Step 1) Determine your organization's budget

Step 2) Decide on the size of professional float you can afford to build

• Car* with wood frame (least expensive, $150.00 & up); AVF**: 6' to 10'
• Pick-up truck with wood frame ($250.00 & up); AVF: 8' to 14'
• Flat Bed Truck with wood bed ($350 & up); AVF: 14' to 20'
• Truck hitched to a wooden trailer bed*** (most expensive, $750.00 & up); AVF: 4' to 40'

*Recommended cars that can be used as floats include medium to large size cars with a hood and trunk. Convertibles, VW bugs, SUVs, mini-vans, etc. are not recommended.

**AVF = average float length. Width for frames will depend on vehicle size.

***If your plans include renting a trailer, plan on visiting the rental site with a tape measure in hand so you can actually measure the trailer you intend to rent. Most phone quotes of trailer sizes can vary up to 18 inches. Once you have physically inspected it then remember to reserve it at least a month ahead of time.

Step 3) Begin thinking about an overall design scheme

• Start by determining how your organization will express this year's Pride theme. Choose your float's overall color scheme, size, shape and the number of signs you will want.
• Keep in mind during this stage that it is important that you sketch out any wood frames you may intend to use. This way you only buy the amount of wood you will actually use. The best wood to create frames out of is 2x4 untreated lumber, a.k.a. 2x4 studs. Typically they are sold in 6' and 8' lengths and cost about $2.50 a board.
• If time allows and your plans include a complex design, consider using a shoe box to make a model of your float.

Step 4) Begin searching for potential free resources

• Gay owned and/or friendly businesses are great sources of float prop donations

  TIP: As a token of appreciation, prepare thank you letters typed on your organization's letterhead expressing your appreciation for their donation. You could include a strand of party beads and/or a picture of your organization's membership. Be prepared to give these letters along with the small token of thanks to all businesses that give you a donation. Businesses love posting thank you letters from the community and it ensures another donation for next year.

• Consider borrowing items from your group's membership and/or from businesses. Borrowing items is a great way to reduce costs. After the parade, be prepared to return the items in the same condition as when they were borrowed.
• Float props such as mannequins
• Costumes
• Sound systems
• Christmas lights
• Trailers
• Vehicles
• Tools
• Your organization's membership, friends and family are your best human resource pool.
• Have a float building, planning or sign making party!
• Ask for several volunteers to begin making pieces of the float weeks prior to the Parade (signs, banners, costumes, etc.)
• Create a list of any and all other community resources that can help you achieve your goal!
• If your float requires wood but you don't have access to a saw and need to have wood cut, locate your nearest building supply store. Most Home Depot and Lowe's stores will cut the wood for you for $0.25 to $0.50 a cut. Call ahead to check because they will not cut some types of wood, like lattice.
• If you don't have a flair for making creative signs you can go to Texas Art Supply on Montrose and purchase letter stencils. Stencils can help you spray paint professional looking letters.
• If your budget permits, copy centers, like copy.com on Westheimer near Montrose, can be a great resource for making large, spray mounted professional signs.

DESIGN TIP: Consistency in font style, size and shape, such as can be achieved with stencils, is crucial for making professional looking signs.

Step 5) Locate potential sources for purchasing your materials

• Be sure to surf the net. Ordering float materials over the Internet means you will pay shipping costs. However, since in most cases you will not have to pay taxes, the shipping costs for UPS three-day ground is significantly less than the price of taxes.
• Often, when purchasing materials, you get bigger discounts when you purchase in volume. Consider contacting as many organizations as you can that intend to build their own float and try to purchase materials as a group and get wholesale prices.
• If your budget allows, you may opt to order a float kit ($400 to $1700). Several companies sell these, including Astro Float Materials and Victory Corps.

Step 6) Purchase your materials

When ordering over the net, do so at least three weeks before the parade. This gives you enough time to receive the materials and, if needed, return and/or replace unwanted goods.

Step 7) Solicit volunteers to help you build the float and notify them in advance of the day(s) they will be needed

Skilled volunteers with their own tools are great Volunteers who know how to operate the tools are ideal! Volunteers knowledgeable at lighting and sound are treasures waiting to be found.

Step 8) Plan on a time frame for building your float

NOTE: A professional float involves time and proparation. These floats are not for those who wish to build the morning of the parade.

• You should plan on beginning to make complex and detailed structures such as signs, stages and large props two to three weeks prior to the parade. They should be completed the weekend before the parade.
• Plan on constructing the wood frame around the vehicle you will use at least one day prior to the parade. Plan then on spending a good portion of the day mounting the floral sheeting and signs, which you completed the weekend prior, onto the frame and vehicle. A crew of three to seven volunteers should help you with this process.
• Beginning the morning of the parade, plan on finishing by placing final details onto your float. This will include placing the trim and 3-D portions of your signs, and testing all lighting and sound. The last part of your float creation should be to place the trim around the base of the float.
• NOTE: For large trailers (18 feet+), planning and construction will take longer. Plan on building most of the larger pieces at least a month prior to the parade. Divide this task by assigning individual members to build specific float parts at their homes. Plan on everyone bringing their sections in the day prior to the parade and then completing the float over a two-day period.
• Keep in mind: Wooden vehicle-mounted frames can be constructed over a two- to three-hour period. They are relatively inexpensive, ranging from $30 to $50 worth of materials. They are very simple structures requiring only the most basic knowledge of tools. The time-consuming parts of building frame floats include:
• Gathering your materials and tools
• Making signs
• Making large ornate props

Step 9) Strut your stuff at the Houston Pride Parade!

