CityVida

It’s inevitable being in this industry and I usually don’t mind. If there’s any to give, they will be given especially for those that are sincere with their friendship. Hell, I actually look forward to being able to hook up my friends. One of the first things I do when getting into a city is reconnect and make it rain (yea, I said it).

But what happens when the request does not come from someone you know but from your staff? Today I’m calling out those Brand Ambassadors (temp staff) that haven’t a clue about their place in line on the “B.T.O.K.A.T.H.” (Bountiful Tree Otherwise Known As The Hookup… Trademark pending). Let’s get to it.

10:00am on Sunday morning in San Diego on route to venue, phone rings. Brand Ambassador #1 on the other line; conversation goes a little something like this:

BA: “Hi! How’s it going? My name is __________, I’ll be working the concert tonight with you!”

Me: “Hi, nice of you to check in. Do you have all the info for tonight, where to meet, uniform, etc.?”

BA: “Yea, all’s good. So I was wondering, who’s the artist?”

Me: “Juanes.”

BA: “Oh yea?! Awesome, I really want to see him! How many tickets do we get? Can I invite my friends?”

Me: “Ummm, you actually won’t be attending the concert. You’re scheduled to work from 5:30pm to 9:30pm and we don’t provide tickets for staff since you’ll be working.”

BA: “Oh. Really?”

Me: “Yea, sorry. So, we’ll see you at 5:30pm right?”

BA: “Ok, so… what do we do if we want to see the concert?”

Me: “Well, if you really want to see the show you could not work, not get paid, buy a ticket and go to the show. Sound good?”

BA: “No, sorry. I’ll be there at 5:30pm.”

Oh, but it goes on!

3:30pm, Sunday afternoon at venue during set-up. Phone rings, cue BA #2

Me: “Hello?”

BA: “Hi, I was wondering what time the concert started tonight?”

Me: “Who is this?”

BA: “It’s ______. I’m working with you guys tonight for the event.”

Me: “Oh, nice. Well, the concert starts at 8pm but you’re scheduled to be here starting at 5:30pm. Do you know where to meet?”

BA: “Yea,  can we see the show?”

At this point, I’m already annoyed that it’s the first thing the staff is asking about but I play it cool and give the same response as earlier.

Me: “No, unfortunately the area where we’ll be working is outside of the concert hall on the concourse so you won’t get to see the show. But please be here by 5:30pm; call if you have any problems getting in.”

BA: “Ok…(short silence)… my BF loves Juanes. Can I get him a free ticket?”

Me: “See you at 5:30pm.”

What I meant to say was:

“Es Kiu Me?!?! Osea, quien te crees??! Se supone que vienes a trabajar, no andar de pediche que no?! Agradece que tienes chamba y si no te gusta…. Pa’ la calle!“

9:30pm rolls around, staff is done. A co-worker offers them tickets to stay for the rest of the show. Awesome.

This entry is written by Eskiume, a guest contributor; follow him on Twitter @eskiume

March 20, 2011 11:35pm PST (Check one, two, Check one two ... time for sound check) -So I have been writing about meet and greets and what happens in anticipation of meeting an artist like Juanes. I want to share a different type of experience, the sound check. This is the time when the band and Juanes come together on stage to prepare for the big show ... 

So Juanes and the band step on stage to an empty arena; this is not a dream or nightmare, but the sound check. This is the time in which Juanes warms up his vocal cords and sings a verse from a number of his chart topping songs such as A dios le pido, Es por ti, Mala gente and his latest hit, Regalito. If you have not seen the Regalito video, click on the link: http://www.cityvida.com/index.php/videos/38-music/560-juanes-regalito

Some background info on why I am on tour with Juanes; I am managing an activation for a large telecommunications company. This activation includes a photo station to take a picture with Juanes (cutout version) which is printed and given as a take home gift. There are a number of Brand Ambassadors (BAs) who assist me with the activation.

While the BAs were receiving their training on how to work the photo area, Juanes began his sound check. Their eyes lite up and quickly asked if that was Juanes. I responded, "Yes. If we complete the training and if you can perform the tasks, then we might be able to get a sneak peek." They were excited to say to least. The BAs learned quickly and were able to perform the tasks so it was on to briefly watch some of the sound check. Part of the group so was excited to see the sound check while the other half said, "Is this it? He is not even singing the whole song? I thought there was more to a sound check." I explained that Juanes is just warming up, familiarizing himself with the stage and mentally getting ready.

We exited the soundcheck and the BAs were appreciative of the opportunity. A couple of them uploaded photos to their social network pages using their smart phone.

