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Wayne Wonder's Album Launch
The Manor, September 24, 2007
New York, NY
We wanted Wayne’s album launch to be more than a release party, we wanted it to be an event. So we gathered some of the movers and shakers in the industry, and thought if we put them in the mix with WW, it would make for a memorable night…and it did.
One of those movers and shakers was Mr. Boombastic, Mr. Lova Lova – Shaggy. I got a call from his “people” or Kue (also GM of Big Yard Music) at about 8pm that Shaggy would come to Manor under one condition – that he would be able to park directly in front of the venue. I said I would try. Kue said I had to do better…and I did.
It was Michelle, Shalini, ten models wearing white, and myself, lifting NY Times newspaper bins and placing them in the street, blocking it off for Shaggy. I wasn’t worried about Wayne; he HAD to come…and he did.
So Kue called and said Shaggy is around the block, did I have his parking spot? I said, “Of course I do!” I ran out of the club to check on the spot, and to my dismay, two ladies were backing their beamer into it. I knocked on their window and politely asked what they were doing. At this point, the driver smiling told me that the boys on the sidewalk were kind enough to remove some “thingys” so they can park. I had to check myself. Apparently it wasn’t obvious that someone was going to a LOT of trouble to save that parking spot. I kindly begged them to please back out because the spot was reserved for Shaggy, who wouldn’t come into the venue if he didn’t have THAT spot. I could see their minds working and I guess the urge to see Shaggy won…and they did.
So I’m decked out in a black cocktail dress and pearls, with about 50 people in line, and I’m physically standing holding a parking spot. I texted my team to notify them of my sudden exit and whereabouts…and also to reassure them that whatever situation they landed in that night, they couldn’t complain about it. After all, nothing beats a publicist turned human-parking-spot-holder. I wondered if Shaggy would find me, dressed in black and meddling with my BlackBerry, attempting to look as if I were actually handling business in the middle of the road…and he did.
By the way, Wayne’s album launch was a huge success. Read the official version in FOX FACTS. I lost my voice singing behind the DJ booth; it was that packed that I couldn’t even watch the performances at our own event. Kudos to James “Jazz” Goring, Rich, Tiffany and Max, plus the random VP staff that I hit up at the venue, for making this event a success. James called our poster-ing overkill; I guess next time we will lay off the parking meters. Spending that 10 minutes in that parking spot, I swore I would write about that experience…and I did.
- Rhona
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