Step 10) Have a plan for discarding disposable float materials (see next section, Hidden Obstacles)

Hidden obstacles

• If you plan on using a flatbed trailer, you will need a pickup truck strong enough to haul it and it must have a hitch to connect the trailer to.
• You will need a place to store your trailer and assemble your float at least two days prior to the parade. This could potentially be the driveway of a group member who lives near the parade site.
• You will need to locate a place where you can dispose of the non-reusable float materials on the Sunday or Monday after the parade.

  TIP: For large floats with several structures that will not be reused: In advance, weeks prior to the parade, call around to community resources that may be interested in using the wooden structures of your float that you intend to discard. Places like community playhouses and day care centers often welcome stage props such as wooden parade platforms. Agree on a mutually convenient site and day for them to pick up your non-reusable materials. This will reduce your need to dump large amounts of rubbish and benefit others through recycling.

• You will need a sound system with large speakers to play music on your float.
• If your float will have a sound system, select your music ahead of time since often you will need to create your own CD or tape of the selections you plan on playing during the parade.

  TIP: Music should be high-energy dance music that reflects your organization's mission and/or the float's theme.

The science of float design

• When selecting colors to include in your float, remember that light colors show up best against dark color float coverings (such as vinyl floral sheeting) and vice versa.
  Example: Pride rainbow colors show up best against a black or white background.
• Determine a few key elements of your float you want to really showcase and which elements you intend to fade into the background.
  Example: a flashy light sign goes best against a solid colored background
• A combination of straight lines with curved lines increases visual interest.
  TIP: Use wooden lattice slates and/or 1/2" PVC pipe to make large curved float structures.
• A combination of heights increases visual interest.
• A combination of textures increases visual interest.
• You can include shiny materials like aluminum foil, corrugated metal sheeting and roof flashing with non-shiny materials like cardboard and colored butcher paper
• Include fuzzy materials like Astroturf and batting (used to stuff pillows) with slick materials like plastic bags and fabrics.
• Clustering like items in three's or five's works best for design.
• Incorporating simple movable parts in your float increases visual interest.
• Large patterns work best when balanced with small patterns.
• Add ample trim (a.k.a. Twist) to your float, especially when two different colors meet and on all edges and angles.
• When using a car or pickup truck float in a nighttime parade, capitalize on colors and materials to maximize brightness.
• Use light colors as sheeting: yellow, white, orange, pastels
• Use premium metallic sheeting
• Use metallic twists as trim
• Use metallic fringe
• Use battery-operated light-up pins, hats, signs, beads, etc.
• Use small battery-operated Christmas lights sold at Arne's on a 10 strand line
• Use chemical light necklaces, bracelets and rods
• Use glitter lettering when making signs
• Incorporate mirrors into your float design. Mirrors can be cut to any desired size and shape with a glasscutter or by any store that sells glass.

The science of sign design

• Combinations of shapes increase visual interest.

  Example: Triangular shaped signs with circular overlays

• 3-D signs increase visual appeal.

  Example: Include mannequin parts like hands and heads that pop out of your signs, or hats, articles of clothing, etc.

• Clean, large uniform fonts are the key to professional looking signs.
• Large lettering made on individually cut letters reads best on parade float signs.
• Glitter lettering increases visual appeal.
• The fewer words the better when it comes to sign making.
• If your budget allows, consider going to a copy center to have interesting photos enlarged and mounted on foam board to include on your signs.
• Backlit signs are an option for placing lights directly on the sign.
• Try to include at least one prominent sign that includes the logo of the Pride Parade

Tools checklist

All professional float-building projects require most, if not all, of the following tools:

• Hammer
• Phillips screwdriver
• Regular screwdriver
• Electric hot glue gun
• Electric drill (TIP: Home Depot rental info: 4 hrs=$6.OO, full day=$8.00, cordless 18V)
• Drill bits
• Electric circular saw (TIP: Home Depot rental info: 4 hrs=$8.00, full day=$12.00)
• Staple gun
• Standard stapler
• Staple remover
• Tape measure
• Yardstick
• Standard 12" ruler
• Scissors
• Box cutters
• Grounded (three-prong) extension cords

Large floats also usually require:

• Electric saw (TIP: Home Depot rental info: 4 hrs=$11.00, full day=$16.00)
• Sound system and connection wires
• Lighting and Extension Cords
• Generator

Plan on borrowing these tools from your organization's membership. Most homeowners will have a variety of these common household tools in their home toolbox.