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Original Lady & Men Buck Jumpers score Public Relations Coup w/ Radio Personality !

      Sunday,  November  28th, 2004- New Orleans, LA    As reported in the story on, The Old & Nu Styles Fellas earlier this season, Main Lines are using more than just fantasies, floats, and props to keep the crowds  interested in the groups. They have been for the last  58 years, used those tactics plus dress to give identity to the group. However, It looks as though, the Main Line culture is now finally discovering the wonders of Public Relations. This isn't a new wrinkle from the groups, but these club members pulled off this latest piece of work, in New Orleans, like they were pro's at it.

   First of the surprises, was the fact of the route sheet for this parade. For any of the other annual Sunday main line parade,  this season,  the people have had to move heaven and hell to find a route sheet. I can tell you from personal experience that the route sheets for this parade were available long before the parade ran.  

Then, during  the week before this parade, the radio was abuzz with the news of the impending march.  First that baffled us, because usually a main line group doesn't have the budget to pull off something of that magnitude. Then it came together, the local radio station, 102.9, KMEZ, billing themselves as the Old School station, had lended themselves to the group and the King was none other than the pre-eminent morning personality, known as, "LBJ".

That marketing move came together to form the almost perfect storm for the organization. The crowds for a Main Line parade are usually somewhere around 400 to 600 people as the "second line moves with the Main Line of the parade. This parade had around 800 to 1600 people and even at the end it was still growing.

The mini float containing the King and Queen look great! The royalty themselves were in high spirits and seemed to enjoy their moment in the club's limelight. They were pleasant and personable, which made meeting them a pure pleasure. His majesty, Mr. Lebron B. Joseph,  wore purple, which is the color of royalty and the costumes were highlighted in silver trim, with white feathers. His matrons worn the color of the ladies which was white. Very impressive display of color coordination between the two groups.

Her majesty, Ms. Nidtreas Bailey wore a Blue gown with the accents of silver stones. The collar was a very interesting green  with yellow accent on the feathers. Her majesty, reign with her maids that wore yellow outfits, which were very sheik,  moderate length skirt suits. They definitely were worthy of the beauty that was aboard that float.  

   The group is composed of men and women, and continue to march in the circuit since 1984. The two groups that has always marched as one, has earned some high respect from the community. They have been a long time members of Gert town in the 17th ward of the city. E & C Lounge is located at 8639 Apple St. and is the original home of the men's organization.

    This main line organization should be, has every right to be, proud of it's accomplishments for this round. They exhibited some pride for their 20th Anniversary , and the versatility to play the public relations game, when they demonstrated that they could enlist a company that wasn't interested in looking on from the sidelines, but wanted to participate in the parade as well. This was no small feat, and sent the right message to all the Main Line Organizations that sponsorship is the trend of the future.

    One thing impressed us about this main line group, they do have the insight, and talent, to put a great parades on the streets, in the future, something that bears watching. This was indeed one of the longest parades for a Main Line we have witnessed this season. There were some problems coordinating the spacing, but that was more of a police problem than the groups. If the truth be known, the lead police escort had problems at the intersection of Jeff Davis and Olive because the street sign was torn down at a five street intersection and some officers were not sure of their directions. That was how ever only a ten minute delay.  They did keep the group on track and on time. We were pleasantly surprised that the organizations route as long as it was didn't take the group that long to traverse, in fact the group move at a constant pace throughout the parade. 

Other elements of the tailored outfits that were the traditionally loose fit that definitely looked good with the colors selected. The brothers wore white with the fans acting as the accent. What did catch my eyes was the lack of umbrellas and other lavishly decorated canes for the male side of the organization. Usually, in combined groups of male and females the males dominate the parade, not this one. They really didn't need any, the clothes designer, Ms. Antonette James did a wonderful job with their outfits. I think that the clothes designer is a keeper. Especially the women's outfits.

Those white suits were very sheik, and it's often hard to carry off white, but the fuax fur, helped carry it off in grand style! When you have beauty of the style, charm, and class that was evident this Sunday, wearing white didn't present a challenge.    

One of the coolest pieces of the members outfits were the sashes, constructed of a great looking base and built upon. The sash lent an air to the parade that we think would not have been there if they were of the low quality we have seen of late. Kudo's to the maker.  We usually take time out to notice the shoes but these guys were moving so fast we didn't have the time to take a shot or video the shoes.  

The parade route as noted above was a long one for the organization, approximately 2 to 3 1/2 miles in length. It consisted of 5 stops mostly in the upper ward and paid close attention to calling on the other groups in the area. The Brass Band with the groups were the Lil' Stooges and the Hot Eight. Also the Rebirth Brass Band were in the mix as well 

The starting point was the New Look Lounge, which is located at Washington & LaSalle. The group arrived and left on time with their police escort and gathered quite a few second liners along the way. Traffic was definitely tied up at the fourth spot and from the fourth stop on there was no problem spotting this parade as it made it's way through the route. It was that large!

The next spot on the schedule was were Leroy's Lounge. The club members took the time here to catch their breathe from the most grueling part they had just come through. The parade  took extra time exiting the establishment. When they finally emerged, they were eager to hit the most traffic jammed part of the route. This part was surley going to cause a whooping traffic jam as the procession went up a small part of Earhart expressway. 

The surprise was the ease that the police handled the traffic and moved the parade on through with minimum of muss and fuss, indeed this had our mouths and others jaws dropping open! The dramatic pull through made me understand why the NOPD do some of the things they do. 

It took the crowd by surprise, but was a very nice surprise that the second liners did appreciate. It added spice to an otherwise same old dull procession. This was in effect two parades in one and if by chance you left early or came late, the you missed the main attraction which in deed was the King and Queen. We kept hearing the King's matron proclaim that this was the best King they had ever had.

The procession which began at the home of the Lady Buck Jumpers, then turned on to Apple and proceeded towards E&C Lounge, and ended at the very home of the Original Men's Buck Jumpers.

Now for a sour note, and while it's always an unfortunate event, notification of a shooting is always something we want not to happen. Why is it, when any event takes place in Gert town some one has got to start shooting. What is it with us locals that we can't settle an argument or a disagreement with out firing a shot! Why is it that you can't go someplace without carrying a gun. I will say this!!!! This, " I want to be a THUG",  mentality has got to go!!!! It's no longer cool, or the in thing to be. It's no longer the STYLE! The Way It IS!!!

 If killing our culture is the goal of those who want to be a thug, if stopping others from having a good time is your claim to fame, then I give you this warning. If I see you doing something stupid, and I don't care how small it is, I'm going to turn your sorry a--- in! I've had it I will not let you thugs kill our culture and our life style and walk around like it's OK!

An other wise great parade was overshadowed by some idiot with a gun, with no self discipline or self control. It takes a lot to back down from a fight or argument, and that goes double if you're the one who's right, or the one who has been aggrieved. All anyone is asking for  is this, leave the guns at home, and if you can't leave it at home, then you stay with it and away from the parades!   

Some other pictures of the parade!

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