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I have a lot to say so I will break it up into 2-3 different entries, not to get to lengthy, and giving you the opportunity to read about what you want first and come to back to the rest later.
Part I- Outside Before The Show
Now before I start, as a writer I haven't stood outside on a long line just to get in for years. There was no guest or press list, just straight tickets, general admission giving out by industry folks
and the two local radio stations V-103 The Peoples Station and Hot 107.9.
The show was to start at 6am yes you heard me right 6am
the doors were suppose to open at 4am
my homegirl and fellow journalist Tai Saint Louis
and I rolled up about 3am -ish to beat the rush or so we thought,
We pull up to Center Stage on West Peachtree and you could see the line was already around the corner. Ok I haven't done the line thing in a minute and being still a little new to da A I didn't see anyone I knew on line so I head to the back to get a spot on the line while Tai parks the whip.
It had to be bout 39 ish degrees and dropping but being from New York I am no stranger to a little cold. U make sure you dress for it, a couple of t-shirts, jeans, a hoodie and boots and you good to go. A lot of ATLiens who weren't as used to be exposed to the elements for any length of time like this did come dressed for it. After about 30 minutes or so, the free promotional t-shirts given out by the radio stations and label promotion teams quickly became bandanas and scarves to block the wind.
Anyway I wanted the whole experience, cause this is history in the making, a 17 hour- 7 city tour, something never done before. It was just a job it was an experience, but ya boy is gonna do what he gotta do to get the story, ya heard!!!!!
Across the street from the venue looked like an something that should have been on episode of the BET titled BEEF: Radio Stations Gone Wild!
V 103 and Hot 107 in an effort to gain maximum exposure and vieing for corners and prime promotional space on surrounding poles, were trying their best to out do each other. Hot 107 seem to have the corner directly across the street on lock when the eager V 103 interns put a a banner from pole to pole directly in front, blocking Hot 107 from being seen across the street. Hot pulled unrolled a longer banner and got n the street and blocked the V 103 banner. The V 103 promotion vehicle hooked up the system and began blasting a Jay Z mix tape and Hot turned up the system in their promotion Magnum and they each continued to turn up their systems to out do the other until all we heard was loud noise until ATL's finest arrived after complaints.
Those on line including yours truly watched like we were watching a drama unfold on TV or in a movie as the only form of entertainment to take our minds off the temperature that decides its gonna drop a few more degrees each 10 minutes or so.
Then as usual you have those who arrived later tryna cut the line which cause more then a little friction, but luckily, security did their job but only after madd complaints from cold folks who had been waiting for what was seeming like forever.
Eventually the line moved, the first 1000 plus people got in and it was all good after that. Once the show began everyone heated up as Jigga man rocked the house. Many heads I heard talking among themselves leaving the venue and outside were not disappointed and even felt the wait in the cold was well worth it.
Then it was 7am to the Waffle House
8am and I was at my house
9am i was banging this out and
12 pm I was just plain out - cold in a coma like sleep
until the fone rang and then it was up and time to do it again
not stand out in the cold on no more lines
but back on the grind
with my mind on my money and
my money on my mind!
Part I- Outside Before The Show
Now before I start, as a writer I haven't stood outside on a long line just to get in for years. There was no guest or press list, just straight tickets, general admission giving out by industry folks
and the two local radio stations V-103 The Peoples Station and Hot 107.9.
The show was to start at 6am yes you heard me right 6am
the doors were suppose to open at 4am
my homegirl and fellow journalist Tai Saint Louis
and I rolled up about 3am -ish to beat the rush or so we thought,
We pull up to Center Stage on West Peachtree and you could see the line was already around the corner. Ok I haven't done the line thing in a minute and being still a little new to da A I didn't see anyone I knew on line so I head to the back to get a spot on the line while Tai parks the whip.
It had to be bout 39 ish degrees and dropping but being from New York I am no stranger to a little cold. U make sure you dress for it, a couple of t-shirts, jeans, a hoodie and boots and you good to go. A lot of ATLiens who weren't as used to be exposed to the elements for any length of time like this did come dressed for it. After about 30 minutes or so, the free promotional t-shirts given out by the radio stations and label promotion teams quickly became bandanas and scarves to block the wind.
Anyway I wanted the whole experience, cause this is history in the making, a 17 hour- 7 city tour, something never done before. It was just a job it was an experience, but ya boy is gonna do what he gotta do to get the story, ya heard!!!!!
Across the street from the venue looked like an something that should have been on episode of the BET titled BEEF: Radio Stations Gone Wild!
V 103 and Hot 107 in an effort to gain maximum exposure and vieing for corners and prime promotional space on surrounding poles, were trying their best to out do each other. Hot 107 seem to have the corner directly across the street on lock when the eager V 103 interns put a a banner from pole to pole directly in front, blocking Hot 107 from being seen across the street. Hot pulled unrolled a longer banner and got n the street and blocked the V 103 banner. The V 103 promotion vehicle hooked up the system and began blasting a Jay Z mix tape and Hot turned up the system in their promotion Magnum and they each continued to turn up their systems to out do the other until all we heard was loud noise until ATL's finest arrived after complaints.
Those on line including yours truly watched like we were watching a drama unfold on TV or in a movie as the only form of entertainment to take our minds off the temperature that decides its gonna drop a few more degrees each 10 minutes or so.
Then as usual you have those who arrived later tryna cut the line which cause more then a little friction, but luckily, security did their job but only after madd complaints from cold folks who had been waiting for what was seeming like forever.
Eventually the line moved, the first 1000 plus people got in and it was all good after that. Once the show began everyone heated up as Jigga man rocked the house. Many heads I heard talking among themselves leaving the venue and outside were not disappointed and even felt the wait in the cold was well worth it.
Then it was 7am to the Waffle House
8am and I was at my house
9am i was banging this out and
12 pm I was just plain out - cold in a coma like sleep
until the fone rang and then it was up and time to do it again
not stand out in the cold on no more lines
but back on the grind
with my mind on my money and
my money on my mind!
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