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Early Mardi Gras Morning

Rebirth Brass Band

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Hours before the parades start, families and friends start staking out their spots on the "Neutral Ground" on Napoleon Avenue, a segment of the traditional route for New Orleans Mardi Gras parades.

Lawn chairs, blankets, couches, tents, BBQs and ladders with crates on top of them. The last item is for little kids so that they can: a) see above the heads of adults and b) be in prime position to catch beads, soft toys and other trinkets thrown by the float riders.

The crew on this shoot included a director, camera operator, sound man, steadicam operator and driver.

Unfortunately for the technical quality of the footage, it was all one person: me. One hand on the camera, one hand on the steering wheel, and one hand to turn on the CD player.

In truth, it was a spontaneous thing.

I was one of the last cars to be allowed to go down Napoleon Mardi Gras morning. I happened to have a small Flip video camera with me (one of the early models) and a Rebirth Brass Band CD handy.

Within a few hours, the parade route will be five to ten people deep on both sides of the street.

Not the greatest video ever shot, but something few people, including native New Orleaneans, ever see.

That's how we grow.

Thanks!