Living the life of an Autograzzi

(A little overdue, but as promised, here's your lunchtime reading...)

Ok, technically I'm not a 'Die Hard' Autograzzi. From my understanding, and correct me if I'm wrong, an 'autograzzi' is the sharpie-in-hand version of a paparazzi. That's to say they're where the celebrities are... all the time. At the hotel. At a premiere. At a restaurant. At a club. They're always there and waiting being tipped off who's inside, who's coming or who's about to check-in. I don't get all that information. But I've stepped up my game in recent months. Namely because come May, I won't be in London any longer and I won't be doing this (silly and questionable) hobby. I do a bit of research, read the papers, talk to the paps and the pure, true 'autograzzi' to get some information. But if they've done me a favour, I don't get in their way. I want an autograph, maybe two. They want 6, 7 or 10. I let them get a couple, then I step in, see what I can get, then step out of the stampede.

Recently, I've had THE busiest week. I think I finally sympathise will my paparazzi friend Hughie. He's been doing the whole paparazzi thing for years. If you've read my blog you'll know who Hughie is. I've mentioned him before and just a few weeks ago I dedicated a post just to him. Hughie doesn't get autographs, he gets photographs. I try and do both. I like to get an autograph and then try and get a photo of them signing or looking up and then I'll put that in a nice frame with the auotograph and list when and where it was taken. It's a hobby. A very tiring one if this week is anything to go by.

I think the week I crossed the boundary. I've gone from 'hobby collector' to 'Autograzzi' (a term Hughie uses and one that's rubbed off on me). I got to work early on Monday morning (too early) so I could leave for 90 minutes for an 'appointment'. This is something I've NEVER done before. But I came in early to work the time that I knew I'd be out of the office for. I went to wait for Kevin Spacey. He's one on my top 10 to get an autograph from. For those of you that know, I live in London. Kevin's currently doing theatre just down the road from my work office. You'd think he'd be easy enough to get on the 2 photos I want signed - one he's holding an Oscar the other is a movie still from 'The Negotiator' (a film I've watched too many times to remember). But no. Mr Spacey refuses to sign non-theatre merchandise at stage door. All fair and good, but I've seen him turn people away with photos and DVD covers and they've come from the States or Europe to watch and meet him. A few broken hearts no doubt.

Monday (31st March, 2008) - I was waiting for Kevin in the morning (or so I thought) when I'd been there about 20 minutes and was told he had 'pre-recorded' his interview. I was in a little bit of shock. The man lives a 10 minute walk from the studio. He lives in London. He pre-recorded?! There were a few annoyed collectors to say the least. Me especially because trying to get this man to sign my two photos in the past 4 months has been the bane of my existence! Plus, I'd gotten up early to go to work so I could leave. Alas, no luck.

But all was not lost. The bonus came (and for me, this was even more exciting than a 2 time Oscar winner I've been running around London for) was that a Bee Gee... an original Bee Gee... was due to turn up. About 30 minutes after the 'bad news' Robin Gibb pulled up. He was running a little late so he didn't sign but said he'd do it on the way out. True to his word, he did. What a lovely and approachable man. Plus, he grew up in my home town in Australia, so he and I were 'chatting' about Brisbane. He asked where I was from and it turns out he grew up only 2 suburbs away. I managed to get my photo with him and I scored two autographs (one is for my younger cousin who's also a fan), so all was not lost.

Tuesday (April 1st)- I took in the play Kevin's starring in with Jeff Goldblum. It's called 'Speed-The-Plow' and if you're in London... Go and see this play! It was just phenomanal. Well worth the money for a ticket. Thought in process... actually, I believe it's sold out but standing tickets are still available and it's only 90 minutes long, so that's a decent amount of time to not sit. After the play I went to stage door where I managed to get Jeff and Kevin to sign my programme. When Kevin signed I said something like 'You look more alive and at ease on that stage than any film I've seen you in' to which he looked up at me and said 'Oh, well thank you'. The look he gave me was one that he seemed he appreciated the comment. I didn't want to ask Mr Spacey to sign my photos, though in hindsight, it was a quiet night for stage door, so I wonder if he would've done it, especially after the reaction he gave me. I guess I'll never know.

Wednesday (April 2nd)- This was the night of the premiere for the new Martin Scorsese rockumentary 'Shine A Light' about the Rolling Stones' last tour. I heard Scorsese had cancelled, so it was just the four boys from the band turning up. When I say 'just' that's because I was a little disappointed one of the world's greatest directors wasn't making an appearance. I managed to see the band - Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie - and pulled off a quick few photos. I would've had a great shot of the four of them, but as usual, a PA was in the way. Ah, this is why I need a press pass!

