Bachanal Mas: Behind the Scenes of a Carnival Mas Band
Carnival season will soon be upon us – an extended weekend of rich filling food, throbbing bashment beats, the sweet sound of calypso and of course, the parade.
The colourful and captivating masquerading bands are the visual pleasure that give carnival its signature spice, spreading Caribbean flavour across West London’s Notting Hill. But the bejewelled bodysuits and feathery headpieces are works of art that are conceptualised a full year before the August Bank holiday weekend. Where does the impetus come from behind this artistic party tradition, and who are the people raising the bar for these vibrant displays year on year?
Meet Bachanal Mas. A leading mas camp in the UK, Bachanal Mas was formed three years ago by a passionate and experienced team, eager to bring Caribbean traditions to London with a unique twist. “The idea is to deliver an experience unlike any other in the UK” says Kelly Rajpaulsingh, manager of sponsorship and promotions. ”We wanted to reach out and teach people of all cultures about carnival, welcoming anyone wishing to learn about it, its origins and how to get involved.” Also appearing at regional festivals such as Reading carnival, the team are keen to keep carnival alive beyond London, reaching out to audiences in all areas of the UK.
An operation this size takes much planning and preparation; pooling together sound equipment and sourcing the stones, gems, feathers, fabrics, foam and wires for costumes – not to mention the marketing, advertising and launch events that all culminate in a spectacular display on the day, is a process requiring immense commitment and vision. “Carnival is an all year process for Bachanal Mas – it never stops! We work throughout the year in building the costumes and in making preparations, a lot of organisation and teamwork is needed to make it happen.”
Once a theme for the presentation is chosen, the design process starts. Choosing colours and materials is a pivotal part of this process, and a prototype of each costume is built. When prototypes are complete, masqueraders view them at a launch party that is very similar to a catwalk show; the event also brings the team together with music, food and general enjoyment in getting ready for the carnival. “We are famous for our family-type atmosphere as everyone knows each other and all new members are made to feel a part of that” Kelly says. ”At any given time in the lead up to carnival, there will be about 8-15 people in the camp as people come to make payments, visit friends, help with making costumes, lime (hang-out), or listen to the new music from the islands.”
At the launch party, masqueraders will choose which costumes they like and start making payments towards their choices. After this the costume materials are purchased and full production begins. The masqueraders come voluntarily to the mas camp to help with production and usually, over time, develop skills that enable them to become more involved in producing larger and more intricate costumes.
With so much to manage and co-ordinate, it is no surprise that the process is a costly one. ”Music Trucks are one of the biggest costs for a carnival band” says Kelly, “and prices depend on experience, the number of sound engineers on a float and the scale of a sound system. Truck rental with a driver and generator is a separate charge. Then there is the cost of materials for costumes, food, drinks, security and stewards. To bring out a carnival band is a very expensive process and costs thousands of pounds – which is why mas bands actively seek out sponsors to help with some of these costs so it won’t be borne heavily by the masqueraders, giving them the chance to focus on having fun and bringing the costumes to life.”
The epic and inspired themes come from a line of beautiful designs; past themes include ’Paradise’ and a portrayal of ’7 Deadly Sins and 7 Heavenly virtues’. Ideas and inspiration can come from anywhere and anything, with themes ranging from traditional mas to contemporary or fantasy.
This year is set to be Bachanal Mas’ biggest presentation yet. The band has been growing steadily since inception and will be bringing 430 people in full costumes and 300 in ‘fun mas’ t-shirts – an overall 730 carnival revellers. “Anyone who wants to have a good time can join us, our dancers range from toddlers, who are in our Children’s carnival group, to grandparents!”
With the big weekend drawing nearer, production is heavily underway for completion in mid-August. The theme this year is ‘Traditions’, a tribute to the traditional mas characters and folklore characters of Trinidad where this type of mas is prevalent. “We wanted to take this theme and make it our own. Historical characters such as Blue Devils, Jab Molassie, Soucouyant and Fancy Indian all make up part of the presentation. We will be producing a King and Queen costume this year and also competing at the Splash competition, where mas bands from around the UK compete with their leading costumes, and we are very excited about it.”
The band will be hosting workshops throughout the year to teach people about making mas costumes and what a carnival production entails.
“Each year, literally from the end of carnival, we have masqueraders getting excited about next year’s presentation and the excitement just builds and builds throughout the year! It’s a great experience to be a part of and we are very pleased with how many people we have been able to reach out to and show them what carnival is truly all about.”
Great article! Beautiful pics!