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Miami Vale Vibe-less?

If you thought you had a tough enough time deciding where to party on the Miami Carnival Friday night, well Saturday was no different. It was a party buffet ... Day Limes, Boat Cruises, Day Fetes, All Inclusives and Night Fetes galore! For this TJJ Team, our choice of ‘fete dessert’ was Vale Vibe Miami. With lots of mix reviews following the event, let’s make our assessment.

CROWD:
With a sexy venue, a sexy crowd is what YOU got! Vale Vibe’s crowd is a hot, fashionably dressed, mature crowd in search of a DJ vibe party rather than a jump n wave event with live entertainment. Now, if you came to Vale Vibe Miami expecting the same vibe as Vale Trinidad, this is not the place to go! We don’t believe it’s possible to replicate the Diamond Vale Breakfast Party ... PERIOD!

As TJJ entered the party at 1am, the dance was still filling out (lots of people arrived very late) and partygoers were still standing around being social. But once the drinks started to flow and the DJs spun the right tunes, the crowd completely transformed and folks finally started to act like it was a Carnival fete after 3am. For most, it felt like as the party start, IT FINISH!

VENUE/ACCESSIBILITY:
Held again at the Bank of America International Tower, two words – “Gorgeous Venue”!  See last year’s review (Vale Vibe Miami 2009). With plenty of parking at or around the building, partygoers should not have had any problems getting secured parking. Now, leaving the parking garage might turn into a lil’ lime if everyone left at the same time (when de fete done).
 
VIBES:
Hummmm... where to start? One partygoer referenced vibes to what could be the biggest difference between this year’s Vale Vibe Miami and last year.  In 2009, as you reach ... plenty jamminess and wassy behavior was going on.  People were sweating and getting on bad and not one moment went by in which you didn't at least throw yuh waist a bit. So what happen this year?  For a long time most people were just standing around and chatting.  And although the DJs were mixing the best tunes, even throwing in a small conga line at one point, if you walked outside to refill your drink you would lose all your vibes as the music could not be properly heard.  This is one downside to this chic n sexy venue.
 
So what could make it better?  Maybe find a venue in which music could be heard outside as well. That is if you’re going for the indoor/outdoor fete, if not keep it simple. Keep it either indoor or outdoor I am sure most partygoers would appreciate that more anyways.

To my recollection, a lot of patrons who were getting on bad during Vale Vibe Miami 2009 attended DV8 Miami 2009 before hand, so since the drinks had already been flowing, people wasted no time in having a great time. This year, LIME (DV8 promoters) took place earlier (2-8pm) and wasn’t a free drinks event, so long story short ... get a pre-game plan ... choose a designated driver and charge up before hitting the night fetes, so this way you know as you reach, THE PARTY START! :-)
 
Now I’m happy to report that last 30-45 minutes of the party was rocking!! I’m not sure if most people got their fair share of liquid courage or if the DJs (Back to Basics with Hypa Hoppa) stepped up their game, BUT the party resembled a true Carnival fete! Everyone was jamming and palancing, enjoying themselves.  If the party was extended by an hour or more this review would read completely different.
 
FOOD/DRINK:
Corn Soup was on hand for those that came with a bit of an appetite; both bars were accessible with friendly service, patrons traded in cash for drink chits in order to make the transactions as smooth and quick as possible. At times the bartenders said alcohol was done, specifically Johnnie. Now my question is, “How are you going to have Caribbean crowd and run out of Johnnie Walker Black?” There were certainly some very unhappy partygoers (lucky riot ain't break out) ... but after about 30 minutes of waiting, Johnnie started walking again and tips began to flow!
 
SERVICE:
The drinks strategy for this party was simple ... always attempt to get a position directly in front of a bartender when ordering!  And if you were one of the fortunate ones that could aggressively get yourself directly in front of the bartenders you could get your drink in about 10 minutes. If you were one of the unfortunate ones to have to take a side spot, hold yuh spot because you will be there for at least 20 minutes or so. Not acceptable since most of us come to a Carnival fete wanting to spend the majority of our time winin’ and wukkin’ up (with drinks in hand)!  An extra bar might have relieved some pressure.
 
If Vale Vibe wants to continue to attract its crowd, they definitely need to improve the couple kinks, because if not ... some patrons will start to ask, “Anybody have another Saturday night fete to recommend?”
 
Con Mucho Amor,
Cubanita Juice

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