Synch on the Streets

Tap -2-3-4-5-6-7-8. There’s a distinctive metallic sound on every other beat, as the chairs hit the asphalt.

Sashay -2-3-4-5-6-7-8. Lawn chairs with brightly colored webbing sway twice to the left and then to the right.

Bobbie -2-3-4-5-6-7-8. After dipping down to the left side, the chairs make a large circle toward the sky. Sunshine glints off the sparkling camellia logos affixed to the chairs.

Wiggle -2-3-4-5-6-7-8. Arms getting a rest, the chairs twist back and forth while the marcher gets ready for the next move.

For members of Slidell Synch, life is lived by an 8-count.

In our corner of the Northshore, parade season is that special time between Thanksgiving and Lenten Fish Fry nights. You may find yourself standing at the curb during one of Slidell’s many outdoor moving spectacles. Music is blaring from gigantic mobile speakers and colorful treasure (or refuse, depending on your point of view) is flying from enthusiastic throwsters on flashy floats.

Suddenly the mood changes and there’s a shout.

“Hey, there’s the lawn chair ladies!”

People’s attentions move down the route where marchers in bright turquoise bowling shirts are twirling vintage lawn chairs to the tune of Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September”. As sunlight flashes off their brightly blinged visors, the marching group’s steps are in-line and the chairs move in choreographed motion like a well-oiled machine. The crowds start to groove along to the classic song and some even mimic the brigade’s moves.

The members of Slidell Synch are living their motto - “Having Fun and Making People Smile”.

With a plethora of parading groups entertaining crowds on the Northshore, what does it take to be an internationally award-winning marching group? It takes gumption; a lot of energy; and vintage, webbed, aluminum lawn chairs. You may ask, why lawn chairs? The best answer is Why Not?

Formed in 2018, Slidell Synch has grown in membership and notoriety due to their unique routines and their enthusiastic performances. One of the group’s choreographers is charter member Carol Wolfram.

“My Synch journey started as a favor for a friend. I would never have guessed how much I would come to enjoy the music, the moves, and the response from the crowd as we pass by in a parade,” said Carol.

In the beginning, the founding members started out with simple moves using vintage chairs found in attics, garages, and flea markets. Synch adopted as their signature song “Dancing in the Streets” by Martha and the Vandellas.

“It’s been our theme song since the very beginning and the first number new members learn when they join,” shared Ade Lowrey. Ade was there when the original concept of Slidell Synch was embraced by a group of friends around the table in a Mexican restaurant. Reportedly, margaritas may have been involved.

“Several of us had had a lot of fun together in the Mona Lisa & MoonPie parades. The idea of using lawn chairs as props was so wacky, I knew this would be a blast as well,” said another charter member, Amy Kussmann.

From a slow start that August, the group gained momentum. On a chilly night in December, with fourteen marchers, including their music man extraordinaire Mark Smith, Slidell Synch debuted on the streets of Olde Towne. Unbeknownst to anyone in authority, Synch flash mobbed the patrons of Christmas Under the Stars. Pulling a speaker on a garden cart and with help to close off the street one block at a time, Slidell Synch performed an impromptu parade for the first time to the cheers and hoots from the crowd gathered in Griffin Park. A Star was Born!

Synch continued to evolve and grown. Women joined the group for a variety of reasons.

“I joined because my friend Lin said it was a great way to get some exercise while having fun with a great group of ladies,” said Maria Nunley.

“I joined because of my mother (Rosanna Rosa). Being a stay-at-home mom does become lonely and this group has been a great way to meet some wonderful women,” said Emily Carrubba. Emily and Rosanna are often partners on the parade route.

The lawn chair brigade has recruited members in a variety of ways. A personal invite, and sometimes a little peer pressure, have helped a few members show up for that first practice.

“I kept seeing how much fun everyone was having when I would watch Synch perform. Even though it was soooo out of my comfort zone, there was a little voice inside me that told me I should give this a chance. I don’t think I would have been brave enough to go alone if my friend Lilly (Rowland) hadn’t agreed to come too. After the first practice, I was sold,” shared Lisa Bartels.

Ranging in age from 30ish to women enjoying their eighth decade, the lawn chair brigade boasts an eclectic membership. Taking a break from their hectic lives for two hours every Tuesday night, they are energized by each other and the creativity flows. It is due to that creativity, and many hours of hard work, that the group has won the Mackie “Mack-a-Doos” Gomez Memorial Award for Best Marching Group from Slidell’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade three times in its short history. They were also recognized as the Best Karaoke Dance Group on the Carnival Valor cruise ship last October. Plans are underway to defend the international title this fall.

Not even a pandemic could keep this group down. In the early days of Covid, the group donned masks and practiced (6 feet apart) marching in circles in the parking lot at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Synch participated in a virtual Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans to the theme of “House Party”, courtesy of the videography talents of Mark, their music-man. When the video debuted on You Tube during the 2021 Mardi Gras season, it garnered more than 1,500 hits in the first week.

Not only does Slidell Synch perform in parades on the Northshore, the brigade also entertains enthusiastic crowds at other venues. Synch has led off walk-a-thons, charmed guests at various non-profit fundraisers and shared their take on performance art at civic events.

“The parades are fun but doing the half-time show for the Northshore Lethal Ladies Roller Derby had to be an all-time high for me. I also enjoy performing at the assisted living and nursing homes,” said Jill Scholl.

During the pandemic, when they could not do a show in the lobby for the residents or parade down the halls, Synch members would march around the outside perimeter of various senior citizen homes.

“It was wonderful to see them watching out the windows or standing in the doorways. To see the smiles on their faces because someone cared enough to bring them some joy was special,” said Bettie Walter.

As the members became a seasoned performance group, they also bonded as friends. When somber issues touched the marchers, such as a death in the family or serious illness or injury, their fellow Synch members stepped up to offer support. It may have been in the form of a casserole delivered for dinner or a funny get-well card. Sometimes the biggest help was having a place to leave the outside world behind for a bit, to march in circles and laugh with friends when a routine went wonky.

“From the first meeting, I have loved this group and its mission. It’s fun and great to have people excited to see us when we perform. Even more importantly, I’ve made some great new friends,” said Susie Andres.

What’s in store for Slidell Synch in the future? Growth! Interested? Drop in on any Tuesday night and give it a whirl. Current members have a lawn chair waiting with your name on it. Coordination is not a requirement, but a sense of humor is.

“The camaraderie is wonderful and the giggles, endless!” Debbie Frombola shared with a grin. “Practices are a great way to relax and just have fun for a few hours each week.”

“Having Fun and Making People Smile.” The members of Slidell Synch have excelled at doing both.

From the contact info at the end of this article, you may have guessed that I am a member of Slidell Synch. I was sitting at the table when Synch was born. Being part of a lawn chair brigade was a dream of mine since growing up in Wisconsin and watching these groups perform in the annual 4th of July parade. It has been a joy and a privilege to share this dream and my Tuesday nights with this group of fabulous women (and Ron Davis, our music guy and bus driver).

See you on the parade route - Suzie

Synch membership is open to women aged 21 and older. Practices are every Tuesday night from 6-8 p.m. in the John Wesley Center at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 360 Robert Blvd. More information is available on the Slidell Synch Facebook page or by emailing suzie@suzie-hunt.com.