silky' brand tights changed their packaging to look more like a standard stocking package in a green colour. So you have two package types with the same product.To my best knowledge the Silky brand of tights that is also what is packaged as a 'Micles' branding as well. However Micles brand packaging looks more like the original 'Silky' packaging.I basically forgot about everything else I wanted to macco in Samaroos and hightailed it over to Micles on Frederick Street to see if they had in stock. Much to my relief , I was able to get my size and colour at Micles (although she had to pull some from the store room). According to the staff there, all stores, including West Mall, will be getting a shipment of stockings closer to Carnival.Apparently they sell the stockings there year round. I for one, was not waiting. Next thing yuh know the container stuck on the port or some next bull crap. I know I am a bit early but not soooo early that they should not have readily available. One thing off my list.

Next stop was to take a turn in Picadilly Shoes in Excellent City Center which are supplying Tribe with the optional boots. I still don't know what I am wearing on Monday so I figured it would not hurt to try on a pair instead of trying to find something online. I encountered a pair of girls, also hunting for boots for Tribe, who were most distressed. Apparently they are all sold out of flat gold coloured boots. Interestingly , there is a blue spray-painted boot which I imagine is for Cotinga but I was not really feeling it.They had a few brown pairs and some other colours in stock and they were most concerned that we would be there to buy the last of their size in their colour before they made up their minds if to go with the brown instead. Apparently they had a whole crew who wanted the same colour boots and she did not want to be the odd one out. I think she was relieved when I asked to try on and I was not her size. So I tried on a black boot in my size which has the same distressed finish as the others. It felt comfortable and soft but too big for my foot. I was concerned about my foot rattling around in the shoe all day.Of course they had no socks for me to try with it. I of course would not even risk a smaller size unless I tried on my size with socks so they lost their sale right there. I also did not feel that they had very good arch support for me. However , I have very very high arches so it may be ok for someone else. Even with insoles in my flat-footed custom boots last year, I was still uncomfortable.I am not convinced that these will be much better for me.It still is a good alternative. The store is giving the option of paying down 50% ($200) for the boots to collect at a later date when they are in stock. Being that I was not sold I did not entertain that option.The other girls were desperate enough to pay up the deposit. Again, as far as I concerned...6 weeks before Carnival and it have no stock....I not convinced that they will get it for sure. Maybe on my next trip I will walk with socks and get a delivery of stock update.

The priority of course was to ensure costume was paid up for. I advise everyone who is financially and physically able to get their costume paid off this week.That goes for whatever band you may be registered in. One, you wont spend it. Two, it makes collection easier and faster (Unless of course you still waiting for your costume to get to the distribution center). Three, if there are any last minute issues with your order, you still have an opportunity to address it. If you think you might chicken out on the thongs then its easier to find a regular bottom now than Carnival Sunday. Well unfortunately I spent so long spinning around in P.O.S that I got to the camp waaaaay late and did not pay up. On Monday for sure I will be settled up.

At least I was able to accomplish one thing today. Progress has been made!Now to knock the others off the list!

Carnival Jumbie come back again!

2009-01-07T15:54:00.003-04:00

Well, well , well.....Look Who! So I have been M.I.A for a while which is a bit disappointing for me personally because I have not been able to do as much with this blog as I had hoped to this past year. Due to forces (yes forces) beyond my control there I still may not be able to update as regularly as I would like.Nonetheless, Carnival can't come and meet me without me being in the mix! Come hell or high water I will be on the road Carnival Monday and Tuesday.

Ok so quick pick up from where I left off...So the exercise program basically crashed and burned soon out the gate. Don't get me wrong, the P90X program is absolutely fantastic. However by day 3 I could barely move. I am not even exaggerating,as I said, it only hurt when I took a breath! I literally could not lift myself out of bed. I stayed in bed all day curled up in a little ball. I made it to end of week one and was ready to kump into week too when the pain in my chest went to another level that I could not believe was possible. I was convinced something had to be wrong! One doctor's visit later I find out I managed to give myself Costochondritis. (wtf!). With that one I was just out for the count cause it was weeks before I even started to feel like myself again. The very thought of going through that pain again was even more discouragement.

Before I knew it we were touching December and I was reaching the critical point to start and complete the 90 day program. In hindsight I think I psyched out myself. Every time I made up my mind to start 'tomorrow' I would start feeling these ghost pains again. To add insult to injury (pun intended) my work schedule just would not allow the time for it. As we all know, when Christmas is upon us it is dificult to commit yourself to any form of diet or exercise program. I am no different.I actually started justifying why I should pig out (cause I starting 'tomorrow'). So then I found myself up 5 pounds (I kid you not) from when I 'started' at the end of September. I think exercise is supposed to make your weight go in the opposite direction not so?

