Despite rumors of desertions and financial troubles, the Showdown Mas Camp is ready to roll with organizers promising a great show this evening (Friday) at the Harlem Plaza.
Asked by DNO as to the number of calypsonians who have left Showdown, camp manager Daryl Bobb said no one has officially told the camp that they are leaving or moving on to another camp. “We are hearing it through the grapevine,” he said. “Now is crunch time. Some people have refused to answer their phone but we are moving on with the 14 strong that we have and we will assist the other six or seven that will come on by next week.”
The following are expected to perform: King Dice, Leona Peters, The Wave, Trinity, Soul Pus, Daddy Miller, Bobplay, Vigilante, Lady Bee, Triumph, Sye, Young Bull, The Mass Eruption and The Bobb.
During their launch at the Calypso House on Thursday, Bobb said they came from last year with very little money to run the camp and that they were “having an even worse experience this year”. Last year they had 15% of the sponsorship money that they usually received and that this year it was “maybe down to 5%”. However, he said that it was “the spirit of the thing that keeps it rolling, and I really want to say special thanks to the people who have decided to stay with us and even those who were brave enough to come on.”
Bobb said last year was the most controversial year they had ever experienced. But, he said, “Sometimes you have to go through your worse before you get better, and that is probably what mas camp has gone through. Those things tend to make you stronger and mas camp has grown. It is now a more mature organization because of the amount of adversity we have faced.”
Addressing the same launch, Camp Coordinator Annie Aaron said that the camp is an integral part of the carnival organization. “Whether we get sponsor or not, we still try. Because of our great human resource we still try to make it happen. We have a very good understanding with our artists and management. Whenever we make money, the artists benefit, when we don’t we let them know that we don’t.”
Aaron said that this year they are depending on the public’s support. “The most I can say is that we are going through a recession. So we are asking you to patronize, pay to come to the show so if we see a crowd the artists can be satisfied.”
Added Bobb: “Everything has been through the media and via mepuis but life goes on.”
le we go mas camp where dice sings im there HE IS THE BEST.So who dont like it lump it HA HA HA HA
Mas Camp rocked on Friday night. I thought I would have been disappointed with all the controversy that is around and just 14 calypsonians to listen to. Well they all gave me my money’s worth of entertainment. But, I am most impressed with Dice, Bull, Sye, Trinity, wave, and most of all the woman: Leona. Guys don’t sleep on you. Leona maybe new but her voice and stage personality had me entranced. Oh, the band was of a very high caliber. I am there next Friday!!!!
Oh my my my I forgot De Boob. He was very impressive also with his song:Original Dominican Calypsonian. How could I have forgotten this well executed performance.
Calypso Talk today,was very good this morning,JD
since i hear he is king Everlasting family,i understand;That song china man;WOW! road match contender;Leona;women going to take that song straight to the road,Bob, Duncan express my sentiment;under pressure,a diamon of a calypso is born;no doubt,haters or not BOB is hot,even from the frist Drop,Man the frist week of tents and that level of talent,befor the BIG GUNS drop,man this Season is shaping up as a MONSTER SEASON.
GOOD LUCK to all tents and all calypsonians,Let Calypso reign in it’s Kingdom,”CARNIVAL”,controversy creativity social comentary all and sundry,Let it BE.Calypso have a bright future in DOMINICA.Big Up Q95 Calypso Talk.
At the end of the day, man doh want no part payment, no increment. Man have to pay their rent.
Case Closed; or is it still pending?
From my end; MASS CAMP;did not dis a point me.
It can only GROW from there.Got to go to work.
BULL !!I FEEL YOU BRO.After all that talking you did befor you perform;i must RESPECT YOU for your ENERGY;LISTENING ON THE NET;YOU ARE A BOSS.
BOB man!! that is the Best i have heard from you; since I started listening to you as a Calypsonian.
Yes I can emagine that when finished,You on team MANDELA.Big up!!
