Archive for January, 2009
Where are the Sundance Pics!?
January 31st, 2009
I have been running low on storage for a while, so the week before Sundance I ordered a 1TB storage array (RAID) to process the Sundance photos. I shot 50 GB of photos at Sundance, and I have 2GB free space on my current storage system. When my RAID arrived, it was half the size I needed, so I immediately re-ordered. I’m waiting for it to arrive and sending the other one back. Long story short – I haven’t even started processing Sundance photos because there’s no space to store the processed photos. I apologize for the delay! After I get the new array, it will take me about a week to sort through the 50GB of photos and get them posted online. Those of you who gave me cards or sent me email (send me email now), I will email you when they are ready.
Thank you for your patience! I’m so glad I got to meet all you amazing people at Sundance this year. It was the slowest Sundance I’ve been to, but the best year for networking yet! Keep in touch. I hope to see you all again next year.
- Eric
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Bouncers and Cattleprods
January 24th, 2009
The Deseret news published a one-sided piece about bouncers controlling crowds at the Sundance Film Festival. Event security guards get a bum wrap, and they have a difficult job, but all due respect to the Des. – there are two sides to this story.
Here’s the other side:
Main street in Park City is cold at 1:00am, and there’s a line forming at the new hotspot, Downstairs, partially owned by Danny Masterson from “That 70’s Show”. The crowd is waiting to get in to Paul Oakenfold. There’s a list, but the line is moving slowly. A pretty young girl is calling off names one at a time every few minutes while bouncers instruct the deaf crowd to wait in line. It’s a private party, so nearly everybody waiting is a VIP, on the list, and nobody wants to wait to get in.
Among the VIP’s waiting outside is the well-known Hollywood club promoter, Mac Africa. When she’s not throwing parties at Sundance, she’s playing hostess at Vanguard, or any of Hollywood’s most legendary clubs.
Mac calls out a name, trying to get the attention of whomever is in charge. “That’s not my name!” was the only answer she got. After more than an hour, Mac and her entourage are finally allowed inside. The club is smaller than it looks, with a maximum capacity of less than 100, the crowd packs in tight with their hands raised as Paul queues up “Tiny Dancer” and whips them into a euphoric frenzy.
By the time all the fingers and toes thaw, everybody in the room has forgotten the ordeal of getting through security — almost. After the show, Mac stops to chat politely with the bouncers at the back door. Her genuine smile and elegant poise brace the listeners for the impact of her biting words.
“The key to being a good bouncer at a VIP party is to always listen, because you never know who they are. Listen to the names they’re dropping, send someone to go and fetch somebody who can confirm or deny their story.”
When there is a herd of people lined up at a door jostling to get in, it’s easy to forget that they’re not cattle, but when you’re playing host to the VIPs who keep the entertainment world spinning, it’s important. With connections and influence come nightlife jobs. More large crowds to keep the bouncers busy, and after the slowest Sundance nightlife we’ve seen in years, it’s more important than ever for security guards to keep in mind.
Over all, the security team at Downstairs did a fantastic job managing the unruly crowd. At one point nearly a dozen people tried to glide in on a plus six and no riot ensued thanks to the security team. For the most part, they all kept their cool and remained friendly in a difficult situation, but in the nightlife industry, even one outburst aimed at the wrong person can be costly.
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