MARDI GRAS

Why do it?

You won’t have had so much fun since you kissed your first crush (or dreamed you did)…it’s an unforgettable feeling twirling and dancing your way up the parade route being cheered on by the nation. Putting together an entry is a chance to exercise some creative muscles and work with some amazing lesdocs. Plus participating in Mardi Gras raises the profile of ALMA. It lets the queer and medical worlds know that lesbian doctors exist and that we care deeply about the health of our communities.

What follows below are suggestions based on previous experience; they’re a guide only.

Resources required

• A Co-ordinating Team – Lots can be done on email, but have at least one person on the ground in Sydney. The numbers, time and energy of the team determines what type and scale of entry is possible. A float takes a lot more work than a walking entry, but both can have a great impact. Going for something proportionate to the lesbian energy available will mean fun rather than frazzle.

• Participants – a rough idea of potential numbers will help planning. Raise the invitation at the conference; ask for early expressions of interest on almalink. Keep people updated and enthused with regular emails. We’ve had any number between eight and forty in previous entries.

• Finances – check with Treasurer what budget will be available. Keep receipts!

Timeline

• Sept/November – ALMA conference: nominate co-ordinators/team; have initial brainstorming meeting re ideas, theme, roles; gauge potential numbers of participants.

• Nov/Dec/Jan – meetings to dream, plan, organise and construct entry.

• Dec – register expression of interest with New Mardi Gras.
Current details as of 2005: www.mardigras.org.au,  ph: 0295688600, PO Box 956    Petersham NSW 2049. They will send an Entrants’ Guide with all the important info and dates. They can also offer help with planning and construction of your entry. There has been a magic workshop space available in the past to help make dreams actual. The website will keep you updated as the parade gets closer.

• Jan - Book any required resources, eg ute, generator, light and sound equipment.

• Late Jan/early Feb – lodge Parade Entry Application.

• Late Feb –  media releases to gay and medical presses.

• End Feb – one of team to attend Parade Entry Briefing Day in Sydney.

• First weekend in March – Sat night parade, Oxford St.

Planning an entry

• Initial brainstorming – image and theme. Entries work best when they have a simple, striking central image that will stand out in the mad glitter of Oxford St. Something that identifies us as lesbian doctors and illustrates the theme of the entry. Past ideas have included a giant stethoscope dragon; dancing doctors in white coats with ENT head mirrors; giant silver boxing gloves (‘Fighting for Lesbian Health’); flashing red love hearts (‘Healing from the Heart’); lesdocs in surgical greens with larger than life stethoscopes; a ute done up as an ambulance; Snellan charts with lesbian symbols on them.

• Type of entry – the simplest is a small walking group (with costumes/props) accompanied by the ALMA banner. This is easy, can be co-ordinated by a team of as little as two, and is flexible in terms of how many participants end up coming along. The more complicated entries can include a float/vehicle, lighting and sound, choreography and giant props. Any entry, simple or grand, can be striking and effective in getting a message across. A unifying theme, colour or symbol helps drive it home.

• Costumes, props – to support image/theme. Here the workshop space can be very useful. Don’t be afraid to ask people to bring their own eg. white coats. Surgical masks can be handy if lesdocs want to participate but aren’t sure if they’re ready to be recognised on national TV.

• Banners – the ALMA banner with our name and logo is a good one to lead with and can be carried by two people. It needs poles (easy to get from Bunnings, attach with nails and cable ties to the banner eyelets). It moves from city to city depending on the conference/march, so put out a ‘banner, wherefore art thou?’ email on almalink to track it down. Other banners or placards can be made to emphasise the theme.

• If constructing a float, you will need to hire/borrow a ute or truck and have someone prepared to drive it. You’ll also need a generator and lighting (and usually sound system and soundtrack), and to dress up the vehicle. NMG can help with suggestions.

• Music/choreography – not necessary, but makes for a flashy entry. The parade route is around 3km and quite tiring just to walk, so if considering choreography people need to be fit or on a vehicle. They also need to be committed and available for rehearsals. There should still be roles for interstaters and last minute entrants who couldn’t attend rehearsals.

Publicity

Entry impact is increased by doing some media. A media release to gay and medical presses a few weeks before the parade is relatively easy and lets presses pick up on it or (rarely) contact you for more details/interview/photo. Some sample earlier media releases are at the almalink website, as should be a contact list of relevant queer and medical publications. Attaching a digital photo is a terrific extra.
It’s worth having a person nominated as potential media contact in the press releases and on the night, in case more detail is required.
NMG also allows up to 2 media passes per entry, which can be given to someone who wants to take photos or film the entry during the parade.

Other stuff

• A welcome dinner on the Friday night is a great way to greet those who’ve come from far and wide. Check with interstate participants early that they have accommodation or billeting. A debrief /recovery Sunday breakfast is a must.

• There’s a long (and exciting) wait in the couple of hours at the base of Oxford St before the parade kicks off. Bring a camera, food and water…

• Have fun and be proud!

Joo-Inn Chew
May 2005