Between that and the impending deadline I got off my ass once again and got back on the bandwagon. I now only have time to complete 60/90 days in the programme. I think I can JUST get away with it given that I ABSOLUTELY watch my diet and maintain the exercise. And that shiznit is not easy. There are some routines that I can only do half of before my heart rate gets up to 95% and I feel like I going to drop down. A great deal of my time is spent making circles in the room and shaking my head. I may have yet to reach my 'mampee factor' but I am sure as hell starting to get an idea of what it might look like in the mirror.BUT!! Hope is not yet lost! I think I dropped at least 1.5 pounds just the first half of this week. I know if I went on the South Beach diet I would be down almost 7-10 pounds in two weeks. However because of the nature of the program which requires a great deal of energy and also comes with its own diet plan (that does not ban carbs) I don't want to get things too mixed up.The pursuit continues.....

So now that leaves us with Carnival preparations. I am still maintaining those X-treme lashes. I am now convinced I am a lost cause when it comes to keep all on. Correction, I am a lost cause when it comes to keeping all on my right eye. I sleep on my right side and I have this uncontrollable habit of scratching my right eye while I sleep. After a week or two my left eye is still gorgeous and my right eye starts to look like it have mange. Nonetheless, I have still received lots of compliments and I am so used to seeing them on my face now that I don't even see them standing out. I don't know if thats a good thing or not cause its like since you always looking toppa top there is nothing more you can do for a 'special occasion'.That 'wow factor' you might get becomes your new norm.

Now as for Monday wear...I am in a MESS. I have NOUGHT. This is definitely a first for me. I am really at a loss of what to put together. I have a bra but no matching shorts. Then I have another shorts with no matching bra. I have nothing to wear on my feet (cause my Tuesday boots only matching Tuesday costume). Don't want to the monokini thing AGAIN. That is so 2006.(HA!) And I have a feeling that will be overdone on the road this year. Especially considering so many bands have monokini costume options. Definitely not me to blend in with the crowd. As I say that...I doh even have my tights! Imagine that...no tights?? What really going on with me this year boy? I was most distressed last week when I found myself in MovieTowne to stock up on my Dermablend and whaddya know...the place GONE!! STEUPS so now is about finding a next local source or ordering online which eh sure to reach unless I send it to someone to bring down.

Look let me stop stickin yes and get this ball back to rolling!

The pursuit of ridiculousness, the mampee factor and P90X

2008-09-24T13:41:00.005-04:00

I am a lazy bitch. No seriously, I am. If I could stay in my bed every day till I felt like getting up you probably would not see me before noon. I dont even take calls before 10am. So it goes without saying that any form of structured exercise program is difficult for me to maintain. Long time readers would know about my attempt at getting my body to a level of 'ridiculousness' which just means that I don't just want to have an 'good' body , I want a ridiculous body. As in.."Damn she is so hot , its ridiculous".

Sorry to say, I seem to be slipping in the opposite direction of ridiculousness and moving dangerously closer to the mampee zone. And for those who missed the derivation of the 'mampee factor' theory on the c-box recently, let me explain. I think everyone has a weight level to which they are accustomed. Be it a Size 4 or a size 10. Anytime we get out of that comfort zone, say anywhere from 10 pounds or more from your baseline weight, clothes start fitting different and you actually start feeling different in your skin. Herein lies the mampee factor....which is by definition (cause I say so),:

Mampee factor: The weight at above your average baseline weight at which you personally start to feel insecure about your weight gain and/or feel like you have lost control of your weight management and henceforth classify yourself has a mampee.

By this definition everyone has a different 'mampee factor'. I think the consensus was in the range of 30-50 pounds over the weight that you have been for most of your life. However there may be some ppl who feel like a mampee after gaining five pounds and yet there are ppl who may never get the mampee syndrome as they are completely comfortable at all weights. In some cases, people may 'reset' their baseline weight and hence reconfigure their mampee factor. For example, when I first went to university I was 111lbs. At that point I don't think I was even aware of how meagre I was because I was so accustomed to being that way. After one semester I was clocking nearly 130lbs. I was not overweight but certainly much heavier than I had ever been in my entire life and in my opinion was turning into a mampee.I eventually settled back into the 120-125lbs range and have been stuck there more or less for the past 10 years or so. I actually preferred how I looked at that level and therefore my 'normal' weight went from 111lbs to 125lbs. So for me to be in my mampee zone at that point it would be in the 30+pounds from 125lbs and not 111lbs. By extension, if you have been 140lbs all your life you may not feel like a mampee until you reach over 190lbs or so. I think every individual has there own benchmark in their head when they look in the mirror and don't like what they see anymore.

