"this blogging thing...."

I would first like to say thanks to everybody who voted for me in the #JaBlogAwards I'm really humbled by the support, I didn't win but it was an honour being nominated :)

I started this blog for the people who always asked me every soca related question possible to have easy access to information and to ease the stress on myself repeating this information 10 million times. Somebody on my Twitter timeline suggested I start a blog one day after I was ranting about a fete and...here I am today. It's rwally just something to do and knowing that people actually read my blog and look forward to my posts means a lot to me cause honestly it's just me chatting...

Not so, for others though... Last night at the Jamaica Blog Awards I realised how seriously bloggers take "this blogging thing" and I was just here having fun lol. Call me clueless but I had no idea bloggers cherished their blog as their own child and used blogging as a means of income. I'm not saying I don't take my blog seriously because I do, it was just mostly recreation for me.

I'd LOVE to find out how I could gain an income from attending fetes and giving tips and tricks for the soca season and carnival on a whole. If you have an idea lemme know ;)

Congrats to all the winners last night, it was a fun experience meeting other bloggers and seeing the passion in Jamaica for blogging. This was the third instalment of the Blog Awards and much is still needed to be done to improve the awards process and ceremony itself. This was my first time attending so I have nothing really to compare it to but from pictures of the last hosting I at least expected a stage, lighting and more than 20 chairs to be at the new venue. After the difficult process of securing tickets for the ceremony I just walked into the venue to stand for the entire ceremony? Really? I was sorry for all the ladies in their towering heels :(

It was a pleasant surprise to be nominated for a blog award in Jamaica with a 100% soca blog. It was a pleasant surprise with less than a year under my blogging belt :$. Thanks again for the nomination and the votes I'll be here with as much fete reviews and even more tips and tricks this year.

Soca Calendar 2013 coming up soon! There's A LOT this year *wipes sweat* If you want your event listed message me on Facebook Reeny Bacchanal or tweet me @ReenyStar need to make sure I have em all :)

26 DAYS TO OPENING NIGHT! :D

Bacchanal 2013 Budget

So last year on the way home from a fete with my brother sorting out which Carnival week fetes we were going to attend, we started to think about exactly how much money we were spending on Carnival each week. I think we came up with approx 100k each, I don't remember if that included gas and food money but we'll see exactly how much it costs this year.


There are 6 weeks of Bacchanal Fridays....Opening Night and performance nights are always more expensive. If my memory serves me right its usually 3 performance nights but Bacchanal is changing it up this year so I'll just estimate that each night costs $1500 and $1000 for food and drink and closing night will be $2000
Bacchanal Fridays - $( (1500+1000) x 5) + 2000 = $14500

So last year after each (only went like 4 in all) Bacchanal Friday I would go to Islandmas Jamaica Soca Village this was $500 for entry. I'd spend approx $1000 on drinks and $500 on food, didn't buy food and drinks every night thought but I'll still calculate it. (This fete has not been confirmed as yet but I'm hopeful it will be held this year)

Soca Village - $( ($500+$1000+$500) x 6) = $12000


The last weekend of Bacchanal/Soca Village is UWI Carnival Weekend of Activities. Integration, Jouvert, Ring Road March and Beach Party. Integration is $100, Jouvert is $1200 pre and $1500 @ the gate (drinks inclusive), Ring Road is free and Beach Party is $800 pre-sold and $1000 @ the gate.

Ring Road bands comprise of t-shirt bands and costume bands. T-shirt bands are approximately $1500 for females and $2000 for males and costumes (usually female only) are approximately $4000, all drinks inclusive.

NB: If you jump with Islandmas entry to Soca Village that day is free so you save $500.
There was also a season band available for $1800 last year not including jumping with a band for Ring Road
UWI Carnival -  $ (1800 + 1500) = $3300 - FEMALE T-SHIRT
                           $ (1800 + 4000) = $5800 - FEMALE COSTUME
                           $ (1800 + 2000) = $3800 - MALE T-SHIRT

Beach Jouvert was $4000 last year a big jump from $3000 in 2011 so to be safe I'm gonna put aside $4500 for Beach Jouvert. There were Party Buses available for $2000 last year and also a free one for those who entered a contest. If not you could always drive down and spend the weekend like I normally do but I will not get into that cost right now lol
Beach Jouvert - $ (4500 + 2000 + 1000) = $7500 
* $1000 for food


Soca Republic offered a party bus inclusive of ticket, ride to and from and drinks which was approx $5500. Heard good reviews so this could be an option (Y)


Soca @ De Sandbar... transportation, food and drink costs. Should be rolling with a crew so food, liquor and drink costs should be split but knowing the people I par with...
Soca @ De Sandbar $5000

Bacchanal Jouvert was $2000 last year and you had to buy drinks and food. Doubt it will be so cheap again this year though..

Bacchanal Jouvert $ (3000 + 1000) = $4000

Road March is free. Yes, FREE. Without costume. Lol. But if you jumping in costume that's about US$265 for females and US$245 for males. Plus accessories, boots and maybe even a Frontline upgrade.

