Vincy Mas 2008 - Offfical Poster and View Cards |
Labour Day VINCY MAS Promotions NYC - 2007 - REPORT OUTLINE: -
1. Background: The Labour Day Celebrations are held annually on the Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York, hosting some 2 million or more spectators, revelers, advertisers and Media. It is an event which displays the multiculturalism of the Caribbean peoples in New York and the surrounding boroughs - displaying foods, arts, crafts, costumes, music and becomes a Mecca for Caribbean activities. This year the celebrations took place on September 3, 2007 and met its expectation. The most significant aspect of this particular day is the Street Parade with marching bands, and different groups dressed in national costumes and masqueraders, raising the consciousness about their various countries. Countries and businesses alike, embrace this activity as an opportunity to showcase products, events, services, talent, festivals, and other commodities available in their home countries. The Labour Day Parade itself provides a gateway of opportunities for the promotion of 'what's happening at home'. This is a magnificent stage for promotion of VINCY MAS. As has been done in the past, the CDC welcomed Labour Day as an opportunity for sensitizing the masses in attendance, to VINCY MAS, Nine Mornings, Blues Fest; bringing more exposure to our music and our artistes and for the ever-growing popularity for our Soca music in particular. The Ministry of Tourism partnered with the CDC to co-sponsor our involvement in the Labour Day parade, and with support from the Buccament Bay Beach Development and Standard Shippers Ltd, this made our attendance at the festival a reality. 2. Purpose & Participation: - The CDC was prepared for the parade with the VINCY MAS masquerade Band, having Banners, Posters, and other promotional materials and our national flag was evident throughout. Hundred of Vincentians were on hand to revel with our Band as we journeyed along the Parkway and jumped to the music of Jamsey P, Bomani, and Lively - all three being present to give live performances. The top Soca songs coming from VINCY MAS 2007 were featured along with the live showmanship from the named artistes. 3. Outcome: The popularity of our Soca music resonated, as people of all nationalities came flocking to our Band, and the party mood was heightened as we paraded along the Eastern Parkway. Our representation was impacting, with many Vincentians feeling proud of our unique heritage and our music. This event is an exercise in which the CDC would like to have a continued involvement, and wishes to urge the ongoing support from the Ministry of Tourism, since this presents an excellent opportunity for marketing our country. It is possible and encourageable that the Private Sector in St. Vincent & the Grenadines, should consider lending its support. We wish to expand and enhance our involvement to be more on-par with some of our other Caribbean neighbors, who more and more present stiff competition, by way of this activity, to captivate its nationals and visitors alike.
For the focus of VINCY MAS as a Tourism product, we must also find more unique ways of selling our country by this way. Perhaps more thrust could be directed at some of the other Cultural activities, making them a greater attraction to meet the competitiveness of Tourism in the region for our sustainable development. This Labour Day market is one which should always be targeted since it is the biggest single Caribbean Festival in the East Coast USA which is attended by a wide diversity of people. We should seek also to extend this promotion to other Caribbean festivals which are showcased annually in cities around the world - which harbor the diversity of peoples, particularly of Caribbean origins. ________________
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4. Recommendation: Support should also be considered for the Vincentian entities which produce Mas costumes that help to showcase our country's primer festival and talent at large, thereby enhancing the mileage and the momentum of our efforts. Greater support and integration from the local end could give impetus to those costume designers and costume-builders in NY - hence maximizing the appeal for VINCY MAS in the coming years.
