November 2019: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

TianaAmazon
Apr 29, 2022
10 min read

I started writing this blog in early December 2019. Just a few months before the pandemic changed all of our lives. I revisited my draft in February 2020. I'm not sure why I had stopped, to be honest. A lot was happening behind the scenes. My mother was gravely ill, my sister and I moved back into the house to help care for her, my best friend, Joshua, who everyone lovingly called Papito, who was a brother to me... suddenly passed, at the young age of 32. Fly High Papito! I got a red rose tattooed on me, just for you! I have to stop and talk to him, when I mention him.

Continuing... on New Years Day 2020 I started talking to a guy on a dating app.. and we talked everyday for altogether like 3 months. We met like a week after chatting. And we were getting close. I guess I put this blog on the back burner. And when "new guy" turned into "meh guy", I stopped and I shouldn't have. Writing is my passion. But here I am again, ready to share my adventures. You'll notice my font for this blog is green and purple. Purple is what I had written then, and it goes back to green for what I've written now. Thanks for coming back!

**This blog is about my experience with Macy's Singing Tree Float as part of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade** These events took place between Monday 11/25 and Friday 11/29/2019**

The Singing Tree Float is a chorus made up of 75 or so Macy’s employees and 25 Delta employees. I auditioned to be a part of this in May 2019, and was advised I made thecut in June 2019! All of the information is provided via an app, including music, lyrics, lodging, and transportation. This year we were given an original song (written just for the parade) and a medley of 3 Christmas carols to sing while on the parade route. The original song is only sung in front of Macy’s in Herald's Square.

Day 1: I couldn't sleep the night before! I think I went to bed at like 2am! I was super excited and nervous, and mostly excited. It still wasn’t real! I was going to, not only be in the Macy’s Parade, but sing in the parade too! My biggest nerves were if the “costume” was going to fit. And my position on the tree. Worst case, I was going to walk it. And I had my comfy walking shoes ready! It is a long walk, but when I auditioned for the Singing Tree, I signed a waiver that I could walk the parade if necessary. Being handpicked was an honor and I wasn’t going to let any anxiety get in the way of me having a great experience. I was all smiles from the moment I landed!

This morning was particularly cold in Tampa at 55 degrees, and interestingly the same temperature in New York City! I was good with that! Last years parade was 17 degrees!

There wasn’t much relaxing on the itinerary that was sent to us. Day 1 was checking in at the hotel, then meeting buses to take us to a welcome dinner, then straight to rehearsals after that. I arrived at 3pm, and was scheduled from 4:30pm-10pm. We met at 11 Penn Plaza and were bussed to our Dinner!

The dinner venue is amazing, while waiting to get seated I meet and chat with other chorus members. Everyone is friendly and excited, and happy!

We finally go in and it is super fancy. There are waiters passing hors d'oeuvres, a drink station, and selfie stations.

Big Wigs are here too! I got the privilege to get a selfie with Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette.

As we get settled for the welcome reception, I am stopped by the Creative Director. He recognizes me from my video interview (see previous blog post!). He goes on to tell me that he would like to meet with me after rehearsals because they have specially ordered clothes for me, as well as a seamstress on hand, to make sure my costume fits perfectly.. The way he says this to me, made me feel so special. I mean he literally said, he wants me to feel special because I am! And the icing on the cake? I was picked, along with another person, to be on the front of the float with the music composer! I couldn’t believe it! I was going to be front and center! We exchange numbers so I can meet him at the costume suite later that evening, and hurry back to the dinner table grinning from ear to ear!

