The Tribe and Bliss presentations for Trinidad Carnival 2012 are so disappointing. The costumes seem plain and boring: no bling, no wings and pitiful backline headpieces. Once I saw the prices, I knew that I could not bring myself to put down a deposit on either band.
What was I going to do? I’ve been playing with Tribe for a while, and I had yet to come across another band to replace them. I looked at other bands half-heartedly. I even considered skipping carnival altogether, which was almost unthinkable after having to cancel my trip last minute in 2011.
Then one day I stumbled across A Book of Angels. And from that moment on, my mind was made up. Nothing was going to stop me from being in this band. The Fantasy Carnival 2012 presentation provided everything that I wanted and more: color, wings, bling, large headpieces & feathers. I fell in love with the costumes, so much so that I couldn’t choose a #1. I began an intense campaign with my friends. Some were unwilling to leave Tribe/Bliss. They did not want to take the risk of not receiving their customary service. Others bypassed everything and declared Yuma their choice even before the band had launched.
Thankfully, the buzz surrounding Fantasy is loud. And so it is that I found some friends willing to take the risk with a new band.
The most difficult aspect of this decision is that my group is fragmented. We spend a lot of money to play mas in Trinidad every year and create memories together on the road. This year I have friends playing in different bands for both pretty mas and j’ouvert. Yes, we still have the fetes, but it’s not the same.
It has affected my excitement and the build-up to the season. My girls who I would call excitedly in these months leading up to carnival to talk about our costumes and make-up choices and Monday wear are in different bands. I don’t really recall or care what Tribes 2012 costumes look like and I have no memory of Yuma’s 2012 presentation at all. And my friends are more fixated on their own costumes. It’s very different when you are all playing together, you stare at the entire band and remember details about your friend’s sections. I feel disconnected.
But carnival approaches fast and furious. And, God-willing, I will be chipping with Fantasy Carnival in the streets of Port of Spain come February 2012!
Awww, sorry to hear that you and your girls will be in different bands.
On a positive note, you can plan to meet up sometime during either Monday/Tuesday and get to see other costumes/bands you would never normally experience.
Carnival is indeed fast approaching…it boggles the mind that it’s December already!!
My girl was with Tribe last year & I was with Pulse 8. Carnival Monday we were very disconnected but she spent most of Carnival Tuesday with my band cause Tribe was too hectic for her. Being that carnival is already a $2K + trip anyway, Im not really too concerned with being with a big name band. I just want to be on the road with meh rum!!!