I was bursting with excitement when we decided to publish an article on Mardi Gras because that event has been on my mind for many years and is currently high on my bucket list along with Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. The closest that I have gotten to Mardi Gras was in 1984 when I stopped through New Orleans (Nawlins) during the World’s Fair as part of a 24-hour lay over on the Amtrak. That is when I decided to catch a taxi cab onto Bourbon Street and take a look around. It was one of the fun nest, wildest, craziest times of my life as I saw things there that would cause even the most ardent traveler to blush. Things that go way beyond the scope of this G rated article. As the saying goes what goes on on Bourbon Street stays on Bourbon Street; or is that Las Vegas? Smile!

Our goal with this article was to actually go behind the scenes of Mardi Gras to give you an idea of what it takes to successfully pull off such a world-renowned event year after year; so we contacted the public relations person there – Ms. Bobbi Mannino – and she was indeed a pleasure to work with and very efficient at her job. Pay raise time right? She quickly put me in touch with a fellow by the name of Mr. Tibideaux; just kidding, I like that name, actually it was Warren Serignet who is a Parade Coordinator for Mardi Gras. I know, I know; when most of us think of that event a parade is the last thing on our minds right? But as I learned during my research and interview with Mr. Serignet it is the parades that kick things off leading up to the big day which is Fat Tuesday – this year on Tuesday February 21, 2012. They have 58 area parades lined up starting on Saturday February 4, 2012, and culminating on Tuesday February 21, 2012 (Fat Tuesday). Coach Serignet (As he likes to be called) coordinates six of these fabulous tributes to New Orleans and its rich history.

Jay: How do you pronounce your last name?
Serignet: It’s pronounced like “Serenade” and is a good ole’ fashioned French name!

Jay: What is your official title; and your duties and responsibilities?
Serignet: I am the Parade Coordinator for Pontchartrain (Saturday 02/11/2012 @ 2 PM), Babylon (Thursday 02/16/2012 @ 5:45 PM), Chaos (Thursday 02/16/2012 @ 6:30 PM), Tucks (Saturday 02/18/2012 @ 12 PM), Okeanos (Sunday 02/19/2012 @ 11 AM), and Napolean (Sun. 02/19/2012 @ 5:30 PM) and it is my job to get every unit in a parade based on the clubs budget.

Jay: How long have you been a Parade Coordinator?
Serignet: I started in 1980 with a jazz band.

Jay: Were you born in New Orleans?
Serignet: Yes but I grew up not too far from here in Davant, Louisiana.

Jay: What is your educational background?
Serignet: I earned my Bachelor’s Degree at Southeastern Louisiana College in Hammond, Louisiana, in physical education/health with a minor in social studies. I played basketball and baseball in High School.

Jay: What is your full-time job?
Serignet: I am a disciplinary at C. F. Rowley Alternative Shool in Chalmette, Louisiana, and have coached middle school girls’ basketball, volleyball, softball, and track at East Baton Rouge Parish.

Jay: What do you like most about your job?
Serignet: I like putting it [The parades] all together; I have had green, purple, and gold in my blood since I was 13. I also get to meet people from every walk of life and get to go to Mardi Gras parties and balls and it does not cost me anything. And after the parades are done I get compliments and it’s just like winning a game with my teams.

Jay: Any dislikes?
Serignet: I sometimes don’t like dealing with certain band directors who call me for all this information and I never hear from them again. They should let me know if they went with someone else rather than leave me hanging.

Jay: What has been [to date] your most memorable moment while doing your job as parade coordinator?
Serignet: It was after Katrina [2005], the parades wasn’t as big as they used to be and these people from France came down and covered the Krewe of Pontchartrain. I thought they were pulling my leg at first but they did come to my house [as promised] and did some filming while we were living in a FEMA trailer. They also took pictures of the floats and later sent me a DVD that aired in France.

Jay: What is a Krewe and why is it spelled that way?
Serignet: Krewe is a generic term for all carnival organizations. The first one was the Mystic Krewe of Comus in 1854 and it’s spelled that way to give the word an Old English flavor.

Jay: What does it take to become a part of a Krewe?
Serignet: It’s all about money! You have to get members to join your Krewe and each one must pay $900 to $1,200. With that you get costumes and party invites but you have to pay extra for your float, beads, and stuffed animals to throw during the parade. Some Krewes require a minimum gross of beads and that you purchase directly through them, while others allow you to get your own [say at the dollar store]. They also have to get float builder [liability] insurance which is very expensive. This is just in case someone gets run over or someone falls off the float which rarely happens but it did a couple of years ago.

Jay: What do the Krewes get out of the parade, can they advertise?
Serignet: You cannot advertise in Orleans Parish except the Jefferson Parish. Every Krewe [organization] has a theme that goes with their float. Also, most people just like the idea of being a part a club.

Jay: How much is a typical budget for a parade and how are you compensated?
Serignet: It can be as much as $30,000 and I get a commission. Every Parade has a King and Queen and that can cost $700 to $800 on the low side and $4,000 to $5,000 on the high side. Parades are non-profit so all the money has to go back into the parade.

Jay: What is your favorite Krewe?
Serignet: Napolean, I have been with them for 35 years.

Jay: How were you affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005?
Serignet: We [Me, my wife, mother, and cat] had just moved into our home six weeks before Katrina and we ended up in a Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. My wife is from Honduras and we met at a Mardi Gras function; she is a beautician. After the hurricane all of her customers left and we didn’t know if they were coming back.

Jay: How long did it take for them to return to New Orleans?
Serignet: The first part started coming back within six months and most of the others within two to three years. I thought it would take longer but it got better year after year; now it’s almost back to its normal capacity. Last year [2011] I saw more people than I had seen in a while and even the heavy rain did not stop the folks at the Tucks parade.

Jay: What’s your take on the future of Mardi Gras especially the parades?
Serignet: The small Krewes are really suffering, they ride the first weekend and some do not have enough riders, floats are expensive and so is the insurance.

Jay: Do you think that first weekend is going to eventually die out with the bad economy?
Serignet: I hope not!

Jay: Your Mayor [Mitchell J. Landrieu] says "Laissez les bon temps rouler!” on the Mardi Gras website, what does that mean?
Serignet: Let the good times roll!

Jay: Can I ride in a parade?
Serignet: Sure, come on down, you will have a great time!

Jay: I am going to hold you to that!

Wanna go?

Make your discount travel arrangements here!

Photos Source: Coach Serignet

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