The BIG CHEESE of MARDI GRAS
Who is the Big Cheese and what's it like?
(Hang in there, there are a few
pictures on this page to download.)
Question: So, David, let's start this out by talking a little about Mardi Gras. What exactly is Mardi Gras?
Answer: Well, there are plenty of web pages, books, and documentaries out there that explain just what Mardi Gras is, where it's celebrated, what happens there, etc. Basically it's different things to different people. My experience in New Orleans has shown it to be the biggest party in the United States. For me, it's a week of smiles, laughs, enjoyment and celebration.
Q: And you travel down to New Orleans every year to celebrate Mardi Gras and dress up as The Big Cheese?
A: That's right.
Q: Just how long have you been celebrating Mardi Gras?
A: Hmm. My first trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras was in 1989. I've been down about a dozen times in a row now, but I feel like I've had the Mardi Gras spirit in me ever since I could crawl. The first couple of times down were road trips with friends of mine from the University of Virginia. Since then I've flown down. Although the car trips were fun, I would never want to drive down again when a flight takes just a couple hours. 1998, was my 10 year anniversary there. It was great.
Q:
Why don't you give us a little bit of your background?
A: Let's see, I was born in Washington State, 1968, I lived in Syracuse, New York, attended junior high and high school in the DC suburbs, went to the University of Virginia, and now live back in Northern Virginia and work in Washington. I also completed my masters of public administration. As far as what I like to do, I'm big into traveling and creating things - be it art, costumes, music, etc. Oh yeah, and I help run the World Adult Kickball Association. Stop by the link on the Link page for more on that.
Q: No. I meant how about your Mardi Gras background - where do you stay when you visit?
A: Oh. The first few years I stayed with one of the nicest families anywhere - they truly define the term "southern hospitality." They live in Metairie, just a short drive from the downtown area. Their home provided a calm, family environment to retreat to after experiencing some of the craziness New Orleans has to offer. I'm quite grateful that they took me in. For a few years afterwards I stayed in the Fairmont Hotel with friends, and the past few years have been in the Chateau LeMoyne in the Quarter. Both the Fairmont and Chateau were good places to stay. Actually, every place I've ever stayed in New Orleans has been great. It has to do with the people there I'm sure.
Q: You said you've been going down for more than 10 years, have you been the Big Cheese for all that time?
A: Actually, no. The Mardi Gras Cheese officially debuted in 1993. I guess the Big Cheese has been around then for the past 11 years.
Question: Do you wear this Cheese costume for the whole week? How does costuming work during Mardi Gras?
Answer: <laughter> No, the Cheese is only worn on Mardi Gras day. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. It's the final day of carnival and as such is celebrated by many through the tradition of masking. Traditional masks include full face masks, as well as eye masks that are painted and adorned with feathers. Through the years, the masking has spilled over into costuming as we see during the Mardi Gras of today. Also, on Fat Tuesday, the costuming is kept mainly to the streets in and around the French Quarter. Although it is a joy to wear the cheese costume, once per year is plenty for me. The thing is a little unwieldy and definitely hot.
Q: Ok, here's one I've been wanting to know since I heard all of this. Where on earth did the Cheese costume come from?
A: Well, my girlfriend and I (long since ex-girlfriend) decided to wear similar theme costumes for Halloween one year. She decided that she was going to be a mouse. After much thinking about what possible fun costume could accompany a mouse, I decided to become a mouse trap. Once I got my material together, though, it became clear that a mousetrap would not only be difficult, but probably not quite as much fun as I had hoped. I then had a brainstorm of sorts. While looking at the yellow material I realized that with a few carefully placed holes, I could transform a failed mouse trap into a magnificent slice of cheese. The rest of the story, as they say, is history.
Q:
So did you wear it with your friend on Halloween?
A: Oh yeah. It worked really well that night. Although the mouse girl and I parted company soon thereafter, what I've found as one of the beautiful aspects of the costume is that it needs no supporting cast. The cheese stands alone.
Q: Nice. It wasn't the Cheese that broke you up, was it?
A: No. It wasn't the Cheese.
Q: Just thought I'd ask.
That tells us how you came up with it, but how about its use at Mardi Gras?
Why do you wear the Cheese?
A: Mardi Gras is always just a few months after Halloween. Since my first visit I had always wanted to wear a costume on Fat Tuesday. I guess I finally found one that was both original and fun. As to why it continues, I guess I like wearing it because it's become known down there. Through it I've met hundreds of fun people including celebrities and politicians - many of whom remember (and have souvenirs from) the Cheeseman from prior years. Ultimately, it's fun and it's unique.
Q: What's in the bag you're always holding on the street and in these pictures?
A: You'll notice a mini slice of cheese around people's necks in most of the pictures. That's what's in the bag. Every year, as well as making the costume, I make a couple hundred cheese beads to hand out on Fat Tuesday. It takes dozens of hours to put them all together, but it's worth it. At least the people who get them seem to like them. They're definitely one-of-a-kind beads.
Q: That's not real cheese is it?
A: No, <smile> it's made out of
similar material as my costume. I think real cheese might tear off the
beads. Who would wear real cheese around their neck anyway?