The night gets even better. A few weeks prior to this evening, we were asked if there were any fun facts we’d like to share about ourselves. CEO Jeff starts the reception by thanking everyone for being there and congratulating us for such a huge accomplishment, and of course shares some fun facts. This year was the 3rd annual Signing Tree. And there had been 3 couples who were married or engaged after meeting on the Tree! How crazy and sweet is that! He talked about members who made it on the Top 40 of American Idol or had sung on the stage for America’s Got Talent. And then I hear my name! *insert spit take here* Jeff goes on to tell everyone how I can sing Christmas Carols in 5 languages! I totally forgot I had filled this out! And yes, it’s true. I know Christmas Carols in English, Spanish, Polish, French, and German! So he has me stand up, and asks me to sing! On the spot, acapella… and in front of everyone... I belt out 10 seconds of a Polish Christmas Carol, and then a French one! I hear applause all around me, but I am still kind of in shock! Like the memory is a blur instantly, because I couldn’t believe I wasn’t shy at that moment! It really was a special moment for me. When I say, I felt like a Princess, it’s an understatement.

The dinner and service were amazing!

On to rehearsals! Buses take us there, and everyone is kind of quiet and full, but ready! We had gotten our music weeks before and now was time to put it all together. The rehearsal hall has choir sections with chairs and names on the seats. I find the Alto section, and am surprised to see my seat is front row! Woohoo! Right in front of the music director, no pressure!

My view from my seat in rehearsals! Front row!

Rehearsals last about 2.5 hours, and while I would've stayed for 5 hours if needed, I was ready to get back to the hotel. The walk back at my pace is about 30 minutes.

I take a leisurely walk and about halfway to the hotel, where I meet up with a friend. We walk back together. He flew out to New York to see me in the parade (and the parade of course).

Our walk back leads us right through a path where you can see the Empire State Building!

The walk did feel like forever. A lot was done in just one day, and I was ready to knock the eff out!

Back at the hotel, the Creative Director Paul, messages me, and I meet him in his suite for my first fitting. I try on my costume and everything fits a little tight. A few alterations will need to be made, so it fits comfortably. He takes pics and videos to show the seamstress and fashion designers. We chat a little, and I'm free to go.

I took a nice long hot shower ( really about 20 mins)! At close to midnight I got a call from the front desk asking if our bathroom had flooded! It hadn't. Unfortunately, the room underneath ours was raining from the ceiling! A night engineer came by the room to inspect the bathroom, and after stating all was well and squeezing in some practice time, I fell asleep at about 1 am.

Day 2: Woke up at 6:30 am. In the morning I barely ate breakfast because I didn't want to be lagging for the long walk to rehearsals. After assessing the walk, I decided I would be taking a Lyft, and instantly regretted not eating a fuller meal. Oh well! I was still excited about practice.

Today would prove to be a long day. Rehearsals started at 8 am and ran through 12pm when it was lunchtime. At around 10 am, Paul comes with the seamstress and fashion designer for a 2nd fitting. The seamstress wants to see me in person, and I'm ok with that!

At lunch, it was told that we would be walking about 3 or 4 blocks. They lied! It was about 7-8 and when I got to the venue, I was exhausted. The only seats were high-top bar stools…I looked around anxiously, sweating. Dang, I can’t get on these stools! I was told there were low tables and chairs in the upstairs seating, but the food wasn’t ready. I was too tired to go up the stairs to wait for the food, only to have to climb down and go back up. I was just thinking about the 15-20 minute walk back. See the walk wasn’t the issue. It’s just that we have to be back at rehearsals by 1 pm. And I walk slowly, so I decided to forgo lunch and start walking back. I figured I’d grab some street cart food and eat back in the lounge area outside the practice hall.

My decision wasn’t in vain! I had some Halal Guys, and it was amazing.

And as I was waiting for the rest of the choir to get back, a lot of people stated they never got to eat! One person said he literally ate a spoonful and had to abandon his plate so he wouldn’t be late!

Practice starts back up after an apology from the staff, that the lunch restaurant would be better prepared the next day. We do lots of moving around, singing with other sections, and singing while walking around the room. Judy Clurman, our music director and co-composer of The Holiday Carol, is strict and intimidating, and I love it! She is so passionate and wants us to be the best. I expected no less! Tomorrow (day 3) we will be recording her song to sing along with in front of NBC. We’re getting down to the wire, and at about 5:30 pm we get our dinner break.

