ConeyIsland.com Message Boards - Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low?

electricia

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Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low?
Jun 22^nd, 2008, 4:44pm

It was my first time as a judge, so I had no previous life experience with bribery. But friends who'd been judges in years past told us we'd get lots of beer. We expected to drag home bags full of beer, whiskey and tequila Cheesy

Didn't happen! Even the MCs said over the mike bribes were scarce this year. It must be the failing economy. Or a new generation of mer people averse to the tradition of bribery? We sent out this child judge to beg but as you can see it didn't do much good. This group squirted him with a water pistol. Typical!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27469924@N06/2601306348/in/set-72157605746915120

I did manage to grab one can of beer (for me) and a baseball cap (for my husband) from Brooklyn Brewery. I sort of remember helping the chief justice pour sake for the other judges and having a little sip myself. I think it was about 20 minutes into the parade with no beer, my friend and fellow judge finally splurged on take out daiquiris for our group from the place on the corner.

Thank you to the generous mermaid with the treasure chest filled with veils and beads and I dont know what else cause it was snatched up almost instantaneously!

Best marching group and cleverest bribe (that I know about): Congrats to the first prize marching group winners the Marie Antoinettes' on their performance and their beautiful rum cakes ("Let them eat cake!"). Somebody passed me a paper plate with a few tasty morsels. Class act.

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poodleworld CI Tourist Offline I love Coney Island Posts: 8 Brooklyn! Gender:	Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low? Reply #1 - Jun 22^nd, 2008, 5:59pm I hope some of you enjoyed the the big jug of delicious lime coladas I mixed up special for you! We got the bum's rush out of there so fast, I actually have no idea what happened.
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CMc CI Tourist Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 3	Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low? Reply #2 - Jun 22^nd, 2008, 11:59pm Hi!!! I was the mermaid w. the trunk... I lost my tulip signs which said "save coney's community gardens" (I'm not sure if someone took them thinking they were also a bribe?) I would gladly trade something else for them....(they belong to a friend of mine). Many thanks for any info. and happy summer!!!!
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The Chief Justice

Aspiring Carny

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Kiddie Rides at 2AM?
Yeah, we got that.

Posts: 177

Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low?
Reply #3 - Jun 23^rd, 2008, 9:57am

I am sorry to report that indeed the bribes were kind of weak this year. Although there were some bright spots (cupcakes, sake, a trunk full of stuff, etc.)

Various theories about the lack of bribes are floating around, but in my experience these things come in waves.

Have your bribery surf board ready for next year. I am predicting a big wave is coming!

BTW, I never saw any lime-based drinks. There was a big jug of Vodka and OJ given out.

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The Chief Justice Aspiring Carny Offline Kiddie Rides at 2AM? Yeah, we got that. Posts: 177	Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low? Reply #4 - Jun 23^rd, 2008, 9:59am C: I didn't grab the sign. It must have been lost in the shuffle.
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JollyMarineAntoinette

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LET THEM EAT CAKE!

Posts: 24

Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low?
Reply #5 - Jun 23^rd, 2008, 10:05pm

electricia wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2008, 4:44pm:

It was my first time as a judge, so I had no previous life experience with bribery. But friends who'd been judges in years past told us we'd get lots of beer. We expected to drag home bags full of beer, whiskey and tequila Cheesy

Didn't happen! Even the MCs said over the mike bribes were scarce this year. It must be the failing economy. Or a new generation of mer people averse to the tradition of bribery? We sent out this child judge to beg but as you can see it didn't do much good. This group squirted him with a water pistol. Typical!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2601306348_09bf89d523.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27469924@N06/2601306348/in/set-72157605746915120

I did manage to grab one can of beer (for me) and a baseball cap (for my husband) from Brooklyn Brewery. I sort of remember helping the chief justice pour sake for the other judges and having a little sip myself. I think it was about 20 minutes into the parade with no beer, my friend and fellow judge finally splurged on take out daiquiris for our group from the place on the corner.

Thank you to the generous mermaid with the treasure chest filled with veils and beads and I dont know what else cause it was snatched up almost instantaneously!

Best marching group and cleverest bribe (that I know about): Congrats to the first prize marching group winners the Marie Antoinettes' on their performance and their beautiful rum cakes ("Let them eat cake!"). Somebody passed me a paper plate with a few tasty morsels. Class act.

Thank you for 1st Place Judges. As the Marine Antoinette in charge of gift bags (umm bribes), I took my job very seriously. The judges were more spread out this year so it was kind of hard to know who to hand off too, but I matched the champagne, pink gift bags with French candies, et al to our banner. Lia our very own professional pastry chef slaved away on those amazing mermaid cakes. Cheers

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rikomatic CI Tourist Offline I love lindy hop and b-boying! Posts: 15 Brooklyn Gender:	Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low? Reply #6 - Jun 23^rd, 2008, 11:12pm Dude, the Brooklyn Bombshells brought some serious bride action this year: booze, food, DVDs... everything short of sexual favors. (at least that I know of.)
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The Chief Justice

Aspiring Carny

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Kiddie Rides at 2AM?
Yeah, we got that.

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Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low?
Reply #7 - Jun 24^th, 2008, 11:47am

Those cupcakes were incredible (both in design and taste). We took photos before we all ate them! I tried hard to give them out equitably. Dick didn't like his and we almost killed him when he dropped the remainder on the floor.

Bombshells, you're a victim of your own past successes. Last year you guys covered me in Beautiful Bombshells and then offered me a really nice jersey (which the beauties indicated was hand picked for me). That's a hard act to follow.

