Hi Guys,
I'm going to
attempt to review this competition.
First of all, our team would like to sincerely thank everyone for making this weekend truly unforgettable for us. We could not have asked for a better experience! Also, thanks for all the well-wishes and support we have been receiving. It really means a lot to us!
This review is more based on the comp itself, as an event, rather than the teams, as I was not there to watch all of them. However, I can honestly say that all the teams really brought their "A-game" and it showed very much on stage! Special congratulations to PBA and MVP for placing as well!
Competition:
- FTW gave us a warm welcome and offered us a van to get to Modesto, which is a pretty long drive, especially in the rain. Coming from far away, this was very much appreciated. Not only did they drive us personally, but they were very friendly...and hopefully they enjoyed the ride as much as we did while we watched "The Hangover" in the van...
- We got to Modesto and checked into the hotel, which was very nice and very conveniently located. FTW made sure we were comfortable before leaving to do other things. Next, we were pleased with the nice gift basket that they gave us with a bunch of goodies. I know it's just a gift basket, but it really showed us that they cared enough about the teams to nicely wrap a small gift basket. It was the small things that counted.
- A HUGE plus about this comp was how conveniently located everything was. The hotel, mixer, venue, afterparty, and starbucks were all within 5 minutes of walking. It really saved team a lot of time, stress, and money.
- Mixer: Nice, simple, and drama-free. We really had the opportunity to meet the other teams and our liaison (Shaleen), took the time to find us in the crowd and introduce herself to us. The food/finger-food was also pretty good. Catered well to both Veg and Non-Veg. Best of all, the line-up for the show was selected with a simple draw in front of everyone, making the process a lot less hectic than at other competitions. There were some technical difficulties at the mixer with the DJ, but it was barely noticeable...and it was amazing how quickly FTW recovered from the mishap by immediately booking the next-door nightclub to continue to dance-party aspect of the mixer (SO much fun!). The transition from mixer to pre-party was seamless, imo. After the mixer, our liaison and Ash checked in with us at the hotel and made sure everything was fine. Once again, this was very much appreciated...especially for a team that traveled from far away.
- Tech: Usual delays, which is expected at every competition...but the delay wasn't too serious. Our liaison kept us updated. From what I saw, each team had their own dress room. Tech rehearsal went smoothly and they gave us exactly our allotted time of 15 mins, which is standard. More importantly, it seemed like everyone at the venue knew exactly what was going on during tech, which is an extraordinary feat. They also provided teams with food, water, and snacks in a seperate room.
- Show: Seems like FTW really knew how to deal with the desi crowd and had doors open early at 5:30 pm...because by the time the show actually started, which was not too late at all, the house seemed relatively full. The venue itself was beautiful and the theater was pretty big...i think over 1,200 people capacity? By the end of the show, most of the seats were full! Moreover, the show began with the organizers and sponsors and then was handed over to Hollywood Harv (sp?), who was actually pretty funny and emceed the show well. From what I saw, the show went on very well without any technical glitches. Teams were allowed to watch the show from the balcony area, which was another plus. In addition, one of the teams had a minor medical emergency and FTW (I believe) was very quick to call the paramedics to ensure the performer was alright (which we hear she was). After all the teams had gone on, we were all invited on stage with Manak-E, and some teams had the opportunity to dance with him.
- Judges: I'm not very familiar with the judging situation, so I will not comment on it. However, I do know that the judges were very open to talk to us after the comp and some even took the time to find us and give us constructive criticism, which was very helpful. Thanks!
- Teams & Hospitality: If we enjoyed anything at this competition, it was all the hospitality and support the teams showed us. Being from out of town, we came in very aware that we might not get any crowd or team support, but we were proven very wrong. All the teams were very kind to us and showed amazing team spirit (which is something I wish more teams possessed).
THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THE WISHES! You all really made us feel at home. Special shout-out to UIC, Bruin, and MVP! We really wish we got to see all of your routines, but I'm sure they were great.
- Afterparty: Same place as pre-party and had two floors bumpin' (Bhangra and Hip-hop). 18 to party, 21 to drink. From what I know, it was free for performers up until a certain time. FTW was awesome at making sure we had a good time...hopefully they had some time to enjoy as well! Manak-E also showed up and performed for everyone, which was pretty entertaining...Side note: did ANYONE see that non-brown couple going at it next to the dancing cage during Manak-E? DAMN! lol
- Leaving: We had a flight to catch from SFO and FTW made it a point to get us back to the airport on time...which meant they too had to wake up at the crack of dawn to send us off. We really appreciated it!
At the end of the day, I can only speak for Columbia Bhangra's experience, and it's pretty obvious that we had a great time. Contrary to what was said about this competition before, this competition lived up to its ideals as a
bhangra competition. More importantly, we would not have guessed AT ALL that this was FTW's first time organizing a competition. Their organization and dedication to us was astounding, especially considering it was a first-year comp.
Special thanks to Taj, Mitchell (sp?), Ash, Shaleen, and the rest of the FTW group who made this trip memorable!
With Best Regards and a Friendly Bruaaah!

rajkaran