Diary of a Carnival Chaser

  If you're from the Caribbean, then you probably understand this better than most. The three major elements of any carnival are: dressing in masquerade, music, and dancing. This is constant regardless of the Caribbean territory. Think elaborate costumes, masks, feathers, headdresses, dancing, music, and drums, along with raucous behavior. Men can get away with a shorts and a t-shirt (or none), but for the Women... it's gonna be a production on Beyonce's level. An entire carnival support industry was created just to support women. One of the unspoken rules as a woman playing mas (Jamaican's say Jumping Carnival) is that whatever you're prepared to spend on your costume, be prepared to spend about half as much on getting ready: Think Carnival Boots, Carnival Makeup , Hair, Body Bronzing, Waxing, Nails, Stockings , Gloss for the road , Carnival Pouch, and possibly a photoshoot before you hit the road. Women start to get ready for Carnival from as early as midnight.

Carnival is one of those experiences that you have to try at least once in your life time. It is one of those enviable bucket list experiences that you can brag about for years.  Chose Your Destination As a Carnival Chaser, I've been to Trinidad Carnival, Crop Over (Barbados), Jamaica Carnival, Miami Carnival (GenX) and LA Carnival. Trinidad Carnival is the Mecca of all carnivals and isn't for the weak. It literally is 4 weeks of non stop partying ending with 2 glorious days on the road. Outside of St. Lucia Carnival, all the other carnivals have one road march day.  Personal Ranking: Trinidad Carnival Jamaica Carnival & Miami Carnival  Crop Over  LA Carnival  The Calendar Trinidad Carnival - February  Jamaica Carnival - April  St. Lucia - July  Crop Over - August  Miami Carnival- October  Plan, Plan, Plan Now Firstly, if you don't book early, you won't be able to experience anything. Party tickets and costumes will be sold out. This isn't one of those times whe

  What would have started as a story about a mentor and his mentee blossomed into something neither could have foreseen. This is where I introduce myself, Kibwe McGann -event planner, marketer, sponsorship magnet, aspiring mogul, carnival chaser, with a penchant for mentoring. And of course, the other half of this story, Gabrielle (Gabby) Waite  -marketing student, aspiring makeup artist, fashionista and glam girl.  Back in 2018, I had a client that needed me to select 8 models for a Carnival road march promotion. I was entrusted with the logistics of getting ready - costumes, hair, makeup, boots, transportation and lunch. Back then, I was very involved in a youth marketing agency called UCA -University College Ambassadors- where I was mentored the Exec body.  I shared with the Exec team the services I needed to fulfil my client's request and that night Gabby reached out saying she wanted to manage the glam process of getting the models ready.  I don't know much about makeup a