Mas come again!

Trinidad & Tobago Carnival 2024 was AMAZING - amazing energy, amazing company, amazing food, amazing fetes, amazing mas. I had a blast and I have very, very few complaints about my overall experience.

I played with the newest band on the block, Spirit Mas, and it was fantastic. A lot of people were intrigued by this band, but nervous about taking the plunge. Ultimately, our trust and faith was not misplaced or misguided and it culminated in an outstanding carnival.

Band Announcement & Launch

Rumours had been circulating for a few months prior to Summer 2023 that a new band will make its Trinidad Carnival debut in 2024. We played guessing games about which designers, promotional teams and sponsors had shifted directions and put their efforts into this new endeavour. After a surprise announcement and a few weeks of some social media teasers, it was finally time for the band launch.

Spirit Mas had a successful launch at the end of July 2023 with their debut theme, " Kingdom of Spirit" and it was met with a lot of curiosity, interest and praise. The band released 7 sections in total, showcasing costumes by both seasoned and new designers.

On the day after the launch, the band posted clear & detailed pictures of all the section options, followed by videos. Luckily, we did not have to wait too long for pricing and registration.

Registration

When I started planning for Trinidad Carnival 2024, I was prepared to head back to Bliss Carnival, and even considered two costumes in Tribe but in the end, the Spirit indeed called me. I was itching for something new; something that would meet my large expectations for what a premium mas experience should be, and in that pursuit, I did not mind being a guinea pig for this band’s inaugural parade on the road. Based on my research regarding the parties involved with the band, I felt comfortable in assuming the risk and believed they would pull off this huge task.

Registration began after the website launched and was pretty simple for me. I connected with the marketer of my section, as well as reached out to the designer of my section to be added to their pre-registration lists.

When registration was live, we received links to create our accounts on the Masos website, after which we were able to register. During the pre-registration phase, we could only register for the specific section and option we asked for.

I believe it somewhat opened up when general registration started. That was slightly more challenging for people; I heard responses were intermittent for some people, but I personally don’t know anyone who was not able to get into the band. I would be interested to know how registration will be handled going forward though.

The band leader capped the number of masqueraders at around 2,700 and the band sold out in October 2023.

In my opinion, the star of the show was the Sylph section, but having done a purple costume just last year, I decided to go with another option. The fire and brimstone design of the Akasha section - designed by Rhion Romany - was my choice this year and I loved it! Orange always works on my skin tone and the high-waisted string panty was a selling point for me. I still don't like the build-a-backpack system that has become the norm these days, but I added a medium backpack and tail to my order.

BAND Communication

Communication with Spirit Mas was excellent. I received email responses within hours, sometimes within minutes. A few weeks after registration, I decided to add a tail to my medium backpack and was able to do so seamlessly.

The band was also very active on social media, providing additional information about the experience and costume sneak peeks.

I also had the opportunity to visit the mas camp and speak to a couple of the staff members who were very kind and able to give me the information I needed.

The online Masquerader Guide was released about two weeks before carnival and proved to be extremely helpful. It provided costume distribution information, a detailed map of the route, meeting times and meeting locations, shuttle information, food menus, costume tutorials, our section clusters for the stage crossing and more.

CoStume Collection

This was one of the most organized costume collection experiences I have had. As costume distribution started during carnival week, I heard positive reviews. I arrived in Trinidad toward the end of carnival week, so I was a bit nervous I would experience a long wait, but it was (largely) smooth sailing.

Distribution started earlier than the advertised time on Carnival Thursday, which was wonderful for me as I had arrived a little early. I wanted to be first in line since I was picking up additional costumes.

While I was checking in with the front staff, I was also offered refreshments. Nice touch. After showing the receipts and confirming the costumes I was picking up, I was ushered into the building. Before I even had a chance to sit down and observe my surroundings, my name was called. Talk about efficiency! I went over to the Spirit Mas rep, who already had our boxes stacked and ready to review.

