THE ADVISOR: The Modern Homecoming Float

The days of a flatbed truck driving slowly, with float participants waving to the crowd are being replaced by elaborate Broadway- Esque productions. High school students live in the age of multi-media, with an innate ability to deliver homecoming productions that are appealing to their MTV generation peers. The modern homecoming’s multi dimensional approach has truly made it an anticipated event for more than just the homecoming courts’ parents. Crowds are arriving early to see a top notch performance and not just your same old parade.

So what is it that they are doing differently? First of all, these students are taking time to plan. These elaborate homecoming productions require ample planning. These schools are spending months designing floats, stages, props, and creating a well-seamed theme. Secondly, they have gotten rid of the flatbed truck float approach. They are designing portable, light weight, easy to move, multi dimensional backdrops instead. They are turning the center of the football field or track into a mini- stage with all of the dimensions and elevations. A lot of schools are soliciting the help of students from the drama programs who design backdrops and staging. Perhaps, the most important difference is that these schools are taking a multi-media approach. They are taking time to record voice-overs, and they are getting away from using an open microphone. By using the voice-overs these schools can control the quality of sound and they can add sound affects, as well. Moreover, many schools are using video affects to help deliver that little extra something to their floats. The biggest difference found in the “modern homecoming” is the high quality of performances that accompany the float. In fact, most of these elaborate floats become secondary to the performances delivered by the float participants. Some schools are using skits to help deliver their homecoming theme, and others are using a mixture of skits, dance routines and live musical numbers to deliver their theme. Most of these schools are depending on the talents of a broader pool of students then previously before. Just by including more people in the float performances appeals to a much larger audience. Now, the audience feels they have something or someone invested in the float performance and they become a much more active audience.

The Modern Homecoming is a reflection of the changing needs and wants of the students. Everyone enjoys a show filled with singing, dancing, and both costume and scenery changes. So why should a homecoming performance be any different?