Dance Dance! With Celebrity Sighting #8 of a Wayans

Well the last time I left off I said I got a music video.  The music video was for Paper Streets ( the lead singer used to be in Dial 7).  They have this hip hop/rock/techno sound,  it's really great and fresh sounding, I can definatlley hear them being on the radio.
We practiced for two days.  The first practice was at this gym called Equinox out in Westwood which is on the other side of Beverly Hills and just as nice so you can imagine what this place looks like. WOW! I have never seen a gym like this.  Uniforms all black and the shirts said what you did.  Train, Yoga, Desk whatever you did people know.  It was all windows and bright colours with a clothing store as soon as you walk up the stairs.  You had to walk through the "green cafe" downstairs to get up to the second floor which is this huge reception area and then up another flight of stairs to get to the actual gym part.   A membership must cost more then what this trip is costing me.

Anyways we are upstairs rehearsing in one of the rooms when our choreographer Brianna says "don't you know who that is on the tread mill, its Marlon Wayans." Of course me a celebrity junky and going no wear without a camera in LA "just in case" pulls out my iphone and pretend I am making a call and sit there taking pictures of Marlon Wayans on the treadmill. I think he saw what I was doing because he started smiling but didn't get off the treadmill. I know it's not that clear but trust me it was him LOL.  How much does that suck though, the last thing I would want (if I was a celebrity) is some celebrity junky like myself taking photos of me while I am working out.  I am just as bad as the paparazzi HAHA!!!  WHATEVER!!! I LOVE IT!!! I'm in LA!!!
We had another rehearsal the next day and then day off and then the day of the shoot.
The video was being shot at Red Club in Newport Beach (yup the OC) so I was pretty excited.  I took a bus out to Studio City so Richie (dancer from the video) could pick me up and we could be on our way.
It was a Friday of the long weekend and a ton of traffic.  We were barley moving.  Apparantly the traffic is always like that on Fridays because nobody in LA likes to work on Fridays.  Must be nice lol.  The drive was long but really fun.  Richie's friend Ryan was with us and it was pure jokes the whole way to the club.  It was nice to be in a car with music joking around instead of on a bus listening to my ipod laughing at others lol.  We ended up getting to the club closer to 5 when we were supposed to be there at 4 and we left at just after 2.  The traffic was insane but we made it.

We shot for about 2 and a half hours and had to clean up and be out of there just before 9pm as the club opened at that time.  We cleaned up changed and went next door to this really nice Sushi restaurant for dinner where the director Barrette (our choreographer's boyfriend) bought us dinner. It was really awesome just getting to chill and meeting the band and the crew members plus eating after a full afternoon of dancing.  Dinner lasted about two hours and then we had to be back at the club to do a live shoot to get some shots of the crowd and us dancing. Well, the DJ wouldn't play our song because it was a cd and he wasn't using cd's so we had to do a live shoot to music that wasn't ours which is ok but most of our stuff was choreographed to the words so it was a bit of a challenge but we pulled it off and everyone was happy!!!
By the time we left it was almost midnight but the drive home was trafficless (does that word make sense? lol you get what I mean), so it only took like 45 minutes which was great.
I am getting a copy of the music video so you can all see it when I get home unless I am aloud to post it.  It felt so good to dance and the experience was awesome, can't wait to see the video