March 19, 2011 8:55am PST (Meeting Juanes 'Hard Rock' Style) - Last night Juanes performed in Sin City ... for those of you who do not know what Sin City is, it is Las Vegas. The saying goes, 'What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas' ... well I am spilling the beans.

The Joint, the name of the concert venue at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, is a well equipped venue with acoustics that will make any music lover bask in it's glory. Any musician playing in this venue will appreciate the investment made by the casino. As patrons entered and 'quickly walked' to the general admission area, there were a group of people standing in a particular location waiting patiently to meet Juanes. Prior to going to the meet and greet VIP room, there were some extra passes available. So I took it upon myself to invite a couple of young ladies, who reminded me of my sisters, and asked them if they would be interested in meeting Juanes. They looked at me with confusion and said, "We can meet Juanes?" I responded, "Yes, would you like to meet him?" They quickly said, "Oh my god, YES!" I gathered the group and took them to the meet and greet VIP room. As the attendees filed into the room, a woman stopped me and asked, "What is going on?" I responded, "This group is going to meet Juanes ... would you like to meet him as well?" She screamed and said, "Yes! You made my night because it is my birthday weekend! Wait, can I invite my husband?" I responded, "Sure, bring him along (he was sitting at the table watching the conversation between his wife and me)."

With that, our meet and greet group was complete. They waited patiently for Juanes to come into the room and as soon as the door opened, a group of Colombian women yelled at the top of their lungs. Juanes had entered the building (room). He greeted the women with a hug and kiss on the cheek and the men with a handshake. He engaged in small talk with some people making the meet and greet that much more enjoyable.

March 17, 2011 10:55pm PST (Foul smell disgusts Juanes) - So a lucky group of fans received the opportunity to meet Juanes in person tonight. As they waited patiently in the meet and greet area at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, CA, a horrible odor filled the room. Continue reading to find out Juanes' reaction to the smell ...

While waiting in the meet and greet area, a horrible odor filled the room as if someone passed gas or stepped on a stink bomb. The venue contact came into the room and quickly was slapped in the face by the smell. She apologized for the smell and pulled me to the side to tell me that the venue has had some sewer drainage problems. I jokingly told her that I thought one of the Ninja Turtles was going to walk in ... she did not find the comment amusing. A few minutes passed and then Juanes walked into the room and he quickly stopped in his tracks and said, "It stinks in here. I do not want to do the meet and greet here. Why are all of you standing in this room?" One of the winners said, "We are waiting to meet you." Juanes then said, "I am not doing it (meet and greet) here, let's go into my dress room." The group was very happy but I am not sure if it was to get out of that smelly room or to hang out in Juanes' dressing room. 

Juanes not only made the winners happy but he also saved their smelling senses.

March 16, 2011 5:37pm PST (Meet and Greet Planning Madness)- What a day it has been! Let me tell you, meet and greets are the hottest tickets to get next to the actual tickets to see the Juanes concert. This is the opportunity to meet Juanes, take a picture and maybe get a hug and kiss (on the cheek of course). Let me tell you about the meet and greet madness ...

I have been exchanging emails, text messages and phone calls with the venues and Juanes' management team to ensure the meet and greets (M&G) happen in the upcoming markets. It is one thing to get the M&G to happen, it is another to have the attendees arrive on time ... usually 30 - 45 minutes before show time. After all the communication today, we are good to go for the on-site activations and M&G for each of the upcoming shows: Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, CA, The Joint in Las Vegas and Valley View Center in San Diego. For those of you following this blog in these cities, please visit us at the AT&T booth. Now time to get some food, watch a little TV and get ready for bed. Tomorrow morning, we drive to Santa Ynez, CA.

March 16, 2011 1:43am PST (The Reasoning)- As I was watching the Jay Leno show, in anticipation of seeing Juanes perform, I thought why not write about my experiences on the road with Juanes. This can be a space in which I share with all of you what it is like to be part of a concert tour ... what happens on the road, pre-show, backstage, meet and greets, etc. Basically, I will share a story of the Tourvida with Juanes.

The tour kicked off in Seattle on March 10 to a great crowd ... who would have thought there were so many Hispanics in Seattle but according to the latest census, approximately 100,000 Hispanics call Seattle area home ... and those are the ones that allowed themselves to be counted. Other shows have happened since Seattle such as in San Francisco on March 12 and Los Angeles on March 13; right now I am sitting in my hotel room at 1:43am (PST) writing this entry. So much to write about ... do I back track? Naw, I am going to start with today as my first entry, which pretty much I have written out, but moving forward will try to write a daily entry to recap my experience. I look forward to sharing with you my experiences and reading your comments or questions. One of favorite songs is by Willie Nelson, On the Road Again ... lots of open road and plenty to experience on the Tourvida with Juanes.