Parade producer offers advice on design and construction
The Hollister Downtown Association and the San Benito County
Chamber of Commerce have enlisted a parade professional to conduct
a float-building workshop May 12, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the
Veterans Memorial Building in Hollister.
Parade producer offers advice on design and construction
The Hollister Downtown Association and the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce have enlisted a parade professional to conduct a float-building workshop May 12, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building in Hollister.
The goal is “just giving people the opportunity to learn some things, some tricks, from someone experienced in float building,” said Brenda Weatherly, the executive director of the HDA. “I’m not sure how else you learn unless you have someone teach you.”
Admission to the workshop is $10 per group or organization, and any parade participants can attend whether they are involved in the Saddle Horse Show, the Lights on Parade, the San Juan Bautista Easter Parade or any other of the parade events in San Benito County. By May 4, only seven groups had signed up and if more groups don’t sign up, HDA staff may postpone the workshop
Ray Pulver, the owner of Upbeat Parade Productions, is the expert who will be conducting the workshop
“I actually started a little over 30 years ago being involved with a Fourth of July parade in my hometown in Massachusetts,” he said. “And then it was pretty much a hands-on situation.”
When he moved to the West Coast, he continued to work with parades, and eventually started Upbeat Parade Productions. The company produces parades throughout California and in some other states, and Pulver offers his float-building workshop across the country. He will receive $350 for his workshop.
“We come up with design ideas, materials, what vehicles or trailers to use,” he said. “And decorating ideas and finally parade-day presentations.”
When Pulver is not producing his own parades, he is often visiting other ones to gather ideas.
“That’s pretty much what I do with my spare time,” he said. “I’m always going to other parades. I have a lot of good resources in the parade world, so to speak.”
His workshops cater to those who are new to parade float building and those who have participated in the past.
“If they are new at it, we look at how to start and create a design,” he said. “If they have done it before, we talk about new resources and different ideas on design. If you can take one idea from the workshop, I have been successful.”
Pulver has one suggestion for how potential float builders can prepare for his workshops.
“I would say come open-minded to some new creative ideas,” he said. “Float building can be a lot of fun and it can be relatively easy. It really brings communities together and allows them to showcase their businesses [and organizations] in a fun and entertaining way.
In addition to the float workshop, Pulver will be working with the Lights on Parade committee on ways to improve the event.
For more information or to register, call 636-8406 or visit www.downtownhollister.org. Checks for the $10 registration fee can be mailed to: Hollister Downtown Association, 455 San Benito St., Ste. 21, Hollister, CA 95023.
