By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
WITH less than a month before the launch of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival in New Providence, some carnival band owners yesterday said costume sales “are just beginning to pick up” but sales all around have been “slow” and “sluggish”.
Anthony Coakley, co-founder of the Enigma Carnival Group, said the group has gained the interest of persons in South America and the Caribbean but in the Bahamas costume sales are not as good as expected.
However, he said mass costume production has started in preparation for the typical “last minute” Bahamian rush.
“The costume sales are now starting to pick up for the US market, South America and some places in the Caribbean. We have received payments and it is starting to become more frequent now. It has not been phenomenal, but we expected that because Bahamians typically wait last minute,” Mr Coakley told The Tribune.
“So we have a ‘Whine in the Line’ package that you do not need a costume for because we found a lot of persons want the experience without the costume so we have options. For everyone that decides to purchase late, we will mass-produce a particular number of costumes in small, medium and large (sizes). So there will still be time up to the day to purchase as long as supplies last.”
However, Elbert Thompson, the co-founder of Stars Carnival Group, said in two weeks the band will stop production of costumes and after that only T-shirts will be available.
“It has been going okay for us,” he said when contacted about costume sales. “We are a VIP band so for us it has been okay. We aren’t really worried because a lot of Bahamians wait until the last minute to make any purchase and that is not a good thing,” Mr Thompson said.
“Usually in other places like Trinidad, costumes are ordered and paid for months in advance, that is how it is done for Carnival, costumes are usually sold out months in advance. In about two weeks, like the middle of the week, we are going to stop making costumes and then only T-shirts will be available.”
Both groups are members of the Bahamas Carnival Band Owners Association (BCBOA).
The association consists of around 28 local groups or bands and all are Bahamian owned and operated.
President Dario Terilli said the BCBOA will meet on Friday to “crunch numbers” to determine the local participation in the Junkanoo Carnival.
Bahamas Carnival is scheduled for May 7-9. However the inaugural festival will first launch in Grand Bahama with the Music Masters semi-finals on April 17-18.
Comments
joey 9 years, 7 months ago
The carnival organizers didnt think this through, Exuma regatta is April 23rd- 26th most people will be going there. Plane ticket is about $180,room and board is another $200 and food and beverages is where you put me.I dont know where these people will get money at the end of the month to buy carnival costumes.We shall wait and see.
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 7 months ago
So this is the main drive of Carnival? Selling $400 to $800.00 costumes?
Good PLP plan....
lolololololololololololol!!!!
TalRussell 9 years, 7 months ago
Comrades, would you risk buying a used car from Carnival 2015? Like it would even have brakes? I didn't think so.
Carnival 2015 is more like a tree, full of all kinds branches, overloaded down with politically appointed backsides, all on different limbs at different levels. Some sell costumes nobody wants buy. Some can't book performers. not even with 1.5 million taxpayers monies. The backsides on the bottom look up and all they can see from below, are limbs above so full of useless smiling Comrade politically appointed" backsides, working so damn dumb at ruining what's even left of Carnival 2015 Show.
What happened to the performer's contract, Carnival 2015. supposedly had with KB Bodie? Even KB has smartened up, not wanting to be associated with anything to do with Carnival 2015.
Nope, don't even go there, cuz I aint call nobody, no monkey. I got's too much respect to insult da smart monkeys. But we all knows Carnival 2015, is all monkey business.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 7 months ago
I need a new car Tal...I dunno
TalRussell 9 years, 7 months ago
Comrade This isOurs, wouldn't Carnival 2015 be competing against the numbers men's, if they started handing out Flat Screen TV's and them new cars?
Cobalt 9 years, 7 months ago
Any and everything that the PLP will and has put their hands to will be a colossal failure. This carnival festival will be no different!
There is NO festive feeling in the atmosphere as Bahamians continue to lose their jobs and many have no idea where the next penny is coming from.
Meanwhile..... Perry and his PLP are initiating and planning a foreign-charged festival designed to enhance a foreign agenda; after he campaigned under a slogan promoting Bahamian interests. "A Bahamas, for Bahamians" was his slogan! But instead...... Bahamians are unemployed while foreign soca performers are set to take home thousands of our dollars!