She had images of each section on her table and using that as the guide, we went through all of the pieces in our boxes.

In addition to our costume pieces, each person received a reversible bucket hat matching their costume. Mine was orange on both sides, while Mr. Man's hat was orange and purple (he was in the Solana section). I tried to exchange my hat for another colour but they were strict about not allowing it. The boxes were pre-packed and they claimed not to have extras. I was slightly disappointed but I understood. Of course, our boxes also included our colour-coded RFID wristband, section-matching-cup (excellent touch!) and a QR code linking us to our costume tutorial.

As soon as I saw my panty I knew it was going to be too big for me — certainly a better problem to have than the opposite. I considered exchanging for a smaller size but decided instead to do a slight alteration.

Typically I pack my sewing kit, prepared to make quick alterations myself but I decided to take advantage of Spirit Mas’ free onsite alteration service. I was able to try on my costume and get my wire bra bent and shaped to my liking. Unfortunately, the seamstresses did not arrive until around 1pm so I did have to wait for about 45 minutes. It would have been nice to have that tidbit of information in advance - I may have planned a later arrival for pickup. However, service was the name of the game and the staff offered me a drink and gave me the option of leaving my panty and picking it up another time after it was completed. I preferred to have the seamstresses see it on me for a more precise fit. When they arrived, they worked on it right away and gave it back to me within 10 minutes.

Goodie Bag

The Spirit bags were niceeeee. The men received a sizeable backpack and the ladies received an XL canvas tote with each person having a choice between two colours - for men: blue and army green; for women: purple and pink. They were high quality bags that will get lots of use in the future.

The contents were pretty standard with snacks and other useful items — a fan, a towel, coffee and hot chocolate packets, chips, feminine hygiene products, sunscreen, mints, pain and stomach meds and more. Each person also received a toiletry bag which contained additional items like bandaids and dental floss picks.

Costume

As mentioned, I registered in the Akasha section, yet another orange costume in the books! I tend to like Rhion Romany's designs and this was no exception. It was a beautiful costume that captured the depiction of an inferno in the wire bra and strategically placed gold jewels. My wire bra needed a bit of manipulation to ensure I was covered up right but once it was on me, I felt very secure and unexposed. I really loved the velcro thigh pieces - they actually stayed on throughout the entire day which is unheard of for me!

There were a few things that could be improved upon in the design: the headpiece needed moleskin padding on the inside because the indentation of the crown on my forehead was not fun or pretty. I took it off after taking pictures and within a couple of hours of being on the road.

The bodywear of the costume looked just like the prototype and images, however I was a bit disappointed in the backpack, particularly the gold cone detail. They were larger than I expected which cheapened the look of the backpack. I also lost one half of my backpack tail because people stepped on it multiple times, so that was a bit disappointing as well.

It was a female-only section and we were the first section to cross the Savannah stage. What a sight to be a part of and behold.

Expectation VS. Reality

(NB: the backpack featured in the promotional picture is the large backpack w/ tail option)

The Road Experience

Road Experience Rating: 9/10.

My experience with Spirit Mas was incredible - certainly my favorite all-inclusive mas experience to date.

Carnival Monday

After doing a couple of alternative j’ouvert fetes, I decided to skip real j'ouvert in the early hours of Monday in order to get a good night's rest and be fully energized for Carnival Monday. Best decision!

I was up at 7:30am and fully energized for Monday Mas. I had time to take my time! I tried on my several Monday wear options, put my carnival bag contents together without hurry and even admired the view of the hills from the balcony as I sipped on some tea. I made it to my 9:30am makeup appointment on time and was ready for the day ahead. Proud of me!

One of Spirit's biggest selling points was their offering of a premium brunch before hitting the road. I thought it was a fantastic idea, especially as I hardly ever get to the road before 1pm on Carnival Monday. I was determined to arrive with plenty of time to eat, lime and drink before the road and that I did.

