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Whether it’s the ornate costumes filled with strips of sequins and feathers flowing from their backs; the intricate detail of the matching floats, the painted faces, the musical instruments; or the innate aura of the celebration, New Year’s Day wouldn’t be the same without the Mummers strutting up Broad Street. After overcoming financial issues the past few years, the Mummers are gearing up to embrace 2011.
“Everything is on schedule,” Bob Shannon Jr., New Years Shooters and Mummers Association president, said.
Mayor Michael Nutter accepted a $200,000 donation from Gerry Lenfast last month to cover non-police costs for the city’s 10 ethnic parades, which includes last month’s Columbus Day Parade and the upcoming Mummers Parade. Another $100,000 will be tacked on for police costs to cover next year’s parades starting with the Mummers. The Greater Philadelphia Traditions Fund multi-year donation, lead by U.S. Congressman Bob Brady, combined with the Mummers working alongside city officials helped to defray parade costs this year.
“There’s no more last-minute holdup worrying about who’s going to be backing the parade,” Shannon said.
The Parks and Recreation Department has helped the Mummers to set up themes, supervise the judges, determine the route among other aspects of the parade, Leo Dignam, Parks and Recreation deputy commissioner, who has coordinated the last seven Mummers Parades, said.
Following a parade of this magnitude, the city tallies an expense report for services rendered, Dignam said. This report includes costs, which totaled $40,000 last year not including police. The city organizations involved include the health department; Licenses and Inspections for outside vendors; the fire department; parks and recreation for barricades and the construction of bleachers; and the streets department for cleanup. That being said, Dignam is pleased finances are not a concern this time around.
“This became a bone of contention between the City and the Mummers, and this year, that won’t be an issue,” he said although he noted the fund may not cover all expenses.
With WPHL-TV set to air the festivities, the more-than-a-century-old Philadelphia tradition remains intact.
“Everything is on track and ready to go. The parade is on Broad Street and that’s where we hope to stay forever,” Shannon, a board member for Quaker City String Band, 1943 S. Third St., and former captain, said.
Drawing in an extensive amount of people in full celebratory mode along a parade route can be positive and boosts revenue. Dignam said.
“I think all the parades are important — they are good for the City, good for the groups and good for the businesses,” he said.
With a struggling economy, no prize money and the cost of staging such an elaborate production, most of the clubs attempt to just break even in the end. Each works primarily to pay for their production and clubhouse maintenance. At $3 to $4 a piece, every feather adds up.
“Everything has to be brand new each year,” Shannon, a Washington Township, N.J. resident, said. “It’s very tough to put together an organization of 60 playing members when everyone has to have brand new costumes that get more and more elaborate each year.”
Fancy brigades use tens of thousands of dollars on costumes alone. A production — running in the $70,000 to $100,000 range — is the biggest expense and 95 percent of it occurs in the last two months of the year, Jack Hee, Avalon String Band captain, said. But, a change in scoring with an equal percentage allocated for performance, costumes, overall effect and production for the first time helps even the scale.
The scoring change was voted on by the division’s board to even the playing field among groups by lessening the large percentage based on costumes, Dignam said.
To offset the total cost and make the march up Broad Street a reality, members pay dues mandated by each club. And, creative fundraising doesn’t hurt. Avalon, 1538-40 S. Second St., adds extra revenue from old-fashioned ticket sales, throwing parties and performances, Hee said.
“It’s tough with the economy,” the Gloucestor Township, N.J. resident, said. “This year, we’ll do 70 to 75 performances throughout the year.”
The group, whose musical rehearsals started in May while drill preps began in September, played almost 10 times in March alone, Hee added.
“Our goal each year is to not lose money,” he said.
But, some clubs don’t have the ability to perform with instruments. The South Philly Vikings, 1815 S. 11th St., has collaborated with a couple clubs to throw bigger events while also securing smaller gigs for a flat rate. Down a number of members — most likely a result of the economy — combined with the group’s recent stint on NBC reality TV show “America’s Got Talent” pushed rehearsals that typically began in August to late fall, choreographer Andrea Galasso said.
“I have faith,” the resident of 10th and Bigler streets said.
“This year, it’s a little tougher. We’re really behind,” Jeff Travelina, the group’s former president and resident of 13th and Shunk streets, added.
Shannon recognized the positive feedback that the Vikings’ national publicity brought the Mummers. Beneficial Savings Bank and the Union League have stepped up as donors, Shannon said. Other fundraising outlets include donating on www.SavetheMummers.com and purchasing the Bacon Brothers DVD, which has raked in an estimated $80,000.
While funding is needed, the greatest display of support on New Year’s Day comes in attendance.
“The brigade association has been working diligently to try and make some money and advertise to bring more people to the parade,” Shannon, who reminisced about the days when the streets north of Washington Avenue were packed with people standing 15 deep, said.
Whether it’s the comics, fancies, brigades, string bands or wench brigades, each group exudes in its performances its love of entertaining after fighting for this treasure to happen year after year.
“So many organizations led by a lot of great people worked really hard at trying to make people happy,” Shannon said. “We try and go out and entertain as much as we possibly can.” SPR
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