Galactic Association of Realtors Conference at Chewbacchus | Mardi Gras | Weekly Gambit

Of all the signs of intelligent life in the universe, the Intergalactic Association of Realtors Conference (IGRAC) may not be the brightest star.

By their own description, they are not the best real estate company in the galaxy.

But they also realize that Earth is not the best planet.

“It's devastating,” said real estate agent Hæÿmtêęvħë.

But for the past few years, they've been one of Carnival's best new groups. And now, IGRAC is expanding its universe with concerts, the Bonnaroo Music + Arts Festival, and an upcoming mockumentary.

This week, they're bringing out their mobile office and apocalypse bunker to join the Intergalactic Crew of Chewbacchus parade on Saturday, January 20th.

Intergalactic Realtors made its first splash with the 2022 Chewbacchus Parade.

IGRAC was reportedly in town for a real estate conference. However, when they parked their spaceship on Frenchmen Street, it ran aground and someone stole its catalytic converter. The stranded agents took part in the parade in hopes of increasing sales of off-planet real estate in order to earn enough money to repair the ship.

they are still here.

However, IGRAC adapted well to its new location, opening a local office, finding living space, and interacting with the local population. They have easily adapted to a lifestyle of early happy hours, splurging, and always looking for the next deal.

Last year, the group attempted to move some of Earth's property in a Chewbacchus parade. They toted around mobile offices connected to computers and landlines and posted signs promising buyers “zero gravity loans.” They handed over the house keys and bills as throwaways.

Real estate agents come from different planets and backgrounds.

“Some of us hatched from eggs, others from spores,” says Zifsushup. “Some of us have as many as 6,000 children. I'm on the run from the Intergalactic Council for sleeping with someone's wife. I entered the office to escape from bounty hunters.”

Ġÿfťşħøp is an avid seller. A quick look at the IGRAC Instagram page (@igrac_nola) shows walkthroughs of several homes. With green skin, pointy ears, an exorbitant mustache, and a vanilla latte in hand, Zifschoop gives a tour of Marigny's home.

“It's a smart home, but it needs some updates,” he says. “This place has central oxygen supply…we have a cappuccino maker built into each room…I think we’re down to the studs.”

The IGRAC office is busy, if not completely productive. Häšħbåt is the top seller in the office, but he spends his time planning side jobs with Ŵöśśėřbħęď, who would rather be elsewhere. Chief Financial Officer Ňėpśħůņämęłt has a gambling problem, and ŅíxŻïmă is an influencer obsessed with her culture.

But this group is obsessed with the look and sale of 1980s power suits. igrac.bigcartel.com has some self-promoting products. When they're not selling real estate, the group is on the streets hawking Jello shots and trying to strike other deals.

A band called LSD Clown System put an alien on stage during a concert at the Joy Theater, and a real estate agent tried to sell the theater itself. They claim they traded it for a can of Wiener sausage at auction.

Their biggest sales effort led to their participation in the Bonnaroo Music + Arts Festival in Tennessee in June. More than a dozen of his IGRAC members were hired to take over the Giddy Up Western Saloon and Karaoke Bar on the festival grounds. They enjoyed bars singing songs like “Country Roads” in groups, but their mission was to sell the Earth and get off the planet, and they roamed the festival grounds.

While at Bonnaroo, they participated in the Pride Parade at Big Freedia's Festival. They also connected with the band “Korn” who believed to be the creators of crop circles.

Korn recorded a video trailer meeting IGRAC and singing “Freak on a Leash” that was released on Hulu.

The Bonnaroo venture was part of a larger film project. New Orleans filmmaker Emily McKenzie, who recently released “Carpet Cowboys,'' is making a mockumentary about the group called “IGRAC: Please Hold (My Cigarette) a Mockumentary.''

In the film, drag star Jimbo from “RuPaul's Drag Race” is the boss of IGRAC's alien clowns. Jimbo sends them to Bonnaroo to sell the Earth or he will take away their real estate agent's license and blow up the Earth if they are not successful.

The aliens were actually part of a group of friends, some of whom had previously been part of Chewbacchus' Star Wars subcrew. But the idea for an alien real estate agent was spilled around the dinner table one night, Jordan Padilla says.

“We started playing around with prosthetics (of costumes) and started talking about starting a group,” Padilla says. “We started bickering about this alien real estate agent thing, and we all stuck to the idea, creating a culture of insane humor in our friend group.”

We have a core group of about 15 aliens, but other friends may expand the event to 20 or more.

Some of them had special skills that were useful in practice. Drag performer Kate Swan was honing her makeup skills. The entire group honed their skills as they worked on the overall appearance of IGRAC's head and body. By the time he went to Bonnaroo, they were ready to spend 12 hours in full special effects makeup. Swan says it takes a lot of work to prepare, but they also have cosmetic sponsorships.

Their looks are so good that their friends won't notice them on the street.

This group adopts a classic alien look with sporting bald heads, pointy ears, or horn-like protrusions. Depending on the case, they may also have green skin. If someone has a conical shape like the Coneheads on “Saturday Night Live,” or looks like they're trying to blend in like a group of aliens, it's probably a coincidence and not intentional. there is no.

“We didn't mention it,” Padilla said. “I just sputtered in my head, what could be more interesting than what the last person said? We've noticed these things over the years, but… , those were not part of the original idea.”

With a love of happy hours, spooky atmosphere, tabloid-style drama, and a gentle mockery of office professionalism, IGRAC's group persona derives more from their friends' lifestyle and humor.

“The only way we can grow is by doing what we do,” says Christopher Jacob. “We inhabit spaces and create entrances. We are atmospheres, free and inclusive, playful and curious.”

However, both alien and human, they are willing to take advantage of opportunities that arise.

They're going to try to sell the Earth on Chewbacchus on Saturday. But this time it's a fire sale.

“This year, it’s chupocalypse,” Padilla said. “For the past three years, we've been telling you to get off this fucking planet. It's time.”

But they're also set to appear in more carnival events. More doors are opening for IGRAC as they establish their presence.