[BCMA] Parade Floats

Fri Jul 21 10:28:15 PDT 2023

Here at HAMM we also have a mobile unit which has its own smaller memorial and is used to carry our previous summer exhibits to locations around Vancouver Island. To date, we have three such exhibits we take.  Because it is easy to simply hook up our main vehicle to the trailer, we use magnetic signs on the towing vehicle and 3’x 6’ vinyl banners we velcro to the trailer (the velcro stays on the trailer year-round). 

This is for all three local parades and an odd out-of-town event as well.  I am attaching photos of what our setup looks like.  Floats don’t always have to be changing every year, nor do they need to be Rose Bowl/Macy’s Thanksgiving parade calibre (though if you are like me, you would LOVE to do that).

In the past, I have been on design teams for various types of non-profit and religious organizations to come up with a way to convey the message to the public in a parade.  Usually accompanying the design is the usual lack of volunteers or staff to be available on parade day.  This might mean you have to start with how many people will be involved at all stages of the “Float” from early design ideas to when you have finally driven the parade route and are ready to take everything apart.

In one case the video company I worked for (remember the days of Blockbuster, Hollywood, and neighbourhood Video stores?).  4 of us took the company’s flatbed trailer (we also installed huge satellite dishes - Remember THOSE??!).  Using some recycled rebar we formed a shape of a large wave, then covered it with sheets of styrofoam and old white bed sheets we used Rit Dye on to make the “wave” look like a great surf curl.  We then took all the promotional movie posters we got from the studios and glued them to the underside of the wave, set up an old tv and an armchair so it looked like the wave was about to envelop the furniture, and put one of our staff in the chair looking at the tv with a big box of popcorn in his lap.  The theme of the float was “Catch The Wave” and the name of the rental company around the bottom edges of the trailer.  Pulled by the owner’s own van.

Another was a religious organization wanting to enter the Salmon Days Parade in Washington State.  They found a lawn mower trailer on which was built a two-tiered platform large enough to hold two folding chairs on each level and a back rail for the safety of the top two seats. The chairs face the tow vehicle (a small station wagon…Remember those???)  We then used 1” webbed chicken wire and formed it into somewhat of a turtle shell around the tiered chairs. Then went into the forest property of one of the organization members and cut cedar branches which were then threaded and attached in overlapping rows on the chicken wire making it look like a cedar-tipped mini-Mt. St. Helens with chairs in the crater.  Topping this off were four recycled styrofoam panels with cardboard glued to each side.  On each of the four panels, there were two designs that when the panels were flipped, created a different image - similar to the cards people use in sports stadiums.  On one side it showed a painting of the earth from space, the other side was “one world, one people, please”. As the float was pulled in the parade the 4 volunteers on the trailer would simply flip their panels to the other image, then back again.

In our current situation, we found that because we do so many parades in a year and do not have an advertising budget, appearing in parades is an excellent way to put yourself in front of hundreds or perhaps thousands depending on where the parade is.  We also have been trying different things each year with “dressing up” the tow vehicle, adding flags or bunting, or simply just our summer exhibit panel and our magnetic signs.  

Some tips about the towing vehicle.  We always use a tire spray (from Canadian Tire or any auto parts store) which cleans our vehicle and trailer tires and makes them very shiny and spit-polished. If you are going to put a banner or flag on the grill of the vehicle, be sure that the driver monitors the heat of the engine as blocking airflow to the radiator can overheat your tow vehicle in no time. 

Be sure to register with any parade Marshall or parade committee well in advance.  We make sure we are registered two months in advance.  READ their rules and regulations.  One thing is not to throw anything from the tow vehicle or the float/trailer at any time.  Kids run out to pick up that Necco candy, and could trip and fall into the float/tow or under its wheels.  Remember that the driver is busy keeping the unit in the middle of the road, using the brake and gas to maintain the proper distance between the float/unit in front of you, and watching out for any unexpected situation with people on the sidelines. If you choose to hand out anything (say, paper flags on Canada Day) then have a volunteer from your team walk alongside the tow vehicle and hand deliver to the sidelines, using the back seat of the tow to restock by reaching in and refilling a shoulder bag or big pockets.

Tip on waving.  A smile goes a long way.  Leave the resting grump face at home.  Wave, not like a queen from a moving train window but as you have just seen an old friend across the street.  Look people in the eyes when you wave.  Pay attention to certain groups in the crowd that may be focused on waving at you so that you can select a special finger point (bad manners in some cultures) or an eye-to-eye wave.  

Fake it if you have to.  Paradegoers love the interaction.  Most know that you will not even see your own friends in the crowd so don’t feel bad if you are waving “blindly”.  Occasionally my volunteers will hit a section where no one is paying attention to them because they are being followed by an old fire truck.  A sly “Oh hi!” along with an eye contact wave to an empty space behind the crowd will redirect some gazes back to your unit.  Plus anyone else watching you pass will get the correct impression that your volunteers and staff really care about connection with the parade goers.

I am attaching some photos of some of previous year’s parades.  I should also note that the Explorer in these images (Its name is Dora) is now for sale and if anyone is interested in a great tow vehicle or knock-around vehicle for your museum work, contact me directly at the address/phone below.

at your service,

Lewis Bartholomew
Founder & Executive Director

mrbarth at alberniproject.org

MUSEUM ADDRESS:
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MUSÉE DU NCSM ALBERNI
5-625 Cliffe Avenue
Courtenay BC
250-897-4611

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HMCS ALBERNI Memorial
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In the spirit of reconciliation, we recognize that HAMM and TAPS are on the traditional territory of the K’omoks First Nation.  Dans un esprit de réconciliation, nous reconnaissons que HAMM et TAPS se trouve sur te territoire traditionnel de la Première Nation K’omoks.

> On Jul 20, 2023, at 5:57 PM, Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv <listserv at lists.museum.bc.ca> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hello, 
> 
> This may be a strange request for this list serve but as many of you have different portfolios that may include some event work I am wondering if anyone in this group has been responsible for organizing a parade and having a float designed and built? Thought maybe there might be some exhibition people who may know more. If you know of anyone I would like to know more!
> 
> Thank you, 
> 
> Rebecca Forrest
> White Rock BC
> rforrest at whiterockcity.ca <mailto:rforrest at whiterockcity.ca> 
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