Mick came over and signed and he would've signed for me but an 'autograzzi' went over me and that was the last signature he did in my area (he only did about five). Keith walked directly over to me, made eye contact and then at the last minute, took a detour and started 5 people to my left. Why? Why, Keith.... WHY?!? Granted, he looked a little off his rocker. Ronnie, who's usually very good with signing didn't do anything but Charlie, bless his soul came over and had a little chat and posed and signed my two photos and the movie poster I'd hung up on the barrier.

(Damn P.A! This would've made for a nice photo otherwise!)

After the premiere was over, I had just over an hour to kill before one of country music's biggest name's was due to appear. Kris Kristofferson was in town and I just HAD to meet him! I jumped on a bus and took the 20 minute journey to the concert venue where I waited for him to come out. And waited. And waited some more. After the concert, there were about 40 fans waiting at his tour bus and about 60 over by stage door. Unfotunately, they weren't close enough to stand between the two. You could walk between them, but you had to choose... one or the other. The bus or the door.

As the time drifted away and a lot of the fans gave up and security advised us that 'Mr Kristofferson had left', I didn't like my chances. The only good thing was that the tour bus was there... and I figure he had to get on it. Yeah, I had to go to work in the morning but come on... Kris Kristofferson! I had gotten the autograph from his support act at stage door so I was (stupidly) standing there. The next thing I know, about 7 people high tailed it to the bus, so I went with them. I rounded the corner to see this silver haired man being flocked by a see of colours. Autograph collectors, most of them fans, were getting Kris' autograph. I ran up behind them (there was only about 15 people by this time) and Kris was still signing. Phew! And he signed and signed.

His security was trying to rush him on the bus, but he just kept signing. It was apparently the first and only time he'd signed after a concert because normally he got straight on the tour bus. It looked like I was about to miss him and I asked my friend to get my autograph because he'd gotten his stuff done and I hadn't gotten Kris yet, so he reached over and got one of my photos. As I was talking to my friend his security overhead me say 'No, I haven't gotten him yet' to my friend and said 'Kris, sign for this lady and that lady and then we'll get on the bus'. So Kris signed my two other photos - slowly, full signature - and then he signed about 3 more for others before boarding the bus. By the time I got home, it was 1:30am.

Thurdsay (April 3rd) - After finishing work I took in another show on the West End. I went to see the new musical (by new, I mean it just opened in London recently) 'Hairspray'. Wow! What a show! It'll have to you clapping your hands and tapping your feet and if you don't leave here with that 'feel good' feeling, then clearly, you're just not human! I would've liked to have done stage door, but Mariah was in town and she was finishing a TV taping, so I didn't know what time she was due back. It was anyone's guess. I figure I'd do stage door another time (which I've since done) and go and check out her hotel (wonderfully published in the paper, thus making my research easy).

I arrived to find about 10 other autograph collectors and about 3 paparazzi. I thought 'Hmm... that's kinda quiet', but stuck around none-the-less.

Now remember, 6 months ago, I never did hotels and restaurants, so this is all still very new to me. After waiting here for about an hour or more we found out she was at a restaurant around the corner. So I walked up there (only a 2 minute hike) and found about 10 paparazzi and about 15 fans waiting and was told she'd gone into the restaurant 30 mintues earlier and signed and posed. Bummer!

So, I decided to play the waiting game for the second night in a row. I mean, she's a small woman, how long can it take to eat a meal? Well, you'd be surprised! At about 2:10am she emerged and posed infront of a collaboration of '18' balloons (signifying her 18th Number 1 hit) for the waiting paparazzi. I was standing right by the door so she had to pass me to get in the car. I thought my chances of an autograph there were good. Unfortunately I had to get past her burly bodyguard. My God, did he do his job good! As I hadn't planned to go anywhere after the theatre, I didn't have my good camera on me. I always carry a disposable and the result isn't too bad...

No luck at the restaurant, though she did do a couple of autographs. I then high-tailed it back to the hotel and as I was running there, her car sped past me and I thought 'I'm not gonna make it!'. I rounded the corner and figured she'd already be getting papped... but she hadn't even gotten out of the car. She must've sat it in a few minutes before she got out.

And then it hit.

Mass hysteria. Pandamoneium. Pure, absolute madness. Out of nowhere the crowd expanded 10 fold. This woman literally stopped traffic.

