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Even through hard economic times, the Mummers are committed to putting on a good show.
While area groups have been practicing a few times a week leading up to the big day, many that typically spend thousands on a performance had to find ways to cut back.
“The overall look of the suits are a little less expensive than they normally are,” Fralinger String Band Chairman Steve Coper said, “but Fralinger really focuses on the quality of the music, the energy, performance and presentation.”
When formulating a theme for the 2010 parade after last year’s first-place finish, Fralinger chose the hillbilly route with “Feudin’, Fussin’ and Fightin’” knowing it would not call for such elaborate props, the Downingtown resident said.
“If you want to look like a hillbilly, that’s pretty easy to do and we found it cost effective,” he said.
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Fralinger, based at 1901-03 S. Third St., reduced its budget by more than 20 percent, while Avalon String Band, headquartered at 1538-40 S. Second St., cut its scene budget for the cowboy-themed “Prairie Tales” by 25 percent.
Part of the decrease has come from recycling props from years past instead of starting fresh, Avalon Capt. Jack Hee said.
“Our show is still going to be to the level that we’ve had,” Hee said. “We actually have gotten smarter with the props we use every year.”
Avalon also has tried to trim costs where it can, such as phone and cable bills, the Northeast resident added.
“It’s the same thing people are doing in their own households,” he said. “You have to try to save everywhere possible.”
The biggest change for the group was relocating from a rented garage in Fishtown to a free garage in Woodstown, N.J., where it builds props each Sunday.
“It’s been a little bit — not an inconvenience — just a little bit of a challenge for the members to get down to Woodstown,” he said. “Everyone has had to make sacrifices.”
Last year, the City announced budget cuts that included police and cleanup efforts for parades, in addition to prize money for the Mummers. After negotiations, the City agreed to pay $300,000 worth of police and post-parade cleanup, but only if the Mummers shortened the parade length by a few hours.
The City and the Mummers still are negotiating the cost of the Jan. 1 parade, as well as its length, and the City has not committed to putting any money towards it as of press time.
Even if the prize money is not a significant portion of each club’s budget, its absence still hurts.
“It’s putting us a little bit in the hole every year,” South Philly Vikings’ Vice President John DeStefano, who will march in his 37th parade this year, said.
To make ends meet, the fancy brigade at 1815 S. 11th St. will make its own costumes and utilize its members’ trades and skills to alleviate other costs, the resident of Broad and Hartranft streets said of their 25th-anniversary theme, “Apocalypse 2110.”
“Every person in the club contributes in some way or another to get the show on the street,” DeStefano said.
Other groups have found ways to increase funds.
“We had to find other sources of funding with prize money going away,” Coper said. “Although we do perform throughout the year, we rely on the prize money.”
The band typically does about 50 gigs a year, but it has tried to perform more often and also upped its fundraising efforts with parties and raffles at the clubhouse.
The Mummers had extra support this year when Philly natives Kevin and Michael Bacon stepped up to raise cash for next week’s parade. A recording of the duo’s single, “New Year’s Day,” with Bunny Sigler and string band members, a DVD recording of that session and a Dec. 5 concert at the Electric Factory raised a significant amount of money, but that number has yet to be calculated and the Mummers are still seeking donations to cover costs through www.savethemummers.com.
“That was amazing,” Hee said of the Bacon Brothers involvement. “When we first heard about it, it was kind of a little bit of an unbelievable thing. We knew they were from Philly, but why are they interested? This actually does mean a lot to more people other than people involved.”
Added Coper, “It’s a tremendous feeling to have someone of the caliber of the Bacon Brothers lend their support to us … They didn’t have to do it and they chose to do it for us and we couldn’t be happier for that.”
Fralinger members were able to participate in the concert, performing “Golden Slippers,” at the brothers’ request to close the show. Coper, Save the Mummers Chairman George Badey and Fralinger financial secretary Dan Marakowski also performed with the Mummers’ All-Star Band that consisted of members from all 16 string bands.
“Personally, just to see all the fans there at that concert venue and [to] show support was great,” Coper said. “The band loves to perform for people, but that’s extraspecial.”
Marakowski, a native of 27th Street and Snyder Avenue, also was on the track recorded in Center City in June. Playing with the band on stage and in the studio was thrilling, he said.
“I would say it was one of the most interesting and rewarding experiences in my 41-year-old Mummer career,” the resident of Sewell, N.J. said.
Regardless of the costs associated with the parade, those who participate want to see the groups march down Broad Street on a cold, blustery January day for generations to come.
“Many of our families have been doing this for a pretty long period of time,” Coper, who will march in his 40th parade, said. “We don’t want to see it go away. We think it’s pretty unique to Philadelphia.”
This year, youngest son, Brett, 14, will march in his first parade, joining Coper and his eldest son, Jamie, 20.
“It’s a lot about family,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to bond with my sons and it’s like that for many of us.”
Added DeStefano, “It keeps families together, keeps friend together, keeps kids off the streets because they get involved in this. It’s a 365-day-a-year operation.”
This year, DeStefano’s 21-year-old son and secretary of the club, Joseph, will participate in his 22nd parade — his first was as a 10-month-old — while son John, 19, will march in his 19th.
“I hoping someday to have a grandson or granddaughter marching in this parade,” DeStefano said. “That’s why I want this tradition to continue.”
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