Q: Yeah, that probably wouldn't be a good idea. So, do you make a new costume every year too?
A: Oh yeah. Wearing that thing for some 20 straight hours can get it a bit dirty. Actually, it's usually pretty destroyed by the end of the night. People poke and pull at it, things get spilled on it, the floppy top corners sometimes dunk into things, and some people even take bites out of it. The pulling, biting and tearing are probably some of the least fun parts of wearing it.
Q: Sounds horrible to me. Is it difficult to make? It doesn't look that bad.
A: <laughter> Funny you should say that. You
should actually ask my old roommate about how hard it is. Besides myself,
he has the most experience dealing with it - the stuff in our living room
for weeks, the cut out "holes" all over the place, the toxic glue scent in
the air - he's quite a sport.
So to answer your question, yes, it's not easy, and it costs a couple hundred
to boot.
Q: Wow. And how do you get it to New Orleans?
A: I roll it up in shrink wrap the night before, take it on the plane (it takes up an entire overhead compartment), and lug it around the city with the rest of my luggage (pun intended there). Sometimes, if it's in passable condition on Ash Wednesday, I'll take it back with me for use as next year's template.
Q: And you say all of that is worth it?
How about the people you meet - do they think so?
A: They all seem happy to me. And if I can help just a couple people smile it's all worth it. At least Rich Owens up there, the defensive end who led the Redskins in sacks in '96, seems to have had a good time.
Q: I just heard that you've been on TV too?
A: Yep. Every year I generally make a couple of
local evening news interviews. I was interviewed by MTV a few years
back, and I open and close a Travel Channel special on Mardi Gras. I
also made it into a couple of FOX network commercials in '96. Here's
a picture of the costumed commercial crowd before filming. The other
shot is with the FOX crew - they were a fun
bunch.
Q: Where do you usually hang out on Fat Tuesday?
A: Well, I like to catch the morning parades down along Canal Street (assuming I get up in time). I usually miss Zulu, but walk around during Rex. During the day it's fun to wander around the family areas along Canal and around Jackson Square. I have fun playing with the kids - they probably like the cheese beads the most. At night I spend most all of my time between the corners of Bourbon and St. Peter Streets and Pat O'Brien's bar. I pretty much have to stay in one place at night because it's hard to move in the crowds. Definitely challenging.
Q: So, we've found out a bit about the Big Cheese now. The question is, will the Cheese be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras 2000?
A: You know, I can't imagine not going.
Of course I'll be there. It's going to be my 12th year down in
a row.
Q: Have you ever been involved with a parade?
A: Nice loaded question. I sure have. I am a proud member of the Krewe of Tucks. I arranged to celebrate my 10th trip and 30th birthday along with the Krewe of Tucks when they celebrated their 30th anniversary. Talk about a bunch of celebrating. There was no better way to do it all than to be with the Tucks Krewe. It's an organization that's right up my alley. I rode last year too.
Q: In 1996 Jim Belushi was "Friar Tuck" on the lead float. Will the Big Cheese ever get up there?
A: It's one of lifelong goals to be so recognized by a krewe. We'll just have to see.
Q: So you'll be down there in force this coming Mardi Gras then?
A: The parades are great, the times are great, the memories are great, and the people are especially great. It's an experience that can't easily be described. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Q: What do you have to say to those people who aren't going or particularly to those who have never been to Mardi Gras?
A: Just that almost everyone should experience Mardi Gras at least once in their life. It's whatever you want it to be.
Question: David, I've heard that this Cheese thing isn't the only activity in which you involve yourself. Could you tell us about any other interesting things you've done or are doing?
A:
I backpacked around Europe a few years ago. Among the many adventures my
friends and I had, was one particular one in Pamplona, Spain. I ran
with the bulls. That's me next to my friend Bill preparing for the
charging bull. I slipped in the sand a second later, but was able to get
out of the way in time. That was a pretty fun day. (Thanks to Nathan
for the picture.)
Q: Probably not for the bulls.
A:
Will you simmer down over there? It was probably the most fun the bulls ever had
in their lives.
Anyway, here's another story that involves Mardi Gras. I officiated over a
Mardi Gras triathlon in 1997. As you can guess, the events were geared
towards those activities that my friends do well. Here are just a few of
them showing off their placards. The guy
in the corner won the title.
Q: Nice story, I'm guessing that we're just scratching the surface, eh?
A: Actually, yeah. I've got a bunch of other stuff going on like the World Adult Kickball Association (see links page), but I'll save the stories for another day.
Q: (Thank goodness.)
A: I heard that!
Q: Ok, here's my last question, and I hate to use this pun, but don't you think that people seeing this web page will think it's a little cheesy?
A: Oh no, you had to say it didn't you. I had a friend count how many times people said the word cheese in an hour this past year while we were walking around. It was something like 140. Anyway, yeah, this page is cheesy. I would hope that people seeing it will think so and laugh with it or even at it rather than get disturbed by its silliness. It isn't easy being cheesy, you know.
Q: Ug.
A: Had to.
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