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Getting charmed in the mas camp

Peter Ray Blood
Published: 
Friday, November 2, 2012
Captivate, one of the sections from Robert and Sharon’s 2013 presentation.

 

With just three months left before Carnival Monday, the mas camps across the land are so much already a beehive of activity, that one wonders whether Christmas will be celebrated this year. The newest fad at mas camps is the after-work, Friday-evening limes. Held to generate interest and woo potential masqueraders for C2K13, these limes assume various forms of activity. 
 
For instance at the Paparazzi Carnival camp, at 22 Murray Street, Woodbrook, “chefs” Tracey, Judy, Michelle and Horace turn a wicked pot every Friday, their menu including oil down, cow heel soup, curry goat and pelau. Apart from being delicious, this win cookout, prepared on a little one-burner stove in the backyard, is also free. 
 
A five-time Band of the Year winner, Ronnie & Caro continues its Friday evening limes at its home base at the corner of Ana and Warren Streets, also in Woodbrook. Come next Carnival, the husband and wife bandleaders are presenting The Mystery of the Cascadura and, with three months left before Carnival Monday, the band is almost sold out. 
 
Now based on de Verteuil Street, Robert & Sharon (Amar), making their debut as bandleaders with the presentation Charm, seem to have an after-work lime every evening. To sweeten the pot, a Wednesday “pavement lime” is also held once a month outside Amar’s Club Gravity on Long Circular Road, St James. One recent lime was served by a sumptuous and tasty ochro and rice one pot. 
 
Priding himself as an innovator in any sphere of endeavour he embarks on, Amar (Robert) has a number of new concepts for Charm. Speaking at the camp’s recent opening, unable to keep his cards close to his chest, he revealed one new idea, “Nothing will be exposed. Everything will be in full costume,” he said, referring to the band’s infrastructure. 
 
The concept, while seemingly simple at first glance, will in fact be a first for Trinidad and Tobago said the mas lover. “This as the Amar team aim to revolutionise the way ‘big mas’ is portrayed to spectators from across the world,” he added animatedly. “For too many years we’ve accepted and provided mediocrity in a show that is meant to be world class, touted globally as ‘the Greatest Show on Earth’. In 2013, masqueraders who are a part of Charm Carnival will be proud to be a part of something historic—something that will essentially deliver a seamless view of every section of our band.” 
 
According to the Charm team, the aim is to make the entire band seem like a sea of colour and costumed delight—inclusive of the big trucks and even the mobile toilets which, Robert Amar has the distinguished honour of reminding people, was his innovation years ago. 
 
To achieve this seamless mas band, another innovation of Amar is to introduce brand drink, eye level liquor dispensers on the road, instead of all drinks combined being served from trucks. So, specific, easily identifiable dispensers will be easily accessible for brandy, vodka, brandy, rum, wine etc. 
 
Don’t be surprised if Robert & Sharon achieve their dream as the band’s production team includes professional and experienced technicians, led by Earl Patterson, from the old Wayne Berkeley camp, people who are accustomed to winning Band of the Year titles. 
 
Already, the online buzz surrounding the band is encouraging—this as foreign nationals have been expressing an interest in the array of costumes, which include sections like Mesmerise, Magic, Thrill and Entice. One very important word around the Charm mas camp is “fun,” so much so that every aspect of the operation is centred around the ideal which they are bent on bringing back in its true, natural form to masqueraders of all walks of life. 
 
Cautioned Amar, “We’re going to bring back the fun in Carnival—the real fun, the jump up, the music that spans years, so that people can enjoy the road in the realest possible way. Our selectors will be experienced men who understand the impact music has on a real
Carnival reveler. That’s only a taste of what Charm has to offer come Carnival 2013…so people better be ready.” 
 
• Further information on the band’s sections are now available at www.charmcarnival.com and via the band’s Facebook page at keyword, Charm Carnival.

 

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