People like me who have been slim most of their life and classified as a 'skinny (lazy) bitch' are not immune to mampee factors. In the past two years I have moved 1-2 dress sizes up and currently have a hard time getting into some of the clothes that I have, particularly pants. Believe me when you have popped the zippers on two pairs of jeans in one month, you start to feel like a mampee, REGARDLESS of your size.I apparently let myself go a bit since last Carnival.

So I decided enough was enough and I needed to take action and get back in form before the dreaded mampee factor got me. (and before I was at the point of no return). I realised that I was starting to lose muscle tone and I needed to do more than just 'lose weight'.I am famous for purchasing DVD fitness programs and never sticking with them. As a lazy bitch I don't like to get up in the AM to workout and when i get home I just want to eat and sleep.Then I came across P90X. This has been one of the best selling fitness programs for quite a few years for men and women who want to be 'ridiculous' and has the reputation to be hard as *$#@! What first interested me in this is the theory it is based on which is 'muscle confusion'. Basically by doing exercises in a certain order and changing it up regularly your body never experiences a 'plateau' stage where its used to the work outs and gets less effective. The program is also an extensive 12-part series of disks that I thought might help me from getting bored. The program promises a complete body makeover in 90 days and includes a meal program to manage your weight and ensure that you are getting the right nutrients and the right phase/fitness level . It requires six work outs per week! What I also liked is that it includes weight training without bulky exercise machines and I have very limited space at home to work out. Also it has a Yoga DVD which I have never really tried before. In addition, they provide lots of resources online for motivation , nutrition and coaching. Just to start the program, they include a fitness test whereby they recommend you try another program if you can't pass the minimum requirements. I wasted no time in getting myself a copy .

So the copy sat in my house for about a month while I assembled the necessary 'equipment' and did more research. Ok ok , I just procrastinated more. I used the fact that I did not have a pull up bar as an excuse even though I had the equivalent exercise bands. Then i had to get supplements which I wanted to get someone to bring for me from overseas (cause they a bit pricey here).Then i had to find time to read the meal plan. I also managed to squeeze in the read of another book called "The new rules of lifting for women:How to lift like a man and look like a goddess" .This is by far one of the best exercise books I have ever read and dispelled a lot of myths about weight training for women in a way that makes perfect logical sense. Click the link to take a read off of Amazon.com which lets you read almost the entire first chapter.This book also has it own meal and weight training plan for a tamer weight training program. Then I realised I did not have a heart rate monitor which I absolutely had to get!No, not really, but thats what I told myself. So after getting everything, with the exception of the pull up bar, I ran out of excuses. Then I went back to being plain lazy and not having time and not eating right cause of my hectic work schedule. Then I just had an epiphany and got sick of myself and my sheeeet. I just "PRESSED PLAY" and "Bring It!"as the P90X guru Tony would say. I am now on day 3 of my P90X program and should finish just in time for Christmas. Its not as scary as I expected, the exercises are all actually pretty simple. I actually was wondering after my first two workouts how something this basic once a week per body part is going to get me where I want to be. With that said...at day 3...it only hurts when I BREATHE. My plan was to give a run down of my experience with the different dvds but I feel that have to wait until I pass week 1, round 1. That is if I even survive! The website has a wealth of information for those who want to jump on the band wagon. But be warned.. this is NOT a workout for the faint of heart.

X-Treme Lashes!!

2008-09-15T23:19:00.009-04:00

It is my personal credo that in order to be a true diva you need super eye-lashes. Now if you are truly blessed and were born with naturally long eyelashes then I'm jealous. I for one have lots of lashes that are so fine that even with mascara they just look 'normal'. This is why I prefer to buy my lashes in the store. When you have eyelash enhancements , you don't even need make up to look 'made up'. I for one try not to go overboard and get the 'drag queen' lashes. I like them long but as natural as possible. There are a few types of lash enhancements available locally:

The lash strip- These are the lashes that come in pairs and are a continuous strip with all the lashes alrady in place. This tends to be the easiest one to put in for beginners that are trying to do it themselves. These are applied with an adhesive along the lashline.

