Adventures of a VJ

I've had some interesting assignments in my job -- climbing onto a warship via rope ladder, hiking around a deserted island with 40 pounds of gear -- standing in front of 25 charging horses with a camera - sitting in the passenger seat of a race car with my lens less than an inch away from the wall -- but none of those compare to the assignments that include bad weather and thousands of people.
Yep, the rolling stones rolled right through downtown Halifax. It rained all day and I swam upstream the entire time.
First thing, media isn't allowed onto the concert grounds. It's a good thing the news reported on the event, stirred up excitement for months - so that we could hang outside the fence when the day comes.
The rain started at 4 pm. I think this won't be too bad - but I forgot where I lived for a split second - come back to reality -- the arc is going to float tonight for sure but god forbid I wear rain pants - too proud.
The assignment starts out good - listen to the excitement with microphone in one hand - camera in the other. I climb 9 floors by elevator to get a better sense. Watch Alice Cooper for inspiration - i think this isn't so bad, could even be fun if I just relax -- so I jump onto another elevator, this time up 14 floors. I hang off the balcony and get some nice pictures of rain coats and umbrellas polluting the commons - and then have a guinness - c'mon I was working on a Saturday, I deserved it!
I hear strange noises coming from the balcony next door.. why yes it's 25 Cape Bretoners! I walk over and join the party - well I felt like Mick myself by the amount of digital flashes in my eyes. I'm feeling like a superstar now - nothing can stop me.
I walk a half-mile to the media tent - where I sign my life away for two minutes of video. The day made me sleepy and I rest my head while I wait for an escort and it happens again - a digital flash - I'm like , my media brother, what's up with the picture? apparently I'm a part of an "off -stage" coast culture but I would like to call it - if my work sees a picture of me sleeping it will be pogey culture! Moving on - the 40 something year old groupie/p.a. leads us like cattle to our hook-ups . The air was so purple I couldn't see straight - wait, I never see straight. I watched Mick swagger back and forth through my lens --and that was it - what a tease. We get led back through the chaos and sent on our way -- phone message. What? my truck is being towed? sprint half way around the commons with camera on shoulder to find that my truck is sitting there - wrong truck. Figures. Happy roshashanna everybody! can I borrow a hair dryer? no, not for me , for my lens - priorities. Sure I'll have something to eat .. mid-bite - was that a "thankyou halifax, goodnight?" .. shit - I gotta go. I slosh my way back to the 14th floor so I can shoot fireworks through dream sequenced lens... I'm done for - it's 11pm -- I can't move my body - and I feel like I just went swimming fully clothed.

But hey , it's a glamourous job, remember?