KBR Rules
updated 06/20/2025- RULES, RULES, RULES
- As a member of KBR, you are expected to read, understand and abide by the following. There are instructions included that require your immediate action.
KBR CODE OF CONDUCT- EMAIL IS THE ONLY OFFICIAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR KBR
- Any official request or comment should be routed to kbrpirates@gmail.com, NOT Facebook, text messages or phone calls! If you desire a phone call, request it in the email. Emails from KBR are not to be forwarded. If someone would like to receive emails from KBR, they may subsribe to receive their own copies.
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- Official Communication: All important information and official communication will be conducted via email (kbrpirates@gmail.com). Please refrain from using Facebook, text messages, or phone calls for official matters.
- Philanthropy First: Our essence is charity work. While enjoying the perks of being a Gasparilla Krewe member, active participation in charity events is expected of everyone.
- Membership Renewal: A completed application is required by June 1st each year for continued membership. A NEW AND FRESH application MUST be submitted by June 1st every year. The application is at https://www.kreweofblackbeardsrevenge.com/app.html
- Membership Approval: Your application will be approved once you have acknowledged the rules and paid the required dues.
- Conduct: We’re a krewe, not just a group; respect and decency are paramount. Help out as you can, communicate openly, and treat others with respect.
- Behave Respectably: Whether in garb or sporting our logo, remember you represent KBR. Drunkenness or disorderly conduct, especially at public events or on social media, risks immediate termination without refund.
- No Dual Enrollments: We have a single-minded focus on charity and require your undivided support. Membership in other Krewes is not permitted.
BLACKBEARD'S RULES OF MANAGEMENT-
- Float ownership, transportation, insurance, and maintenance.
- Collecting Membership dues and maintaining the Krewe roster.
- Entry into the four parades, Children’s, Day, Knight, and St. Patty’s parades.
- Liquor and food for all the parades.
- Scheduling of meetings and keeping members informed of activities.
- Scheduling of and involvement in charitable activities.
- Gathering sponsors to support our Krewe.
- Handling of funds to facilitate the above.
- Maintaining our good standing with Parade Committees
KBR is a Krewe of individual Members. We like to think we’re Family. As a family, we all have our ups and downs. We ask that our members treat each other in a civil manner; however, when disagreements arise, we ask that the members involved solve their issues on their own. We owe it to each other to get along while we’re together. The only time when KBR management shall get involved is during KBR sponsored events or parades.
KBR WEBSITE and FACEBOOK PAGES-
Website & Social Media: Our website and Facebook group are your go-to for everything KBR, from member information to event updates. Respect the purpose of each platform, ensuring posts and shares are relevant and appropriate.
WEBSITE - www.KreweOfBlackbeardsRevenge.com
KBR has a website that you can use as a great source for information such as seeing who your fellow members are, finding out up-to-date current meetings/events and parties, checking on parade info, and reviewing events we’ve done in the past including parades and charities. We also have a great photo gallery. All monthly information that you get by KBR email is applied to the website first. If you are a KBR member, it’s up you if you want us to add your picture to the website and we encourage you to have a pirate moniker to go along with it. We also have an official hashtag, #KBRtampa Contact Howie Taylor for any website inquiries at kbrpirates@gmail.com
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FACEBOOK PRIVATE KBR GROUP - www.facebook.com/groups/kbrpyratekrewe
The Facebook private group page is strictly used for KBR related information ONLY. It is used to help get KBR information out to the members like on parade days when plans change and to help sponsor KBR charities / events and parties. Please DO NOT POST any other charities or events on this page other than 100% KBR backed. If you have a charity you would like to have KBR look into, please contact Karen Taylor or Dawn Lay and we will see if we can assist you. KBR is usually 4 months out on planning charity events. If you have a personal party or event and want to make it a KBR event, please contact David McElwain and we will see what we can do. Anything other than KBR related posts or approved posts will be removed without question. It is up to each member if they want to be on KBR private group page or to make sure you are included, contact David McElwain.
FACEBOOK KBR PUBLIC GROUP - www.facebook.com/groups/blackbeardsrevengeThe Facebook open group page is so that KBR can let people in the community and around the world be informed on where we are and what we’re doing. It is also a great source to get information from other Krewes about their events and socials. KBR emails are sent to the Official KBR Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/BlackbeardsRevenge) to help the community keep up with us unless it is KBR private information, then it will be sent to your email and/or PRIVATE Facebook group only.
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OFFICIAL KBR FACEBOOK PAGE - www.facebook.com/BlackbeardsRevenge
This is the place where all the public events and photos by the ETCHER are posted. It is a one-way announcement page that is visiable to the whole world.
BLACKBEARD'S RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
- Parades are for KBR Members and APPROVED Guests Only.
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- It should be understood that Krewe of Blackbeard’s Revenge is always in the public eye and as such we shall conduct ourselves in a manner such as not to bring discredit to the Krewe.
- Please do not stand in front of the bathroom entries or beverage cart. Please be respectful to others.
- Controlled substance will not be tolerated --- it’s illegal and not allowed.
