When I was stuck in Buenos Aires, for an additional day, two of the people who were in the same predicament was this couple, Jenny & Bill. On our free day in BA, we ended up at the same part of town. I was sitting outside a cafe, enjoying a cold beer in the sun when they walked by. I invited them to join me and we got to know each other. They were in their early thirties and lived in DC and were both very cool.

When we were back at the airport to get on the flight, the group stuck together. We all looked out for each other to make sure that none of us got left behind. If one of us got special treatment, we made sure that the whole group got it. It felt really good to be part of a group and we all finally made it on the plane.

After we landed, it took me longer to get through immigration and customs, but when I got out of the gates, Jenny & Bill were waiting for me. We said our goodbyes and Jenny handed me her card and told me that they were having a holiday party a couple of weeks later and that they would love it if I came.

So last saturday, I went to Jenny & Bill's holiday party.

As is generally the case at parties where not everyone knows everyone, I was asked how I know the hosts. Most people were surprised when they heard, "Oh we were stuck in Buenos Aires for a day, we got to know each other and they ended up inviting me to their party". Id then tell the complete story and we would talk about how people bond in times of crisis. A few people said things like "Thats totally something Jenny would do!" or the shortened "Oh that's SO Jenny!".

After the second time I heard it, I started responding with, "Yes, apparently it IS so Jenny!" or "I really dont know, Ive only known her for 24 hours."

During one such conversation someone said "Wow, and you made it! Thats so great!" to which I responded, "Yes! That's SO me!"

Press Pass / Mighty Mos

I felt a tap on my shoulder, I turned around.

"Do you have a pass for that?"
"Um.. no, I guess I dont"
"I'm going to have to confiscate it"
"How will I get it back?"
"Give me your driver's license"
"My driver's license? Why?"
"I'll write your name on it and you can pick it up at the entrance at the end of the show"

So I handed him my camera and driver's license. He turned and left, and then it hit me...Fuck!! I had just given my camera and driver's license to a total stranger at a crowded concert. I didnt even check to see if he works there.

I stood there frozen, trying to enjoy the show, but silently freaking out.

He returned a few minutes later with my license. I sighed with relief and then noticed his badge and radio (I admit, a bit pointless to do after I blindly handed my things to him).

I was still a bit nervous, but I had to trust that I would get my camera back.

It turned out to be a good thing. Ive always found that in my efforts to document things or capture experiences, I sometimes forget to actually experience them.

Back when I was in school I wrote movie reviews for the paper. I very often found myself writing the review in my head as I was watching the movie - which prevented me from actually watching the movie for the movie. I was watching it with the purpose of writing the review.

I love taking pictures of bands. Its much more fun with smaller bands that are just happy that someone wants to take their picture. Not so much fun when you need a pass and dont have one.

I dont take my camera to shows very often. A few years ago I took my SLR to a Rufus Wainwright show in New York. When the security guy checked my bag and saw the camera, he said "You're not going to take any pictures, right?", "Oh no, definitely not", I answered. I then walked in and thought Sucker!. The pics came out shit so I guess I got mine.

I probably would have gotten away with taking a few pictures at the show last night, but the few pictures I took were crap and I couldnt get any closer. So I decided to take movie clips. After all, pictures from a concert can only go so far to describing the experience. Needless to say, it wasnt hard for the security folks to spot the tall guy holding the camera over his head for 3 minute intervals.

But I guess my point is that when im at an event, trying to "document" it, I very often get too consumed in the documenting process.

Ive often thought that I would really love to be a concert photographer - It would probably be one of my top 5 dream jobs. I think if you ask anyone, they would say that they would love to be able to make their passion into their career. But Im always a little weary. When something you love becomes your work, does it lose the je ne sais quoi that makes you passionate about it in the first place? But then, if you ask the people that have managed to do that, they still probably wouldnt trade it for the world.


So there I was, camera-less and all, feeling a bit stupid. But it didnt take me long to forget about it and get completely swept up in the show.

Mos Def is truly an amazing performer.

He's probably one of the few artists that can bring such a racially and culturally diverse crowd together. and it wasnt just a show, it was a performance. Mixing hip-hop with poetry with blues with rock and being able to sound great doing it live. Ive always said the mood of the performer on stage always determines the mood of the audience. and Mos was having a great time. He sang, talked to the audience, told jokes -- he even did a dance number with one of his DJs!

So it turned out that I enjoyed the show way more with my camera confiscated than I did when I had it with me. and at the end of the show, i picked it out of a box filled with all the other removed cameras and left.

One of my favorite moments was during "Blue Black Jack" when Mos paused and everyone in the crowd sang back "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" in unison. His face lit up and he said, "Man I love it when that happens!".

Me too Mos. Me too.