Flares,The individual bunch- These lashes are applied individually.Each bunch has 3 or 4 lashes. These are also applied with adhesives along the lash line.

The individuals. These lashes are applied individually and each lash is a single strand of hair.Again, applied with adhesives.

I usually get my eyelash expert to apply the individual lashes cause she refuses to do anything else. I think these are actually the most natural look post application. Of course you can get fancy and get coloured lashes or super extra long lashes but I prefer just to get that extra lift while looking effortless. The irony of the situation is that I am HORRIBLE keeping my eyelashes intact. Most people could get their individual lashes to last a week or two. Me? I am lucky if I last even two days..and those two days are usually Carnival Monday and Tuesday. I just happen to have really bad eye allergies that have me rubbing my eyes in my sleep. From the time I see part lifting or a gap, I start pulling out.(Ouch).After a few years of secretly fantasizing about eyelash implants, my eyelash expert presented me with what I thought was manna from heaven.....X-TREME LASHES!!!

X-Treme Lashes are not just fake eyelashes...they are eyelash extensions! Each individual lash extension is attached onto you own lashes (as opposed to being fixed to your eyelid). The result is both more dramatic and aslo more natural.(i.e no glue giveaways).Each application adds almost 50- 70 lashes per eye (no exaggeration, I counted!)The best thing about these lashes is that they can last over two months!!! Once you take care of them , they only fall out with your natural eyelash cycle (Yes, your lashes fall out and regrow regularly).After that you just do 'touch up visits as required. You can have fabulous lashes forever!!

I was instantly sold so I got myself booked immediately.The process generally takes longer than regular eyelash applications...approximately two hours. However it goes by quickly enough and the process involves these cooled eyepads which practically doubles as a spa treatment. My first look at my new lashes were simply 'Wow'. They were actually a bit longer than I am used to regularly but fabulous all the same. Of course, you can request longer or shorter lengths as the lashes come in different sizes. I was so excited but a bit wary! My expert calmed my fears and reassured me that I could carry them off as my natural lashes beacause of my ethinic mix. I must say it was great going to work everyday looking fabulous with just powder+ lip gloss+xtreme lashes. I could definitely tell people were trying to figure out what was different about me but could not quite put their finger on it.

I must confess, at first I did not fare much better with them. Firstly, you can't get them wet for 24hrs. After that you need to treat them daintily but can operate as normal without excessive wetting or steam. No over rubbing either.After the first two days I had lost a couple due to rubbing my eyes. By the end of the week I had a few floating on one eye. Oh yeah , I should mention...you can't take these off by yourself!! You cannot pull them out as you will damage (or remove) your natural lash. They need to be eitherr remove by the expert or fall out naturally. Some of my lashes somehow got into this weird in-between stage where they were doing this balancing act where they looked like they wanted to come off but would just float around on my natural lash. The one extra that I had to do daily was to make sure that the lashes were all pointing in the right direction after I woke up. Like some natural lashes, they may sometimes bunch up.Nothing an eyebrow brush could not solve. After one week I was completely paranoid that I had a gap over one eye. My paranoia was dismissed when someone who has known me forever asked, "Oh my god! Are those your eyelashes!". I should have said yes, lol! I still went and got a touch up, swearing to be good this rounds. Whats even more interesting is that you can also add non-waterproof mascara to these lashes (don't see why you would want to though).

Today is about a week and a half since my first touch up and I have been doing 10 million times better. I still lost a few from my almost unconscious rubbing but I managed to keep it to a minimum by taking my allergy medication more regularly.I don't need another touch up right now and I think I may even make it a whole month. I have already bettered my all time record of two days!!

So I am sure by now all of you are asking how much and where can I get it!I'm not going to lie, these babies are more expensive than the regular lashes. They will run you $800TT for a full set and then about $300TT (depending on how extensive) for a touch up every other month or so. Now your first reaction might be, "Thats expensive" but compare it to what you would pay in the states for the same service which runs $250 to $600USD! Its a bargain. I already have someone flying to Trinidad to get them here. For more detailed info on the technique and full before and after galleries visit the website at Xtreme Lashes. The Eyelash Expert can be contacted at 7519025, ask for Earlene. BTW Earlene is a one stop shop for manicures, pedicures, waxing and regular lash additions etc. Spread the word but just leave some roon for me to get an appointment in between PLEASE!

P.S Coming soon from the Eyelash Expert...new silicone lash extensions!!