Selecting a Caribbean Carnival Band to Play Mas With

In the spirit of preserving, enhancing, and operationalizing the culturally significant event that is Caribbean Carnival, we have created a template that can be used in any city, for carnival enthusiasts who are looking to select a band to play mas with.

MAS BAND EXPERIENCE: There are many factors that contribute to the overall experience participants will have with the mas band they select, from the band launch to crossing the stage and the road march.

We've listed 20 items to consider including the band leader, DJs, road performers, trucks, refreshments, the band launch, costume registration, pickup, and quality, the mas camp vibe, website and social media performance, customer service, special events, band reputation, and participants diversity.

By giving each area a score from 1-5, the template will automatically tabulate the overall grade for the band, which you can compare across 5 bands using our worksheet.

Additional factors to consider, for reference: mas band size, the masquerader mix, and the overall road vibe of each mas band being compared.

Seasoned masqueraders may have their allegiances, favourite designers, participants, DJs, and community members that they prefer to jump up with come Carnival time. For those who are new to the experience, or who are looking for a mathematical metric to rationalize their band selection and costume investment...here's a tool that can be helpful!

Access to the downloadable template, where you can enter specifics and receive automatic calculations, is available on our website's Carnival Spotlight archive.

Enjoy :)

If you love Caribbean Carnival, and also love to read fiction...check out our Toronto Carnival themed novel "Carnival Spotlight," available via Amazon in paperback or digital (e-pub) format: beauty, betrayal, and bacchanal!

Synopsis: Toronto's former dancehall reggae princess, Delia Chinn-Wright, is lured back into a seductive party lifestyle when she meets Jessica and Victor, members of a hot soca dance group. After years of maintaining a reclusive lifestyle, Delia's confidence returns as she embraces her new friends and their vibrant Caribbean carnival-inspired social scene. The good times, unfortunately, disrupt her peaceful home life while her husband Ryan struggles to understand exactly why she is revisiting her old destructive habits.