The moment has ARRIVED! After months of planning it’s time to pick up your costume to hit de road. *Cue Machel “Waiting on the Stage” * You have been waiting all year and everything is crossed off your checklist. 1 . Request time off (some of you make that the last step, but…) 2. Gather your crew 3 . Book your flight and hotel 4. Watch band launches 5 Pick a band and section 6. Send off your payment 6. Select the bess fetes 7. Work on your gym body like Kes and Nailah told you 8. Practice and oil yuh waistline 9. Order tights (and a backup pair) 10. Book your makeup appointment 11. Get waxed (or not no judgement from me) 12. Get your hair styled or pick your wig 13.Pack 14. TRIPLE CHECK FOR YOUR PASSPORT 15. LET’S GO!
You get to your destination ready for the time of your life. You check in and maybe do a fete or two depending on your arrival time. You anxiously go to the mas camp to pick up your costume hoping that skipping the of roti, macaroni pie and Popeyes; coupled with those early morning jogs; paid off. You don’t see a crowd outside and think by some miracle there is no one there and “this finna be a breeze!” But wait the door is locked?! WTH?! You frantically text the section leader and get no response. You then check social media to see hell has come to earth. The costumes are not ready. NOOO COSTUMES READY!!!! Your heart sinks Unfortunately, this is not some scenario from my imagination because trust me I’m not that creative. This has and is happening as I type. There are hundreds of masqueraders that paid their hard-earned money only to end up excuses instead of a costume. So what do you do and could this have been prevented? There is no way to guarantee that you won’t fall victim to this, but here are a few tips that I hope will help.
BAND SELECTION IS VITAL! DO YOUR RESEARCH.
I cannot stress the importance of this step enough. Look at reviews from at least the past three years for the band, section leader and designer. Section leaders and designers can hop from band to band, so examine their track records too. o People may disagree with me here, but I am personally leery of new bands. These issues are not exclusive to new bands, but I would like to see a proven track record. Some new bands get overwhelmed trying to keep up with bands that have been around for a decade which just isn’t feasible. Are they offering the world for an unbelievable price? Because if they are then it is a chance they will not be able to deliver. I mean you know full well a frontline costume for $300 USD makes no sense! Are the section leaders responsive or did that friendliness disappear after the money left your PayPal account?
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS use the business portion of PayPal or your credit card.
I have had to turn down beautiful costumes because section leaders wanted me to pay via Western Union. Umm no sir/no ma’am. Western Union offers absolutely no protection on purchases. o If you use PayPal do not use friends and family. Tell the section leader that you will cover the small transaction fee if needed, but under no circumstances do you use friends and family. Again, you will have no recourse if your goods are not delivered.
KEEP ALL CORESPONDENCE IN WRITTEN FORM
Telephone conversations are a personal touch, but there is absolutely no documentation of that conversation. Be very clear in your communications and leave nothing open to interpretation. Ask the last section leader from this last carnival how many times I would end a sentence with “So that’s CAD, right?” or begin a sentence with “To review…”
TAKE BACK UPS
Hate it or love it ish happens. I have never regretted taking an extra body suit, rhinestones and a glue gun in case it all went left. I always get a swimsuit that matches as close as possible to the color of my costume and am prepared to make a miracle if needed. Don’t be above taking pieced from an old costume if the color is similar.
UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA
No business likes to be embarrassed. Leave comments on all of their social media and open your page in case they deactivate their comments. I am nowhere near Grenada and I knew what had happened with some bands due to social media. o Check the pages other bands to see if they have extra costumes because 9 times out of ten the other bands or sections know what is happening and may have made extra to accommodate frantic masqueraders.
GET HOODTASTIC IF YOU MUST
Now look I’m not saying go knocking stuff over because I don’t want anyone getting arrested especially in a different county. But your mama didn’t raise no punk either. If you must turn from masquerader to marauder then do it! Do not move from your spot because I promise the minute the backpack are finished or the section leader/seamstress walks away; it will be a free for all of grabbing what you can. So stay in your spot and be prepared to box out to grab that headpiece.
Bottom line nothing I have listed will 100% ensure you won’t run into this because it is the people factor. However, I hope they do help in some way.
Fluffy Carnival Gyal 