{"id":15709,"date":"2010-01-05T08:12:35","date_gmt":"2010-01-05T16:12:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/?p=15709"},"modified":"2010-01-04T19:46:15","modified_gmt":"2010-01-05T03:46:15","slug":"the-2010-mummers-parade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/2010\/the-2010-mummers-parade\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2010 Mummers Parade"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a bass saxophone player, I have long had a fascination with string bands. Therefore, the Philadelphia New Year’s Day tradition of the Mummers Parade was something that had\u00a0piqued my curiosity since I first\u00a0heard\u00a0about it.\u00a0However, the thought of marching with\u00a0a bass saxophone on a cold New Year’s Day\u2014or any day actually\u2014for miles along a parade route, seems just a bit, well, crazy <\/em>to me.<\/p>\n

The 2010 Mummers Parade\u00a0was the 110th <\/sup>\u00a0time this event has been\u00a0held. The weather cooperated this year as the sun shone down on the participants and\u00a0spectators. Despite this good weather however, on January 2, Philly.com<\/a> reported that the crowd had been somewhat smaller than normal.<\/p>\n

Every year\u00a0the Mummers attempt to wow the crowds and judges alike. This year again they competed\u00a0in\u00a0the four\u00a0traditional categories:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The clownish comics, ornately costumed fancies and the show-stopping string bands [which] all marched down Broad Street before performing for judges outside City Hall. The fancy brigades [then] performed their elaborate production numbers for ticketed crowds at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.<\/p>\n

Source: Philly.com<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/object><\/p>\n

The 2010 parade heralded a change for the Mummers. Apparently last year the city of Philadelphia decided that special events would have to pay their own costs.\u00a0For this year\u00a0the Mummers have agreed to pay the city nearly $150,000<\/a> in associated costs, such as those related to policing and sanitation.<\/p>\n

In an effort to further reduce costs, the city also decided to no longer provide prize money for the annual New Year’s Day Mummers Parade. This too was effective as of 2010.<\/p>\n

The economy is certainly wreaking havoc on this Philadelphia tradition<\/a>, and the cash crunch is hitting the Mummers hard this year. One of the top costume designers for the Mummers,<\/p>\n

[quote]<\/p>\n

Bob Finnigan, noted that the average price of a costume will\u00a0come down\u00a0about $300, from $1,000 to $700. The bands are using fewer sequins, more fabric, and fewer backdrops that roll along with the performers. In some cases the bands are using smaller feathers, and less metallic fabrics.\u00a0(Metallic fabrics reflect television lights\u00a0better.)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Apparently it costs approximately $120,000 to get a band on the street. The\u00a0costumes make up about \u00bd of that cost. Taking a look at these photos, it’s not hard to see how the money soon adds up in costume costs.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The Polish American String Band<\/h3>\n

\"The-Polish-American-String-\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Photography by: The West End<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 Source: Flickr<\/a><\/h6>\n

\u00a0 Woodland String Band<\/h3>\n

\"Woodland-String-Band\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Photography by: ianturton<\/a>\u00a0 Source: Flickr<\/a><\/h6>\n

Hopefully the Mummers will continue to find ways to keep their centuries old tradition alive.<\/p>\n

The Mummers\u00a0did have some celebrity assistance in December ’09 when the Bacon Brothers (Michael and Kevin), who are natives of Philadelphia,\u00a0held a benefit concert. There were 5,000 DVDs pressed of the concert, and are available through SaveTheMummers.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you’d like to find out more about the Mummers, and their rich history,\u00a0check out their website at Mummers.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
…this is just my blog<\/em>. <\/span> My \u201creal\u201d <\/b> website is<\/span> www.bassic-sax.info.<\/a> If you\u2019re looking for <\/span> sax info<\/strong>,<\/span> you should check it out too.<\/span>There\u2019s lots<\/em> there! <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
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