Towson
Speech Outline

This is the outline of a speech I prepared for COMM 131 my freshman year.

LONG INFORMATIVE SPEECH
March 30, 2004

How the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons fly through the air

General purpose: How the Macys' balloons are paraded

 -- Introduction:
	-- Thanksgiving morning, 9am
	-- Turkey in the oven
	-- Turn on the TV (NBC)
	-- Balloon handler, 4 years
	-- Themes:
		-- Who the handlers are
		-- What we do that day
		-- How the parade happens
  -- Who the handlers are
	-- mostly Macys employees
	-- 4 years ago, 9th gr:
		-- Earlene (old friend)
		-- first time in N.Y.
		-- 14 years old: H.S. ID
		-- was afraid of getting kicked out!
		-- was afraid of letting go!
		-- Snoopy
	-- 3 years ago, 10th gr:
		-- Mickey
	-- 2 years ago, 11th gr:
		-- Ground Zero -- 4am -- empty void
		-- Fears of terrorist attack
		-- me and Jason
		-- Blues Clues
	-- 1 year ago, 12th gr:
		-- Snoopy
		-- Whole family (K, mom: clowns)
	-- All years:
		-- Better than turkey

 -- What we do that day
	-- Arrive around 5am; Buses roll into Gotham
	-- New Yorker hotel (take over 4 floors)
		-- Get outfits on
		-- Clowns: painting faces
 	-- Breakfast, then shuttle bus to 77th st
	-- Uptown prep
		-- Stand around in the cold
		-- See the balloons
		-- Pull off nets
		-- Meet captains, warm up
		-- Phone: Mom; snake; text msgs
	-- Balloons are blown up night before
	-- 77/81st street (stuff in between)
	-- Get a balloon line
		-- Practice going up and down
		-- Not as heavy as I expected
		-- Maneuver onto street

 -- How the parade happens
	-- Parade starts moving
		-- everyone waving
		-- sing songs:	
			-- snoopy rap
			-- M-I-C-K-E-Y
			-- blues clues jingle
	-- Captains 
		-- Hand motions, whistles
		-- Assistants walk around
	-- Parade route
		-- 77 to 37, 40 blocks whiz by
		-- along central park
		-- in skyscraper canyon
		-- television:
			-- Columbus Circle: CBS
			-- Times Square (lots of local affils)
			-- Macys/Herald Square: NBC
	-- Stop, start
		-- Run through intersections
		-- Parade slows down (NBC cameras)
	-- Deflating it
		-- Streets closed off
		-- Pull balloon down, unzip it
		-- Helium escapes; push down on it
		-- Photos
		-- Deli: Food, bathroom
	-- The end
		-- Walk to New Yorker (get lost)
		-- Returned outfit; got t-shirt, drinks
		-- Sitting down feels so good!
		-- Buy DVDs; back on bus
 -- Conclusion:
	-- Home by 6 or 7pm, 
	-- Few months ago: didn't go: weird feeling
	-- Watched it on TV
	-- Tired, aching, cold, but worth it
	-- "Let's go on parade!"