- Bead Storage – Please identify your bead bag with your name for easy identification, no boxes allowed.
- For those walking the parade route, remember to bring your bead belt. We do have a limited number of hooks on the outside of the float to hang your beads and it is first come first serve. Do not reserve hooks.
- The Krewe is not responsible for your personal possessions. Do not bring anything you cannot carry. There is no room for extra items.
PARADES / BEAD DROPS- Information such as float position in the staging area is NOT KNOWN until about a week or so prior to the parade. As soon as we get the position, it will be announced. An email about each individual parade will be sent prior to that parade.
- All members are required to provide their own transportation to and from each parade event as well as getting themselves to the staging area on time.
- Krewe picture is always taken one hour before each parade start time.
- Carpooling is recommended... “There’s safety in numbers!”
- All parades are RAIN or SHINE unless otherwise notified.
- No animals of any kind in the staging area or on the parade route.
- Any member of the Krewe can put KBR in jeopardy of a minimum (3) three year suspension from a parade. If members don’t follow the rules of the parade, are involved in any misconduct, display drunk and disorderly behavior before during or after that parade, it puts KBR’s future participation in jeopardy.
- As much as you want to, DO NOT throw beads in staging area. Staging area is all the way until the start of the parade.
- As much as you want to DO NOT throw beads beyond the end of the parade route. Usually you can tell this because the music stops or you are instructed to disembark from the float.
- No one will be allowed to participate in the parade or enter the float unless they have issued wristbands on. Please do NOT bring any unapproved guest. There will be NO last minute guest walkers for any parade. These rules will be enforced! Out of respect for all of our members do NOT invite non-members onto the float or give away our food or collector cups.
- No groping of Krewe members unless you have explicit permission to come aboard.
- All beads must be thrown UNDERHANDED.
- Bead throwers on the float, please pay attention to your Krewe mates walking on the streets. This goes especially for the Children’s Parade and kids that are throwing beads. If they can't reach the crowds by throwing underhanded, have them wave to the crowd.
- No advertisement of any kind can be thrown or distributed in staging or on the parade route.
- If you run out of your beads, you’re out. Continue walking or riding while waving and smiling to the crowd. Helping yourself to someone else’s beads isn’t allowed.
- Each member will need to sign a Participant Release Form prior the parade season and each child participating in the Children’s Parade will need to be represented in a Release as well. This will be done at the Bead Drop.
RULES OF YE FLOAT-
- Mike Mcgovern/Head of Parade Security is in charge of the Krewe on parade day. Anyone with any concerns, issues, or needs, see Mike..
- The Quarter Deck is for pass holders only.
- Use the ramp rail when boarding the float.
- Please do not enter or exit the float while it is in motion.
- Pay attention to your surroundings; watch for low hanging branches, traffic signals, bridges, etc.
- Walkers are advised to remain at least four feet from the float while float is in motion during the parade.
- Watch out for the safety of others.
- Do not pick up any beads on the pavement during the parade route. Watch your step.
- During the parade, stay with the float – NO stopping or loitering. If you find yourself falling back, just flow with the parade, Do not run or chase the float.
- Do not throw or hand out any beads before the parade starting point, finish point, or in the staging area.
- Do not walk in front of the tow truck– Do not walk between the tow truck and the front of the float. This is “NO MAN’S LAND!”
- If a Krewe or Parade Marshal tells you to move, MOVE! Also, listen to and follow the directions of the Police Officers, Sheriff Deputies, State Troopers and the official parade monitors and our Krewe Security and Safety Team – They are there for our safety!
BEAD DROP INFORMATION-
RECOMMENDED BEADS PER PARADE:
* Children's Parade - 1/2 box* Gasparilla Parade - 1 to 2 boxes* Knight’s Parade - 1 box (theme Valentine Red)* Rough Riders Parade - 1 box (theme St Patrick’s Green)Where to get beads
- Buccaneer Beads
3808 E M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Tampa, FL 33610
(813) 664-8571
http://www.buccaneerbeads.net - MacDonald Training Center
5420 W Cypress St. Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 870-1300
https://macdonaldcenter.org/product/repurposed-pirate-beads - Pirate Fashions
4006 W Cayuga St. Tampa, FL 33614
(813) 348-0092
https://piratefashions.com - South Tampa Trading Co
1916 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33629
southtampatradingco.com - Gasparilla Treasures
gasparillatreasures.com - Beads By The Dozen
beadsbythedozen.com
Need to Know
- Bead Drops are always the day before parade day from 5:00pm - 8:00pm at Captain's Cove (MAP). This is also when/where you will sign the parade waiver and collect your wristbands. If you cannot make it to the bead drop, please make other arrangements to get your beads to the float.
- Please be prepared to bring your beads, drop them and move on. Do NOT congregate at bead drop. Parking is limited and we must be mindful of residents in the area.
- Beads must be in bead bags and tagged with your name on them. This makes it easier for security to move your beads and saves space on the float.
- Each member is responsible for getting his/her beads onto the float at bead drops.
- Buccaneer Beads
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