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.
I traveled through Iowa on my way from upstate New York (remember Rochester?) to Southern California. The same type of thoughts entered my mind as well. It is no longer any wonder how things like the band Slipknot and Wrestling emerged from the endless fields of corn. Evidently that’s all there is to do in Iowa, wrestle or rock out with a garage band. Nevertheless….
If I may comment I preferred Russell at the VMA’s last year, although he still did a smashing good job this time around. It appeared to me Russell was “going through the motions” and his dialogue was a bit more conservative though he still raised quite a few eyebrows with his vulgarity. Last year it seemed less scripted, as though he were speaking more freely and less concerned what VMA attendees might be thinking or how they may react. On another note, I very much appreciated his support for health care reform!
Thanks, love you Russ! xo
“What you get out of life is what you put in!” …. although we love the accidents too, they don’t always happen… but some did …. didn’t they … poor Taylor! Good boy ol Russ (lol) did the right thing, and kept it to ponder on the minds of others, which was rather intelligent. ;-)
That’s the great thing about being experienced I guess… is knowing what makes good TV or circumstances and that when things like that do happen… you just act accordingly knowing what the right thing to do is!
He aliven’s me – just his ways I guess! Love it!
Don’t forget to smile peoples! :-)
I didn’t watch the VMA’s but I’m sure Russell excelled. And I much enjoyed reading this blog~it flowed with a tone & rhythm agreeable to my sensibilities. … Bravo! Very well done (:
Great post….You guys have all the fun ;)
Jack, I have re-read your summary of the night. So wonderful – letting us fans have a sense of the emotions and actions, preparing Russ and then seeing him on stage, grounded inside himself. It was quite an entrance. Russ is an amazing person in my view, and around the Kanye thing, Russ was one of the people of wisdom when reviewing the event. As he said, everyone makes mistakes and no one died. Russell is an amazing man. How lucky are we!
..come back to iowa!
Your writing, Jack, is a joy to read. Thanks!
About the VMA’s – I was disappointed there wasn’t more of Russell. Too, I got the sense, the VMA gods were keeping a tight leash on him in regard to what he was allowed to say and do. In any case, any time we can see Russell – even for a short while, is better than no while. :)
I thought he seemed a bit awkward out there… mostly because celebrities don’t take gags well. But it was good material minus the excessive name-dropping. No one wants to be put on the spot in a RB joke, since it’s almost always crass. Way to make it happen though; he did pretty good.
I demand the return of Matt Morgan. There i have said it.
Excellently, brilliantly, stupendous – Thanx Russ and Gang – The Pleasure and the Privillege as always, is mine
Dear Jack,
You are a sweetie. Very loving and well written.
I was at the last live show in NYC and some of the exchanges that went on with the audience scared the heck out of me. Taken with much compassion, it gave me a tremendous appreciation for what it must feel like to generate such strong _often polarized_ emotions and how difficult it is to navigate all of that with a live audience. Massive amounts of adoration can be as difficult to handle as the same amount of hostility. Finally, I gathered some courage to answer/ask a couple of questions towards the end of the show hoping not to be too invasive, and left the theater a bigger fan than before, with much material to write about. I am definetly bringing my son next time. Peace and blessings.
You twit Russell. Not that Katy Brand had a boyfriend or anything.
Waaaay down in my book of respect.
I looooved Russell’s performance at the VMAs. It’s great to know he’s got a great support team. This blog was an interesting insight to what goes on backstage (from your perspective anyway), so thank you.
I have read many posts on the site and have never felt the need to respond, but this is all just too sweet. No matter what the circumstance the bond between men in an uncertain landscape striving to make it out alive regardless of the backdrop is a beautiful thing. In short, all of you guys rock.
Cheers!
Lys
thanks Jack, you sound like a proud parent … and rightly so! the whole team works so well together! xx