If you’ve read any of our Story you know that we meet up with bands and musicians to take photos of them for our Comfort Doll charity project. I’ve had many people say they wish they were in my shoes; able to meet ‘famous’ people and spend time talking to them so I thought I’d write a blog about a typical day in the life of securing a Comfort Doll photo.
Today started like any other day but went down hill pretty fast. I was scheduled to do a Comfort Doll photo with a country band as part of the CCMA’s (Canadian Country Music Awards) downtown Vancouver at a street party for the fans. I usually take public transit (skytrain) and it usually takes about 40 minutes. My friend was going to drive me to the skytrain station but suddenly texted me, saying that her car was gone! Turns out someone in her family took it of course, but it was the first wrinkle. No problem, I called a cab and was soon on my way. Or so I thought.
Two stations later, and the skytrain came to a dead stop and sat for what seemed like an eternity, until this disembodied voice over the loudspeaker announced technical difficulties, and we sat for nearly 20 minutes before moving again. I always give myself a buffer with time, just in case, but even so, it was going to be tight or nearly impossible to get there in time. I have to transfer trains to reach my destination and because of the lag time of the first train, the platform was jam packed with people. I knew I had to get on the first train; I couldn’t afford to wait for the next, so I managed to squeeze in somehow with camera bag and I was off again.
I can’t believe it but I arrived with 3 minutes to spare prior to being required to call the band’s tour manager for a meeting. Just enough time to take a few deep breaths, get my bearings and give her a call. Of course, with a band on stage going full tilt, the chance of her hearing her cell phone ringing was nil, so I left a message and headed to the security gate to wait. My friend Tina, a huge concert goer, told me once “always make friends with security” and so I try to talk to whoever is there, and let them know why I’m there. They always say the same thing, “I”m sorry but I can’t let you in without a pass” to which I always say, “no problem, I’m waiting for so-and-so” and so it goes 🙂
The band’s tour manager came out, introduced herself and told me to wait for a minute while she went to get the band; moments later they were all back, and I explained what the Comfort Doll was, why I was taking their photo and as most bands, they were more than happy to be part of it. I had them stand in a small patch of shade, got my camera out and ready and click – nothing happened! I’ve had problems in the past with my camera – not sure if its the card needing to be reformated, or the lens sticking or what, but it gives me an error message and thats what I suddenly got. Sometimes if I take the battery out for a minute, and reinstall it, that clears the problem, but not today! Sheesh. The band had to be on stage in mere minutes so I had them autograph the index card, and we arranged for them to pose for the photo after their set on stage.
I decided to stay put, as I wasn’t sure how long their set was (they were running beind schedule for all the concerts). It was sooo hot! I felt sorry for one performer who had worn a sweater not knowing it was going to be more like summer than autumn. While I waited, country singer Aaron Pritchett arrived – very casually I might add! He was walking, carrying his own guitar case 🙂 I thought that was pretty damned cool. I went over and said hello (he’s done 3 Comfort Doll photos for us) and got a smile and hug and then he was off to get ready for his setlist.
Once the band was finished their setlist, they had an autograph session that was going to last about an hour, so I decided to go find some shade, and wandered around the front of the stage area, found a spot to stand in, and was treated to watching Aaron Pritchett, Johnny Reid, Teri Clarke and two other singers who’s names escape me. They were all seated, and took turns singing one of their own songs; it was pretty neat to watch Aaron on stage, the man has an incredibly forceful voice.
While I was standing in my shady spot watching the entertainment, my Blackberry was on its last legs powerwise and so I missed two text messages – very important text messages – and I missed my chance to take the photo with the band. They tried… but as with every band there today, they had an incredibly tight schedule of interviews and rehearsals for tomorrrow’s Music Awards. I know that this band will eventually have their photo taken for our project – I just know it will happen. Time isnt an issue – sometimes a photo can take a few years to work out right. But, having said that – I wasn’t quite ‘feelling’ that at the time 🙂
So, sometimes it works out absolutely as expected and planned, sometimes it works out but not at all as planned, and sometimes it doesn’t work out at all! Such is the way of things.
