Today we’d like to introduce you to Ramona Condell and Kamaria Morgan.
Ramona and Kamaria, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Carnival was a big part of both our childhoods.
Ramona: When I moved to Atlanta, one of the first things I asked was how to be part of the carnival here. I met Kamaria through mutual friends and played mas (the term used for participating in carnival, in costume) with her in my first Atlanta Carnival in 2003.
Kamaria: She’s now one of my best friends, and we’ve played mas countless times together, and some apart, in Atlanta, as well as all over the Caribbean.
So, when the opportunity for this venture presented itself, we jumped on it, even though we weren’t necessarily seeking it. We both have demanding careers, but the timing was right, and there was a gap in the market: an opportunity for us to make mas the way we wanted to play mas, the way we knew from carnivals we had been to. We wanted it to be authentic, more than anything. We had a ton of ideas and a shortlist of connections, and we took a chance.
What’s funny is that in our everyday careers, Ramona (an attorney) is more research, writing, and Kamaria (a marketing manager) is more of the creative. However, here, Ramona is the lead designer and head of production, while Kamaria ties up all the loose ends when it comes to the tricky business things. So, we are pretty much self-taught in the areas of design and running a whole business, but we continue to challenge ourselves and focus on a “perpetual progression” motto toward continuous improvement. In the same way, we started, we continue to take chances and seize opportunities, and that is how we have become a stalwart in the world of Atlanta Carnival.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Ha! The road has been far from smooth. You think, “If you build it, they will come.” Bull. Shit. You have to build that baby, feed it, market it, be prepared that if there is even the SLIGHTEST thing wrong, you will have to look at people in the face at every Caribbean event throughout the year. And then, even if it was good, you have to figure out how to outdo yourself, because, in our business, you need them to feel like they want to come back and do it all over again next year.
It’s been a lot of grassroots tactics, on the job learning, and a shitload of trial and error. The front of the house stuff is easy, but we’ve had to figure out the icky stuff like taxes, forecasting, learning customer behavior, building brand loyalty, and figuring out how to make the best decisions outside our focus group of two, haha.
And, that’s just the business side. At the core of the business, there is costume manufacturing, which neither of us has ever studied, and there is no manual we can just pick up. So, we’ve had to hire (and fire) suppliers of feathers, fabric, trimmings, wireframes, etc., many in other countries. We’ve had to learn how to work with suppliers who are 12 hours ahead, with a language difference, and never truly knowing how long something may sit in U.S. Customs, regardless of what you paid for shipping.
To the public, it just looks like a party on the road, friends dressed up, dancing and having a good time. But, only the people closest to us know the months of hard work with daily challenges that lead to a successful carnival day. We have an amazing team and the most supportive customers (masqueraders, as we call them) that get us through.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
What we do:
We are one of approximately twenty-five masquerade bands for the annual Atlanta-DeKalb Carnival parade. When we say carnival, think carnivale with costumes and dancing, not merry-go-rounds and popcorn. Picture 3000 West Indians in elaborate costumes full of rhinestones and feathers, dancing in the streets for miles, to music coming from speakers atop a souped-up 18-wheeler (heavy on the bass), exuding freedom, revelry, and culture. We’re one of those groups. We in dat.
We are most proud of:
Launching a freaking carnival band! It’s quite an intimidating field. Launching a new band in the carnival world is like launching new cellphone software: People are already #TeamAndroid or #TeamiPhone, and there’s very little room for the success of the new sampler. We took a chance and had over 300 people in year one, which is amazing by Atlanta Carnival standards.
What sets us apart:
Well, when you think about our name, you get an idea of who we are, or who we want to be. When you are playing mas with us, you’re not *just* playing mas, honey, you’re playing mas… with panaaache! By definition, panache means flamboyant confidence of style, and that is the feeling we want to evoke; something special, a little nicer than the rest.
So, what sets us apart are:
” a premium experience for our masqueraders
” the most fresh and innovative designs (our designers are bomb, and make women of all shapes, sizes, and colors feel their sexiest)
” superior talent when it comes to our DJs
” thoughtfully curated swag bags filled with cute and useful trinkets (common in the global carnival world, but a first for Atlanta!)
” excellent customer service and the extent we are willing to go to make a masquerader happy (we want people to feel like family, and many of our masqueraders have our personal numbers and aren’t afraid to use it, should they have any concerns)
And, of course, the homemade rum punch isn’t too shabby.
What were you like growing up?
Ramona: I was what we Jamaicans call “nuff,” lol, meaning I was overly-involved, and always heard. My interests varied; my parents kept a strong focus on academics, but I always was drawn to the arts. At the root of it all, regardless of the interest at the time, I have always been passionate, and I believe that has driven me to both my legal career and our carnival business venture.
Kamaria: Curious, shy but chatty and perceptive… a classic ENFP. Childhood interests… hmmm. Ok, as a child of West Indian parents your interests are limited to books, books, books, haha. So, growing up, I did always enjoy a good book (hello historical fiction), pop culture and travel – not much has changed!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maswithpanache.com
- Email: maswithpanache@gmail.com
- Instagram: @maswithpanache
- Facebook: Mas with Panache https://m.facebook.com/MaswithPanache/
Image Credit:
D. Newman Photography, Dameon Morris
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
