Weymouth Visit- Viewing Costume from previous years Reflection

What I have learnt from looking at previous years costume...

•  How to secure the costume/mast/hat to the body as a thin elastic is not always strong enough especially if its really windy.      
•   Think about balance
•  Think about weight as they are carried for many hours by young children
•    Tabards are a good solution as they are both male and female
•   Movement is good. Effective way of making a group ‘sync’ together. Things blowing in the wind. Items on a willow/carbon fibre rod=little movement at the bottom=large movement at the top.     
•     Bright colours/glitter are eye catching on a grey day
• Masks are good as they help the children to get into character. Especially the shy ones as they have something to hide behind and helps ‘bring them out their shell!’
• Bigger headdresses are more effective than smaller ones
•    Look all around you for textures. For example a scourer pad with gold paint on is a great textural surface.
•     Sound is a great way of getting the children involved- they can join in with the percussion groups.
•   Important to look at the connections of the costumes/ sculptural pieces such as between the stick and the paper-mâché there can’t be any weak points otherwise it won’t last the carnivals movement.