Liz From St. Louis

Well, things at AP are going well but there doesn’t seem to be a lot to keep me busy. I have been helping the photo editor make and update a database of all of the photographers (150 or so) and all of their info, but I’m still waiting on 50 or so photogs to get me their info. Christopher (my boss) is putting together a media kit for advertisers for 2007 (this is to show highlights of the past year and our demographic, sales and such and to to try and keep our sponsors and advertisers as well as get new ones) and I’ve had to help pull photos and pages from PDFs of past issues that are all on DVDs. I also listened in and lent some ideas on a poster for a Warped Tour time capsule the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is doing.

Yesterday as I was walking out of the building to get lunch I passed Ryan and Brandon of Panic! at the Disco in the stairwell. And later in the day I saw Bob from The Hush Sound in the lunch room talking to Leslie (an editor).

I got to go see Panic! at the Disco at this really cool venue called the Plain Dealer Pavillion which is down in the Flats section of downtown Cleveland on an inlet of Lake Erie. It was really humid but there was a nice breeze. Due to problems with the guestlist, I missed The Hush Sound entirely and they were the band I was supposed to shoot! :-\ I did get to see Dresden Doll and shoot them. After the first 3 songs I went into the crowd and spotted Andrew McMahon of Jack’s Mannequin/Something Corporate and I was completely stunned but really happy. (Jack’s Mannequin was in town the nite before at the House of Blues and I didn’t go).

Andrew!

And so I ran off to the bathroom and called Kelly to share the excitement. And just as I walked out I saw Andrew again at a concession stand! So I just had to go talk to him, and I did! He was so nice and just really sweet (I had met him once before but that was a way long time ago… like January of 03). I told him I’ve seen him in Columbia, MO and that I go to Mizzou, he smiled and laughed saying he always has a good time at Mizzou, that it’s always fun. I told him my friends and I really enjoy his music and he held my hand for a moment after he shook it. He asked if I was from Cleveland and I explained that I’m interning at AP, he thought that was neat. Like, wow… I just couldn’t believe I was standing there talking to him and he was just so sweet. I’m just sad I didn’t get to see the concert Tuesday because Jack’s Mannequin is great. He said they’re touring in October and recording in the winter.

Panic! at the Disco was amazing and I really wish Caitlin would’ve been there to enjoy it with me because I know she wanted to see them and she would’ve loved it. Their stage setup was very Moulin Rouge and Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight Tonight” video-esque. And they even played a cover of “Tonight Tonight” as well as “Karma Police” by Radiohead. I’m not a big Radiohead fan but I like that song a lot. I got back really late and was so tired!

I sat in on my first production meeting today which was very interesting and informative, I learned a lot by just listening to how things work and what these people really talk about/do in putting together a magazine. Lots of good gossip type things that were funny. But I didn’t have anything to do other than put a few new people in the photog database and I was so tired, so I left in the middle of the day.

Mom and Grace were very bored since it was nasty and rainy the last few days. The weather cleared up today and they both got sunburned, Grace is really red and we had to get some aloe gel for her. Mom is still struggling because of quitting smoking, she’s resorted to baked goods but I’m not complaining because I’ve been jonesin’ for sweets for awhile now.

Tomorrow evening we’re going to a mall that’s nearby for Mom to find clipon sunglasses for her glasses. Saturday we’re going downtown to see pirate ships at the harbor in the Flats!

We’re planning a trip to Niagara Falls and New York City for the first weekend in August – DAD AND CAITLIN ARE COMING!!!

Today was the day, I started at AP.

I woke up this morning to a bad thunderstorn and a sick stomach but I made it to 1305 West 80th St!

And when I got into the building I got lost in all of the crazy little hallways but eventually went down the funky orange and green painted hallway down to a single black door with the AP sign next to it. A signed taped to the door said to knock, I did and Christopher was there to greet me. I got to take a tour of the office and wow, got to be the founder and CEO Mike Shea along with his pitbull Tieago who just roams around the office and licks on your ankles. Everyone I work with is awesome; Christopher, Ted, and Rob.

I have my own desk in the Art/Production room which is a huge open room with a big table a little ball chairs in the middle. One of my tasks today was to go through the huge final proof pages of September issue and organize some of them in numerical order… PS for anyone who voted on MySpace, Head Automatica’s on the cover and it’s sweet. I also got to help make some postcards for advertisements that are going to be handed out at the Quebec date of Warped Tour.

Norman who is the Publisher and Photo Editor is going to have me help him with some legal paperwork that all of the photographers have to sign and send back, I’m going to try and see if I can get on with being a contributing photographer. I got to also help brainstorm with Scott in Editoral and Ted on a poster for the bands backstage at Warped Tour for bands to donate things for a time capsule the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame is doing that’ll be opened in 2031. So they bounced around ideas but I came up with the final slogan of “How will your moldy shower shoes smell is 2031?” or “How will your girls jeans fit in 2031?” Lol. And there may be an illustrated robot with scene hair My schedule is M-F 11am to 5pm and woot we’re sponsered by Redbull so there’s a little fridge full of free Redbull!

I love AP.

Grace, Mom, and I made it to Cleveland in about 11 hours. We stopped in Effingham Illinois for breakfast, outside of Indianapolis to change drivers and then outside of Columbus for dinner. We got to our Marriott Residence Inn around 8pm and it’s a sweet little setup (pictures on the way – we still have to unpack).

We just had breakfast and it was really good, we get a free hot breakfast here and chowed on some waffles, eggs, sausage, and potatoes. Mom’s got some coffee and Grace is getting ready to go. We’re going to drive by AP’s offices and then go scope out the shopping/grocery situation here in the Westlake part of Cuyahoga County Ohio (only 15 miles from beautiful downtown Cleveland!)

FYI: I plan on using this blog to share photos and stories of my time here in Ohio and at AP Magazine. So, family and friends you can now track down just what I’m doing