How much do the flambeaus in Nola Mardi Gras parades make?

Interesting article. Just show up before the parade and you're hired.

https://www.noladefender.com/content/carrying-torch

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Flambeau carriers were never forced to be carriers. They were always paid.
Originally they were paid $1.50. After World War II, the price was raised
to $2.00. Though the carriers were already getting paid 50 cents more than
prewar prices, they wanted to increase the pay to 5.00. This caused a problem for many of the parades. It came to a point that the parades had to have fewer flambeau, and hire white men to carry them.

Eventually, the problems was resolved, and the flambeau were back alongside the floats. The pay is much higher these days and carriers can make up to $ 300 or $ 400 from the tips received from paradegoers.

“It was a hell of a lot of fun and I always made at least a $100. It was really tiring though,” said Matt ‘Slyfox’ J Thomas, a local New Orleans resident who happened upon being a flambeau carrier. “I never talked to anyone about being a carrier. It’s just something you find out about. I just went to the beginning of the parade route a few hours before the parade started and they gave me a number and a flambeau.”

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Interesting link, thanks for that.


I find the customs and traditions of Mardi Gras interesting. We fight classism and such, but then we participate in the very customs that reinforce such ideas. The upper class throwing things at the peasant class as they parade around. Just fascinating.

They've gotten lazy lately. I give out some singles occasionally but I want a little showmanship for my dollar. Twirl it a little or at least act interested and lively. Saw too many just walking with a little net or cap extended. Basically just pan handling at that point

They quit spinning and twirling a while back.

They used to know the sound of a quarter vs. a nickel vs. dabloon etc.

We'd heat up quarters with lighters and throw them into the street and watch the hilarity ensue



We were kids, so lighten up

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We'd heat up quarters with lighters and throw them into the street and watch the hilarity ensue

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The trick was to hold the quarter between two other coins.

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The upper class throwing things at the peasant class as they parade around. Just fascinating.

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There's only one or two groups that parade in New Orleans that would be considered "upper class".

And I'm sure the family with the big party in front of their multi-million dollar house on St. Charles yesterday really identifies as the peasant class.

I'm talking about the representation/symbolism. It's obviously morphed into something much different these days, but symbolically, people still represent a side of social class whether they truly belong in that class or not. However, its still a reminder of how the old-line Mardi Gras started.

I enjoy Mardi Gras like everyone else. Just interesting to consider the history and symbolism, IMHO.