Milking It!!! OH and Celebrity Sighings 4,5,6

Alright I know it's been awhile but I have been really busy.  I have been doing quite a bit lately and didn't have the best time to blog but now I have the time to update you on whats been going on.
My friend Suzanne and I went to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.  It was so beautiful and absolutely massive and the tombstones probably cost more then all three of our cars put together it was insane.  There are some famous people buried there such as Charlie Chaplin, Griffith Griffith (founder of the Observatory - please read Our Beautiful Sky blog) and the guitar player from the Ramon's.  It was really cool walking around but you feel almost intrusive at the same time like you have to whisper; plus there was a funeral going on that day so we just kept our voices down.  We had a map of all the grave sites but we couldn't find Chaplin's we look for half an hour and then gave up and moved on.
Ryan and I have been doing some audience work for extra cash.  Last week it was three days of "Minute to Win It"  its' this crazy game show where they take house hold items and make these impossible games that you have to complete and you only have a minute to complete it.  The contestant has 3 lives and they are trying to win $1,000. Crazy! but you get so into it as an audience member.  YOu start cheering them on and it gets really intense because you have become really invested in the contestant and all you want is to see them win LOL! It was really exciting our first day walking into the studio and seeing the stage and all the big screens and what the set looks like.  They really make it look a lot bigger on TV then it actually is.  They have this huge archway that is made out of these huge tube things that light up, they almost remind me of waterslides ( I snuck a picture so it will be posted). They have a warm up guy named Bill that plays music and warms up the crowd and has contests for us when the crew takes too long.  One day they took long in between games because they were discussing whether or not they liked the colour of the ping pong balls or should they change them.  I didn't think it mattered lol but hey, the longer they take the longer I am there and I make more  :). Let me tell you though, after three days my hands were sore from clapping so much, but I met a bunch of people and made a new friend, Rachel, who I might ad is a dancer so I am super stoked about that.
On our first morning out to Studio City (where the show is filmed), Ryan and I met a girl on the bus  who gave us the contact for Judge Judy!  They pay for audience.  We are going on tomorrow morning.  LOL Judge Judith Schiendlen, it's going to be great we are looking forward to it so I will definately have to let you all know how it was.
I have been dancing again!!! I saw a posting on Craigslist for "Dancers Wanted" and I ended up getting accepted due to my dance background.  Man did it feel amazing to be in a studio, that is once I got to the studio.  Rehearsal's were to take place @ JV Dance Studio in Alahambra.  Ya thats about a 1.5 hour bus ride from where I am.  Well,  I really wanted to dance so I hoped on the bus around 8 (I missed the first one).  It wasn't bad until I started going through some really sketchy parts of LA.  Some parts were really pretty and all lit up and people walking around and then; dark, no pretty lights or houses and not that many people on the streets and I was the only white person on the bus.  You see in LA most white people don't take the bus especially in the area's I was going through so I get stared at a lot by the men, like I am fresh meat or something so it's kind of scary.  I kept asking myself "what are you doing you are crazy, it's getting dark, just hope off the bus and get one back home!!! You don't even know these people you are dancing for what if it's a scam!!!" Everything was going through my head but something told me to keep going.  I had to make a transfer to another bus, so i get dropped off at this bus stop in not the nicest area and it is already dark at this point.  There were a lot of people there so I felt better but I just kept my ipod on and focused on not making eye contact but of course that doesn't work and I have a young guy try and pick me up.  No matter how many times I mentioned "my boyfriend" it didn't work he still wanted to hang out.  He then proceeds to tell me that the big massive building across the street is the LA County Jail - the one Paris Hilton went to and then proceeds to tell me he doesn't want to go back.  "Just perfect" I'm thinking.  My bus finally comes and I make it safely to the studio and an awesome rehearsal.  It felt so good to be in a studio again!  It was like I was home, like a part of me was sleeping for the past 5 years and has been woken up again.  I can't even explain it just felt so good.  Anthony (the choreographer) could not believe I took the bus from West Hollywood and told me he lives around the corner and I can ride with him for the next rehearsal.  Thank goodness because I wouldn't want to go through that again.

THE SHOW:   The show was for Harvey Milk (the gay activist who was assissinated in the 70's - recent movie Milk with Sean Penn).  Harvey Milk Day has become a State holiday as of this year, and it takes place on his birthday.  It was on the rooftop of Madame Tussaud's in Hollywood!!! How fucking crazy is that.  What an honour.  It was the inauguration, and I was there.  We even got to walk the red carpet!! Thats right, THE RED CARPET. Coolest feeling in the world.  The people on the street thought we were famous they were just standing there watching while we stood on the carpet and got our pictures taken by the press.  I even met some celebrities.  Bruce Vilanche (Hollywood Square's  #4), and Darryl - #5 from Noah's Arch. It was probably one of these best experiences I have ever had.  Words can not describe what it felt like, and I am not just talking the red carpet I am talking about the whole thing. I never would of had this opportunity anywhere else without an audition so it was all overwhelming.  I was so nervous before we went on but I remembered everything! Yay me :)!  Oh and the beautiful men!  all so beautiful and all so gay. I was in heaven.  WE all know how much I love them.  It was A-Mazing!!!  Plus I met some dancers, mad new friends and got an audition for the next day.
I missed my bus but grabbed the next one and headed to the audition.  Pumped and ready to go because the previous night had given me faith in my dancing again so I decided why not.  Why not just stay home? should've been the real question.  I get there late but he brings me in anyways when he started the new section.  Ok, sweet, perfect I dont have to catch up.  Though catching on would've been a good thing.  I couldn't do it.  It was so fast I just couldnt remember the choreography, I was marking it so I would remember it and then he would move on to something else and then the next thing I knew he was putting us into groups.  HELL NOOOOO!!! I was so frustrated.  This had never happened to me before at an audition, I would freeze due to nerves but never not be able to catch on.  5 years is a long time without training and I am definately not up to par the way I was.  It's hard to pick up the choreography when it's been so long especially when you've gotten used to it. I didnt even have the choreography and they wanted to put us into groups and most likely do some cuts.  I really wanted to spare myself some embarassment. With my head held high and as brave as I could I walked up to the front and said " I am really sorry but I have not trained in five years and I just can't keep up with the speed you are going.  I need time to go over it.  I just can't keep up I'm sorry" and I walked out and started to cry. Not because I didnt get the audition but because I just couldn't keep up, it was so frustrating and I was really embarrassed.  Then realizing i left my shirt in there I had to go back in.  I grabbed it quickly and walked back out.  Still with tears in my eyes I put my bag on my shoulder and walked to the nearest 711 and got myself a coke slushy (one of my fav) and waited for the bus.  Now as much as this did suck and I was upset I still went and did it.  I may have walked out but I still showed up and gave it what I could.
Yet, when in doubt check Craigslist - which after I did after I called my  mom.  I found a posting for a music video.  They needed hip hop dancers for a music video shoot on Saturday.  So I sent in my pictures and my background and .........I GOT IT!!! We started rehearsals today.  No auditions there is no time so it's bonus for me and free dance classes.  It's not paid but I need it.  Plus I have time to go over everything.  Rehearsal rocked,  I felt alive after,  I can't explain how it makes me feel.  To top it off we were rehearsing at this super high end gym called Equinox in Westwood which is on the West Side of Beverly Hills, and I mean high end.  It's almost like a resort it's so nice.  Anyways there we are rehearsing and what do you know, we look over and there was Marlon Wayans #6 running on the treadmill.  HAHA I love LA, and yes of course I got a picture!!!
Well hope thats a good update. There will be more soon.  I miss you all very much and I have been a little homesick.  Writing these blogs makes me feel a little closer to you guys.  For those of you that do have twitter I am obsessed and always updating so you can add me at www.twitter.com/emmiejae
Check Forever Cemetary and Milking It photo albums on Facebook.
xoxox

