Substitutes

Some krewes let a member who can’t ride send a substitute in their place. The substitute rides in that member’s seat for the season. If your krewe uses substitutes, here’s how it looks from your side.

You can’t set up a substitute yourself in My Account. Substitutes are arranged by the krewe, usually through your lieutenant, so start by talking to them. The krewe’s rules decide who can be a substitute.

If someone is riding for you

The seat is still yours. In the Your float panel, your float and seat show as usual once the float is published, and your seat is marked You on the chart. The name in the seat is your substitute’s, followed by “(for” and your name, because they’re the one riding in it.

You and your substitute are both on your float lieutenant’s list, so you’ll both get their messages (unless you’ve turned off krewe emails).

If your plans change and you can ride after all, tell your lieutenant. When the substitute is removed, you’re back in your own seat with nothing else to redo.

If you’re riding for someone

You ride in the seat of the member you’re standing in for. Your Your float panel shows their float and their seat as yours. On the seat chart, that seat is marked You, with your name followed by “(for” and the name of the member you’re riding for.

Everything else works like any other rider:

• You see the float’s lieutenant in the panel once the float is published, and you can download the float map.
• You get your float lieutenant’s messages, unless you’ve turned off krewe emails.
• If your member type is set up to ride, you also see the parade staging directions. See Parade staging and directions.

Before the float is published, you’ll see “Your float assignment isn’t out yet.” like everyone else.

Substitutes in open seats

Some krewes also let substitutes fill empty seats on a float, not just stand in for a particular rider. If you’re placed in an open seat that way, it simply shows as your own seat, with no “(for” note.