I have never in my life, seen anything like it... and I've seen some things! Her bodyguard was blocking her good as she got out of the car, but Mariah was nice enough to reach over and sign some autographs. At this point I was standing right by the hotel door entance and thought 'Ok, I'll let the paps go first', but I saw her signing and realised it was being done in reverse. Sign now. Pap later. So... I got in there. I had to fight with her bodyguard to get in there, but she signed my photo. There's even a photo of me on WENN getting my autograph. Ok, let's be honest... the photo's of Mariah, but that's my silver sharpie she's holding as she's signing my photo with the yellow sticky note attached!

Ah... 4 hours waiting and finally... success! Worth it? It's not the greatest autograph and it was rushed but yeah, it's Mariah Carey. When will I see her again?

The funniest part of the night (and this would've made it worthwhile had I not gotten an autograph) is when a crazy fan wanted to give her a letter because she was a 'songwriter' who Mariah owed money to. This lady was booed and yelled and sworn at by both Mariah's staff and her fans. 'Mariah writes all her own songs. She don't owe you shit!'. She was persisent. 'Give her this letter. It's got my number. She owes me money. I'm a songwriter. We're gonna settle this in court!' to which the crowd burst out laughing... and she proceeded to stomp off down the street. I tell ya, you just can't script that stuff! Free entertainment at it's best!

So all-in-all it had been a busy. I've dipped my feet into the 'autograzzi' water and it's been a success. Though, I doubt I could do this all the time. Chasing and yelling and staying out until God knows when. It's all a little bit uncertain and you don't always get what you want. I'm now feeling the after affects though. I'm tired and worn out. I'm trying to concetrate at my job (I actually work during the day. Remember... this is just a hobby!) and I'm thinking about the next few days. I wonder if they'll slow down for me. I doubt it. George Clooney has a premiere next week and his good buddy Matt Damon's filming about town.

And to think, this was just 'a week in the life'....

Hughie, how do you do it?!?

2000 Hits!

Woo Hoo! Two Thousand Hits! TwoThousand Hits!

T-w-o T-h-o-u-s-a-n-d H-i-t-s!!!!

Let me put it numerically for you.... 2000!!!

As feeble as it may seem to you, I'm a little excited. I always wonder if people stop and take the time to read this blog.

And now I'm at 2000 hits, I'm wondering who besides Caity, my cousin and myself even know this blog exits?! Oh and Hughie, I think he's my biggest reader. He's probably chuckling slightly to himself. Him and all his 188560 hits!

Not that I mind. I sincerely thank you for stopping by!

Ok, enough with the ego dance. It's far too out of character for my liking!

Stop back in a few days. I'm working on a massively long post. It'll take your whole lunch break to get through it. I've been playing autograzzi for a week... and boy, am I tired!

Thank you for reading and my apologies for the outburst. Don't worry.... I'll save you the trouble... I'm off to go slap my own face!

My Other Blog

I have created a new blog. One I've been wanting to do for a while. To date, there's only one post on there, but if you get the chance, please check it out - Notes From An Aussie Trekker

Or you can find the link on the left side of this page under 'links'.

Don't worry, I'll still maintain this one. The other one's just for the travel stories.

As always, thanks for reading!

A Note from an Aussie Trekker...

(For those of you on my group emailing list... this is nothing new. I've just copied and pasted.. oh and ammended the 'personal' stuff).

Well, well, well. Hello All...

My Goodness... it sure has been a long time coming for one of these group emails, now, hasn't it?! So yes, this'll be a long one!

What's it been? A year... or two?? I know it's been a while. I'm just not sure how long. There are those of you that I've written to and in turn, have written to me in the past year, so a few of you out there know that I'm still kicking. For some of you, my name in your inbox might be a shock. And then for the rest of you, you'll probably be like 'Um... who?!'.

For the those of you that sit and ponder the last question, then this answer's for you... I would've met you in my travels. Somewhere. It might have been Europe at the end of 2002 or early 2003. It might've been Canada later that year or as I trekked across the good ol' US of A in search of a Major League Baseball stadium. Or perhaps I met you when I went back to North America in 2004 and again in 2006 and most recently this past Christmas... or I've met you here in London. Hopefully one of those will jog your memory.

Still no luck? Ah, just hit 'delete' then, eh!

