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TRANSFORMERS 
The float will be a giant “Transformers” Robot that changes into a Key West Taxi. Crew will be costumed as Tranformer robots and Pit Crew. 
If you haven't heard of the movie, Transformers are huge robots that can disguise themselves as ordinary vehicles like cars, motorcycles, airplanes and other mechanical objects. Autobots are the Heroes, Decpticons are the villains, and our crew will be “the beyond”.
Costumes should be robotic and mechanical looking, and at the same time be colorful, fun and exciting, and if possible some how relate to Key West. A great Transformer costume might look something like a KWPD car, Fire Truck, Tour Train, Trolley, Fury Catamaran, Citizen Newspaper Box, Southernmost Point, Pedi Cab, something like that. Unlike last year, we will not be providing costumes for the crew. All crewmembers will need to make their own costumes. You will need to be in the correct costume to be on the float. The Minions is not a generic party float, we are an Art and Performance float, and while we charge no fees to be a member, we do require a dress code (costume requirements) to be on the float. This is to ensure the float has a consistent look, and nobody is out of place or detracts from the continuity of the presentation. We just don’t want anyone showing up as a Pirate, or Elvis, or Beetlejuice, and then say they didn’t know what the dress code was. We are notifying everyone 2 months in advance. These costumes will require more work than usual, so all crew and potential crew members are being notified 2 months in advance to begin work on your costumes early. For helpful hints, Google “robot costumes” or "Transformers" and look at some of the pictures other people have done. Also, Fernando has forwarded a very helpful video from YouTube on how to make mechanical looking armor using foam floor matting and a heat gun. www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoQjbb3Fobw Another easy way to do this is get a black body suit or coveralls and attach, Velcro or hot-glue *gack all over it. Plastic panels, armor, tubes, wires, lights, buttons, noise makers, lettering, numbers, insignias, racing stripes, whatever. Head-Gear is mandatory for this costume. In order to maintain a sense of continuity, all crew will be required to wear a helmet or head-gear of some kind, and it can be something as simple as a bike helmet with junk duct-taped to it. You can buy used bicycle helmets at the Salvation Army Thrift Store on Flagler Avenue for about 2 dollars. Paint it your favorite colors and decorate with antennas, lights, circuit boards, racing stripes, etc. Lights It would also be highly recommended to put lights of some kind on your costume. You can buy strings of battery powered Christmas lights at Walgreen’s for around 4 dollars. This is a strand of about 25 bulbs connected to a small battery pack containing 4-AAA batteries with an on and off switch. Some of these lights blink, pulse, change color and should last the entire night without replacing the batteries. Pen lights, blinkers, LED’s, reflectors and glow sticks will really help make your costume come alive. Again, costumes only have to last one night, but they should still be sturdy, rugged, durable and somewhat water resistant, in case it rains. They should also be comfortable, ventilated (so you don’t bake to death), and be able to fit inside a bathroom or port-a-potty without too much peril. Final tips: Arrive at the line up area early. The parade starts at 7:00 pm. Arrive at least 1 hour early, and account for heavy traffic along the way. Traffic around old town becomes grid-locked during the day. Duval Street will be closed up to United Street and after about 4:00 it is nearly impossible to get in or out of the line up area on anything larger than a bicycle. Arriving early also gives you a chance to fix any last minute details (there are always last minute details to fix) meet your fellow crew members, take a few pictures, have a couple of drinks, and soak up the festive atmosphere, because it all goes by very quickly. Don’t bring any props unless absolutely necessary. We always recommend to keep your hands free during the parade, because there is always something to fix, adjust, pour, pick up, hold for somebody, take pictures, throw beads and carry drinks, all at the same time. Don’t bring anything that you wouldn’t want to lose, or don’t want to have to carry with you the entire night. There are no storage compartments on the float, and this year our tow vehicle will be carrying 4 extra people so we will have even less storage space than usual. Our storage space is reserved for 1 large cooler, emergency repair tools, beads, fire extinguishers, sound equipment, lights