Atlanta Carnival
2013
Getting
Ready As I ran to turn of my alarm, I ran to the shower to get ready. I only had
an hour and 15 minutes of sleep, because of course I was partying my life away
at jouvert. This is the life of a
carnival baby, so I was very well prepared. The night before I laid out all my
makeup and jewels that I would be decorating my face with. I was in a city that I knew pretty much NO
ONE. So I had no choice but to do my own makeup.
There are a lot of photographers and videographers on the road during carnival. Making sure your picture perfect is always a must. Do not forget to use sun block.
There are a lot of photographers and videographers on the road during carnival. Making sure your picture perfect is always a must. Do not forget to use sun block.
After I finished my makeup, my girl called me asking
me to do her makeup, and also her friends. So we decided to head to her aunts
house and do it since her family was there for the weekend, and wanted to see
us girls in our costumes before we head out on the road.
What turned into
doing makeup for two people, turned into doing make up for six people. Then of course makeup came along with 50,000
pictures. Honestly I have no clue where the time went because it went from
8:00am to 12:00 Noon in the matter of
minutes lol.
Carnival on
the Road
So after taking so many pictures,
and realizing time flew by, we hopped in the Beamer and headed to find the band.
Now of course be that it may, we were EXTREMLY late. I just didn’t realize how
late we were. If you are playing mas
promise me you will eat something before you head out on the road its super
important. I did not follow my own rule. I ate a few grapes and drank water and
juice and a cookie. NOT CONSIDERED EATING.
We finally found the parade and
jumped out the car and we were clearly beyond late. The parade started at 12:00
Noon, but we were suppose to meet the band at 10:00am. I kept saying to my self,
“Oh well the party don’t start till we step in.” Absolutely not true…the party
did start and they clearly took off hours ago and we played that cat and mouse
game. We passed several bands in search of our band on the road.
Photo Credit: Chris Sharp Photography
The sun was
beyond blazing hot there was no water in site.
Pedestrians and Patrons with their cameras asked us to take pictures with us and asked us if they
can pose alongside us. For a while we continued to stop and take pics, but
after a while we decided ok we will never find our band if we keep taking pics.
I was shocked after 45 min of walking, running, and chipping down the road till
we met our band I was so surprised that our band was actually the first on the
road. You can imagine on an empty belly I was beyond exhausted and thirsty.
Nevertheless it was time to get on bad.
When we finally got to the band the
fun began, the music was blaring, the colors from the costume were beautiful,
and the southern hospitality was so sweet. We as Caribbean people always
connect, so strangers become friends instantly for that moment. I finally found people in the band giving out
water and went straight for the water. Honestly that water saved me for the
moment. The whining, wukking up, and
chipping lasted for at least 30 minutes, (we missed the whole parade). All of
the sudden the DJ locked off the music and said the truck was leaving and we
had to make our way to the judging point.
I was very confused, not at all should the music stop, not at all
should the vibes lock off, especially at a pivotal moment. The truck left, and we were left figuring out
how to reach the stadium. I heard small chat about how the route changed and
this was a first and blah blah blah. I was kind of over the whole experience by
now because after missing most of the parade, I thought it was all over. We
finally made it to the stadium. We get to the gate, a man says that we are at
the wrong entrance, so the whole band had to go back around the hill down the
stairs and back up another hill. This was a whole lot of walking and no music,
so my vibes and energy was gone.
When we reached the correct entrance
the gate was locked. I’m not sure what exactly was going on but we had a lot of
just aimless sitting and hot sun. Finally after another half hour of sitting,
we were admitted into the arena, and shortly after we crossed the stage. It
wasn’t necessarily a stage, it was a football field and some grass. There was a
DJ playing music and the selection wasn’t the best song to cross the stage
over. That experience wasn’t the best in my eyes.
I was very dehydrated and needed
water, we asked several bandleaders where could we get water. They kept saying after you cross the stage,
and judging point you can get water and food. Honestly the eagerness to cross
the stage was solely at this point for water.
Again after crossing the stage we went to a locked gate. I don’t know if
we knew where we were going, but everyone was complaining of dehydration and
hunger. Finally we made it to the food and water, and I was pleased at the
speed of the line for the food.
I didn’t want to wait in the line
much, so I just grabbed whatever they gave me, so with that I had jerk chicken,
rice, and salad. We made our way to the stadium had a seat in the chairs and
slowly took a rest. We thought the whole
carnival experience was over. We saw
people entering into the arena and different tables and tents set up with food,
drinks, and items for sale. As we were headed to leave we heard dancehall music
and saw speakers.