I arrived at Fatima Grounds at around 11:30am and had a solid 2 hours to enjoy the vibesy brunch atmosphere. It was great! There was an abundance of food options, ranging from donut sandwiches to shark tacos, from chicken and waffles to roast rib eye; doubles to rack of lamb. I had seconds, thirds and fourths and ate to my heart's content.

The really cool float bars (as I call them) aka drink trucks were open but there were also many other drink options, such as a prosecco bar, a margarita bar, pop mimosas and (STRONG) section-inspired pop-tails. Naturally, I indulged in them all.

There were makeup touch up stations, a 360 degree revolving camera, a hookah station, trailer restrooms, some cute photo ops and a few seats. We were even blessed with a little rain that lasted about 10 minutes and it was a welcome cool down from the ridiculous heat in Trinidad this year. The overhead mist machine in the main dancefloor area was spritizing every 15 minutes, so we weren’t hot for long. Also, shout out to Spirit for the bucket hats - they really came in handy this year! Like Lost Tribe’s colour-specific monday wear, the Spirit bucket hats were a huge identifier on the road. Loved it!

Skinny Fabulous and Nailah Blackman kicked off the Spirit road experience by performing some of their biggest hits and off we followed their truck and went on the road.

Maybe it's because I was already full and tipsy but the road was lit as soon as we hit the pavement! The band had 3 music trucks and 3 float bars, interspersed with public and private carts, recovery buses and restroom trucks in the back of the band. I would have far preferred trailer restrooms as the expectation had been set at the brunch, but alas. Spirit team, please make this welcome change for next year.

We stayed with Truck 1 for the most part and had an amazing time. The DJs were playing for their lives and doing the damn thing. The music was diverse, spanning the last few years and I was glad there wasn’t an over-emphasis on a few 2024 hits. The crew was litty and I was able to get my drinks without any issues. The bars served on both sides (unless there were safety risks) therefore, I waited no more than 7 minutes for my drinks and even that seemed like a considerable wait comparatively. While some of the carts required specific wristbands, I want to note that I was able to get water and non-alcoholic drinks from any cart. I also saw prosecco and poptail carts on the road.

I was having the best Monday ever so the day is a bit of a blur, but I remember crossing the Synergy stage. It was sort of a mad house because of the small stage size, but I am glad I had the opportunity to cross a stage on Monday. It would be amazing if it were the Socadrome next year. Hint, hint!

As the sun went down, the crowd became more animated and the vibes went up. At some point, a few traditional mas characters - Dame Lorraines, Baby Dolls, Blue Devils and Moko Jumbies - joined us in the crowd which kept us even more entertained. It was even better seeing spectators, adults and kids alike, engage with these mas characters and with us. I always love to see people experiencing the mas when the trucks roll by, dancing on the street, in their backyards and on their balconies.

A few friends joined us on the road but were eventually removed from the band. Sorry they experienced that, but I did appreciate the attention the marshalls paid to security and prioritizing and protecting the masquerader environment. My friends were able to continue walking beside us as we moved and enjoyed themselves as well. At about 7pm, we headed back home to rest up for Day 2.

Carnival Tuesday

My Tuesday started off extremely early. After my 4AM makeup appointment and catching a few zzz's, I was up and at 'em at 8am in hopes of meeting the band at around 10:30am. The band had advised that we will be meeting at 7am with the expectation to cross the Savannah at around 11am.

After a LONG, exhausting walk, we finally met up with the band at the Savannah at around 12pm. I did not read the masquerader guide closely enough or else I would have known the band had shuttles departing from Fatima Grounds to the band. This was definitely a missed opportunity comfort-wise, but noted for next time. I was glad we did not miss the stage crossing, but I did not expect to wait much longer after my arrival. Unfortunately, we did.

