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My Bacchus Experience Ever since I began to go to Mardi Gras, I had wondered what it would be like to ride in a parade. I decided to help start the KOE, and the feedback and excitement I received from handing out beads and trinkets to the French Quarter revelers really got my juices flowing. So, in the summer of 2004 I got an opportunity to ride in Bacchus. I will try and share my thoughts and experiences on what has to be one of the greatest times ever! Bacchus The Krewe of Bacchus is one of New Orleans premier parades of the season. Bacchus first rolled in 1969, and has the reputation of being an innovator to the Mardi Gras Parading scene. I was drawn to Bacchus for many reasons, one of which is the great signature throws that they have produced. Another reason was talking to members who were so enthused about this organization and their generosity. All my experiences of attending their parade (Which rolls the Sunday before Mardi Gras) was always so enjoyable. The floats are second to none, and their vision is outstanding. Bacchus is a trendsetter in terms of Mardi Gras Krewes, and I was glad to be a part of it in 2004. Beads Lets go back to mid summer 2004, I was down at the beach in Alabama and me and my friends (the Iveys) had made plans to make a "bead run" over to the Big Easy. We hit several Bead stores, and talked all day about nothing but beads and riding. We discussed which beads would be "hot" and which would not. We looked over the selections and priced shop all day long. It was a great learning experience to say the least. After that trip, I came home with some 20 gross of throw beads and a few gross of the hand strung specialty beads. My big dilemma was "Do I have enough beads?" and "If I get more, will they fit on the float?". Once Bacchus sent out their order forms for custom merchandise and I returned to New Orleans for distribution, I ended up with just under 50 gross of beads for my ride. I also had amassed some 300 plush items, 250 glo-necklaces, and 2 cases of Mardi Gras bracelets. Surely this would be enough? my friends all told me that I would "need more". I just didn't know what to do. I decided that enough was enough, and I packed and repacked, sorted and labeled all of my zipper bags for the return trip to Mardi Gras. Here it was the Thursday before we leave for New Orleans and I am packing the SUV down with 28 or so zipper bags. If you have not seen these bags, they are about 12 inches wide, 12 deep, and 18 in or so tall. I had the whole back of the SUV loaded down and my wife is worried that there wont be room for luggage. Needless to say I made enough room, so we did not need to walk around naked all weekend. Once we arrived in New Orleans, I had another dilemma "Do I leave the beads in the vehicle? or do I take them all to my room?" Wel,l what would you do? Ok, ok, so I unloaded them all and I made 2 trips to the 12th floor at a cost of $10.00 a trip for the bellman. I figured it was better safe than sorry, because I didn't want to come back to my truck on Bacchus Sunday to find nothing left after some bead thief's ran off with the loot. So, now we move on to Bacchus Sunday, again I call the bellman, and we proceed to reload all the bead bags back up and down 12 stories to the awaiting vehicle. All of this @ 7:00 A.M. This was the beginning of a very long and exciting day which lay ahead of me. Float Loading I pulled into the convention center and promptly proceeded to unload all the beads (do you see where the story is going?). This is when a man approached and asked if he could assist me with my load. We then loaded some beads on a hand truck and made our way into the convention center. Once I walked through the gates, it was an AWESOME site. Some 27 units sitting there in all their glory, The Bacchawhopper, Bacchagator, and the Kong family... Over in the corner was the ship I was looking for....float 22 "Aladdin's Genie". I loaded the float, and my helper began to pass bags of hefty pearls and giant twists up to me. Three trips back and forth to the curb in front of the convention center, and finally, I had all the goodies on the float. But, where do I put them all???? My lord I had so many beads, I was beginning to get worried. I began to unpack and sort, hang and untangle, and I was making very little progress in my attempt to make room for me to stand in my position. Fellow riders began to board and we all tried our best to hide beads in places not intended for that use. Finally, after a couple hours of sorting and such, I had come to the realization that this was going to be a great ride, and I did not have to worry about running out of beads! I said my farewells to my fellow shipmates, and I dashed back into the French Quarter to begin the festivities! Carriage Ride Our float members always gather at The Court of Two
Sisters restaurant, in the Quarter, for the jazz brunch and the annual
Bacchus Carriage ride. Well, I had spent too long on Float 22 to get
to the brunch, so
Suiting Up A walk into the convention center, was my first up close experience with the new LED lit Bacchus costumes. Remember me saying this krewe is a trendsetter! WOW!, these costumes are going to be great! Let me get up stairs and get mine on! So I make it to my dressing area and greet the Float Lt. and Sgt. and then I start looking for my suit....there it is, a nice pink, purple, and gold number with all the LED's on it. After a drink and a search for my safety harness, we are ready to suit up. The Harness goes on first followed by the trousers and then the top. Fingers are cut out of the gloves, and some final shaping goes on the mask, so it is easier to see from behind it. It is now time to head downstairs and load up for the journey to the starting point. After I get down, I see wives and girlfriends greeting their riders. I wished I had my friends and family there to experience this. It seemed as though something was missing because they were not here. I could not dwell on those feelings, as I had work to do, separating a few more beads. Once everyone was on board, you could hear the hum of the tractors being fired up.....this was the hardest part of the ride...the waiting. We began the ride along the streets, to the starting point for the parade. We could not throw any beads because it is against the law, besides their was no one to throw to anyway. We rolled and rolled, past the river and abandoned houses.....farther away from the Downtown area. The day was beautiful, warm and sunny with high clouds. There was to be no rain on my parade....Chuck Heston's proclamation is still working from when he uttered those famous words of "NO RAIN"! It wouldn't be long until we would be at the starting point. After nice conversations with fellow riders, and some 2 hours from when we left the convetion center, we were there......time to unload, walk up to Tipitinas to get a drink, and check the floats. Well, let me tell you, you don't appreciate the size of Bacchus until you walk from float 22 all the way to the Kings float. It seemed as if is were a mile. What a sight, when you get to the beginning of the parade and look back.......WOW. OK, so it was in to Tips and waiting on a drink! Fit for a King As I made my out of the bar, I noticed that our Bacchus
