Collective Soul Pt 1 Feb 1/08

By 2008 I was becoming more proficient with the internet, especially Myspace and after seeing that even someone as big as Tom Cochrane could indeed run his own Myspace page, I started to realize that what my friend Tina said was right – you already have a no answer (by not asking) so why not ask? All they can do is say no. (which you already have 🙂 ) So I started to make a Wish List of bands and musicians that I wanted for our project.

Collective Soul was top of that list. I had seen them in July 2007 at the Nakusp Music Fest – they were on stage just before Tom Cochrane.. and while I had been able to contact Tom for a comfort doll photo, I had not found contact info for Collective Soul at the time. I still couldnt find any contact info! So what to do? Well… I knew that their drummer and guitar player both had personal Myspace pages. So I sent them both a message outlining what our project was, how long it took, who we’d already done photos with and mentioned that the band was due to hit Vancouver early February. I asked the two fellows to pass my message on to the band’s management if they thought it was something the band would be interested in doing, and I got a reply from the guitar player in a few short days; He had indeed passed my info on to management.

A few days later, I had an email from Collective Soul’s management asking how to make this happen. I already had my own concert ticket to go see them (after seeing them in Nakusp I had to hear more!) so I replied that I only needed about 10 minutes of the band’s time before or after the soundcheck (our usual way of doing it). The management set me up to do it during the meet and greet that the band was going to be doing before the show, with their paid fan club members. I was excited and of course, being the eternal pessimist and procrastinator, I hadn’t knit a doll yet, so had to knit one in a hurry 🙂

The night of the concert arrived and the meet and greet was around 6pm, with the show around 8 or 9pm. I only lived 10 minutes from the Venue so figured I’d come home in between and have a rest and dinner – so no stress and nothing to pack with me all night. It was great. Couldn’t find a parking spot though (its a casino as well as a show theatre) so I actually parked in the spot reserved for the owner of the venue! Sending up prayers to not get towed off I went to get my meet and greet pass at the ticket window.

Of course, things never happen the way you think they will. The ticket window lady had no idea about a pass, no idea about a meet and greet with the band, and couldn’t help me. Thankfully two kind ladies overheard me, and having more experience than I, said they too were supposed to be part of the meet and greet and were given the same ‘dont ask me, I don’t know’ from the ticket window lady. They took me under their wing, and after a few short moments with a venue security person, we were making our way downstairs to the meet and greet with the band!

Meet and greets are very odd at the best of times – often its in a small ‘Green Room’ but this room  so huge it was intimidating. There was a photographer who was to take pictures of the band with each fan, and huge lights had been set up on either side of a backdrop where the band were going to stand. We all lined up on one side of this massive room and in hushed tones waited for the band to come in. Since I was juggling a doll, and a card, and a ‘pro’ camera and was nervous – I decided I’d better go last. The band came in and like us, were somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer size of the room and the bright spotlights, but they were gracious and stood under those spots as each fan or group went up one at a time to say hello, have one item signed, and have their photo taken with the band.

The entire time this was happening, I forgotten about testing my camera! I was watching how the band treated the fans and I was impressed. Each band member shook hands or gave hugs, spoke to the fan as if they had all the time in the world. They looked at that person while speaking to them, didn’t let their attention wander all over the room – each person in the meet and greet was treated with respect and as if they were the only person in the room. The band smiled for each photo, signed more than one item each and it was just a really good experience to watch. Then it was my turn!

I went up, aware of the time factor as always, and that the band had no idea why I was there – except for the guitar player, Joel. I presented the doll, explained what Icross used the doll for, and Ed, the singer, right away said “that’s a no brainer. I like that,” and literally grabbed the doll out of my hands to hold 🙂 I was getting them to squish together for the photo, feeling totally intimidated by the pro photographer standing right behind me – but I did it.. took 3 pictures just to make sure they turned out.. then had them sign the card and thanked each one in turn. I was about to leave when the photographer asked if I wanted a photo with the band. Something happened to me at that point 🙂 Generally I turn down all freebies, never ask for autographs for myself and try to keep the project separate from my emotional attachment to any band I work with… so when he suggested it, I thanked him and the band, and said “no, thats okay.” But one of the guys in the band gave me this look and asked ‘are you sure, we have time’.. and that was it! Next thing I’m standing with the band having my photo taken and not knowing where to put my hands! I thanked them again and grabbed my gear and left – feeling like I took too much of their time. In fact, I was in such a hurry, that when I got home I realized I’d taken the doll with me! I was supposed to let them keep it!

I proofed the photo and found that I’d forgotten to adjust my white balance for the massive amounts of florescent lights in the room and it had a distinctly yellow tinge, but I played with it in an editing program and figured it was not bad – I loved the look on Ed’s face while he held the tiny doll in his hands! I had an idea! I emailed the band’s manager (on a Friday night at 9pm her time) and told her the photo came out really great and asked if it were possible to meet the band the next night and have it autographed? Then I took the doll and myself back down to the venue after a quick dinner, and this time found parking where I wouldn’t get towed 🙂

The show was fabulous… the venue allowed us to stand right up front and the band gave back as much energy as we gave them. A few of them saw me in the front and smiled a few times, and near the end of the show, I took the comfort doll out of my bag, and held it in what I thought was plain view 🙂 I was standing on Joel’s side hoping he’d see it. The very last song – and he still hadnt seen the comfort doll. I realized with the stage lights in their eyes, and with us being so low from the stage, he probably wouldnt see it unless I held it nearly over my head and I really didnt want to draw that much attention to myself 🙂 . But… the very last bit of the song and he and Ed and Dean on the other side of the stage leaned down to shake hands with a few people.. I literally stuck the comfort doll into Joel’s hand and he came up short, realized it was me, took the ear monitors out of his ears and leaned down while I told him that the band was supposed to have gotten the doll – he smiled and took it and went back to the stage where the other guys were, to do a 5 man bow to the audience. Ed, in the middle of the band, saw the doll, and literally fought Joel for it! It was funny 🙂 The night waS complete, I had the photo, the band had the doll, and the show was fabulous.. things always work out the way they should, even when they start off on the wrong foot.