Masqueraders anxious for Carnival 2012 will have at least one more option, with the entrance of Fantasy Carnival into the festival.The band was founded by a group of Carnival enthusiasts with over 15 years experience in T&T's entertainment industry."Carnival has always included a large amount of fantasy," said the band's official spokeswoman, Jamie Garcia."We portray various birds, historical figures, even forces of nature, and when we take to the streets and take the stage, we fantasise in our minds that we have become whatever it is that we're playing."So that's where the name and the idea originated, and our aim is to transform the Carnival fantasies of our masqueraders into reality."This transformation will officially commence on August 6, when the band launches it's 2012 presentation at the O2 Park in Chaguaramas.
"This will be the first-ever Carnival band launch held at the newly opened and superbly scenic O2 Park arena," boasted Garcia, "so we're excited about christening the space with a wonderful presentation, as part of a really fun and exciting night."It's a combination of firsts, and we definitely want to be the first band launch of the season to really impress the public and have them talking for months and years to come."Fantasy Carnival will present 12 sections, and the names and designs, as well as the finer details about the band itself will remain a closely guarded secret until that night.Competitive industry
"Mas is a highly competitive industry nowadays," said band official, Bjorn Rezende, "and we want to create a truly memorable experience for our masqueraders, so we have to surprise them with all the details on the night when their interest has peaked. If we told and showed them everything in advance, then there would be little point in attending the launch, would there?"As event producers and mas lovers ourselves, we saw a need for another band to cater to the diverse and ever-evolving needs of the playing public. But, at the same time, we want to bring some of the mystery back into the Carnival experience and into the festival as a whole, because it's all become very formulated and almost like a routine rather than an adventure, which is what we believe it should be.
"When things become routine, they tend to lose their appeal, so we're going to inject some creative flair, some spontaneity, a whole lot of imagination and of course, the Carnival fantasies of you the playing-public."What has been revealed of the Fantasy Carnival experience thus far, is that it will be a "fun inclusive" band, complete with complimentary food, drinks and lots of "fun snacks, treats and funtastic surprises.""The idea for Fantasy Carnival has been in development for several years," said Garcia.
"It's not something we woke up a few weeks ago and decided to do. In coming together to produce this band, we took a strategic approach, which began by introducing the name Fantasy in July 2010, followed by the presentation of Fantasy J'Ouvert for Carnival 2011, as well as several other niche events."Events such as Throw Back, Wicked in White, Rise, and of course, Jamboree Fete allowed us to tap into our audience and ascertain exactly what their needs and desires are with regard to a Carnival band."
Fantasy Carnival will cater for all ages, races and nationalities."We're currently putting the finishing touches on our mas camp," added Rezende, "which will be conveniently located in Woodbrook. The exact address and opening hours will be revealed soon."For more on Fantasy Carnival, please visit the Web site at www.mycarnivalfantasy.com and check out Fantasy Carnival on Facebook.