and generators. We require clear unobstructed access to this equipment. There is no room for your personal effects on the float or tow vehicle. What ever you bring with you, back packs, hand bags, cameras, jackets, shoes, glasses, cell phones, etc, you will have to carry yourself. The 3 or 4 things you will probably definitely want to bring are water, possibly sun block (depending on the weather) drinks and beads. If you are a bit shy about using a Port-A-Potty you might want to bring some of your own toilet tissue or Hand-wipes. If you want to donate a cooler full of beer wine or liquor to the float, (which would be exemplary) bring it in a disposable styrofoam cooler that can be discarded when empty. (so you won’t have to carry it around the whole night). We will supply 1 large cooler for the whole crew which Brad usually stocks with water, soft drinks, a few beers and ice. We usually also have paper towels, food and drinks of some kind. If you would like to donate drinks, we will usually find room for it in the main cooler. If you would like to donate beads to the float, we will ALWAYS find room for them. BEADS Donating Beads to the float is always appreciated. We are a small crew on a tight budget. Every cent we spend goes into the float and costumes, yet somehow we always manage to buy a modest supply of Beads. For this reason we always suggest crew be aware of the Bead supply. Bead Frenzy DO NOT THROW TOO MANY BEADS Beads need to be rationed to last the entire parade, not just the first 4 blocks. Do not feel obligated to throw beads to every single person in the crowd. A good idea is to only throw beads to people who are dressed in costumes, who have obviously made an effort to dress up for the parade, to special groups, (those who attend in small groups dressed in matching costumes) and especially people who look like (sometimes you can just tell) they are visiting from another country, particularly Europe and Asia. It is always ALWAYS very tempting to just forget one’s self, and start throwing way too many beads too early in the parade, then wonder why all the beads are gone before the parade is even half finished? In fact there is a name for this affliction. It’s called BEAD FRENZY. And it happens all too often, especially with newbies. Please only throw ONE strand of beads at a time to people who really deserve them. Don’t throw beads to just any fat sweaty old guy in jeans and a tee shirt drunkenly screaming at you for more beads when he already has about 100 of them hanging around his neck. On the other hand, if you see a cute couple from Asia or Europe or South America, in a group, who are in cool costumes, then by all means give them EXTRA beads (gang pile 'em), ask them where they are from, welcome them to Key West, take a picture, invite them to come and visit us next year. Fantasy Fest isn’t only about Key West, it's also about welcoming our guests from around the world, making them feel at home, and letting them know we appreciate their being here. We almost always buy 1 case of super-premium beads we give out to extra special people and friends along the parade route. If you are in a really festive and generous mood, don’t limit your throws to just beads. You can also give out small gifts, candies, trinkets, drinks and other “swag” to special friends in the crowd. Sometimes people in the crowd will even give YOU throws and beads. This is what Fantasy Fest is really all about, sharing the fun and excitement of Key West with the world. If you have any questions or suggestions, do not hesitate to ask. Thanks for joining the Minions of Mulcahy, and may all your fantasies come true, Donations, and volunteering. Donations can be given to Dan or Rochelle. Major contributors and corporate sponsors will have their name prominently displayed on the banner and included in the media form which is distributed to the press and announced at the several media locations along the parade route. Some crews charge over $100 to be on their floats. We don’t As always, anyone can join the Minions. We do not charge a fee of any kind to be on our float. A modest donation of $25 dollars is appreciated but not required. All donations are used to help pay for the parade entry fees, parking permits, building materials, paint, decorations, costumes, tools, lights, sound system, beads, food, beverages, sundries, and a myriad of other supplies and expenses. We are also very grateful for any other donations in the form of volunteer labor, (mostly errand runners), bottled water, food, drinks, beads, glows sticks and any other miscellaneous party favors for the parade. One year we ran short on water, so even if you just bring some extra bottled water it can be a real life saver. Every little bit helps. |