And the show sell out…filled to the maximum..hope renegades can get a crowd
Say what ALL YOU want;BUT;LEONA!!THAT Performance was BIG,YOU going to give people PROBLEMS;You on team MANDELA;BIG up Q95;
THAT WOMEN BAAADDDD;
I will be there. Need to make me bumbum roll. Come one and all. Let all artists be happy. Kaiso is our thing.
For many years, artists have been denied proper payment. For many years, sponsorship cash and kind was abused for personal gain of a selective few. For many years, anyone who dared to challenge the “king maker” was expelled and discarded. Everyone was made to believe that these artists had a problem. 2013 was no different where artists were not paid for the entire season. Gifts and prices from sponsors were not given to who it was meant for. Someone decide to organise a show NY with the endorsement of M. Camp and the same mentality and wickedness that took place through out the years and particularly in 2013 led to a big controversy when FINALLY somebody decide to put down their foot down against these people. they wanna sue people now for no logical reason at all but we saw…we are seeing now during the 2013 season wit the 5% sponsorship…and we will see with the new tent..and we will see in march for the court case. The chips are falling where they may.
“everything in life does balance off”
DNO doh waste time to approve my ting. I doh call nobody name.
That’s the spirit. Strength is shown not when floating but when struggling to surface. Dear Dominicans, God loves you all.
What you sow , that you reap!
“Showdown Mas camp is a camp which provides for upcoming and talented artiste, usually when they get talented and develop usually the other tents kind of loot them away because they think they are too good so they get looted”… that statement is filled with more questions than answers!! Renegades Tent has just come unto the scene making their DEBUT this year so which other TENTS (plural)is being referred to!!! Which upcoming and talented artiste has been LOOTED by STARDOM tent in recent years. It would be interesting to see the NUMBERS and NAMES which have moved on to these other tents within the last 2-3 years with the exclusion of this (2014) carnival season. When these upcoming and talented artiste get looted by the other tents who writes the songs, isn’t it another upcoming and talented song writer!!!!!!!!!!
To add to your points, whoever and whenever an artist left to join Stardom, it was because of the way they treated them. Two years ago, a young and upcoming calypsonian left because he saw how his father was treated. Imagine, de winner of their champ of de camp had to buy his own trophy. So yes, nobody loots mas camp artists, they get fed up of the treatment they get because its only the select few that benefit. I say so as I use to go to their tent until the “chosen one” who thinks he wears big shoes and thinks he should not be critized gets vex with persons who critic his songs.
When you give mapuis expect mapuis Bob. I wish you all your best with Mas Camp. At least somebody else will be labeled voleur, not the ususal.
$40 dollars every week to sit down in a calypso show? Don’t you find that exhorbitant in a country that is the poorest in the world.
Be careful what you guys wish for
life goes on. Sometimes we have to go through challenges in life. People please support Mas Camp.
Its better to go to battle with a few good men than a bunch of disloyal crooks. Mass camp will rise again!
oh hush .. when you guys were receiving the so called 100% form sponsors artist were still getting the same pay…
greet catches up with yous, plan tickets for writter to come down so many times a year will catch on
all the best but what you sew is what you shall rip
i will support all tents including the new renegades
will support mass camp,the renegades will not succeed,these guys are just greedy,big boycott for them.hope they dont come to ny and beg.
Never give a hungry man to share food. On the other hand you put power in the hands that are already powerful, they sit on the poor man’s neck.it’s a no win situation.
Good luck. The show must go on .
Respect Bobb. He is a professional on the PR or calypso stage. He will make it happen. I’ll be there at the camp!
Excuse me Annie the word recession understate the current situation . The country is and has been in a depression sso much so people are hallucinating.
Who best to tell us about depression and hallucination but senior counsel liar and father Lancaster. Both have gone thru depression one about money the other about getting horned
Good for all you!!
bobb needs to stop putting up his front.we all know that mas camp wants u to come to dem like u begging and he didnot call anyone especially not me.whenever there is new talent in mas camp they put the rest of us on the back burner.but u guys need to remember is the old broom that knws the corner better.