The first of the Kiddies bands, Spoilt Rotten Kids launched on Saturday as reported by the Newsday:
The website for Spoilt Rotten Kids is already up and running complete with costume drawings.Top junior mas band plays Vegas
ANGELA PIDDUCK Sunday, October 8 2006
SEVEN YEARS ago, four young mothers, got together as Spoilt Rotten Kids to try their hands at producing a junior Carnival Band in the Mini Band category.
They loved Carnival, had been involved in playing mas from childhood, and had produced sections in adult bands. Since the band in which their children played was going out of business, they took up the challenge.
Fluctuating between the small and mini category, the Kids have been in winners’ row from inception. Why the fluctuation? Says leader Christine Nunes: “We do not put any pressure on our parents. It’s Carnival and they go to their fetes on weekends so if they can’t bring the children to a competition, that’s no problem and we just move to the category suited to our numbers at that particular competition.”
From the first year the Kids have maintained a core group of parents and children who fit in with their concept of a children’s band — costumes are designed so that the children are free to enjoy their mas, minus too many rules and restrictions. Their parents must also enjoy themselves.
“If some part of a costume breaks or is lost, we do not make a fuss,” said the bandleader, “and either will have a replacement or go without it. The idea is to have a good time with help from our annual sponsors: Kentucky, Solo, Staffhire Caribbean, CW Interiors and Guardian Life of the Caribbean.”
The band which will in 2007 portray “Viva Las Vegas” was launched last Saturday afternoon with an event that also celebrated their 2006 success with “Jewels Of The Reef”. That band copped several titles, including Mini Band of the Year (Downtown); Small Bands (NCC Downtown Competition); first place Small Bands at the St James competition, special award at the Red Cross Children’s Carnival; and third place at both Flying Fish and St Anthony’s.
The band is never without Individuals and a king and queen, and last Carnival’s individuals also did well at all major competitions. The queen, Megan Nunes, portraying Fan-Ta-Sea was a finalist in the NCC Junior Queen of Carnival competition.
At last Saturday’s launch, designs for the six sections were on show and the excited young masqueraders could be seen choosing from Alladin, Stardust, Tropicana, Cirque de Soleil, Flamingo and Sahara.
Another popular Kiddies band is Rosalind Gabriel, however she has yet to launch her 2007 presentation. But check out the website, the theme for 2006 was "Mas !Mas! Ah Know Yuh Name - Name Is " and it is all about our Ole Time Characters, very much like a kiddie version of TRIBE's "Ole Time Something Come Back Again". What I love about Roslaind Gabriel is that she provides everything for the kids, down to matching shoes. And I see this year she even provided an adult costume of Fancy Sailors for parents who want to accompany their kids on the road. Very nice idea.
Finally, Gerad Kelly also has a website for his Kiddies band. It is not updated for 2007 as yet, but like Rosaling Gabriel you can take a look at his costumes for 2006 mas and bookmark the site for the future.
12 comments:
Oh gosh I have to find money for my 2yr old to play. Saucy, where can I read on the history of these old time mas figures?I feel bad..I doh know these things about meh country!!
Rosalind Gabriel's costumes are sooooo cute! Here are some links to learn about ole time mas:
http://www.tidco.co.tt/local/carnival/Ole-Time-Parade.htm
http://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/6/carnival.php
http://www.nalis.gov.tt/carnival/carnival.htm
I think TIDCO or puts on a show every year with Ole Time characters...can't remember the name
Thanks so much for the info, Saucy. My daughter will turn 4 the weekend after Carnival but we're still trying to figure out if she brave enough to do the mas thing.
One of the high points of my Carnival experience takes place on the Friday before Carnival. There is a children's parade in Port-of-Spain, which ends with a show on the Promenade. But in this parade, all of the charachters are traditional old-time mas'. They have everything from Fancy Sailors, Cow Mas and Midnight Robber to Jab-Jabs complete with the most frightening cracking whips. It really is a wonderful experience, and I look forward to seeing it again next year.
Is it just the Tribe and IP and skimpiness in me that find these costumes have real cloth!!! And i not trying to think about myself in them or anything before allyuh start on me!!! But that Aladdin and my little jumping,excited 3 yr old boy who sweating on a normal day in some shorts...i can't imagine him being comfortable in the hot sun. Hmmm maybe i just need to get with the program. I was planning to sign him up this year though but I not too sure he will be happy in a costume...but he will be in one come hell or high water...not necessarily from this band but SOME band! Poor chile...
jamette yuh ever see what the people in the desert wear? ;)
"Viva Las Vegas?" For a KIDS' band? I eh know nah... BTW, Saucy morning
Jamette girl, he will be fine! I play mas from as long as I know myself. I distinctly remember two costumes: Washer woman - complete with jooking board and Pirate - with swashbuckling sword, both of which I distinctly remember as having lots of cloth and I had GREAT fun! Fabulous! The whole family used to come in town and lime and my father used to walk the whole route with me, jumping up on the stage and ting. Sigh. I real glad I born a Trini yuh know. I didn't have everything eh, but what I had was amazing. Aye! Dai meh post tuhday - ah gone!
I don't know about Las Vegas for kids either, but at least they don't look like showgirls.
I love the kiddies mas, and even though it's plenty cloth I believe kids should be kids. I hate to see some of these bands in the States who want to put the children in mini-bikinis, that's no way to start a child off in the culture #1 and #2 they are already growing up so fast, there's no need for us to help it along. lol OK, that's my soapbox post for the week. lol
I can't wait to see what Rosalind is bringing. She always bring a fantastic mas! :-D
My American born son played with Rosalind Gabriel for 3 years. I found he band to be always on point and she was so accommodating to the parents. One year he was a lobster and totally covered and he had a ball. I brought back all his costumes and one year he had to do a presentation in his elementary school. Guess what he chose to portray, his culture of Trinidad and Carnival. He was a hit and got an A+ on that project. His teacher actually brought him home that day with the costumes asking me questions about Trinidad. She said the class was so enthralled by his presentation. Well now he's graduated to Poison and now he's on to Tribe. Enjoying his culture.
thank u so much for posting that, i was going crazy looking for a band for my 3yo girl to play with. do u know if any of these bands provide their own music trucks. the first year my daughter played she was 1 and there was no music truck, she didn't care but at some points you find yourself straining to hear music from a truck way in front ar way behind.
Thanks for the reminder.. I well forget to check to see if the website was updated. I don't know where you find the time girl, and I wasn't sure that you'd be posting kiddies stuff, but real glad you did.
I'm choosing between Spoilt and Rosalind for my 5yr old son, it'll be his first Carnival too. He's very excited to play. I know he'll prob be sweaty.
Rosalind Gabriel prices were hot for kids, but you don't mind because you know you getting proper stuff.
As Jamette say, all the time you looking at the adult costumes, when you finally catch sight of the kiddies is like, 'oh yeah' now dat is a costume! And you could see your money's worth. And they get to play for longer too - i jealous.
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