So yes, for the last 2 years (Almost! And My God... has it been that long!?) I've been living in London. Sunny, sunny London. Yes, that's me trying to be funny. No, it's not working. I was here for 3 months before I found a job and was on the verge of going home when I stuck it out another 2 weeks and managed to find some work (much to my Mother's dismay, I'm sure). So I've been working in the same job for almost 2 years (um... is that allowed!?) Ah well, no-one's come knockin' yet! (Touch wood!). For those of you that don't know, I work as a Data Analyst for a nice Global Company that treats their employees well. I have enjoyed the experience. I work not far from the London Eye. Infact, if I go to one of our cafes, I can take in the view of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Yes, I think I've taken it all for granted, this living in London. Though it hasn't been as kind to me as I would've liked. It certainly has been an 'expensive' experience. This living in London is really not cheap and I'm at a loss as to figure out how people can do this for more than 2 years!

Granted it hasn't been all bad and there's some things I'll miss when I leave. Of the two main things, I'll miss the movie premieres. I certainly have met quite a number of famous people since I've lived here in this city. Jack Nicholson, Nicole Kidman, Dustin Hoffman, Jennifer Aniston, Matt Damon, Sandra Bullock, Sylvester Stallone, Uma Thurman and both of the Bonds... Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. There's been more, many more, but I just can't be bothered naming them all. And let's be honest... you don't want to read them all. It has been a very tiring hobby and one I'm actually looking forward to leaving behind. I've been enjoying it less and less as the months have gone on. I think I'm just getting to old to go chasing these people around for a squiggle on a piece of paper, don't you think? There's still about 7 or 8 more on my 'list of people to meet'... but I figure I've got the next 20 years to meet them, so I'm in no rush.

The second thing I'm going to miss... and this supercedes the premieres, would you believe... is the theatre. I will, without a doubt, miss the West End. It really is only second to Broadway and I've seen some great shows and watched some amazing performances over the last three years. I've had the pleasure of seeing Sir Ian McKellen perform (albeit briefly naked. Him, not me). I've watched the amazing Kevin Spacey strutt his stuff on the stage at the Old Vic theatre where he looks more alive and at ease than he does in any film and I've had the chance to see a David Mamet play be brought mesmerisingly to life. It's all been a wonderful experience and it is this, above all, that I will miss most about London.

I will NOT miss the horrid, horrid public transport system. Seriously people, how many times do you have to ring the bell for the bus to stop?! It averages about 4 times... and these stops are only about 200 metres apart. I mean, that buzzer just gets pressed and pressed and oh, how I'd like to yank it out of the bus itself, it gets pressed so... damn... much!

I will NOT miss the weather. It's almost the end of March... and it was snowing on Easter Sunday. Snow. In March. I think that is almost unheard of, especially for this part of the world. And when it's not snowing, it's looking grey and wet. Granted, there were a few days of sun in the last 2 years, but last summer was almost non-existent. No, I will not miss the weather.

I will NOT miss the London tube (this might fall under public transport though). Almost 2 years on and I don't think there's been a day... not a SINGLE day... when all of the lines of the London Underground were running. How sad is that.

I will NOT miss the lingo I've picked up here. Things like 'To be fair' and some of them not so nice - 'tosser' and 'arse'. I won't miss hearing things like 'Sod it!', 'Sod off!', 'Sod that!' or 'What a miserable sod/git/bugger!'. I will not miss this little English accent that creeps into the end of my sentences now and then. I notice I do it and immediately correct myself for my 'mistake'.

I will NOT miss the words 'fit' and 'spunky' being used in the wrong context. If they're fit, just say they're attractive! And if someone's full of spunk... I mean... how... HOW do you even make that connection!? It just means something else in Australia. Thankfully. Oh, and 'taking the piss'... oy... don't even get me started!

I will NOT miss the drunken state this country always seems to be in, or at least displays. I find it both odd and embarrassing that people need to travel on public transport with a beer or a glass of wine in their hands. Or have one as the sit and watch a play, a sporting event or a concert. I've never seen more pubs in a 1 kilometre radius than I have here in England.

But with the bad, there is also the good...

Besides the premieres and my love of the theatre, I WILL miss my new found addiction to baked beans. They taste great with a baked potato and cheese. Such a staple diet for England and one I only discovered this year.

I WILL miss the different types of tea available on demand. Ooohhh... there's just so many flavours!

I WILL miss the Twiglets, even though I've had a bit of trouble finding them of late. It's probably that vegemite sort of taste that reminds me of Australia though.

I WILL miss giving tourists directions making me feel like less of one myself. Knowing that I can be lost pretty much in an tourist spot, be blind folded and spun around 5 times and still make my way home, is a handy little trick I've mastered.

I WILL miss the close proximity of everything, even though I didn't take advantage of it as much as I would've liked. Even New York City was 'only' 7 hours away! That one, I did find time to take advantage of :)

I WILL miss the friends I've made along the way - some of you English and probably calling me a 'right arse' for having listed the things I won't miss!