A Bad Promotion, Mean Cabbies, Tuna Fish and a Shopping Cart on Melrose.

So let’s see; the weekend, which means the Usher CD Release Party.  So as a promoter my job is to promote this event through emails, texts, Facebook, Twitter, word of mouth and flyers.  My roommate Dallas had gone to the interview with me so he had to promote for it as well so we planned on going down to Hollywood Blvd on Saturday (the day before the event) and hand out flyers/passes for the event.  Well of course Dallas and I planning to get work done together never happen’s and we get side tracked.  We decide to spend our money and go to Madame Tussaude’s House of Wax (photo album up on Facebook – Real? Fake? Look-a-Like).  It was pretty awesome but creepy at the same time.  At one point I couldn’t find Dallas and when I looked around for him I saw all these people, famous people, but then you realize that none of them are real. Sometimes when you turn around there is one just standing there staring at you and then you realize it’s another wax figure.  These was figure’s are made to the exact scale and size of the actors and they have the actors’ distinguishing marks on them such as tattoo’s scars and piercings, it’s really crazy.  Some of them look so real your expecting them to start a conversation with you or wait till you’ve looked at them long enough and then they are just going to look and you and say Boo and scare the crap out of you.  I even got Dallas to poke them to make sure they were wax, it’s honestly incredible how real some of them look.  After our adventure with the rich and famous we decided we weren’t in the mood to promote so we went grocery shopping instead and then headed back to the hostel.

By the time Sunday hit my phone and my Facebook were going crazy with messages from people that wanted guestlist.  It was great I had over 37+ on my list and I only needed 20 so I was pretty happy.

I had to be at the club by 9:30p that night so Ryan, Justin, Ethan, Mandy and I all got a cab at 9p and headed down to Ecco (the club).

It was pretty awesome when I first got there.  All the promoters got in a line and were directed into the club.  Once we got inside we had a bit of an orientation and that was it.  We had done our job and now we were just able to enjoy the event.  I was thinking “this is great!  Promote al week and then get into  the parties for free. Sweet!”  Boy, was I wrong.   No line up for guestlist/VIP passes = in a line up for over an hour.  Open bar till 10:30p = no running it by the owner so it was cancelled meaning drinks were $11 each.  Usher listening party = Usher is a no show.  Getting paid to promote the events = not being able to get a hold of your boss.  Now don’t get me wrong,  we had an absolute blast, maybe too much of a blast considering we spent way too much money. Using my VISA for emergencies only ended up being I need a rum and diet it’s an emergency lol.  But, it was all worth it in the end. 

We ended up leaving just after 1am as we had drank a little too much and thought it best we just head back to the hostel.  We grabbed some street meat and hailed a cab.  Now let me tell you something about the cabbies here in Hollywood.  THEY ALL NEED AN ADDITUDE REAJUSTMENT.  First off every time I get into a cab and ask them to take me somewhere they don’t even know where it is.  My first night here I was getting dropped off at Ella’s and the cab pulled over and I politely asked “is this the address” he rudely replied “how am I supposed to know I have never been here before, you don’t know where you’re going!”  It really makes me miss the cabbies in Collingwood, they are so much nicer and actually make your ride more enjoyable.  Anyways when we got into the cab after the club all I remember is Ryan arguing with the cab driver.  Apparantly he wanted to charge us a $20 flat rate when we were only a $16 cab drive away.  So the cab driver decides to turn around with the meter running and drive back to the club to over charge us.  We finally calmed him down and got him to drive us back to the hostel which only ended up being an $11 cab ride.

