With the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras AGM only days away, one prospective board candidate has said: “Let’s bring the floats home to Oxford Street.”
James ‘Breko’ Brechney, the man best known for the DIY Rainbow Campaign and prospective Mardi Gras Board Candidate has suggested a reversal of the world-famous parade finishing with a Castro-style street party in Oxford Street, as part of his “7 Point Plan to Save Mardi Gras” published on his website.
“It strikes me odd that we finish the Parade at Moore Park,” says Brechney. “A lot of parade participants head home for a shower before returning to the Official SGLMG Party at the nearby Hordern Pavilion and the rest of those not interested in Party have quite a walk in front of them to find a post parade drink.”
“If we reversed the Parade direction not only is there a lot more space to deal with the increasing numbers of floats and participants at Moore Park during bump in but you get to finish the show at the heart of LGBTQI Australia right on Oxford Street.”
“Ending the night with a Castro style block party involving all venues, keeping the road closed until 11pm or Midnight and/or a party in Hyde Park South would be incredible.”
“The perceived Us vs Them mentality between SGLMG and our venues needs to stop. It’s time to embrace and include those who know how to pull off great events and how to generate a profit from them.”
“Imagine a Mardi Gras Party wristband that could get you into our local venues with, for example, Ricky Martin at Stonewall, Anthony Callea at the Oxford and RuPaul at Palms – Heaven!!”
“There’s been some suggestion of taking the Parade down to Darling Harbour. This seems to me to be another version of the Hordern Pavilion concept on the other side of the city. You have the punters already on Oxford Street with their money in hand to party. It’s a great opportunity that we should really think about.”
“I’m realistic about what one board member can achieve and how many years it may take to get something like this to happen but we need new, fresh and exciting ideas to evolve the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras.”
In addition to his Reverse the Parade suggestion, Brechney’s ‘7 Point Plan’ also includes: A Live National TV Broadcast; Make a Profit; and Defer the Election. His remaining 3 points will be released over the next few days.
The 2014 Mardi Gras AGM takes place this Saturday 23 August. For more information, visit: www.mardigras.org.au For more information about James Brechney, visit: www.jamesbrechney.com
Image: James ‘Breko’ Brechney