Our Process

At this point we begin the process of creating your float.

The Custom Float Process has a few more steps required to determine the cost of the float. Also, we ask that the Custom Float Process is begun at least 90 days prior your event. From the perspective of the builders of your float we want to emphasize that the more time we are granted to create your props the more detail can be applied to the float. This mostly has to do with the materials preparation time. The nicest props are made of materials that take time to cure and that cure time is a repetitious pattern over the period of a month or two. This mostly applies to 3-D props. Printed materials for floats can be printed within a few days.

It is important to determine your needs and boundaries. For us at Parade Float Shop, the boundaries are more than the budget. We need to understand where your vision is headed, so we can help you achieve it as best as possible. This could be the question of, do you want us to be the sole creator or do we collaborate? When someone sees the scene on your float, what should the float say to the spectator? Are you looking for a subtle but direct, creative scene or do you want your scene on blast mode?

If we are not designing your float then feel free to move to the next step. Otherwise please continue.

Whether you create the float design, or we do, this is the most fun part of the process. At Parade Float Shop we want to dig deep into your inner artist and depict your idea. This is the point where we need to determine the boundaries of the project.

All ideas in this phase are great. Here we see everything as different levels of practicality. Our only concern in this phase, here at Parade Float Shop, is safety. How can we make your float safe. At this phase you will never hear, at least from us, that your idea will not work. We can create anything. We are going to inform you on what will be required to manifest the project, from a practical perspective. In the next phase you will determine if it is practical for your use-case. We recommend that you pitch at least 2 ideas to begin the sketches.

It is best if we follow the standards of the parade organizers. The best organized parades provide a rule book with the limits enforced by the parade organizers. These rules usually pertain mostly to safety. Such as height limits because of power lines or streetlights. Or the length limits because of sharp turns along the parade route. Each event has its own standard.

We will create a virtual, scaled 3-D model of your idea so you can visualize the float. This is where you should make as many changes as you see fit to accomplish your set goals. Changes in this phase carry little cost compared to when you are in the building phase. We can change anything at any phase, it will just require more costly resources if the change occurs later in the process.

This is where you will decide if the project is practical and justified to accomplish your set goals.

We will create the documentation to move forward with the project.

You will receive the documentation.

You will receive the documentation within 24 hours of the approval date. The documentation will include the drawing and the itemized list of customizations.

Customizations are paid at this point.

During this time, you will see the project come to life. It is also important to note that we will build and install everything but the paper products. The paper products are installed on the day of the event as near the event as possible. It is very difficult to drive with the paper products installed without having them fall off. This is a quick action. On most floats it takes about 30 minutes to complete.