Of course we see live DJs set up
music pumping and we could not leave. For hours we hung out by the music danced
our life away, took pictures with people who asked, and partied till the sun
came down. A stage show, with several artists were about to perform and we
stayed for a little, but we were completely exhausted.
For those just
visiting the carnival and not playing mas, I encourage you to arrive early and
buy tickets in advanced to get into the stadium, the price was about $15.00 or
$20.00 but the line for those without tickets, was astronomical. The line was
never ending. Also for those who didn’t have tickets it seemed near impossible
to get tickets because everything looked so unorganized down by the entrance
gate.
Overall Atlanta Carnival was a fun
experience. There were a lot of kinks and struggles along the way due to heavy
amounts of no structure and things being very unorganized, however the parade
route was a good length, the band I played with We Kinda Ting Mas had very
beautiful costumes, they won which was great. They had a lot of vibes and the
bandleaders were very helpful. There were kinks to work out along the way, but
what is carnival without a little bacchanal. If choosing to play mas I suggest
come play mas with We Kinda Ting, all-inclusive band and beautiful men and
woman. I enjoyed the experience. I was asked if I would come back and do it
again. Honestly I enjoyed myself at all the parties and the environment was
great.
*Mandy’s
Favorite
Places to Eat :
Mangoes Caribbean Restaurant
Hotel to Stay at
: Sheraton Downtown Atlanta
Mas Camp Choice:
We Kinda Ting
Fetes to
Go: Flag Fete, Any Stage Show, Anything
DJ Stephen Hosts
About The Writer:
Amanda Toney, who goes by XoXo Mandy, currently lives in
Boston Massachusetts. She graduated from college with her Bachelors Degree in
Business Management and Masters in Business Management. From birth she was
initiated into the life of Carnival. Some will say she is the epitome of a
Carnival Baby. Although she works hard in her corporate world, she loves to
venture off with new opportunities to travel and visit and experience the
carnivals of the world. She has been to several carnival but Amanda happily admits,
"there is NO PLACE ON THIS EARTH LIKE TRINIDAD CARNIVAL." She is a
Trini Native and a soca junkie. She is very well connected and has a lot of
first hand experience in the "carnival experience." Amanda also helps
out with D'Horizon MAS Camp in Boston. Carnivals Amanda has attended and played
MAS throughout the years Trinidad, Point Fortin Borough Day, Boston, Cambridge,
New York, New Jersey, Miami, Atlanta, Atlantic City, Philly, DC, and Toronto
Caribana. In the Near Future I would love to attend Jamaica Bachannal, Barbados
Crop Over London Carnival and Brazil Carnival. In the States I would like to
venture off to Hollywood Carnival and Houston CarnivalIf Amanda could make this
her long life career, she'd be a great carnival expert. "Live your life like
you playing mas, by Kes feat. David Rudder, is how is I love to describe my
love for life and carnival, peace love and unity. Hope you enjoy embarking on
my adventures of carnival through my eyes. Hope you fall in love with carnival
and all it has to offer. Enjoy, and Come Play Ah Mas !
For More about Mandy check out:
@XoXoMandy617x Twitter
@XoXoMandy617x Instagram
@XoXoMandy617X Vine
Amanda Toney on Facebook
@XoXoMandy617X Vine
Amanda Toney on Facebook
About Nickai Photography:
Photographer Nickai
( https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Nickai-Photography-Inc/148701911809314
) though schooled in Photography pre-digital era, started shooting professionally for the
internationally noted Poisondart Sound and within a matter of a few years
becoming a regular on the Florida Caribbean Entertainment circuit. Never seen without his camera too far out of
reach the passion is apparent in the fact that everything is a target for his
eye! Presently pursuing a curiosity
for cinematography and filmmaking while
working as House Photographer for www.cineenigma.com
( Cine Enigma Studios ) and honing his fine art photography skills through
various projects of his own, be sure to
pay attention to his name scrolling on credits for camera work on short films,
music videos, documentaries and all of the sort. Culturally inspired works celebratory of nature;
it’s beauty beholden by a keenly trained
lens aspire to bring you around one way or another for a closer look at a recognizable and
admirable style for his trade and craft.
Hey hun love the make up didnt know u blog glad i seen this to at least show some love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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