Producing a mas band for Carnival is no different from any other business venture as the aim of the game is to make money.
According to Eddie Seow, a director of YUMA (Young Upwardly Mobile Adults), this is one of the many reasons why local mas band import raw material from the United States and China.
The Business Guardian had difficulty contacting key members of some bands on Tuesday to talk about the importation of raw materials and costumes, but eventually caught up with Seow.
Some bandleaders said they were very busy distributing or finalising their arrangements for Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
In a telephone interview, Seow said the production of mas is a very costly venture, sometimes costing millions.
The three-year-old band is portraying Imagine for 2013. In 2011, it portrayed Zodeak and Press Play in 2012.
He said there are approximately 12 sections and 2,500 masqueraders. A female costume costs around $3,800 and a male costume is about $3,000.
Seow said producing a band includes food, music, security and staff.
Not willing to put figures to the cost of each item, Seow said his staff is employed full-time and the band is all inclusive.
He said YUMA's aim is to encourage young people to get involved in Carnival, so part of its mantra is to hire young local designers and producers.
This year YUMA has five designers.
Seow said 75 per cent of YUMA's raw materials are imported from the United States, especially New York.
He said the band does not import from China, but the factories it deals with in New York import their materials from China.
"It is the same situation in T&T. The locals who sell raw material import from those same countries and then they do a mark up, which could be very high, so bands like myself import straight from the countries and enjoy a cheaper price."
He said the band imports beads, trims, feathers and stones.
Drawing a reference to the cost factor, he said one might pay about $900 a pound for feathers in T&T as opposed to the same item costing $423 in the US.
He said the band still patronises local stores by buying fabric, moulds, steel frames and back packs.
Another critical reason for importing directly, he said, is that the local stores are always a step behind.
"Their stuff is not current. They mainly sell stuff that is being used by other bands and materials that have been used already."
Seow said mas bands need to stay on top their game, so keeping in tune with the latest fashions and styles and materials are very important.
He said after T&T Carnival, countries like China and the US usually bring out their "new stuff/fashion for spring." (Dixie-Ann Dickson)
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