Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 03, 2020 News
By Shikema Dey
You’ve probably heard at least once the saying “every tinin cup knack, I deh” used to describe someone who never misses a party. Whether it be the hype weekends at the Strip, Palm Court or a simple street BBQ, Guyanese are truly party people. Some locals even say that music, mainly Soca and Chutney, runs in their veins.
But this nature had to be reined in when Guyana, like many countries, got infiltrated with the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Partial lockdown measures have been implemented here which have put a damper on the spirit of many party goers. With the order to stay at home as part of social distancing measures meant to curb the spread of the virus, people scrambled for alternative ways to be entertained, hoping to get a taste of the familiar party vibes.
That vibe is exactly what Duck & Drakes Promotions, Guyana Carnival, CEO Entertainment592 and Stag Beer intended to bring when they collaborated to introduce a new party zone for the Guyanese populace. How? The entertainers have been using social media to their advantage, sprinkled with lots of music and a public thirsty for entertainment. This saw the birth of virtual party in Guyana.
Although virtual parties have been around for a while, the unique flare brought about by the Guyanese entertainers remains unmatched. The event made waves as soon as it emerged, gaining traction and becoming a weekly affair.
THE BRAINS BEHIND THE OPERATIONS
Kaieteur News caught up with Patrick Joseph and Felix Walker, two overseas Guyanese from Duck & Drakes Promotions and Shauna Parker of CEOEntertainment592 who said that “a bunch of Soca junkies” bored of out their minds from the lockdown decided to collaborate to bring the party vibe into people’s living room.
“Shauna and myself have been Soca junkies for the longest while and we’ve been following a lot of these online parties from its emergence and when the lockdown started,” Joseph told this publication.
“I think Uber Soca Cruise was the first brand to start it. We then decided that after the coronavirus cases started to increase in Guyana we needed to find a way of spreading the stay home message because we know people home love to party and wanna be out all the time.”
Phone calls were made, sponsors came on board and the deal was made.
“We decided that yes this is a great initiative and let’s do this to get that message across. Stay home and we will bring the entertainment to you,” Joseph said.
BRINGING THE PARTY VIBE TO YOU
So far, five virtual parties have been held and the support, according to Parker of Entertainment592, has been overwhelming.
“A lot of persons have been messaging and calling asking ‘okay so this week is over, what are we gonna see next week? So they keep messaging asking ‘so I got to wear this for this party, I got to do this for this party? So the response has been very overwhelming so far,” she noted.
Joseph relayed that since, the atmosphere and environment differs from the normal party vibe, the virtual parties are planned weekly to bring a different theme at the event.
He added, “We work together. We have meetings every week at the back of these events and plan out what we are gonna bring to the people so we take it very seriously. It is not just a party that we are looking at. We put a lot of effort and time into bettering the experience for everyone.”
The parties rely heavily on Zoom, a web-based video conferencing platform with a local, desktop client and a mobile app that allows users to meet online, with or without video. With this platform, the DJ’s can interface with the party people.
Explaining how the DJ’s bring the club vibe to the living rooms of thousands, Parker revealed that the energy alone from the partiers who are logged in play a significant role.
“Whatever we put on screen as it relates to persons, when we spotlight them, the DJ’s feed off that vibe and that creates the atmosphere for them; whatever they see, they react to that. They have gotten to adjust to the whole new normal of having to party indoors. I can say safely that they have adjusted to it very well,” she shared.
Pleased that the “stay home message” was being well received, Walker explained that these events may change the mindsets of many while giving another perspective of partying.
“It’s actually served the purpose of making individuals look forward to actually being in their homes at those times, so it has actually been changing their mindset, changing the way they actually think about going out because they can do it in their own environment. I think we are able to achieve that also by channelling the focus to being home rather than on the road. So I think that has been achieved largely and the word is spreading. There are all kinds of people that wanna engage and be involved.”
The event also attracts many overseas Guyanese who miss the party vibes back home. According to Joseph, at least half of the join requests they receive are from Guyanese living abroad.
“A lot of overseas Guyanese who miss home and wanna be with the Guyanese people are finally being able to party with everyone because we have a lot of people from the United States and the Caribbean and you can tell they are Guyanese by the way they respond, and they look forward to it you know… so it’s spanning the globe and just bringing Guyanese closer together.”
Guyanese are even getting creative with the parties.
Due to the number of requests received, the team decided it might be best to stream live on Facebook on the Guyana Carnival Official page, giving everyone a chance to be a part of the fun.
And that they did.
Joseph said that the patrons act as if they are in a club, posting fun comments that make the parties even better.
“We know Facebook could be very unforgiving and the comments section makes it ever better… we got comments like “girl, I going to the bar and get a drink, you want something? Stuff like that and so much more. And it makes the party better. That’s what we want, that fun vibe, we’re bringing it to you.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
The anticipated Guyana Carnival is an amalgamation of influential entertainment bodies, the Government of Guyana and other key stakeholders to create a new exciting product to boost tourism, entertainment, and night life.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has successfully put a halt to the exciting events planned for this celebration.
But there is no need to worry. There may be a virtual Carnival party coming straight to your living room.
The team, although tightlipped, not wanting to spill the juicy details of their plans, hinted at a possible virtual Guyana Carnival for May 2020.
“The Carnival Calendar is slated for the month of May so we are in talks to see how we can introduce those events into the virtual promotion and entertainment that we are giving to the Guyanese people. So, like for example, all of the carnival events that were slated or the majority of them, we will squeeze them into one weekend. So yes carnival could be coming to you.”
Felix said too, “we’ve got a lot of ideas coming, unfortunately, it is still confidential because we are working out some kinks but what I can tell you is that we have some very creative minds on the team and everyone is about to get an experience.”
The party spirit living in you does not have to die because of the COVID-19. The entertainers hoping to bring that same vibe you’d find in a club or a bar into the safety of your very own home. The DJs are ready and pumped. So, get out your outfit, put on your makeup and log on. Virtual parties might very well be here to stay.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
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