Current trend in costume prices sees an increase for the cheapest costume every year at approximately $300.00TT on a backline costume and $500.00TT on a frontline costume. In some cases for 2009 the prices of costumes did remain the same, while others are phenomenally expensive and the price increase is across the board for all bands no matter if they are veterans or ones without any experience at all.
If this continues for Carnival 2010 and beyond we are looking at costumes starting at on average $3600.00TT-$3900.00TT for a backline costume. One band leader intimated to me that the services surrounding Carnival are all escalating in prices as well and it is becoming very expensive to run a successful Carnival band.
There is a suggestion that in order to keep Carnival costs down that we revert to the old time days before the all inclusive premium bands became the norm. You the masquerader pay for your costume only and everything else is an option at an extra fee. This would also mean getting rid of the resting buses, cool zones and lunch stop and paying additional if you desire drinks, lunch and access to the portable toilets very much like how it is with Harts at the moment, except they still stop for lunch.
Another band that offers costume only is Brian Mc Farlane and Trevor Wallace costume price includes meals but alcohol you pay extra for. Interestingly Trini Revellers is now fully all inclusive as in the past they offered both non inclusive and all inclusive sections. The other band to go totally all inclusive as well is Legacy.
My question today is would you support Carnival bands removing the all-inclusive niceties and extras that we have grown accustom to if this would mean cheaper costumes in the future?
If this continues for Carnival 2010 and beyond we are looking at costumes starting at on average $3600.00TT-$3900.00TT for a backline costume. One band leader intimated to me that the services surrounding Carnival are all escalating in prices as well and it is becoming very expensive to run a successful Carnival band.
There is a suggestion that in order to keep Carnival costs down that we revert to the old time days before the all inclusive premium bands became the norm. You the masquerader pay for your costume only and everything else is an option at an extra fee. This would also mean getting rid of the resting buses, cool zones and lunch stop and paying additional if you desire drinks, lunch and access to the portable toilets very much like how it is with Harts at the moment, except they still stop for lunch.
Another band that offers costume only is Brian Mc Farlane and Trevor Wallace costume price includes meals but alcohol you pay extra for. Interestingly Trini Revellers is now fully all inclusive as in the past they offered both non inclusive and all inclusive sections. The other band to go totally all inclusive as well is Legacy.
My question today is would you support Carnival bands removing the all-inclusive niceties and extras that we have grown accustom to if this would mean cheaper costumes in the future?
1 comments:
I would only say no to the all-inclusiveness if the discount I'm getting makes sense. If not..all inclusive all the way yes.
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