Did you know the temperature was 92 degrees Fahrenheit in Port of Spain that day? Did I already mention that I arrived at high noon? Sunstroke was fast approaching! Yes, the wait was frustrating but Spirit's customer-focused approach remained evident once again. They tried to keep our energy up in different ways. One of the thoughtful things they did was pay a few vendors at the Savannah to provide light snacks, water and drinks to masqueraders. I had some pineapple chow and a thimble of punchy punch. It wasn't enough to combat the fierce heat, but it helped a lot. Next time, I would suggest they have a few carts placed between each section cluster to provide snacks and water.

We hung around for quite a while and eventually crossed the Savannah Stage at around 1:45pm. As always, I loved crossing the big stage and had the time of my life. It was like a shot of adrenalin to my system and my mood instantly changed as soon as we were on the stage. I was so happy. There were Spirit staff at the ready at the end of the stage handing us water and cooling towels, which was a wonderful touch.

However, that high was tamed when we had to walk about 1.5 miles to our lunch spot at St James Barracks. Perhaps it is because we were way behind the band (we had stayed around the Savannah for a bit to find some friends) but walking in silence without music, while being hot, famished and thirsty, made the long trek extremely difficult. I was ready to sit down and recuperate but also I was ready to have some real fun. Apparently, there were also some shuttles from the Savannah to the lunch spot.

The lunch spot was set up beautifully. When we walked in, there was already a sizeable crowd and some food tents had long lines. There were no chits and after waiting in line for about 15 minutes, I was able to get two delicious meals -- beef lasagna and chicken tikka masala. Cocktails, beer and water were available to drink. There was an air-conditioned tent but it was full by the time we arrived so we found another shaded area under which to sit. There were a few benches, and the band provided some chairs as well. There were clean AC trailer restrooms available, thank goodness!

As I walked around, I noticed a hookah lounge, 2-3 photo-ops dotted the place, a backpack holding station, a coconut stand and several foot masseuses hard at work. There were portable charging stations and an area to re-up your sunscreen and rejuvenate your skin. My friend and I were also able to get our makeup touched up by the Revlon ladies.

After lunch, I grabbed a drink from the truck and went to the AC recovery bus to cool down a bit. Then it was time for the last stretch of road! IT’S WE DAY! Truck 1 and 2 were vibes; I feel like they were a bit more repetitive on Tuesday but I still had an awesome time. I even heard that Yung Bredda performed on Truck 2 - not sure how I missed him.

After a few hours, we found ourselves back at Fatima Grounds for Climax, the after-party. I was expecting a chill vibe, similar to las laps of the past, but the DJ was serving! The atmosphere was electric and the performances were good. I remember seeing Kerwin Du Bois, Mical Teja, Bunji Garlin and Wadicks perform, but I have a feeling I missed someone. Let me know.

The drinks poured like rain and were available from all the carts and float bars. I was drinking Hennessy & Johnnie Walker and chasing them with champagne and rum punch. There was such an overflow of alcohol, the bar was literally giving bottles away - we received 3 bottles of GTC rum punch. You know your bar is well-stocked when you still have coconut water at 9pm. To eat, there was pizza, doubles and ample KFC spicy chicken available.

I had a marvelous time and wish I could have stayed a little longer. As we walked out, one of the Spirit directors was gathering detailed feedback from masqueraders regarding their thoughts on their first Spirit Mas experience. I loved that. It showed how much they value their masqueraders opinions and are seeking to make the experience even better. I hope they take note of suggestions and are ready to manage the inevitable growth of the band.

I SHALL RETURN!

How did you enjoy Trinidad & Tobago Carnival 2024? Tell me about your experience in your band!

SPIRIT MAS JUKEBOX 2024

Carnival Contract

DNA

Anxiety

In The Center

Miracle

Brain Freeze

Benderella

Riot

Round & Rosie

Beat Rum Bad

Holiday

Runaway

Everytime

Sugar Waist

Tack Back

Inventor

Ah Love It Here

Better Than Them

Life After Fete

Energy Killers

Road March 2024: “DNA” by Mical Teja

Large Band Of The Year 2024: Lost Tribe