imontopoftheworld: May 2013

Growing up, I did not watch many award shows on television with my family. We mostly stuck to watching movies and some TV shows together. Mostly I made them change the channel to Disney whenever Lizzie McGuire was on. I grew up in a very conservative household, so most of the time when I tried to watch an award show and something inappropriate came on, the channel was changed. I have one very fond memory of watching an award show with my dad. We were sitting in the living room and as usual I tried changing the channel to an award show. It was the 2011 Billboard Music Awards. The show had reached CeeLo Green's performance where he was flipping high in the air sitting on a piano bench. My dad was fascinated by how he was able to do that. We watched the whole performance together just chatting about it.

Fast forward two years later and I'm working the Billboard Music Awards for the 2nd time. For my first year of working the show, it was my favorite show to have worked all year. (Now, for future reference, my definition of year ends in May since there aren't any award shows in the summertime.) This year, it was not as fun of a show to work on, but I definitely cherish this show since I have such fond memories of it with my dad.

During the course of my time working the show, I wore so many different hats. From graphic designer, production assistant, receptionist, runner, editor, and all the way to cinematographer, I did it all. I filmed footage of the Chevy platform being put together for Chevy bright and early one morning. Thank goodness my friend Sean came to the rescue with his camera. I was a bit rusty with adjusting camera settings, but I definitely still had an eye for a great shot. Back in the office, I did my usual work with Don as well as prepping the office for the trip to Vegas. I was counting supplies, ordering more supplies, keeping the office replenished, sending bills off to be paid, ect. I stayed busy but working with great people makes it all worth it.

Then came the graphic design project out of the blue one day. In the midst of a bunch of runs, I was given the task of designing flyers and signs to get people to download an app for the show. During a certain song in the show the app would listen for a tone and start to play a light show that had been pre-programmed. The year before on Billboards, we passed out flashlights that worked so well in the show so this was a new thing they wanted to try. Granted, I did not get my degree in graphic design, but I still know my way around Photoshop and can design graphics under the gun when I need to.

A week before the show, we finally flew to Vegas. I arrived at 9:00am, dropped my bags at the hotel, and headed straight to work. I got the exec office ready for their arrival that afternoon. Before they arrived, I had to finish up my third design for the signs and flyers for approval. The first few days were fairly routine and steady, but when rehearsals started the pace really began to pick up. People rushing around and last minute projects come up. Another graphic design project landed in my lap, and this time it was to design the winner's envelopes for the show. I began to be referred to as the 'Junior Art Department.' First I started with re-creating last year's envelope and of course using this year's Billboard logo which I did not create. After it was decided this year's envelope needed color. I pulled colors from the logo and used influences from the show graphics. I then did about 15 other designs before one of the producer's and graphics producer agreed on one of them. You can see the final design below. I have to admit, the second most exciting part of this show was seeing celebrities on television holding the envelopes I designed for the show. Knowing that 8,000 people walking through the doors to the award show were being handed the flyers you designed and seeing the signs you created. Millions of audience members focusing intently on the envelope you designed anticipating the winner being announced. It was surreal.

As usual there were typical celebrity encounters. Taylor Swift said hello as she was walking through the hallway. Quite a nice girl. My awesome boss made sure to point me out to Tracy Morgan when I was near. It's always fascinating to see celebrities in person who don't look like they do on TV such as Christina Aguilera and J Lo. I've met my celebrity quota lately, so wandering backstage wasn't big on my to-do list so I played it low key and just made sure to catch some performances in house when I wanted to.

Meeting Taylor Swift and designing the winners envelopes were cool, but I have to say one of the best parts about being in Vegas is being with your old production family and welcoming in new ones. I made a good friend last year on the award show, Kayla Jo, and I couldn't have been more happy to see her. I like to joke with her that we're like Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley in Pirates of the Caribbean where they can only see each other every so many years. I don't care for the Vegas atmosphere, but hanging out with your production friends and roommates after hours was definitely the best time. Over the course of the week, you are constantly with the same set of people eating together, working together, hanging out together, and even sleeping in the same room. When you part ways at the end, it leaves you with a weird empty feeling. I miss being with my tight knit production friends, but it also let's you look forward to the next time you're together on a new production. I don't think we'll work the Billboard Music Awards next year (which is insane since the ratings were up 33%), but I look forward to the next great production adventure. Until then, I'm excited to wrap this one up and headed off on a nice long vacation. After all, once my awards year ends, that's what I'm supposed to do, right?

Until next time,

♥ Mir

Leaving on a jet plane to Vegas...