This one is left for you, readers to answer.
How would you feel if a designer, section or band leader took the decision to switch materials in the costume prototype to cheaper versions of the same ? Lets say replace Swarovski Crystals with Acrylic Rhinestones, how would you, the masquerader feel about receiving a final product that is not EXACTLY as advertised? Do you think the cheaper materials will affect the overall look of the costume? And how would you deal with this situation come collection day IF the costume looks noticeably inferior?
Please leave your comments below, because I am VERY interested in the response to these questions. Seems like when it comes to certain bands they need to hear from the masqueraders before they continue bait and switch practices! Maybe it is NOT to late to get your voices heard on this situation.
And for those wondering if this is a campaign to malign any one band, please note that my concern is not for the band leaders, who should have done proper post launch costing on the actual price of their costumes, but for YOU masqueraders. I think you have the right to know when things are going askew as well as give you the opportunity to express your feelings on the matter because the band leaders ARE reading! You have paid your money for your costume, they need to hold up their end of the contract and give you what you paid for.
EDITED TO ADD at 7:00PM
Trinidad Carnival Diary is so sorry certain bands are feeling victimized; I am NOT bored and I am not blocking any information on the band I am playing with. If you have a scoop please send an email at
trinidadcarnivaldiary@gmail.com with information you think I should know about.
Trinidad Carnival Diary only reports on the FACTS divulged by persons in the know who have something to complain about... .if your band's costume materials were not an issue then I would have nothing to write!
Hope your flight to China this weekend means you are going to fix your problems and give your masqueraders what they paid for!
p.s. This is in response to the "message" that was sent to Trinidad Carnival Diary with accusations of victimization by the band leader of a certain band who was never mentioned in any of my previous posts.
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18 comments:
non mas player but consumer...
i would feel cheated unless the price tag was adjusted... its called false advertising... ppl in T&T need to stand up to this nonsense... its my money and i really dont want it jumping up in a Steel Band on either carnival days...
I would be pissed and would want back some money or the costume I paid for!
As long as the price was adjusted to suit, and the overall look wasn't too drastically different to the prototype, I don't think I'd mind. But they would also need to offer the option of a refund and/or section switch to the masquerader I think.
The way this is handled would be a deal-breaker for me.
I would be extremely upset and disappointed...which was the situation when I got my Green HoneyCreeper costume earlier this year and saw how CHEAP the material was and as expected- by bra hook popped VERY EARLY on Monday Morning. If a band has no problem advertising a certain costume and charging the prices for the materials used, then the masqueraders deserve to get exactly what they paid for. That is the primary purpose of a prototype!
As with any product, when I expect a certain quality and don't receive it I would immediately want my money back. If I as the masquerader with no experience in materials/design, (or even if I did have the experience) can look at a costume and tell that it is not what was advertised and not what I fell in love with, then I DO NOT WANT IT! Bands are already charging masqueraders $600USD and upwards, then to give us poor quality mas too? That's unacceptable! Give us what was promised, or give me my money back please. Point blank!
yea i think u need to look at this as a consumer and the designer also needs to think of you in that way!
Dont put Swarovski Crystals if you know you can only afford Acrylic in the first place, this is a major issue in all bands esp the ones charging u top buck for a costume advertised that sometimes you dont recieve, i have also noticed bands using Prime grade A Ostrich plumes on prototypes to only be replaced with Seconds Graded Feathers if you dont know about feathers u may not notice but the cost is about 75% cheaper!
im a person who notices every detail change in a costume i even noticed there were changes to some of Tribes materials in the finished product this year and thats only because i had a look through the souvenier magazine!
my advice to anyone is to print off a picture of your costume and scrutinise it agains the picture and make sure all the components pictured are also present, at the end of the day you are buying a product and if its not identical to whats advertised the finish should be like for like in terms of value and quantity otherwise demand a partial refund! this is the reason i never pay in full until i have my costume, in tribe and IP case this is a lil harder as you pay first collect after!
as i said this is a problem wide spread!
First as an overseas masquerader I don't see my costume until pick-up day! So, all I can do is compare it to pictures from the launch website and closeups that Saucy so generously supplies us with on her visits to the mas camps. So unless they specify on materials used it's often difficult to tell if I was cheated or not. At best I can look at the costume see if it looks the same when photographed lol. However, if I was informed that different, cheaper materials were used from the prototype and the resulting costume was obviously different, I'd hope a price adjustment reflects that difference or some other action was taken to make up for it.
It depends on, if it changes the overall look of the costume to something completely different. {Ex- Tribes birds of paradise bra change (good decision), silver mist bra change (bad decision). Either way masqueraders should have been notified as soon as the situation occurred and not during pickup. A close friend of mines played in silver mist and what pissed her off the most was that she was notified in advance. She stated that if she had known she would have purchased materials and fixed her bra. Masqueraders understand that things happen beyond the bands control, but its how you deal with the situation that matters. Had the designer explained the situation as soon it occurred, apologize, and prove that she is trying to do the best that she can to fix the situation; it wouldn’t have been so bad. The same way Green Honey Creeper masqueraders were notified of the change in advance so no one was annoyed with the change (I am referring to the ring change and not the granny bra issue). If the costumes were indeed switched then masqueraders should be given the opportunity to obtain a refund or switch into another section if they do not find the costume suitable to their standards. (FYI to band leader – if you switched the costume please don’t allow anyone to wear the prototype on the road. That is tacky and unprofessional).
As bunny stated it depends on how it was handled.
I would be very very annoyed and mad. These are not cheap items we are paying for! They are practicaly LUXURY GOODS on the same vein as a designer handbag, shoe, or item of clothing.
