. human cones .
Similar to carnies [circus employees], entertainment security often hires human cones [parking lot attendees] to direct heavy traffic. Your job, really, is to just be a human cone. Sometimes waving. Sometimes taking bribes to let certain people park even just slightly closer. I showed up at 3:30pm and knew who to ask for. We sit in an empty field for an hour or two before cars come in. Meanwhile, I'm listening to conversations about "party buses" with no functioning toilets where everyone keeps drinking until the final destination- sometimes days. Taking breaks at rest stops and the ever persistant 18 year old girls who tag along and are forced to learn to pee in cups- sometimes bottles. There are different levels of party buses too. Some are much nicer than others. Many of these people look quite normal. No missing teeth. No missing limbs. Just normal looking people. No one would want a job like this really, except that you get a perk at the end- you get to go into the show for free. I had never heard of the Black Crowes, but they weren't bad. I was very impressed with the venue itself: The Backyard. Besides drinks taking sometimes hours to order, the place was beautiful [natural environment with trees, the whole place is a huge deck, and the stage and lighting were something you'd see in a rock star movie]. I walked all around the place just to check it out. While I was in the front by the stage, a guy falls over and start convulsing. You always know a show is good when you have a casualty. I found him again later laying on the grass surrounded by medical staff and being tied down to some device used to carry him away. He kept reaching up- I guess trying to communicate that he was okay and didn't need assistance. I considered holding his hand, but I wasn't sure if I would be in the way of the medical staff. Plus, he didn't look like a very severe case- they probably should have let him go. I know why they didn't though. They took him to the hospital so that the venue itself would not be responsible for his health that night. Oh yeah, and Fiona Apple is performing on Friday.
I had made the decision early in the day to wear my tattoos while working and at the show. This was extremely interesting mostly because the thigh tattoos are still new to me. Everyone watched me. Instead of talking TO me, people would talk ABOUT me often within close hearing range. Sort of half assed attempts to get me to initiate conversation for them. People taking one look and laughing at me. People following me around acting like they were looking for someone else in my general direction, giving me the opportunity to make eye contact. Maybe they were just trying to get a good look at my face. As soon as I got out of my car to go into the show, some drunk guy invites me to a party at his friend's place later that evening. I don't even ask questions anymore, I just say "sure, why not" and get his contact information. It's quicker than making conversation. It is intimidating to approach someone with so many tattoos because EVERYONE is always watching. It's like I am always expected to be an entertainer [just because I look like one]. Btw, this isn't me whining or bragging- these are simple observations of my environment. I change things around to test these psychology experiments. For example, I wore my tattoos while working as well as during the show, I changed my outfit and general appearance between the two. This keeps the real sleazy ones from having the courage to approach me. What was different than usual was WHICH people really noticed me. Because I get so much attention drawn to me, I become an easy target. Security not only watches me, they talk about me and follow me around. The band members and special guests up in the nicer section watch me. Almost expecting me to wave or interact somehow on their level. They even followed me out when they noticed I was leaving early and insulted me for not staying for the entire show. This moment was my defining moment for the whole day. They made me feel as though my leaving makes them look bad- or like I was only using them for four songs. It's an unusual situation because while I had tattoos before, my thigh tattoos really change my appearance. I'm having to adjust to them quickly. People who wouldn't normally talk to me are offended when I don't give them attention. And strangers showing so much insecurity all the time. And that line that exists between normal folk and those who have higher privileges is changing for me. My opportunities and the tactics to get access have changed. See... while those 'cool' people with all the power and access were walking down the stairs at the same time I was walking out, instead of just smiling and walking off- I could have snapped back at him and openned up a conversation. Even if the conversation started out negative or confrontational, often that is their way of testing you. People pushing my boundaries as a way to get to know me. Or maybe that is their form of entertainment. Either way, if I was smarter, I would not have been surprised that the important people were following me. I would have expected someone important to. And I would have a more spunky attitude to be confrontational. Worst case, I'd be thrown out. Best case, I could have met some famous people and had interesting conversations. Maybe even more access. I don't know... should I go try to meet Fiona Apple on Friday?
I had made the decision early in the day to wear my tattoos while working and at the show. This was extremely interesting mostly because the thigh tattoos are still new to me. Everyone watched me. Instead of talking TO me, people would talk ABOUT me often within close hearing range. Sort of half assed attempts to get me to initiate conversation for them. People taking one look and laughing at me. People following me around acting like they were looking for someone else in my general direction, giving me the opportunity to make eye contact. Maybe they were just trying to get a good look at my face. As soon as I got out of my car to go into the show, some drunk guy invites me to a party at his friend's place later that evening. I don't even ask questions anymore, I just say "sure, why not" and get his contact information. It's quicker than making conversation. It is intimidating to approach someone with so many tattoos because EVERYONE is always watching. It's like I am always expected to be an entertainer [just because I look like one]. Btw, this isn't me whining or bragging- these are simple observations of my environment. I change things around to test these psychology experiments. For example, I wore my tattoos while working as well as during the show, I changed my outfit and general appearance between the two. This keeps the real sleazy ones from having the courage to approach me. What was different than usual was WHICH people really noticed me. Because I get so much attention drawn to me, I become an easy target. Security not only watches me, they talk about me and follow me around. The band members and special guests up in the nicer section watch me. Almost expecting me to wave or interact somehow on their level. They even followed me out when they noticed I was leaving early and insulted me for not staying for the entire show. This moment was my defining moment for the whole day. They made me feel as though my leaving makes them look bad- or like I was only using them for four songs. It's an unusual situation because while I had tattoos before, my thigh tattoos really change my appearance. I'm having to adjust to them quickly. People who wouldn't normally talk to me are offended when I don't give them attention. And strangers showing so much insecurity all the time. And that line that exists between normal folk and those who have higher privileges is changing for me. My opportunities and the tactics to get access have changed. See... while those 'cool' people with all the power and access were walking down the stairs at the same time I was walking out, instead of just smiling and walking off- I could have snapped back at him and openned up a conversation. Even if the conversation started out negative or confrontational, often that is their way of testing you. People pushing my boundaries as a way to get to know me. Or maybe that is their form of entertainment. Either way, if I was smarter, I would not have been surprised that the important people were following me. I would have expected someone important to. And I would have a more spunky attitude to be confrontational. Worst case, I'd be thrown out. Best case, I could have met some famous people and had interesting conversations. Maybe even more access. I don't know... should I go try to meet Fiona Apple on Friday?