Notting Hill Carnival 2013 - Burokeets Carnival Band

If you follow my blog /twitter you will occasionally see my tweets/posts relating to carnival here and there. Carnival began as a way for the freed slaves to celebrate emancipation. It has evolved over the years from just a parade with costumes made from rags, into a showcase of splendor and creativity with bejeweled costumes, elaborate head pieces and makeup. For carnival activities I participate in the masquerade (aka mas) with my family and friends.  I have been playing mas for about 10 years, prior that I participated in the carnival by playing the steel pan. Carnival is the time of year where my friends and I can just relax, enjoy ourselves, and most of the time mas is fun.

That is not to say that there have not been some bumps along the road. In the last 10 years my questionable mas experiences include:

• Receiving 2 costumes from a mas band by mistake and NONE of them fit. I had to go the mas camp on the actual carnival day and have a costume made from scratch. 
• Costume falling apart at the mas camp, and not being offered any help to fix it.
• Last minute distribution of costumes. This was a recurring theme every year with one particular band.

Though I might have had poor experiences. There was always something to counteract the bad. If the costumes were delivered late, I could say well when I was on the road, I received lots of food and drink." Also I could think back to other years when things were better and move past the hiccup. Because I have experienced the GREAT side of mas, I always feel really bad for first time masqueraders, when I have a poor experience. 

My family has had a lot of things to deal with this year. We decided that as a form of stress relief we would participate as masqueraders during the Notting Hill Carnival with Burrokeets UK mas band. Notting Hill Carnival with Burrokeets UK was definitely without a doubt the worst mas experience ever. In business I think a company should do one of 2 things either maintain a standard or exceed the current standard. As a band with 23 years experience, we expected a certain level of service from Burrokeets UK.  Several things annoyed me about this mas experience. 

Communication - the communication in relation to costume distribution was extremely poor. Sending me a message at 4pm on Saturday informing me that costume distribution would commence from 12pm - 8pm on the SAME day is poor business practice. Then to send another message at 7pm to say that due to circumstances beyond your control costumes cannot be picked up on said Saturday, is just ridiculous.

 **please note that by the time the 7pm message came through, my group had left Notting Hill and arrived at the costume distribution point in Tottenham. Which is NOT  short distance, by any means**

The costumes were all the wrong sizes, and communication as to how the issue would be rectified was none existent. At one point the lady in charge was not responding to messages or answering phone calls. There was no solution offered as to how the costume situation would be rectified. 

The bartenders - I do not know if the persons on the drinks trucks were getting paid or they were volunteering, but they were hardly serving. What they did do was talk to random people in the crowd and it took ages to get drinks. 

The food - now this is the be all, the end all and the wrap up of it all. The food Burrokeets UK served was spoiled. 23 years of experience and you serve spoiled food? There were 5 people in my group, who I played mas with and every dish of food was SPOILED. To add to that the entire band had spoiled food, there was no alternative. My group had the chicken meal, however the vegetarian meal was spoiled too.

It was a mess based on this experience if I was a first time mas player I would not play mas again. It was just a mess. The only positive is that my costume looked nice on the day. 

Costume - "When the sun shines like jewels"

Dynamics Mas Troupe - "The Rebirth" interview with Aziza Lake

If you have been following me for a while you would know that I am an island girl who loves carnival. One of the aspects of carnival is mas, short for masquerade  this is when persons adorn themselves in glorious costumes and partake in 2 days of revelry and fun. Not only are the costumes fabulous but the makeup as well. Today we have an interview with Aziza Lake who is a part of the LIME Dynamics Mas Troupe in Antigua. 

As a mas player I have never played mas with Dynamics Mas Troupe, could you tell me a little bit about  Dynamics and how it all started?

LIME Dynamics Mas Troupe was conceptualized in 1975 by Errol ‘Bumpy” Nanton, Hiriam Warner, Trevor Gonsalves, Pete Skilling and Ickford Benjamin. The ‘Dynamic Five’ s inaugural presentation was ‘Treasures of the Shell Kingdom’ which received Band of the Year in Antigua’s Carnival celebrations.

The Dynamics Mas Troupe since inception has been affiliated  with Cable & Wireless now  operating as LIME, and they are still our title sponsor.  Lime Dynamics has a rich history and is one of the oldest mas troupes in Antigua & Barbuda with thirteen Band of the Year titles. 

The Rebirth, the rebirth, you guys have been creating a bit of excitement over the rebirth. Could you tell our readers a little bit about the rebirth please?