So now lets fast forward as few days to Wednesday.  Dallas and I decide that we wouldn't mind grabbing a bottle of cheap vodka ($12 for 20oz) and listening to some tunes down in the party room.  So thats exactly what we did.  We pounded out Lady Gaga on the stereo speakers and danced on the coffee tables which actually scared some people from coming in the room.  A small speaker even fell from the ceiling but we don't even know where it came from lol.

The next morning was beach day for Dallas and I, ya, ok, let me tell you how GREAT I felt (pure sarcasm here).  I felt like I had been hit by a truck, cheap vodka may be good for my budget but it definately  isn't good for me lol.  We decided to nix on the beach till the following day (Friday) and just allow ourselves to devulge in our own self inflicted illness.  With painful heads and upset stomachs we decided to take the 45 minute walk down to Sunset and La Brea to the grocery store.  On our way to the grocery I really needed to stop for food ( I had the hungover hunger) so we decided to stop at Subway.  Not really that hungry I decided to get a tuna salad feeling it would be lighter and go down better then a sub at this point.  So of course Dallas and I who are both Gemini's and are pretty much the same person are both hangover bitchy; here's what happned - he kept putting his pop on my tray I kept moving it he putting it back.  I took a sip of his pop he took a sip of mine, I took some tuna salad and put it in his pop, he took it out threw it back in my bowl and poured just a little of his soda in my salad.  At this point we pause and stare at each other, like two cowboys ready to draw their guns.  Then very slowly with a smile of satisfaction he picks up his soda and dumps the orange liquid all over my salad turning my ever so delicious salad into tuna salad goo. Not over impressed because it cost me $7 (which is out of my budget), I was hungover and hungry I picked up a forkful of tuna salad goo and flung it at him, I got him right in the face.  If you could've seen the look on his face, it was priceless, man did I laugh so hard, and so did he.  It was on his face in his hair, on his sunglasses and on his shirt, it was all over him.  With a hungry stomach but still laughing histarically we left and headed the rest of the way to Ralph's (grocery store).

I don't know if I have mentioned but Dallas is an Aussie so we have different terms for things so when we get to the grocery store he starts calling the buggy a trolly.  I said no a trolly is something you ride a buggy is for groceries.  He said no a buggy is something you ride and a trolly is something you push. We are going back and forth like this for 5 minutes when I hear giggling.  This woman was standing there listening to us bicker and thought it was hilarious she couldn't stop laughing.  Dallas even asked her if she thought it was a buggy or trolly but she was laughing to hard she couldn't answer.

Anyways an hour later and $200 worth of groceries (most of them being different flavours of noodles) we are ready to head back only to realize that there is no way we can carry all of our stuff on the bus, and it would be way to heavy to carry home but a cab was way out of our budget. What do we do? M - Dallas maybe we should just take the buggy.  D - I was just thinking the same thing.  So that was our decision take the buggy.  All of a sudden the buggy stalls it wouldn't move and the wheels would just move from side to side. Dallas pulled it back, it was fine, pushed it forward and stopped, it literally got retarded on us.  Well, they have these magnetic things all around the property so that you can't steal the buggies. Smart for them bad for us. Now what?  Dallas sees a buggy beside a car and decides to pick it up over the magnetic thing.  VOILA!  We move all our groceries into that buggy and begin our 45 minute trek back to the  hostel.  Do you have any idea what it is like walking down Melrose Ave. pushing a shopping cart full of groceries while everyone else is walking around with bags from clothing shops.  Yup, definately not the most popular kids on the block that day.  We might as well wore sings on our back that says "Kick Me!". 

We did make it to the beach the next day.  Dallas and I went down to Santa Monica the next day and check out the fair on the Santa Monica Pier and just sat and watched the water it was a really relaxing day, a little chilly but really nice and chill.  The only bad thing was we ordered burrito's, fries and onion rings for lunch.  Not really the greatest idea I have had since I left Canada.  We were both in the bathroom for quite a while.  I kid you not (for those with weak stomachs do not read any further) it was like a machine gun and then a bomb explosion and then a trumpet played.  There were a few minutes I thought I was going to die.  I couldn't even eat dinner that night I was still full (if you could even call it that) from the burrito.  NEVER AGAIN!

Well thats it for now.  I don't have much else to talk about but I think I have given you all enough to read this entry.  I will try and post something in a few days.  I am off to go buy the boyz some chocolate bunnies and we apparantly have an easter egg hunt at the hostel tonight so that should be fun.  

Take care, Happy Easter, and remember to love your Collingwood Cab Drivers.

xoxox