King had arrived and was perched up high on the Kings Float. I sat back
and watched for a bit, and I could not believe
The Ride I hastily open the first bag of beads and find a target. A
nice smile goes a long way, and I connect with amazing accuracy. It
doesn't take me long to figure this whole bead throwing thing out! I
am still sitting on all my beads, and I cannot look directly below my
position on the float, so I start picking out targets several feet in
front of me. Kids on ladders, kids on shoulders, and little old ladies make
great targets for plush. Nice looking ladies and women make great targets
for whole, unopened bags of beads. Guys, well the guys have to be more
creative to catch the eye of another guy. Although I did connect to
several guys whom I felt obliged to throw to.
One thing that surprised me was the lack of flashing on the route. It is not a bad thing.....there are really too many kids along the way for women to be flashing for beads. The ones that I did see were very discrete about it and that was even more inviting than a blatant display of flesh for beads! It is the intimacy of a rider and parade attendee that really is what it is all about. It is the banter between a masked man and participant who is willing to beg for my goodies. The nicer the parade goer was the nicer the beads they received. When some one was rude, I can assure that they would not get thrown to....much less thrown at. Better beads and trinkets always seemed to go to someone who had a unique way of catching my attention. Be it a funny sign, or a funny costume....there were many reasons that someone would catch something other than a set of 42' 10mm beads. Another great thing is the reaction of both the rider and participant who connects with each other via a sign made for the rider. In my case I had several people who had made signs....when I saw them it was a great feeling after seeing all the masses of strangers and then you happen upon a friend or acquaintance. The fact that someone is out there waiting for you to roll by, and then getting your attention is what it is about! That had to be the best aspect of throwing beads. Especially, after the ride when a friend would walk up and say "Man, you bombed us last night!" Half way On down St. Charles we roll, and we hit Lee Circle, the
"half way" point of the ride. When we hit, I was still kneeling on
beads. One rider suggested that I had better start throwing whole packs;
otherwise, I would be unloading after the ride. I headed his advice, and I
showered whole packs to people all the way to Canal St., when I figured I
better slow up or else my nearly 50 gross would be depleted before I hit
the convention center for the Rendezvous. A left turn on Canal and
your eyes tell a story your mind cannot comprehend! How can so many people
be here to watch us and expect to catch anything? Imagine riding a
float down Time Square at midnight New Years eve! All you can see are huge
masses of people lined back to the walls of the buildings. 20 deep, perhaps,
in places all shoulder to shoulder yelling for you to "throw me something,
mister". Canal street is barricaded, and the float is a good 15-20
feet from the crowds. So you take a dozen beads, break the bands, and a
quick flick of the wrists send 12 beads going 12 different directions, and
50 people vying for them. It is almost impossible to make contact with
anyone on Canal, but I did with a few, especially as we turned around up
by North Rampart and again when we turned unto Tchoupitoulas . Ah,
Tchoupitoulas.....my old stomping grounds. This is where I catch my
parades, and this is where I encounter many of my friends who are
watching. I first see the Swiss Vampire and I hit him hard with a case of
BIG PINK pearls. Next is Beaux, and he snaps some pictures of me. I
tell my guys riding next to me "Look out for the group dressed in togas"
they are known as the sons of Bacchus or SOB's. "I am expecting a
nice,
The Ending Good things come to those who wait. My 4 hour, record time ride ,had flashed by like it was 10 minutes. Knowing the end is soon is a real bummer, but knowing what is about to happen is the most exciting part! We enter in through the huge doors of the Morial Convention Center, and all you can see are thousands people all in formal attire. Men in tuxedos and women in their lovely gowns, no different than the crowds on the streets. They are all guests of the riders of Bacchus. They have been partying since 7:00 and here it is 11:15 P.M. They beg for beads just as good as the street watchers. We approach the first turn and start past the kings stage. I am doing everything in my power to find my group, when alas, I see my wife leaning over the barricade in her fancy beaded hot pink gown. A huge smile is on her face, and I know then what the excitement was about! As we approach my group, it is all I can do to stay on the float! I throw as fast and as much as I can to them, before we roll past to another group. We wind through the crowds, and finally happen upon the end of the ride. Needless to say, I depart the float to awaiting friends. There are no beads to unload, (I ran out on the last leg of the convention center tour.) My body is tired and thirsty, my soul and spirit are at an all time high! I make my way to the tables filled with food, family, and friends. We eat, drink, and be merry one last time before it is time to vanish off to bed. A bed that will rest a weary body, but who's mind keeps replaying one amazing ride! The Experience It was a great time, a time that is getting better with each memory that flashes in my head. I want to thank the friends and family who helped make this dream a reality. Thanks to the city of New Orleans and the people of New Orleans. Thanks to the Krewe of Bacchus and all of its officials. I hope that I get the opportunity to ride again in 2005. Once you experience the feeling of riding, it would be very hard to let that go. HAIL BACCHUS!
