Do not ask any team members when you enter where to go..... we asked three and not one of them had a clue. So, know where you are going. We showed up at the appointed time, 445.. got our randomly-assigned wristband, signed all paperwork. Went into Central Park, where there were signs with the float name on them that corresponded to your wristband. We met our float team leader, he explained what would happen, we all went backstage to board our floats. Uniform aprons were handed out, two pieces, one apron that ties at the sides, one bib that has decorations on it. We were on the smallest one, New Orleans. Held 12 bead tossers, only 9 were aboard. Plus, 4 dancers. Beads were already unboxed and hanging on hooks along the sides of the float. We were not allowed any photos backstage. Instructions were toss only one strand at a time, underhand or sidearm. Don't hit team members. At 615, the float pulled out of the staging area, and the parade began. Honestly, this was SUCH fun! You'd have thought we were passing out literal gold.... it was crazy! Old, young, cool, nerds, special needs, they ALL wanted those silly beads.... and we were there to oblige. There's a rhythm of pulling off the paper strip that holds batches together and separating the strands, pulling them off and tossing them quickly. I felt like a champion bead-slinger by the end of the parade. Riders get to keep up to 10 strands. It was a crazy hot afternoon for us, 85*, sunny. We were sweating! After we returned to the staging area, we were instructed to watch our step walking around, tons of beads on the floor of the float. We turned in our apron uniforms, left the floats and returned to the parks. A GREAT experience.