So, come May, my time in London is up. I'll be travelling for about 2 or 3 weeks as I venture around the United Kingdom making my way to Scotland and then at the end of May, I'm heading across to Ireland where I hope to stop for no more than 12 months, if the Embassy let's me have a work visa. There's a few people over there I'd like to see again. It's been far too long.

The page is turning. This chapter's almost done. Soon, a new one will begin.

Stay in touch. The travels, dare I say it, will begin to slow down soon enough. Life will need to take over. That is, real life. A career. A (fast) car. A house. A family. These are all things I wish for and things I hope will happen. I get a little choked up to think of all the things I've done in the last few years. The places I've been and the things I've seen and the many wonderful people I've met along the way, along with all the ones that I've known long before I took that first plane ride. I am not the same person I was when I left Australia in 2002. I have noticed a change in myself over the years as I've become more cultured, more aware, more outspoken and more mature. The journey has been kind to me and I certainly owe it a lot. It's been a hell of an experience!

To think that soon enough, I will not be this... free.

Yes, my time on my travels is slowing down. But not just yet.

There's more 'Notes from an aussie trekker' just around the corner... if only for a little while.

Confessions of a Paparazzi

That's the title of my friend HughE's blog.

He's a paparazzi that lives in Philidelphia, but he's always in New York City checking out the big events. I met him in New York almost 3 years ago. He was living there at the time. I was playing the tourist on one of my many backpacking trips. We met outside the Zigfield theatre while waiting for Bruce Willis and David Morse at the movie premiere of '16 Blocks'. I also met Simon that day earlier at Letterman's stage door. The three of us are still friends.

Hughie wasn't a paparazzi then. He carried this fancy SLR camera around and I knew one day, he'd get there. Originally, he was just like me. Turning up as a fan to stage doors and premieres trying to get photos. Of course, his photos turned out nicer than the ones I took on my basic digital camera.

I worry for him. He doesn't know it, but I do. He works too much. Way too much. He has a regular day job working 9-5. Actually, I'm not sure if those are his actual hours, but if you say to someone that you work '9 to 5' then they understand that you have a day job working Monday to Friday. That's what Hughie does, he works Monday to Friday. Then when he's done with work, he'll go and check out an event in Philadelphia or take the train and see what's going on in New York City. It depends what's happening and what he's doing.

He doesn't stop. He's up at all hours working and researching and chasing people around for photos. I worry he doesn't sleep. I think he averages 4 hours a night, though that's just a guess on my part.

Granted, he deserves the photos he takes. He puts more research into this than anyone I know. More than any of the paparazzi's I've met both here in London and in New York City. I couldn't do that. I don't love it that much. I hope Hughie does. I'm assuming he does because he writes like he does. He blogs like he does. He photographs like he does.

Hughie is now a qualified Paparazzi. He gets his pass and attends events. He stands with the guys who do this for a living. He stands with them learning and getting tips. He doesn't get in their way, but he gets his shots. The paps, they yell and scream at the celebrities for the perfect shot. They stop them on the street or get in their way as they're exiting a car, a hotel or restaurant. Hughie doesn't do that. He's too polite to do this for a living. I don't think it could be his bread and butter. I'm sure he's said that too.

He has been published online and in magazines and has managed to sell some of his photos. Just last week he was published in the new issue of the American Magazine 'US Weekly'. I'm proud of him. And he knows this. At least if he didn't before, he will now.

I was in New York in January hanging with our mutual friends Simon and Kati, when they mentioned Hughie left a wonderful message on their answering maching saying that he was more than annoyed to have missed Ozzy Osbourne for a photo.

I'm not a fan of the Osbournes. At all. I don't get the hype. At all.

But I saw Sharon, Kelly and Ozzy just this past week at the Brit Awards here in London. Sharon got out of the car and pointed to the corner I just happened to be standing in and she told her husband to go and sign there. He did about 20 autographs. I didn't get it. I could have, but as I don't get the hype, I didn't really bother. Hughie will be annoyed at me I'm sure. Sorry.

This photo's for Hughie. The one that got away. You're time will come my friend...

I have not forgotten...

I've just been busy.

Time, once again, has escaped me. Months it seems. I have noticed a change in myself. What I do. How I feel. Who I am.

I find emailing and blogging and Facebooking are things that I used to make time for. Lately, I'm so busy working, that when I get home or have a lunch break, I don't bother to turn the computer on.

There are things I'd like to write about. Things I'd like to say and share. Photos I'd like for you to see. I'll show them. I'll put them up here.

Please be patient with me. I have not forgotten...