In this episode of Inside the Festival, Africa Allah and Dahlia from Bahamas Carnival Guide interview DJ Kozmo from the B-Team DJs and host of Just A Lime. They discuss the origins of the B-Team DJs and Just a Lime, challenges in the Bahamian Soca scene, and strategies for promoting a unified and culturally diverse Carnival experience.

The B-Team DJs originated from being frequently overlooked and often booked last minute to “save” events. The name reflects their role as a reliable, sometimes underappreciated, group that consistently delivers, with the “B” standing for “better choice” or multiple other fitting words.

Just a Lime was created to provide an additional platform for the B-Team DJs to play, as they were often excluded from major events. It’s designed as a casual, pre-game event where people can enjoy soca vibes, drinks, and breakfast in preparation for larger parties.

Morning events in the Bahamas face challenges due to a tendency to delay start times, which shortens the actual party duration. To combat this, promoters should enforce strict start times to encourage timely attendance and create a more structured event schedule.

Many local Bahamians attending carnival events do not travel internationally for fetes and may not adhere to the same standards of timeliness and cashless transactions as international attendees. It’s important to educate and encourage the local market to adopt these practices to improve event efficiency.

Inconsistent event timings and a lack of clear communication from promoters can create booking conflicts for DJs and negatively impact the overall carnival experience. Promoters should prioritize clear communication of start and end times and avoid last-minute changes that disrupt established schedules.

Booking multiple DJs for the same event can lead to issues if their schedules overlap, especially with events like boat rides where DJs cannot easily leave. Promoters and DJs should communicate clearly about set times and travel considerations to ensure fair distribution of performance time and avoid overburdening individual performers.

A lack of consistency in event details, such as start times, can create a ripple effect, impacting subsequent events and DJ bookings. Maintaining consistency and communicating changes promptly are crucial for smooth event coordination.

The Bahamian market is relatively small, with a limited number of active participants spread across multiple islands, making it crucial for promoters to avoid scheduling competing events at the same time. Collaboration among promoters to create a cohesive schedule with buffer times between events can enhance the overall experience and allow attendees to enjoy multiple parties.

Ego and competition among promoters can hinder collaboration and prevent the creation of a unified carnival product. A collective approach, where promoters prioritize the growth of the overall carnival experience, can benefit everyone involved, including DJs, vendors, and attendees.

Professionalism and a willingness to start the party, even at less desirable times, can lead to increased booking opportunities for DJs. Promoters value DJs who are easy to work with and reliable, regardless of their assigned time slot.

Maintaining the integrity of soca events by playing only soca music is essential to delivering on the promised experience. Stage managers and promoters should ensure that DJs adhere to the music policy and avoid deviating into other genres.

DJs should strive to incorporate a diverse range of soca music, including hidden gems and tracks from smaller islands, rather than relying solely on popular hits from Trinidad. This approach can introduce attendees to new sounds and enhance the cultural richness of the event.

Experiencing soca music live and discovering new songs at events can be transformative, even for those unfamiliar with the genre. The energy and excitement of the crowd, combined with the DJ’s enthusiasm, can create an infectious atmosphere that fosters a love for soca music.

Just a Lime will take place on June 6th, with doors opening at 10 a.m. and closing at 3 p.m., providing a buffer for attendees to travel to La Vie, which starts at 4 p.m. Tickets are available online, and attendees are encouraged to purchase them in advance.