How can I catch more throws?
Passive parade-watching has
gone the way of the dinosaur: Your
enjoyment of Carnival can be assessed by how much you
catch from passing floats. We've gathered these tried-and-true tips for
enlarging your haul from diehard
parade-watchers -and catchers.
First, the basics:
DON'T
ever bend over to pick up a doubloon or strand of beads.
You'll get your head stomped.
DO
quickly place your foot firmly on a doubloon or bead.
Then, after the float passes by and things calm
down,
you can reach down and free the loot from
underfoot.
DON'T
throw things at float riders. This is really ugly behavior,
and Miss Manners, for one, would be most
displeased
by such a crass and uncaring attitude.
DO hang
on with a vengeance if you jointly catch a string of beads
with the person standing next to you.
Most catchers will break the strand of beads
before letting the other person have
it. Unless, of course, it's a nun or
a Marine.
DON'T beg float riders to throw you something when the float is stopped. They're not supposed to, and begging is so déclassé, don't you think?
DO make
friends with people who live on parade routes
and might open a bathroom to you.
DON'T
chase a float for two blocks down the street.
You might be the next person knocked down by the
thundering horde desperate for that strand of
pearls held aloft.
Tips for enticing riders to cast
their loot your way . Other ploys
that have worked for us:
Yell
"Throw me something, Mister!" (Or,
"Throw me something, Lady!" at female riders). This
is the mainstay of the parade goer's lexicon, learned
by New Orleans' babies at their parents' knees.
Join in, with gusto
Use a
bullhorn to yell "Throw me something, Mister!"
People really do this. We're not kidding.
Make eye contact with a rider. This is basic and a must, but doesn't always work. Making eye contact and looking sad helps.
Carry a
fish net or upside-down umbrella to snag everything around. Can
make you unpopular with the crowd,
especially when you stick it in someone's eyeespecially
when you stick it in someone's eye.
Wear tacky headwear, or a cap with an out-of-town insignia on it.
Hold aloft a giant sign with someone's name on it (even better if you actually know a "John" or "Sue" who will be on board).
Hold aloft
a sign that says "We came all the way from Australia,"
even though you're from Houston. The
more exotic the location, the better.
Point to the cute kid next to you like you only want to give her whatever you catch (hah!).
Bag your
loot as you catch it. Many riders won't throw to someone
whose neck bulges with fancy long beads.
Put a friend on your shoulders. Works best if your friend is smaller than you. And neither of you is drunk.
Get a
ladder - this one has become an entire local industry in itself.
Newly popular in recent years are folding
footstools for adults.
Some parade goers with kids use a special 8 to 10
foot
ladder fixed with a bench at the top for the little
ones,
while parents stand below balancing them. These
pre-made
parade ladders can be bought at many local hardware
stores. Ladders should not be hooked together, placed
at intersections or against barricades, or left unattended or
the police will confiscate them.
Take a nun
in habit with you, and stand under a street lamp:
she'll be a favorite target for the good Catholics
on the floatsshe'll be a favorite
target for the good Catholics on the floats.
Or cut a
large bleach bottle in half and attach the spout to
a broom handle so that you have a handy tool to
hold up to the riders.