By Producer Jack
Having just spent the best part of ten days in New York City between a hotel room in Soho, the surprisingly well stocked grocers across the street and the Radio City Theatre, our sudden drive through the expansive cornfields of Iowa is more eerie than it might ordinarily be.
Beautiful as it is, I look at the lonely houses scattered through the maze of maize and primarily wonder if perhaps I am metro-polised – a word I think I may have just made up for being institutionalized in cities.
The come down after a night as glittering as the VMAs is palpable. Even as a non-performing member of the team, the focus and dedication it requires means that mental readjustments are needed. I can only imagine how these are multiplied by the high of live performance and without the option of getting blind drunk after.
To be honest getting the tone of the material right this year was a little tricky. At times we were treading a comedy tightrope fit for Pink’s circus.
It’s a particularly precarious gig because of the odd atmosphere in the room and Russell’s admirable desire never to compromise. Prevalent concerns produced by these elements are these kind of questions: Which celebrities will handle a gag ok? Will the audience have the concentration to appreciate this joke? Does my bum look big in this skirt? Sorry that was just me.
Deciding what material to actually include is a bit like that moment when you have to decide what shoes to take on holiday. You know one pair will inevitably spend the entire break in the suitcase, it’s just bloody difficult to predict which ones before you go.
The dressing room prior to the show has the air that I assume is generally reserved for that of a pro boxer. By then the preparation is done, it’s just the psychological battle at this point. Russell calmly paces the room deeply inhaling as the team offer words of positivity. Finally there is a knock from the floor manager and it is time. A quick hug from the gang and he is off, wandering out into the abyss of a live nation. Rather him than me.
Backstage, in our little room we call the ‘dog basket’ the team huddle round an unnecessarily small TV with the collective nerves of a parent at the first school play. It’s odd to watch a man exit a room and immediately appear on TV, it’s especially hard to comprehend that on the other side of that grubby blue-tacked wall is the bonkers glam of the VMAs. There he is though, our very own Essex boy up on the stage effortlessly carrying some pretty weighty focus.
Meanwhile, back in the basket our odd co-operative silently lip sync his lines and cheer laughs like he’s scoring goals. Gareth and I look at one another grinning and realize he is comfortable out there – the show is in safe hands. Russell is a man uniquely at home in mind-boggling conditions, the added chaos of Kanye just made him more at home. I glance around at the traveling sitcom he has assembled as a team, there is a communal surge of relief and, might I add some really appropriate shoes.
Aww, that was sweet.
xx
well….i for one…..enjoyed his hosting =) been a fan of russell since seeing him in “forgetting sarah marshall”…..looking forward to seeing more of him.
a fan in PHX, AZ =)
The more controversial and chaotic a gig, the better Russ handles it, right? He’s a bloody genius. One who I would like to roger me senseless. Pass it on! well written – Mr. Bayles. Hurrah for your wordiness. Try replying to some of your tweets, sometimes – it’s FUN! x
you did do a wee blog, jack, and i likes it. i’ve missed you all; these crumbs keep me going but i long for the whole double-tiered cream sponge with nanna-passionfruit icing, in the form of some hardcore tweet action. if wishes were horses… til then, thanks for the little insights. isn’t it gareth’s turn now?
well done, team, for a stupendous VMAs, and especially well done to ole rusty boots for keeping us on the edge of our proverbials. xx
Aw, this is a lovely account.
Marvellous
Well done to the whole kennel!
x
Well done and thanks for your really lovely writing.
x
Ahh Jack – I loved loved loved this! Can’t wait to here more of Iowa and all your other adventures.
@ who wrote this diary….
WOW! Not sure whom you are…but man did I grow up tonight quickly after reading this diary.
No. Preparing to go on stage is never easy. It is equally as difficult to perform onstage, and to please a crowd is all too much all together! Especially after knowing everyone is wondering “Hmmmmm what’s he going to say this year”?
I would like to take a moment and send my deepest apology…
A couple of weeks ago I actually became upset because I thought Russell had been rushed through to perform the VMA’s and a new live show…and I knew I was wrong when I wrote it here…but shame on me for forgetting the tremendously hard work all of you do to make Russell’s job unstressed. [I hope that is a word] it was unfair, and I’m sorry. I look forward to seeing Russell stick around in the US – It’s hard to find someone as talented as he is to spend our hard earned money on….and time on in general. …which is equally just as expensive! I just love the man’s personality! everything about Russell Brand rocks. He gives me inspiration to bring “wild” out in me…that probably did not come out right…
but I digress…
Thank you for everything you do behind, in front, on top, below, and in between the cameras – stages – and book signings MUCH MUCH MUCH LOVE MMMMWWaaah!
Peace, Love, Prayers and MAD respect XoXoX,
Waukisha Ellis
(waukisha@hotmail.com)
Cheers, Jack, that’s an entertaining and informative blog entry.
I feel the same way about Iowa, and I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma. I just feel spacey out there in all that open air; would rather be in my little house in my crowded neighborhood in the city. It’s nice to see it, though, because you wouldn’t want to think that the whole world is crowded up with people and buildings.
Nice to get the behind-scenes perspective. The view from the stage and the production booth is a lot different from that of the audience. Sometimes we just see the end product and don’t consider all the other aspects of the experience.
Echoing Waukisha: Russell’s antics truly make my life happier, so thank you for all you do in support of his career, helping to get him connected with his audience. That includes this blogging, of course, and all the other stuff you’re involved in. Appreciation to the rest of the team, too, you can pass that on.
And, actual love always to you and to Russell and to everybody everywhere. <3
u r so interesting – brilliant really…… a living epiphany u filthy monkey.
Wild, Fun, Exciting and Smart ! You Russ are all those things and more..
Hope to see more of you here in the States. Good Luck to all you Dogs
~ C
Um, Russell had a script??? He sucked bad at the VMAs but I thought it was cos he was making it up as he went. Please don’t let him do it again!!!!!!
Excellent !
I enjoyed watching the show but I also enjoyed the peek behind the “curtain, in the pantomime”. Surreal it must be to be in a room backstage together with the man, and the next moment see him go live on a global arena. I thought he was a relly rousing circus-master. It was a true Barnum & Baily moment- slightly freaky, slightly dangerous, slightly mad.
Well done, Russell!
chaos = life
you guys did a great job. the jokes were very good and i agree it takes a true master to stand there in front of a live audience knowing that also millions are watching at home and deliver a great performance. Are you doing the VMAs in 2010?