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| photos courtesy of Judy Amberle |
we made it just in time for the carriage ride. Me,
my wife, and the Iveys found which carriage was ours, and we began to load
it up with beads. We had 7 zipper bags of beads ready for the "parade". At
11:00 A.M., we boarded up and along with the help of our driver Henry, we
began to wind our way throughout the Quarter, warming up for that night's
events! A few drinks and a few flashes came our way, the crowds were
more than ready to take our throws. We had to pace ourselves so we would
have beads left for the second leg of the ride. After a brief stop
at a local hangout for some garlic chicken, a drink, and a bladder control
check we were back up and rolling. Along came Bourbon street and we
threw hard and fast.....opps, before you knew it, we were out of beads and
still riding. (This is the first time the Ivey's have ran out of
beads and they told me they are embarrassed.) All these poor people begging for goodies, and we could only
provide a smile and some words wishing them a "Happy Mardi Gras". This
carriage ride was a great idea! It was a way that my wife and my friends
could come together and ride as I would be doing in a few short hours.
It was a very relaxing time, and one that will be carried on for years to
come. I took a quick look at the watch, and 2 hours had passed by, and it was now
time to head to the convention center and begin the real festivities!
the reaction he was getting
from the crowd. Bacchus XXXVI was the actor Elijah Wood from the Lord
of the Rings movies. He seemed to really be enjoying himself, and
the young ladies were enjoying him. His costume looked spectacular, and
this year the King had several Pages that flanked the float. It was an
awesome sight to behold...one I will treasure. So I make my way back to the
rear of the procession, chatting with fellow riders along the way. The day
is beginning to turn to night, and the parade is about to begin at 5:15.
It will be another 2 hours before my unit begins to roll, so there is more
small talk and chatting with locals about what is about to take place. The
time is approaching 7:15 and we are instructed to mask up and get
ready......we make the right turn on Napoleon and it is here!
Bribing the rider with a ice
cold unopened one is a good way. Another is to look as pitiful as I do
when I am not riding (sympathy throw haha). The one way NOT to get beads,
is to point to a kid or a pretty girl and then jump in front of them and
steal their throws! Kids on Ladders were great targets. It was
tough
not to throw so hard as to knock them off, but you have to put force
behind a toss as they are so far from the float itself. Several kids
were up close to the float and at that point I could just point at them
and then successfully hit them with with my arsenal of throws. As
for the females, well good old eye contact is still the best way to get
beads. Don't ever look away once contact is established! If I made eye
contact, I did not always throw right away, sometimes I would "tease" the
recipient and see just how long they would stare back at me. Once it
reached a point, I would then acknowledge them and they would get the treat for their actions. Sometimes, at that point they would glance
away, and a nice set of beads would smack them right in the chest or face. I really felt bad when this happened, and I hope no one was seriously hurt.
big vodka drink from them as a toast....and we have to hit them
hard!". As fate would have it, I am turned around reloading my beads when
the rider next to me says "there's the togas". I don't have any time
to react, my instincts take over and I just start shoveling beads and
doubloon, and trinkets overboard. I never even catch a glimpse of
them, and I never even got that Stoli! I did, however, manage to hit
them hard, and I hear they drank well on me. A few yards past them, I
am drawn to attention as a young lady is yelling my name. I look up to see
it is the daughter of the Ivey's, and I throw to her. Robyn is the only one
of the group that I actually remember seeing. Since I watch most parades
with the Ivey's, I know that the ride is drawing to an end soon. I throw
everything I have from that point to the convention center, for which I have
stashed back 3 zipper bags full of the good stuff!