As with everything change is necessary. LIME Dynamics Mas Troupe has existed for thirty years with the intention of being around for many more years. Therefore the Band Leader saw it fitting to bring on board a young new management team.

The Rebirth team comprises of? 

Erna Mae Brathwaite - Band Leader the elder stateswoman so to speak.

Aziza Lake - Creative Director in charge of the communication, conceptual and interactive design of the mas troupe.

Anele Hurst - Junior Band Leader - manages the junior section of the band, Assistant Customer Care Representative - assists with customer care, Model Recruitment - recruitment of models for launch.

Jime Hunte - Musical Director in charge of the band's musical requirements for events and on the road, also one of the DJs.

Adrian Hurst - Assistant Musical Director also assists with the band's musical requirements for events and on the road  and another one of the DJ's.

Shari McEwan - Spokeswoman, Customer Care Representative & Model recruitment. The 'face' of LIME Dynamics, she ensures that customer satisfaction is held in the highest regard, as well as training & recruitment of models.

TJ Silcott - Communications Director manages the marketing of LIME Dynamics. 

Steven Mullings Jr - Graphic Designer & Head of Costume production designer of all the graphics as well as in charge of costume production.

Cleofoster Harris - Stage & Road Manager/Events Co-ordinator manages the execution of events and our presentation on the road he's the 'time' guy.

Latoya WIlliams - Marketing Representative assists with the marketing.

Charlene Wetherill - Model Recruitment assists with the recruitment of models.

 Alicia Keys was just made Creative Director of Blackberry. You are Creative Director of Dynamics, Creative Director is a term we keep hearing over and over in the media. Could you expand a bit more on the role of a Creative Director?

A Creative Director in my opinion is responsible for how a product is presented to the public. It's not just putting it blandly on a table, but packaging it in a way that is appealing to the public. Marketing is very important to the duties of a Creative Director. In regards to my Dynamic duties it is also about interpreting our theme. This year it's 'All That Jazz', so I ensure that what we present to the public exemplifies that theme.

For all my friends and family who keep asking me about "The New Dynamics," as the Rebirth has been dubbed. What should I tell them would be the positives in playing mas with Dynamics for 2013, what are you offering which is different?

We are improving our product and making sure customer satisfaction is our number one priority. Musically we are offering all DJ's on the road for Carnival Monday & Tuesday, efficient delivery of costumes is also very important to us. We are also having a quite a few pre events to keep revellers entertained  and interacting with each other.

As someone who has never played mas with Dynamics, what would you say to me to encourage me to become a part of the Rebirth?

Become a part of the rebirth experience.  You are going to definitely feel left out standing on the side of the road and watching LIME Dynamics pass by.

Where do you see the Rebirth going? Do you have a a long term plan for the direction in which you would like to guide the Dynamics Mas Troupe?

LIME Dynamics has proven that it can withstand the changes inherent in Carnival. It is still around after 38 years  and the Rebirth team plans to ensure the longevity of the band. I have a long term plan as to where I would love to see LIME Dynamics but I won't reveal it as yet, lol.

How can the public contact the Dynamics Mas Troupe? (add social media/twitter etc)

Facebook - LIME Dynamics Mas Troupe

Twitter - LIMEDynamics

Instagram - limedynamics 

There you have it, the Rebirth 2013.

If you are interested check out their social media links

peace and light my lovelies

xx

Carnival cannot die, we will never say bye bye.....

Its here Carnival 2011 has finally launched praise to ye Jah RAStahfar-I.

Its here its here Antigua Carnival 2011Officially kicked off last night in the midst of the 44th Annual Antigua Sailing Week celebrations last. night. I tell you with many a baited breath I awaited this weekend, first it was the royal wedding, then Carnival launch and now tonight Myst will "Unveil" their costumes for season 4. One of my friends has a running joke going that if one particular costume which I LOVE does not unveil tonight she thinks I will cry. Which I probably will, but honestly I think its more of a strong possibility I might not play mas this year. Sorry the heart wants what the heart wants. However we can hope that some other costume makes me fall inlove, but I am sure one my girl will just be like Kae-Toya please and come Monday and Tuesday I will be chipping all over St John's sipping on the Belvedere and Cranberry.

Now is where the excitement really begins, and conversations turn to things like, prices please? when can we register? what is new in the package this year? What accessories do you want to get? Are you doing mas makeup? Who going queen show? How you doing your hair for mas? When you buying your stockings? what shoes you playing mas in? We going pan yard? Carnival is sweet eh. I have the biggest smile on my face right now, Claudette Peters is playing on my itunes, the sun is shining.

Jump if you love Soca, tell me you agree, and BRING IT ON.

xx