I know that when I buy my Christian Louboutin shoes and I see glue or loose stiching, the replace it or refund my money. Mas is a whole nother ball game. I don't think enough people speak up because someone will be in line to buy that costume if you don't want it.
So far I guess I have been lucky. My costumes have actually surpassed my expectations. Im playing in Spice this year (Isis) and I'm praying it looks how I want it. I think I'll be sending them and Anya and email asking specifically what is going on.
I don't mind if at the band launch they use a prototype that is more blingy BUT if you are replacing key parts of the costume charge accordingly and notify masquraders.
Y'know, it's pretty dumb to use Swarovski crystals in the first place when apparently the costs were not fully analyzed. There are alternatives that look just as good. Do a comparison shop between acrylic and Swarovski, then make an informed decision on the overall costs plus the look and function of the design using said materials. Then when it's time to produce the final costumes, the team realises they can't make. Research is crucial here.
And I agree with Bachanalmas on the cost of the feathers. Those ostrich feathers used on the final product are the cheap ones. I've seen them sold in Soho (Manhattan) for $1.50 USD per plume. That's the retail price, no sale. Imagine how much it really cost wholesale. Can we say DIRT CHEAP?
People are paying for a product; this is not charity.
This bait and switch practice is asinine and dishonest.
Carnivalcocoa i can tell u u can buy 2kilos of 18-20" ostrich plumes here in de uk for £40.00 approx $66US and so u get the idea 2kilos is approx 700 plumes! and again thats not wholesale so again think about how cheap it is lol when u only getting 10 in ur section headress lol
My thoughts on the issue are that, any changes that significantly alter the costume, masqueraders should be notified.If they want to use acrylic, thats fine, but make sure that the costumes looks and shines just like the prototype.
In the first place why in te hell would you use Swarovski? I mean seriously? as some one said there are other brands of crystals that are 1/4 the price of swarovski with the same finish as the swarovski.
I do not believe for one second that the bandleaders did not take the cost of costume into consideration when setting the prices. I believe that they were fully aware of what it was costing, materials and all. re: swarovski vs. acrylic Any changes made to the costume after to cut production costs would be nothing more than someone seeing an opportunity to make more profit at the masqueraders' expense. I for one am not having it. Don't let my own $ cut my @$$ plz. Give me the quality that was advertised! That means every single swarovski gem, bead, crystal, feather, and whatever else was shown on the original prototypes, or give me my $ back!
Dayyyuuumm Bachanalmas, what a helluva breakdown!! LOL
Ligeiai23, you have a point and it's a very real possibility. It's just that MANY times I find that idiocy runs rampant. I'm cynical like that. Like why start big and end up small.
Ligeiai22 I totally agree, there is no way in hell they don't know how much a costume is going to cost to make and where they are getting their supplies from before they launch.
Yes $hit happens but I would like to be informed of any changes (intentional or not) and let ME be the one to decide if I still want that costume. When paying for a costume I pay for what I see and love, not some water down version that looking like crap. I want every single piece of my costume, every single gem, feather, bead, etc. What I saw is one of the reasons why I chose that costume!
If for some unforeseen reason, crap happens, these bandleaders need to give ppl options, like an acceptable discount, a refund, a swtich in sections, etc. not hide out in the back while costumers cuss and complain (EVO-LOSERS comes to mind).
The way situations like this is handled says a lot about a band and its leaders, I kept up my part of the contract and they need to do the same.
Oh, one more thing, allyuh need to cut out that crap about goody bag, monday wear, etc. being "complimentary", if allyuh did not get it free, I'm sure I paid for it!
1. How would you feel if a designer, section or band leader took the decision to switch materials in the costume prototype to cheaper versions of the same? - I would sooo not be pleased. I signed up for the section with certain expectations....what's the reason for this switch?!!! This story better be good.
2. Lets say replace Swarovski Crystals with Acrylic Rhinestones, how would you, the masquerader feel about receiving a final product that is not EXACTLY as advertised? - WTF!!! I paid for flicking Swarovski Crystals...why the a$$ you thinking 'bout putting anything other than those crystals on my costume!!!
3. Do you think the cheaper materials will affect the overall look of the costume? - Of course, unless you have a heck of a boss forger/counterfeit artist on your hands, it will look cheap and tacky, and sooo not what I signed up for.
4. And how would you deal with this situation come collection day IF the costume looks noticeably inferior? - Who d a$$ waiting for collection time? I want this cleared up now dammit. Call the mas camp, talk to someone, send emails till they flicking fed up of seeing email from me and hearing my voice on voicemail. Am I getting a refund, a discount, an optioon to change section?! WHAT are my options.
My $0.04
* ok now, back to your regularly scheduled programming*
hehehe wha SPice throwing ah hissy fit??? lol yep they best make sure the costume is as advertised or they gonna have huge issues on thier hands lol, i nearly played wit them this year in peppecorns and i telling u had i recieved the finished product for the price they were charging in respect of the advertised costume i would not have been happy, cos i dun know that section esp the males was not to prototype!
LOL. Drama and more drama. As the others have said, I would be pissed off, particularly if I'm shopping for items such as boots, accessories, Monday wear, etc. to match my costume. However, if I'm notified of the exact changes, I'll make it work. Things happen, but be professional about it and don't try to scam people like we have no sense. Secondly, what you produce as a designer, section leader, etc. is a reflection of your work and the band. So, if you're okay with having people on the road in a half assed costume with Hello Kitty embellishments for the sake of fattening up your bank account, so be it. But not at my expense. Sorry, give me back my damn money.
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