Island Vibes Magazine

Carnival ‘Round de Corner…Recession…what Recession?

Posted on 26. Oct, 2009 by admin in Business

By Janelle Julien

It’s that time of year again. Band launches at mas camps all over Trinidad and Tobago, gearing up for the long holiday season, which ends with carnival. Despite the daily doomsday headlines of a global recession, it seems that it hasn’t affected T&T’s carnival machine.

I won’t lie. I’m a Trini and I love my carnival. Once you play mas, it’s difficult to imagine not getting excited about another carnival: the influx of people (both nationals and tourists), the music, the food, and the costumes.

Just like any good Trini, I’ve been faithfully surfing the Internet to see what bands have posted their costumes for carnival 2010 (or should I say, 2K10?). Admittedly, they all look the same: bikini mas for the women with more beads and feathers, and the usual shorts/vest ensemble for men (hats and props may be extra).

As an artist, I appreciate the creativity and work of developing a costume for carnival. What I don’t always appreciate is the high price tag that accompanies a somewhat mediocre work of art. We all know playing with certain bands is like running with your clique, and you’re paying for the name and not so much the craftsmanship of the costume. And that’s perfectly fine. But how much is too much?

What Recession?
Take Tribe (http://www.carnivaltribe.com/), for example (and don’t bother looking, all sections are already sold out). As one of the larger mas bands in Trinidad and Tobago, their typical all-inclusive section package, which includes costume, meals, snacks, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, security, mobile restrooms, loyalty card, goody bag, and music trucks, costs the following:

Floor Member
TT$3,575 (US$596)
Floor Member (Large Headpiece)
Add $295 (US$49)
Frontline
TT$5,595 (US$933)
Male
TT$2,850 (US$475)

The pricing is similar for other large bands like Legacy (http://www.legacycarnival.com/), Island People (http://www.islandpeoplemas.com/), Young Harts (http://www.hartscarnival.com/), Pulse 8 (http://www.pulse8carnival.com/), and Trini Revellers (http://www.trinirevellersmas.com/).

However, if you want to spend the money on a work of artistry, bands like Brian MacFarlane’s Carnival (http://www.macfarlanecarnival.net/) consistently turn out true performances and not surprisingly, his costumes have more substance (be warned: substance means lots of fabric). MacFarlane’s costumes are similar to the days of Peter Minshell’s use of elaborate costume designs to tell a compelling story (http://www.carnaval.com/tnt/minshall/). If you’re considering heading to Rio’s carnival, costume prices range from US$250 to US$600, whether on the ground or on top of a parade float.

To Play or Not to Play
Supporting arts and culture is important for any society and these artists should be fairly compensated for their labors of love. But they should also show some sensitivity to the current global economic climate. In a time when people have lost their main source of income, have not received salary increases, and have had to severely cut back on spending, it’s disturbing to see these prices for costumes. For those who return to Trinidad and Tobago to play mas consistently, for the first time, they may question if it’s really necessary to spend the money for a throw-away costume when that money could be better spent elsewhere.

In response to the global recession, the airline and hotel industries have offered discounts and incentives to travel despite tightening budgets. The retail industry slashed prices in an effort to keep people buying clothes, shoes, and accessories they probably don’t need. None of these tactics have been reflected in the costume pricing for Carnival 2K10.

Although some bands have already sold out, how will the other bands hold up under the pressure? For Carnival 2K09, there was a surplus of costumes, because people simply couldn’t afford it. Some people sold their already purchased costumes online at a discount. Will the same scenario play out for Carnival 2K10? What is the incentive to spend US$400 on a costume for the cash-strapped party-goer? For those living abroad who need to calculate airfare and lodging expenses, the T&T Carnival experience easily costs US$1000-$2000. Maybe the price of these all-inclusive packages should also include discount tickets to fetes, shows, and for merchandise and food.

Obviously, carnival will come round again. Missing out on the experience for one year won’t kill anyone. How many people will consider it a luxury instead of a necessity to participate in one of the greatest shows on earth?

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