IPMas 2012 - Heroes

Island People Mas' 2012 presentation is titled 'Heroes'.
As mentioned in my Band Launch Review post, many of the costumes presented were horrendous!


Since the launch, IPMas has done something very very commendable.
They reviewed the feedback on their Facebook page. Noted that many many masqueraders  were discouraged and disappointed by the designs portrayed.

What did IPMas do in reaction?

They decided to publicly involve the public in 'saving' the costumes that they liked. The ones that had the most 'likes' remained...the others went back to the drawing board. The Heroes that survived! A new 'Hot' designer was brought in to revamp the ones that got cut...and at this time we wait to see these revamped designs.

In the meantime IPMas' customer service machine continued rolling on.

• They provided a BB pin so that you have access to their 'Customer Service team': BBM Pin: 26F2C41 

• They also recently announced 'pre-registration'...now doh get tie up, dis not NOT something new to Carnival, and it is in no means something only done by one or two bands. ALL dem bands do it, some allow it for 'certain' number of spots, others do it for 'specific sponsors', others for 'family/friends/long-time supporters'. For 2012, bands just seem to be more open about it, and allowing all the available spots to be filled via pre-registration.  Ok, back to IPMas...they publicly announced pre-registration via email as follows: 

IPMas offers Pre-Registration Opportunity!

IPMas 2012 is all about giving you real vibes on the road, stunning costumes, and exceptional customer service. We thank you for your enthusiasm and patience as we prepare to give you everything you’ve asked for!

As we put the finishing touches on the new and revamped costumes, we’ve been receiving numerous requests from people anxious to register even before seeing the new Heroes. Due to the curfew in Trinidad, we will be releasing the new costumes and opening our mas-camp for full registration on Monday 29th August. Until then, we are offering you a Pre-Registration opportunity which guarantees your top costume choice while saving you some cash.

Here's how it works:

1. Starting Thursday 25th August at 12 noon, Past Masqueraders will be able to Pre-Register online at www.islandpeoplemas.com or at the IPMas mas-camp for an open-section registration. New masqueraders will be able to Pre-Register from Friday 26th August at 12 noon.
   1. To help ease the tension during the State of Emergency, we’re giving you a $100TT/$15US discount off your costume when you Pre-Register before Monday 29th August.
2. Select a costume or select “open costume” and pay the discounted deposit of:
   $1100TT/$185US Backline & Males
   $1500TT/$250US Frontline
3. When we release the new costumes next week, you will finalize your registration by picking the costume of your choice. (Registrations will be finalised in the sequence corresponding with your Pre-Registration number.)

Note: Although we haven’t released our prices yet, we can tell you that they range from:

Frontline: $4,995 TT - $5,995 TT
Backline: $2,995 TT - 3,995 TT
Male: $2,895TT - $3,395 TT

Once again, you’ve asked for it and we’re happy to listen to your requests and cater to your needs. Thank you for your input, we love having you as part of the team shaping your 2012 IPMas experience.

For more info please contact us through our Facebook Page, our BBM (Pin 26F2C411), Phone868.622.8145 or shoot us an email at info@islandpeoplemas.com. Our mas-camp is located at 50 O’Connor street on the corner of Warren Street in Woodbrook. It is open until 6pm.

IPMas…Real Vibes!!!

IPMas: allyuh seem to be addressing the one part of the band I have always hated and I applaud the efforts. Even if is just really really good PR...it has been noticed.

Well done...and keep it up!

Band Launch Reviews

This post is overdue, but yuh know what, better late than never.

Thus far I have attended launches for TRIBE, Island People and YUMA.

