Photos By Panidad, Neil B. & Lia H.

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Allow me to take you back to UWI fete reviews of yesteryear. You would notice a pattern of a series of recommendations followed by nuff props the following year and even the award for "Most Improved Fete"! As with all things there is a cycle of life with fetes as well, usually triggered by a change in management and/or venue. This year was one of those years. When a dance going to RAM, and hits pretty easy for us to gauge this by any number of metrics, number of hits, e-mail queries etc. etc., we often times have a chat with the promoters letting them know that their marketing campaign was a smashing success and they should now focus on making sure their product meets and even surpasses folks expectations. 7PMish, TJJ reach, let's head in and vibes the dance.

The general admission line was pretty thick but seemed to be moving fairly well. No line at the V.I.P entrance however, so yuh know where we headin'! I have to say, one of the smoothest entrances to a big fete I've ever experienced. As a matter of fact for the entire night, I think TJJ was provided with the utmost professional courtesy, security gave us access to all areas without a hitch. Walking through the V.I.P indoor area on our way to the main fetting area, we found several rooms with people sitting eating or engaged in some good old small talk. As always, first stop, bar. Not too bad, service in about 5 minutes. Bounce up Miami Heat NBA player, Jamal Magloire on the way outside, "Have a F.R.I.E.N.D.S. tickets?" If yuh don't know, F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is fast becoming the must-do after party following all the Miami Carnival Saturday day fetes. Time for ah refresher before we continue the mission to head outside. Why they serving drinks in deem BIG corn soup cup now? This bar muss bee buss proof to withstand that, only time will tell. This time it took a little longer to get a drink, but we fix, time to roll.

Wayyyyyyy... if yuh see people on the outside. V.I.P area barricaded of from the main area of the fete, which was on a large grass field. Very nice idea to cover the field with some kind of cloth resembling Astroturf. To get to the Astroturf however ... cyah play mas if yuh fraid powder! So we on the field now and the sound system is on point. Had a chance to chat with folks and one of the common themes was that the shuttles took a while to bring people over from the parking area. We could not help but notice the crowds around the bars were a little thick, matter of fact, very thick. Apart from the food at the entrance to the fete, there was also a food tent to the back of the fete on the field that was not as crowded, must take a little sample. Food was on point! One suggestion is to put a bigger trash can closer to, but not to close, to the food tent. In true West Indian style, all the way in the back of the fete there was another fete going on, on the other side of the chain link fence. Men partying hard, watching the action through the fence while people passin' drinks over the fence. The way that bar looking now, ah feel people on the outside of the fence passin' drinks to the inside, yes!

Same time rain start tuh fall. If yuh see people ruff fuh tent ... food tent, empty tent, any tent yuh could find. Without an introduction, HD crank up their set, well boy, I never see people just turn rong so fast and head right back into the rain yes!!! Machel Montano had them like the pied piper marching right back onto the field in the rain, bacchanal cyah done. BTW, yuh know TJJ always breaking the industry news first, we caught up with Shok in V.I.P a little earlier, look out for Shel Shock back in the HD camp for the C2K9 season! After Machel, it was time for Bunji Garlin and the energy remained high in the place.

Entertainment was as good as it gets with the cream of the crop in the business, however we suggest a refocusing on the service side. Once that both these things are at a high standard simultaneously, we have no doubt that University Fete will remain a must-do event for Miami Carnival. Thanks again for the hospitality, we can't wait to see what you have in store for us next year! F.R.I.E.N.D.S. here we come!

The Appraiser AKA Sigma Juice for the TJJ fam.

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