How to Register with a Band

Ok you’ve heard so much about carnival and playing mas that you’ve decided to do it. WELCOME! It’s about time you stopped playing yourself and playing ah mas. 😝 But where do you begin? Because I mean you really liked Rihanna’s costume from 2016 Cropover and your aunt made your prom dress, so she can just make this right? NO sis… no she can’t. Auntie might be able to help with Monday wear though. 🤔 In this post, I’ll walk you through the registration process.

First you CAREFULLY select your band based on good reviews and reputation. Next your section based on what you like and responsive leaders. Finally your place in the section based on your coin. Your eyes just glossed over, didn’t they? Just keep reading. 😅

In that beautiful array of colors, jewels and feathers; what you are seeing are individual bands. It may look cohesive, but they are separate.

▪︎Each year there’s a new theme which means new costumes. And this ladies and gentlemen is why, say it with me, you can’t “just use the costume from last year.”🤷🏿‍♀️

▪︎Each carnival may have 10 or so bands.

▪︎Within each band are sections. A band could have about 8-10 sections.

▪︎Each section has a name and distinctive costume.

▪︎Each section has subsections. There is always at least a frontline and backline. Sometimes there’s a backline, midline, frontline, ultra frontline and possibly a section leader costume which is one of a kind. Think of backline as the base model of your car. Each subsequent section is an upgrade. Therefore the closer to the front, the more elaborate and expensive the costume. It’s arranged this way for judging purposes. Yes we are judged and are competing for band of the year. So when they say “get in yuh section” they mean it!

So let’s take Caribana 2019. I jumped with (played with) Fantazia Carnival, whose theme was “Rebirth”. I was in the Nebula section and had a frontline costume.

When you register for your costume you are registering with that band. You get a wristband which you should keep on at all times. This let’s security know you belong and gains you access to services, drinks and food.

Most importantly. I don’t care if you can duplicate every part of the costume, 🗣register with a band. Otherwise you’re a stormer and allyuh know how I feel about stormers. 🤬

I hope this clarifys the registration process. Feel free to comment or ask any questions. Thanks for reading.