Perry duped y'all stupid Bahamians good! Das good!! Yinna too damn fool.
Emac 9 years, 7 months ago
Exactly!
GrassRoot 9 years, 7 months ago
give them panem et circenses (meaning: bread - or better cheap booze - and entertainment). PGC acts like a Roman emperor.
Publius 9 years, 7 months ago
People cant afford bread, cheese, milk, meat and electricity - but they are looking for people to spend hundreds for feathers and string.
GrassRoot 9 years, 7 months ago
this sounds like a big enterprise: selling that stuff to South America and the U.S., how about Europe and Asia, Australia? You are missing some of the hottest markets for stuff like that.
killemwitdakno 9 years, 7 months ago
Send ritual costumes to other cultures before it's broadly recognized? Hell no.
There's specific drawing that goes into it. Problem is we aren't claiming the symbols and costume parts as junkanoo. It's getting mixed up by carnival's already. Just like there's certain detail and embroidery in african fashion that makes it identifiable and certain parts of a Native Indian garments, there's many elements that distinguishes Bahamian junkanoo ( from say even Belize and Jamaica's ), but it may be totally discarded.
pablojay 9 years, 7 months ago
And i see that they are charging $20 per day for the thing in Freeport . They are wasting our money and charging us to see how it is wasted. Better bring extra money because they will probably charge a fee for the use of the "johnny-on-the-spots" I can just hear the yellow shirted attendants asking which one you want to do, because the fee for the "lil" one is $1 and the "big" one is $2, but because we now have a caring government,VAT will not be assessed. IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE Y'ALL "MARRIED THE GAULIN"
Andrewharris 9 years, 7 months ago
The costumes are too expensive and not very nice. Some are down right ugly. I wanted to play but after I saw the costumes and prices I had to change my mind.
ohdrap4 9 years, 7 months ago
wait ,wait a second. the plan was not to sell costumes to locals. the foreigners were supposed to buy it. On facebook.
That is why i think the costumes were made for size zero girls. Then lately they made up some bigger ones for heavy girls.
$400 can buy you eight pairs of dickies work pants locally. If you can find work.
Cornel 9 years, 7 months ago
At the Trinidad Carnival everyone is naked. Why do you need to buy a costume?
asiseeit 9 years, 7 months ago
I wonder if cool PC got his yet or if he is getting one special set made in China?
SP 9 years, 7 months ago
.............................................. Not Bahamian.....Not Interested ........................................
Nuff said!
killemwitdakno 9 years, 7 months ago
"Whine in de line " package should be broadcasted. Most people are assuming they need an expensive costume to play mas. Bahamian gals been wearin their whinin' shorts their own way already.
killemwitdakno 9 years, 7 months ago
The carnival costumes have been selling alongside Trinidad's outside of the government website.
https://www.mycarnivalbands.com
killemwitdakno 9 years, 7 months ago
Only because of the crafting and symbols in the headpiece, and the animal print on the waist did I recognize this as Bahamian.
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2015…
killemwitdakno 9 years, 7 months ago
It seems they're laser cutting the shapes now, but maybe they should still be painted. This Christmas paper looking thing they sent to Caribana looked beyond toy plastic cheap out the package.
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2015…
asiseeit 9 years, 7 months ago
Maybe the fact that most people do not have $350.00 to $800.00 to spend on a foolish costume that will be worn once. People are broke or have very little to spend on play/entertainment, if they even have a job. We need jobs not party's and foolishness. Once people are working again maybe then they will party. Priority's.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 7 months ago
The carnival costumed parade is officially a mess. I understand the Commission is now allowing people to participate for $15, no costume, if that is the case when exactly does Mr Coakley expect the "last minute rush" for costume purchases to start?
They can scrap this for any repeat if it fails. Sell t-shirts and stick with a 15 participation fee.
Please make sure that brassy young woman doesn't appear on the commission any longer. Get people who actually like Bahamian music and want to promote it. Someone who hates Bahamian music and thinks the entire country is for people under 30 should not be a member of a CULTURAL commission . Same goes for old men who propose bright ideas like bringing Trinidad Carnival here even when they're told over and over again that Bahamians want Junkanoo
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 7 months ago
Wish the government would focus more on "a noo" and less on "junk"
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