All that aside, the Bombshells as usual did an amazing job and if I recall correctly you did win AGAIN! (Just not first place.)

The odd thing is that it seems like the best participants always have the best bribes. Even without bribes, I know that both the Bombshells and the Marines would have been very strong contenders for trophies! If you guys remember the Topsy Trilogy (one of the best floats of all time), they were also really great bribers. Go figure.

I'm pushing for a BRIBE show at the Museum. We've been saving some of the best for many years. There has been some amazing stuff. Stay tuned. It may take a while, but we're pushing for it.

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JollyMarineAntoinette

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LET THEM EAT CAKE!

Posts: 24

Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low?
Reply #8 - Jun 24^th, 2008, 1:28pm

The Chief Justice wrote on Jun 24^th, 2008, 11:47am:

Those cupcakes were incredible (both in design and taste). We took photos before we all ate them! I tried hard to give them out equitably. Dick didn't like his and we almost killed him when he dropped the remainder on the floor.

Bombshells, you're a victim of your own past successes. Last year you guys covered me in Beautiful Bombshells and then offered me a really nice jersey (which the beauties indicated was hand picked for me). That's a hard act to follow.

All that aside, the Bombshells as usual did an amazing job and if I recall correctly you did win AGAIN! (Just not first place.)

The odd thing is that it seems like the best participants always have the best bribes. Even without bribes, I know that both the Bombshells and the Marines would have been very strong contenders for trophies! If you guys remember the Topsy Trilogy (one of the best floats of all time), they were also really great bribers. Go figure.

I'm pushing for a BRIBE show at the Museum. We've been saving some of the best for many years. There has been some amazing stuff. Stay tuned. It may take a while, but we're pushing for it.

Going to see if I can post a picture, newbie posting (but not reading) on this site .. So this may or may not come out as a picture of the gift bags and us on the subway

If not they are also on my Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/practicingmuse/2603382767/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/practicingmuse/2603382767/

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JollyMarineAntoinette CI Tourist Offline LET THEM EAT CAKE! Posts: 24	Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low? Reply #9 - Jun 24^th, 2008, 1:31pm Oh yes, and the rest of the few photos I took amongst the whirlwind are on Flickr too http://www.flickr.com/photos/practicingmuse/sets/72157605764183250/
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The Chief Justice

Aspiring Carny

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Kiddie Rides at 2AM?
Yeah, we got that.

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Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low?
Reply #10 - Jun 24^th, 2008, 4:36pm

Marine:

I, The Chief Justice, didn't see those bags. I hope someone grabbed one for posterity's sake (and the historical record). I'll check with my boss, Mrs. Chief Justice, or her boss, The Little Chief Justice. If not -- c'est la vie.

As Madame Defarge said, "Guillotine, GUILLOTINE!"

I hold in my hand the winner's list, but alas you all must wait for the official announcement!

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JollyMarineAntoinette

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LET THEM EAT CAKE!

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Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low?
Reply #11 - Jun 24^th, 2008, 5:51pm

The Chief Justice wrote on Jun 24^th, 2008, 4:36pm:

Marine:

I, The Chief Justice, didn't see those bags. I hope someone grabbed one for posterity's sake (and the historical record). I'll check with my boss, Mrs. Chief Justice, or her boss, The Little Chief Justice. If not -- c'est la vie.

As Madame Defarge said, "Guillotine, GUILLOTINE!"

I hold in my hand the winner's list, but alas you all must wait for the official announcement!

Well I am so glad that the cupcakes reached you properly at least. The champagne bottles too. So many hot little hands went out for the gift bags, I hope at least a few made it to the judges. They had fans, our back story, rock candy, French taffy, champagne and cake confetti, etc and then individual champagne glasses and then in what I think was my greatest idea yet was hot pink rock candy with our Rock Me Amadeus song on it, just as a reminder of who we were (subliminal messages). We tried to cover fabulousness on all fronts dance, music, costume, banner, float, crowd and judge love, sea worship, etc. I will stand patiently by and see what cherries can go on our Let Them Eat Cake next...

Our Vogue dance is currently up on CNN at about :50 http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-38442

I hope tonights meeting goes well, I want Coney Island forever....
So says the French Queen (or one of them at least)

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The Chief Justice

Aspiring Carny

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Kiddie Rides at 2AM?
Yeah, we got that.

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Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low?
Reply #12 - Jun 25^th, 2008, 10:17am

It's going to kill me if we didn't save one of those gift bags.

If any greedy judges have one I respectfully request that you hand it over to the Chief Justice for safe-keeping. We really want to do the BRIBE SHOW at the Museum. And if Marine's description is half-accurate her package deserves a place of honor. And I'm not asking anyone to do something I wouldn't do, we'll be donating our entire Bribe Collection (from many years of the Parade) to the Museum.

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harris CI Tourist Offline I Love Coney Island! Posts: 11	Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low? Reply #13 - Jun 25^th, 2008, 1:14pm I know the Little Chief Justice got one of those bags. I practically wrenched the arm off of one the Antoinettes, to make sure it went in to his bag of bribery.
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The Chief Justice Aspiring Carny Offline Kiddie Rides at 2AM? Yeah, we got that. Posts: 177	Re: Bribery of Mermaid Parade Judges at a Low? Reply #14 - Jun 25^th, 2008, 1:29pm Thanks Harris. You're absolutely right. I just checked with Mrs. Chief Justice and she confirms that we have a Marine gift bag in good condition! The Chief Justice is always the last to know. Harris, thanks for looking out for the Lil' Chief and paying attention. And as always, great job judging.
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