Dinner is our choice tonight. Not really wanting to go too far, I'm in luck and find a deli around the corner! And they have tables and chairs to eat at.

I have to try a chopped cheese! I had seen a viral video about this guy saying this is a staple item, cheaply priced and traditionally found in bodegas in the Bronx and Harlem. It is a grilled sandwich with ground beef and onions and then topped with melted cheese. It comes with lettuce, tomato, and mayo, on a hero roll.

I didn’t stay at the deli during my entire dinner break. I ended up back in the lounge area outside of practice. Just relaxed on the sofa, until it was time for practice to start. This time after dinner the entire rehearsal hall was cleared and a mock Singing Tree is displayed. We all find out where we will be for the parade. We practice not only singing, but getting on the float, and evacuating. And people who are walking and moving prop wrapped presents, coordinate and choreograph their steps. It’s a long day, and we are all excited and exhausted.

Practice ended earlier than scheduled at around 9:30 pm that night, and we all promised to rehearse on our own. I ended up sharing a Lyft with some other ladies back to the hotel. After some more practice, it’s time for bed! Oh, and I forgot to say. After I’d left that morning, my room has to be swapped. Turns out there was a big leak in my original room!

Day 3: Up at 7 am today. This morning I eat a little bit more at breakfast. Mostly bacon, sausage, some OJ, and water to go. I catch a Lyft with two other choir members, one of which is Lonzell. Lonzell and I work together, and we are in our local Macy’s Clearwater Choir too.

While today will be a short day at rehearsals, it is super important! We are recording the main song and it has to be perfect! There aren’t microphones on the float, so we’ll be singing along to our voices. After more than a few tries we get it right, and by 12pm we are released!

I skip the provided lunch and pick up some sandwiches from the deli around the corner, then head back to the hotel. Just before 2 pm, I get a text from Paul that I can come anytime. I head over and have my final fitting. My sweater and coat have been altered to fit my body and it sure does fit! Best of all I get to keep them after! I'm pretty much free for the end of the day, with the exception of grabbing my costume between 2-9 pm. I decide to lay low, eat lunch in the room, and take a nap.

I had made plans with my friend Lyndsay, a New York City local, to meet for dinner. After asking for recommendations, she made reservations at Love Mama, the best Pho spot for sure! I arrived earlier than our reservation but found a cool thrift store nearby to checkout. I bought some comic books and a graphic novel for $3!

Love Mama did not disappoint!

And for dessert, we literally went around the corner! Lindsay recommend Insomnia Cookies, and I took some goodies back to my hotel room.

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I want to wrap my experience at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade by saying, it was truly a once in a lifetime moment. I wish I could go back in time, and give you a detailed breakdown of the experience, but too much time has passed by for me. I do remember a shuttle bus taking us close to where we would start in the parade. I remembered climbing up the side stairs to the float and having to have one hand on the rails at all times. I remember seeing all the happy faces, and waving, and people waving back. And in-between singing, there was smiling, and well actually, you’re smiling the whole time. I will never forget the faces in the crowd, the happiness in my heart, I will hold the memories of the parade in my heart forever!

And while, my friends, this was a magical moment… singing Christmas Carols and seeing the crowd, and being a part of parade history… I was spoiled being on that float! The float dropped us off 2 blocks from the hotel… but because of the way they have blocked off streets.. there is no access and I end up having to walk… no exaggeration… 13 blocks! Thirteen blocks!!!!! My big butt was dragging! My legs were like noodles from standing in place on that float… in the same spot for 2.5 hours. I was so exhausted when I got back, that I barely made it to the Thanksgiving lunch they had for us. I didn’t want to do anything the rest of the night. And I slept the rest of the day, ordered pizza later that night.. and then left for the airport in the morning. I apologize my lack luster ending to this blog. And I take that back, if you actually like it lol. I've included some additional pictures I've found and a video of our performance in the parade!

xoxo,

Tiana