Today is a big day. It’s “Super Fat Tuesday”, the day you can not only cast a ballot that may impact the future our entire nation and drink a Hurricane with enough liquor to tank a nation. I’m a Louisianian who now resides in California, so Fat Tuesday and Super Tuesday are both calling me.
Since I am unwilling to share my political leanings with you and may not be fit to type in a few hours (all that time on the Second Line is exhausting), I thought I’d share a few tidbits with you. I’ve shared the opportunities to be found during election season. So, I thought I’d share a few facts about the business of Mardi Gras. It’s too late to get in on this business this year, but file this one away to help you prep for next year.
MARDI GRAS INDUSTRY FACTS
- Mardi Gras generates over $840 million annually
- Mardi Gras usually brings in more than $300 million in tourist dollars each year
- Mardi Gras attracts 300,000 to 400,000 visitors per year to New Orleans alone (That’s not including those descending upon other cities in Louisiana and other parts of the country)
- Hospitality is the largest industry in New Orleans, employing as many as 85,000 people and generating about a third of the city’s operating budget
- Over 28,000 hotel rooms are occupied during Mardi Gras weekend
- Mardi Gras supply houses in New Orleans sell more than 41 million pairs of beads
- The super parades of Endymion and Bacchus, scheduled for the Saturday and Sunday before Fat Tuesday, feature a combined total of 75 floats, 60 marching bands and more than 250 units. Their 2,300 members toss more than 1.5 million cups, 2.5 million doubloons and 200,000 gross of beads.
- The five truck parades that follow the krewes of Rex, Argus and Grela on Fat Tuesday feature more than 350 decorated flatbeds with nearly 15,000 costumed maskers aboard.
- New Orleans Mint turns out about 3 million doubloons (aluminum coins tossed by parade krewes)
- Parades will feature more than 500 floats
- Mardi Gras revelers and parade krewes will purchase thousands of costumes and masks (One costumer manufacturer, D&D Creations, makes approximately 15,000 Mardi Gras costumes annually)
And that only accounts for the shiny bits. Millions will be spent on trash removal, gas, security, recycling, emergency medical personnel (on standby), labor, marketing and promotions.
The highlighted links contain job listings that will help you prepare for the Mardi Gras business. Check out the job listings and don’t forget to vote. Enjoy Super Fat Tuesday!
Stuff You Might Also Like
If you liked my post, feel free to subscribe to my rss feeds
Loading ...
