Parade Float Maker
A parade float maker is a pretty dirty job-at least that is what the Discovery show thinks since that is where I got the idea. You are essentially building a wire mesh frame atop a motor vehicle and then decorating it with various floral arrangements to make it “come alive.” A float maker has to be conscious of the audience so they have to make both sides of the parade route equally awestruck by the design. The following pictures and except are from the creator of “Dinner’s On…Fire!” float that was in the Rose Parade. It proves that the designer has to take into consideration the audience, driver, safety lookout, and floral workers.

“The barbeque was now a brick design, so there would be a place for the float driver. The "Happy Face" was gone from Papa's apron just in case there were any copyright issues to the design. The float was done in two levels to enhance the view for parade viewers. Overall, though, the basic design would stay very consistent through the actual construction of the float.

A few more changes can be seen in the final version. The picnic basket has been moved forward to provide a spot for the safety observer on the float, while the overall setting has been changed to a more gradual slope. The tree trunk has been bulked up to include a sophisticated hydraulic system, as the tree would be too tall to get out of the construction building or under the bridges in Pasadena unless it could be tilted to lower the top.