Rating scale: 0 (awful, awful)  to 5 (fantabulous concept and delivery)

• Venue
• TRIBE - Queen's Park Savannah. (5)
• Island People - Bowen Marine, Chaguaramas (aka the hole!) (3.5)
• YUMA - Pier 2, Chaguaramas (aka the hole!) (4)
• Parking
• TRIBE - not a problem, the Savannah after all (5)
• Island People - on the road's surrounding the venue. 'Parkng attendants' stalking yuh for 'a lil something'..not cool at all! (3)
• YUMA - half of Pier 2, getting out of there was a b!tch (4)
• Stage
• TRIBE - Clear view of stage from just about everywhere. Except if you setup camp behind the sound/camera tower which was smack dab in the centre. (4)
• Island People - Kinda odd. Stage was quite high and had an elevated section with lots of scaffolding. That scaffolding affected picture taking by all but the photographers who were closest to the stage. (3)
• YUMA - LOVED this concept. A central normal stage, with a 'catwalk/runway' around the venue. Great concept for all patrons to get a good view of the costumes. Points only lost because lighting on the runway was not the best for taking pictures (4.5)
• Drinks
• TRIBE - semi-free drinks i.e. Rum, Beers, vodka, certain brands of other drinks. Bars on both sides and in the back. Angostura Rum Cocktail bar had a presence. (4)
• Island People - semi-free drinks i.e. Rum, Beers, vodka, certain brands of other drinks. Two bars, and one didn't begin serving until about an hour after we arrived, oh and NO HEINEKEN...meh! (3)
• YUMA - premium free drinks. But Nuvo ran out :-( (4.5)
• Food
• TRIBE - Tao shushi, usual stuff. Food stalls were setup slightly to the right of the entrance, easy to traverse, no congestion. (4)
• Island People - Tao shushi, gyros, doubles. Shushi and doubles were setup near the entrance, unobtrusively off the pathways. Gyros were in the middle of the passageway heading towards the bathrooms..why? (3.5)
• YUMA - Only noticed gyros, in an easily accessed area... (3)
• Presentation Concept and Execution
• TRIBE - theme "Take me to...". 'Flight Attendants' brought on the costumes, felt kinda like a travel promotion, generic modelling of costumes(3.5)
• Island People - theme "Heroes". Great presentation concept. All about the heroes fighting the scourge of villains who have been threatening 'Westopia'. The Big Boss was 'Cyclops' (4.5)
• YUMA - theme "Press Play". Generic modelling of costumes...with the noted exception of the 'Call of duty' models who marched on in their military inspired costumes (3.5)
• Costumes
• TRIBE - siiiighh...could have been better. Some wowed, others bleh, For the theme I really expected over the top fabulousness. I have seen better from TRIBE...oh and only frontlines were presented. (3)
• Island People - another siiiiighhhhh...what in the world were the designers smoking when they drew these designs, then who d a$$ approved the designs and then inhaled some strong ish by actually making these prototypes. Spandex leggings in 2011?!!! Admittedly they are currently working on a redesign, but judging from the costumes launched...bleh One or two costumes saved this from being a total mess.(2)
• YUMA - le sigh. Firstly, how did they decide which games to use? Next, how'd the come up with the colour palette after deciding on games to be represented. Then...why oh why are the backlines so bland. the frontlines far outshine these backlines. Doh get me wrong, costumes are nice, but I am loving the FLs waaaaaay more than any of the BLs that were presented.(4)
• Launch Party
• TRIBE - as usual it's a party. Kes performed, people enjoyed themselves (3.5)
• Island People - good music, great energy, the stage was advantaged by guys! (4)
• YUMA - great music, great energy, that runway became a dance floor, the stage was bum rushed for an impromptu conga-line (5)

Overall Ratings (average of all scores)

• TRIBE - 4
• Island People - 3
• YUMA - 4

IP, YUMA...oh my

Island People's 'Heroes' on August 12th
...and YUMA's 'Press Play' on August 13th.

One I had planned to attend, the other a spontaneous attend thing... very different experiences, VERY very different costume concepts and translation into design.
Both had great launch presentations, talking the show itself eh not necessarily costumes.

Review of both to come soon.

TRIBE/Bliss update

I went TRIBE's 2012 launch... just have not reviewed it.
My opinion: Not awful, not fabulous, just somewhere in between.
I am currently torn between TRIBE's Johannesburg

Johannesburg

and Vegas

Vegas

The other TRIBE costume that I like is 'Ibiza'...each and every year there is a costume that I love but would NEVER contemplate wearing and for 2012, Ibiza is that costume.

Vegas

So, then I went Bliss' camp and oh my, Bali and Capri look lovely up close...if I went Bliss I would want to be registered in either one of those.

Capri

But I'm registered now eh ...