I didn't expect these last two weeks to be filled with all those surprises, as well as a shitload of free swag.
It already the last day of April as I type this. Right now I'm wrestling between KPFK and KCRW on my Sony Micro Stereo system, which I recommend everyone should get before they discontinue it for some smaller piece of shit, which I'll still buy cause its a Sony. I think the only Sony product I'll start to stay away from is the Cybershot, a product that I've been messing with for the past three years. It was the first sets of digital cameras that I've ever purchased. The only thing is that Sony as a company, doesn't seem to fit the still photography market. I think they should stick to their Video production market as they always have been doing. Probably my next camera might be a Panasonic from their Lumix line. I've shot with Lumix cameras before, and they are so underrated. Connect the camera to an HDTV using regular supplied composite video cables or an optional HDMI cable regardless of the pixel size, the image will be hella sharp.
So two Fridays ago, I got a call from this security company that I applied at like God knows when, around November of last year or some shit. They said that if I can be able to cover a security gig at Palm Springs for the weekend. After that, I just busted out the door, along with some stuff I packed and went to their offices in Wilshire and Normandie. When I got there, there were already a bunch of other older African Americans in the office, and more started to come, including this one young Hispanic couple whos around my age. Yes, the girl is a security guard.
Then one of the supervisiors came and started talking to us saying that we're gonna spend the whole weekend in Palm Springs doing security work and that there's gonna be a hotel provided for us there. Plus we're gonna have to carpool with some people. Then later, he pulled out a stack of Twentys and started giving it to those who were doing the driving to fill up their cars with fuel cause the ride was fucking long, about 2 hours plus in weekend traffic on the 10 freeway.
I rode with these two old dudes and the supervisor's nephew in a '97 Toyota Camry with manual Transmission. You don't see to many of those nowadays. On the way, the Supervisor's nephew told us that were going to work at a concert Jay-Z is doing at Indio and then all of the sudden, my mind started to pop.
THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED THAT I WAS GONNA DO SECURITY AT THE COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL!
Nobody in the car knew what I was talking about, or has even heard of Coachella before. At first I thought I was gonna be doing security at some club in Palm Springs or doing something at the Morongo, which we drove past by, but then when we got there to the venue, which was fucking larger than life, it was indeed Coachella.
So after we parked, we got sent to this big ass tent, something that the Marines use oversees, and it was literally a big tent. Inside were dozens of cots that had people dead asleep resting in it. I thought to myself "We're not gonna sleep in here, are we?" We then check in to start filling out our time sheets, grab our yellow CSC jackets, the same jackets you'll see at concerts , and then they dropped us off at some street outside the compound of the Coachella venue. I thought we were gonna be at the stage, but instead we had to motherfuckin' direct traffic from 11pm to 9AM. That shit was terrible. The last time I worked that long was when I did security overnight at a Walgreens being constructed in Simi Valley back in December. So during my shift Directing Traffic, I had to deal with so many drunk twenty somethings looking for where they parked their cars and which campsites they posted at and shit. Plus we have to close out some roads every 90 minutes and people started making u-turns like crazy, and with that, I've gave them wrong directions and information whenever they have a question about where to exit or where to park.
*EDITOR'S NOTE*: At this point of typing this story, I was already starting to pass out and I went to bed, so right now it's Saturday Morning as I type this
Keep in mind I didn't sleep at all throughout the shift, or the whole weekend for that matter. I was awake for 53 straight hours. How you ask? Well, the supervisors fed us like Hansel and Gretel. I ate so much food that it made school lunch foods look like first class airline meals. After our shift we were told that there is gonna be no hotel for us to stay at and everyone of my co-workers for really frustrated. That moment felt like we were in some damn reality show. I managed to sleep in the Camry that we rode in, despite the 90 plus degree weather. Everyone else chilled in the grass under the palm trees.
A few hours later, I got woken up by one of my co workers who tell me to come with him to check out the Coachella event since we don't have to work till 11PM that night. I'm surprised that the rest of my co-workers didn't take advantage of this because as we soon went inside, the event itself was FUCKING AWESOME! It was like the 21 century version of Woodstock. Random concerts playing in different stages simultaneously, people charging $12 for bottles of water (we're in a desert so water is a valuable commodity), a ton of white girls walking around in their tops off, and among other things I can't describe. One of the things that got my by shock was when I went inside this one dope ass booth that operated by a mobile device company called KIN, and inside was like some after school hangout from the 1980's, as if I got inside the Hot Tub Time Machine like the movie. They had 2 arcade games, a skeeball machine, an air hockey table, a wall where you can write random shit using a chalk, a place where you can get a custom made t-shirt and, I shit you not, a lounge where you can go on Facebook. Yes, they had a spot where there are laptops and notebooks provided to go on the internet unlimited, as long as you want. I planned mot to go on the internet until I got back to the Valley on Monday, but I broke that promise. They also have a spot where you can send text messages and charge your mobile device (I'm gonna try to refrain using the word cell phone in this story) with the chargers they provided, so if you didn't have a Blackberry or an iPhone, you had to bring your own chargers or you're shit out of luck.
So we spent about 2 to 3 hours there and went back to the security compound and started to get ready for our evening shift, which is better than the last one because in this one, they dropped my off in front of some person's house and I got a chair and a two way radio, which is tight. The people who lived in the house talked to me and took care of me that night. They were about to give me some free beer, but I preferred soda, which they gave me a six pack of Diet Coke and some Carne Asada, which was fucking good. One of the dude's wife started hitting on me and he didn't give a shit, cause he told me that she does that all the time.
And like I said, it was a fucking hell of an awesome experience, and I got paid for it! $214 dollars to be exact, but its still money to me. A lot of my friends we trying to go to this event and have been talking and bitching about it for the past month. I felt very fortunate to be able to attend this scared event. Now I've been to a lot events for free in the past, but this one tops it off. Its definitely worth the $300 dollars. The only thing that upsets me is that I didn't get a chance to see Wale perform, which was on Friday afternoon before I got there, and I just found out this month that he's Nigerian, along with Slash's mother from Guns and Roses which REALLY tripped me out. The only "famous people that I saw" were this group called MGMT, who almost won a Grammy for Best new artist this month. This one chick went hella crazy for them, hell she even cried when I talked to her. I wanted to get a shot of her, but my power from the Cybershot went out, which is one of the other reason's why I want to get rid of that camera.
Then the rest of the week consisted of making numerous trips to LA Live, and I swear, they always have something going down there aside from Laker games. Every time I go there, I alway leave with something on my hand, being free tickets, gift cards ESPN Zone stuff and some other cool shit. I went to the Chick Hearn statue unveiling event that took place on April 20th out of all the days of the month. It was a great event, even though I met all the Laker legends and former players before, except Byron Scott and Chick Hearn's wife who looked nice. I was surprised that Magic Johnson didn't even show up. I took about like 25 photos of Jeanie Buss and even one shot with her holding the championship ring. Awesomeness.
I think I'll stop here. This is pretty much a recap of being at Coachella despite that I did a bunch of other stuff during the month of April. Shoutout to all those who have Birthdays, final exams, graduating from college or high school, giving birth, betting on the Stanley Cup and NBA payoffs... I mean playoffs, and/or going to get laid in prom among other things this month. Another shoutout to AEG, the security crew at the Coachella event in Indio, and the Kanouses for meeting up with them for the first time at Westwood last week. Enjoy the Angels ticket I gave y'all.
Oh yeah, Taylor Swift should NOT be a spokesperson for Sony Cybershot. Another good reason to sell my camera.
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