Here comes the tricky part....the "other fetes"
I Love Soca - April 3rd
Soca vs Dancehall - March 9th
Sunrise Breakfast Fete - April 6th
Block-O
Bazodee
...and the rest

I usually pick a few of these fetes to attend outside of the regular fetes. It's kinda hard to find time to go to all of these, I am still a student after all.

So I'm not going to calculate the total amount I'll do that after I've spent, too depressing right now :(

36 Days to Opening Night! :D

BTW this here Soca/Carnival/Bacchanal loving blog was voted as the The Best Entertainment Blog for the Jamaica Blog Awards! Such an honour :$ To vote click this link------> VOTE

Best Entertainment Blog??

Guys!!!! Guess what?! :)

I got nominated for BEST ENTERTAINMENT BLOG ! :O Shock of the year really lol

To vote for me click this link----> I'z a Bacchanalist

Simply stuff right? Yup!

Stay tuned for "Bacchanal 2013 Budget".....I'm taking a while cause its really depressing especially after watching TVJ's News Year in Review and the PM's Address to the Nation on Sunday but its almost finished (Y)

I Love Soca, Boxing Day Review

I. LOVE. SOCA.

I'm sure if there was anybody unsure of their love for soca before December 26th, 2012 they were reassured at this the second cooler fete edition of I Love Soca. SURE!

Hope Gardens!

Photo courtesy of LehWeGo

BEST outdoor venue for a soca party! There's no dirt so ladies can wear their sandals and look cute, if the place gets wet the place isn't muddy and there's always a somewhere dry to go (Y). It's also the perfect size, not to small where you have no space for yourself and not too big where it takes you a 1/2 hour to get to the restroom and back, its just right (Y) and the decor was a very nice touch (Y)
[That's 3 thumps up so far]

Musiiiiiiiic!

Richie Ras, Dj Smoke & Selector Myles! Pure perfection (Y) (Y) (Y) From hits, to the "unknowns", to the past, present and future (2013) EVERYTHING was covered! The fact that I heard Wining Queen atleast twice for the night made me a very happy girl. (Y)

I did not realise i knew so many of Benjai's song tho.. Usually when you have performances at parties it usually breaks the vibes but Benjai's performnace fell into place very nicely. (Y) (Y)
[9]

Everythaaaang!

So between the great venue, the great music, Benjai's performance, free shots by the I Love Soca ladies and a FAB bar staff (if i do say so myself :p) I Love Soca was a FANTABULOUS fete and prepared us all for the upcoming 2013 soca season. (Y) (Y)

Okay I have no thumbs left lol


Check out some tweets/posts AFTER the party (Who had time to do anything but party during?!)

Check out pix from  Ishangophotos &  Soca Vs Dancehall and stay tuned to LehWeGo for pix and vidz

Next I Love Soca is April 3rd! :D

I Love Soca [Review]

....when you feel like the soca done and there's more soca to come (8)

It's been THREE months since my last soca fete so my hopes were very high for I <3 Soca Jamaica's first 'cooler fete' and they certainly did NOT disappoint.

Twas. Fabulous.

That's all there is to it. The music was great, the venue was absolutely beautiful, the vibe was fantastic and the people....I LOVE the I <3 Soca crowd!

Only one thing upset me that night and it was the reminder that there would be no more fetes til November *sad face* Hardwine and Carinival Rewine ( which I will have tickets for :D )
...Apart from that I Love Soca, Cooler Fete was pure soca bliss *happy sigh*

Look out for the next I Love Soca late December, in the mean time check out pix from SLEEK Jamaica and  Gems Jamaica and don't forget to like Carnival Rewine on Facebook

Off Season Soca!! :D

It's that time of year again when the greatest off season parties are held. This September - December season there are 3 top events that are a MUST attend on my Soca calendar

I Love Soca - Cooler Fete 

This premium event has gone "cooler" which is great for college students as its only $1000 pre-sold and $1500 at the gate. To get you ready they have a promo mix available on their event page [click the link above]. The Dj's are Selecta Myles (promo mix dj) and Dj Richie Ras (one of my favourite soca djs from Ja) So this is DEF gonna be a great event!

 See pic below for directions

Hard Wine
Hard Wiiiiiiiiiiiine! This is going to be the 10th staging of this top of the top off season soca event and I can't wait to see what they have to offer. Details have not been released as yet but stay tuned to my blog and their page and you'll be sure to know whats up. What I know for sure it will be held at UWI Mona Student's Union.

Carnival Rewine
Carnival Rewine 'Return of the Mas'.....Bacchanal Memories! Just the name alone should have you on your toes, I know I'm on mine! This drinks inclusive fete to be held right beside the original Mas Camp on Nov 30 promises non stop vibes rain or shine (just like the last one!) Ticket details will be announced soon but just know you'll be getting yours from me :)

These are the events on my calendar...what's on yours?

Summer Soca!!!

I've been neglecting my blog lately because I've been suuuuuperrrr busy and finally got a free day to  sort it out and low and behold my post was already written for me lol

anywho....Soca is NOT done! There are Summer stagings of some of the top soca parties and a few new ones. Told ya! :p

Since my list and LehWeGo's list is basically the same thing I'll just direct you to their post here. Remember to follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook!

And remember Hardwine November 2nd!