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parade float

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Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Other Topics
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2362
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Topic: parade float

Posted By: Nanette
Subject: parade float
Date Posted: 4/19/07 at 7:52pm

Has any theatre out there ever entered a float in a parade? We want to have a float in our local parade this August and would love some suggestions. (NOTE: We're limited to a pickup truck, unless someone comes up with a flatbed for us ... so something that could be expanded if that flatbed comes through.) Thanks.

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In a world of margarine, be butter!

Replies:

Posted By: biggertigger
Date Posted: 4/20/07 at 8:42am

I know of a couple of theater groups that have entered parade floats in to events. Most usually try to incorporate the show that they are currently work on (big way to advertise) but this is not always the case. Here is one website that takes parade float design and building step by step, hope this helps.

http://www.ncpride.org/pride/library/articles/floatbuilding.pdf - http://www.ncpride.org/pride/library/articles/floatbuilding.pdf

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The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.

Posted By: gracie
Date Posted: 4/22/07 at 10:56am

On our 40th anniversary, we had a float in a parade. Several luan cutouts of children's production characters were made...Pooh, Alice, Pinnochio, etc...and painted (a lot of work). They were then put on a hay rack and pulled behind a truck. Members of our theatre also rode on the float.

Posted By: suzecue1
Date Posted: 4/22/07 at 7:44pm

Our CT normally is involved with our annual 4th of July parade. We usually borrow a flatbed. We seem to do something different every time. Probably because it is someone different in charge every year. Once we were doing a murder mystery and set up the flatbed like the stage, complete with a (stuffed) dead guy and police tape. We have also dressed characters up like melodrama characters: the villain, hero and heroin and had them walk behind the flatbed doing anf redoing short scenes. We have also enlisted the help of our children's workshop kids, wearing there colorfull show shirts, and passing out flyers with our upcoming shows, or pencils or whatever. Its usually fun - if it doesn't rain - and it's good PR to get our faces out in the community.

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Sue
*****
So many hats.....so few heads!

Posted By: neilfortin
Date Posted: 5/01/07 at 9:01am

Thats a great starter on building a float! What do you want to do with your float...advertise a show that your doing? Or just get your name out in the public eye? If you want to advertise a show you should gather some of your larger props/scenery and dress a few of your characters up who can wave and throw out flyers/candy/pencils to drum up publicity...otherwise how about choosing a show you did in the past and digging out the old costumes allow your audience to remember what a great show it was and hopefully they will come see another!

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Community Theater makes us smile

Posted By: Joan54
Date Posted: 5/04/07 at 8:15am

The last parade I worked on we borrowed a flat bed from a local car mechanic.....he only lent it to us for a few hours on parade day so we had to have everything ready and then staple a quick "skirt" around the edge pf the bed of the truck and pile everything on.....if you only borrow for a few hours you might get some help.

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"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 8/20/07 at 3:47am

Update ... we went with advertising for our upcoming show "Legend of Sleepy Hollow". The entire process went smoothly (less than a month for the building and painting of it, AND making costumes), and the work paid off as we came in 3rd (out of over 100 entries). Also, the newspaper from two towns over saw our float in the parade, were intrigued, and want to do an interview!

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In a world of margarine, be butter!