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The Carnival Doctor TNT 2015 Recap - Part 4 of 6 - "The Brian Lara Fete" - The Greatest Fete Ever
http://www.trinijunglejuice.com/tjjnews/articles/3951/1/The-Carnival-Doctor-TNT-2015-Recap---Part-4-of-6---The-Brian-Lara-Fete---The-Greatest-Fete-Ever/Page1.html
By Dr. Rhadi Ferguson aka The Carnival Doctor
Published on 02-Mar-15
 
After the Vale Breakfast Fete, I was able to run around and meet with Safiya Davy who handled most of my carnival needs through her service Sauce Concierge. I was able to pick up my Jouvert particulars because the jouvert band that I played with Dirty Dozens Jouvert had a costume/bag pickup time change.  Thank goodness that I had a system in place so that such adjustments could be made with ease, otherwise, I would have had to run around and secure my own things and change up my schedule and my ability to rest and/or fete. 

So, even though some people see concierge services as expensive, I see them as handy and useful. Especially if you get in on Friday instead of Tuesday  in terms of your travel and your fete time is tight. The last thing that you want to do is run around Port of Spain, picking up your costume and jouvert particulars, waiting in lines and catching cabs. You could be at a fete, on the way to a fete or resting. And that in and of itself has a price and that price I'm more than willing to pay. Peace of mind is a great thing.

I love Safiya Davy and SAUCE Concierge Services.

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.......After the Vale Breakfast Fete, I was able to run around and meet with Safiya Davy who handled most of my carnival needs through her service SAUCE Concierge. I was able to pick up my J'ouvert particulars because the jouvert band that I played with Dirty Dozens Jouvert had a costume/bag pickup time change.  Thank goodness that I had a system in place so that such adjustments could be made with ease, otherwise, I would have had to run around and secure my own things and change up my schedule and my ability to rest and/or fete. 

So, even though some people see concierge services as expensive, I see them as handy and useful. Especially if you get in on Friday instead of Tuesday  in terms of your travel and your fete time is tight. The last thing that you want to do is run around Port of Spain, picking up your costume and jouvert particulars, waiting in lines and catching cabs. You could be at a fete, on the way to a fete or resting. And that in and of itself has a price and that price I'm more than willing to pay. Peace of mind is a great thing.

I love Safiya Davy and SAUCE Concierge Services.


So, Sunday was a great day for me because my wife arrived on Sunday.  She was supposed to come in on Friday with me but had to chair a program with a group that are children are in and could not make it. So, she had to change her plans.  She had done the Brian Lara fete before and was looking forward to doing it again and raved about it all year.

I had never been because I love Jouvert so much that it just has the potential to make jouvert and monday mas miserable due to lack of sleep. 

Now lets be clear about one thing.

The Brian Lara fete is NOT cheap.  The tickets are $300.00 USD.    I know some people are saying, "No, they are only $275."  Well, if you live outside of TNT and you need a Lara ticket somebody is going to have to get it for you. And you probably aren't going alone so they will have to get two. And when you pay them back, you are going to have to put a lil som'n on it or send the money via Western Union or one of those other services.  And when you do, that's going to 3 bills off the rip.

So.... let me say it like this.  The tickets are NOT $300.00 USD but it costs $300.00 USD to go to the Lara Fete on average. 

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What People Say
About The Lara Fete
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I've heard some people complain about the Brian Lara fete and say things like:
  • It's too expensive
  • It real stush
  • It's not worth it

and other things like that. 

Here's what I will say. 

Those who attend do not think that its too expensive.  Just like those who buy Porshe's and Lamborghini's don't think those cars are too expensive.  Just like spending $4000.00 dollars for carnival for some is not expensive.

I can and will tell you this. For that what you get and receive at the Lara fete $300 is a steal. 

The ambiance, the food, the drinks, the performances, the bathrooms, the people, the staff and the location is SUPERB.

By far, the Lara fete is the greatest fete in TNT for carnival. I did not say it was the best because things can be "the best" in their respective categories. But believe me when I tell you that it is the greatest.

The intimate and upscale environment alone is worth the price of admission. When you walk into the Lara fete you feel like royalty.  There are many people there. It's "snug" but not crowded. Populated but not such that you cannot move freely. In my opinion it is truly the ultimate fete experience.

Now will all that being said. If someone made me choose Lara or Ambush......

I'M CHOOSING AMBUSH all day long and twice on Sunday!!! LOL.  And that's because I love J'ouvert.

If you asked my wife the same question, she would say Lara all day long because J'ouvert and paint and powder, mud, etc.,. is just not her thing.

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If You Have Never
Been, You Should Go
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I will tell you this. If you have never been, you need to go. 

Carnival is about freeing yourself up and creating your personal experience. And you don't know what your desired personal experience is, until you try some different things.  Case in point. My wife played J'ouvert twice in the U.S. She assessed it. And came to the conclusion that she does not like it.  So she doesn't play.

I have friends that have dismissed going to carnival because they don't like big crowds (which I think is ridiculous because you can have a small crowd experience). They make such assessments without even trying.  There are boat rides which are capped because of space. There are pool parties. There are small bands, medium sized bands, large bands.  There are hotel limes, beach limes and also options to not play mas but watch the bands from the stands go through the Socadrome or cross the Queen's Park Savannah stage. There are many options.

But you have to explore them to see what they are.

This year, I chose to do the Brian Lara fete and I played with a different J'ouvert band which I will tell you all about tomorrow. And you know what?

I had a great time.

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The Lara Fete Is
A Must Do Fete If.....
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I can tell you this.  The Lara fete is a MUST do if you are traveling with a significant other. An absolute must. It is a perfect date night.

It was also great to see Machel Montano perform because I didn't get to see him perform all week. I mean, he was at Ambush, of course, singing a few tunes and making de whole place TUN UP, but I didn't get to see him perform for 60 to 90 minutes like he did at Lara. 

The food at Lara was great.

The vibes were great. They were different but very much welcomed, respected and pleasant.

And, quite honestly, it was very intimate and the tone was quasi-romantic.  It is a great time. I would even go by myself because you just feel like you've been somewhere when you leave.

In closing.... Do Lara.

Do Ambush.

Try the things that you have not yet.

Understand that Lara is not expensive. It's just $300 and worth every single penny!!


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Closing
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It is the desire of TriniJungleJuice.com and The Carnival Doctor to get a ground level and grassroots approach to Carnival. For us to have you, not only get a feel for Carnival, but also a feel for the people that attend carnival. Behind every picture and video is a story but the story that you make up in your mind is not necessarily the truth.  After all the jumping up, and winin' and bacchanal is done -- we all have real lives to return to. It is our desire for you to know the other people that you share the carnival community with.

Love, Peace and Soca.

(If you've enjoyed this, you will most certainly enjoy The Ultimate Road Ready Guide)

Blessings From Here To There,

Rhadi Ferguson, PhD
"The Carnival Doctor"

P.S. For the best information in the world concerning carnivals please visit www.TriniJungleJuice.com  For the most comprehensive site available for fete tickets and masquerader costumes, please visit www.MyCarnivalBands.com

P.P.S. For more information on how to properly prepare for carnival like a true veteran, please visit www.CarnivalPrep.com