Photo: Amanda Mastrogiovanni
While most people are up early preparing their turkey on Thanksgiving morning, I was busy preparing a different kind of bird – a peacock, specifically. But not just any peacock: NBC’s glittery float that I marched beside as a float escort in the annualMacy’s Thanksgiving Day Paradethis year.
For the sake of this story, I feel it only appropriate that I give you a “bird’s-eye view” of what it’s like to be in the parade – from the very beginning to the tail end.
Early Bird.
My alarm clock sounded at 5:15 a.m., which marked the start of my very unique day. Everyone who takes part in the parade, whether you’re a clown or a float escort, has a call time at 6:00 a.m. and must report to costume and makeup.
Skyler Caruso
Part of the excitement of participating in the parade is not knowing what your costume will be until the morning of. In years past, I’ve been a clown, a cookie and a cowboy, so you can imagine my surprise on Thursday when I found out I was… a DOT!
Amanda Mastrogiovanni
My fellow dots and I later learned we were technically “stagehands” to accompanyGirls5eva, the fictional band from the Peacock series of the same name that performed on our float – with starsSara Bareilles,Busy Philipps,Paula PellandRenée Elise Goldsberry.
Once in costume, I boarded the team bus filled with excitement (and elves) as we headed uptown to the start of the 95th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This dot was ready to make her mark!
Flock Together.
The towering, sparkling animatronic specimen was a beautiful sight to behold. The band, Girls5eva, took to the stage perched at the top. We were all in place and ready! At 8:59 a.m., the countdown began – and when the clock struck 9:00 a.m., NBC’s Al Roker exclaimed his traditional proclamation, “Let’s have a parade!”
While we waited our turn to march, our “Float Captain” taught us choreography and distributed our iPads (a crucial element for our “float escort” duties this year).
Taking Flight.
Once we entered the parade route, high energy, big waves and audience interaction were to be in effect for the two-plus-mile route down the streets of New York City. Since Peacock is NBC’s new streaming platform, the entirety of the parade was live-streamed with cameras directed on the in-person attendees! Our iPads (disguised in big NBC-colored circles) were set to camera mode, capturing the excitement of the crowd.
Although there are thousands of viewers lining the streets (a crowd roughly 12 people deep), an aspect that’s especially important to remember is to also look up while marching. Thanks to N.Y.C.’s iconic skyscrapers, there are plenty of people looking out the windows of the tall buildings all along the route. They, too, want to make a connection with us, whether it be a simple exchange of a wave or a smile.
While we jumped, skipped and danced for the crowd, we were greeted with selfies, cheers and iPhone cameras in response. Seeing the joyful reaction on everyone’s faces, from both children and adults alike, is what makes this experience so unforgettable.
Shake Ya Tailfeather.
Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
When our float rounded the bend and turned onto 34th Street, the music on our float went silent. Suddenly, the attendees were replaced with producers and the iPhones replaced with professional cameras. It was showtime.
Eduardo Munoz Avarez/AP/Shutterstock
Proud as a Peacock.
When the cameras cut and I finished the parade route, there were many thoughts swirling through my over-stimulated head. The first is how thankful I am for the opportunity to take part once again in this amazing experience. The second was how ready I was to trade in this bird for some turkey with my family – Happy Thanksgiving!
source: people.com
