Meeting Clay

The day after the Sacramento concert, I got some emails from dynamatic, who used to post on TWoP but had to return to RL full-time. She had met Ron, the head of AI security, at the Sacramento concert. Now, dynamatic is a super-babe, she would so be on the shuttle if she weren't one of us; and Ron took a real shine to her and told her to meet him in San Jose and he would get her backstage. She emailed me asking a number of questions about the M&G, how it worked, what she should do, and I told her everything I knew from the boards and previous concerts. I also asked if I could meet her there and give her a gift for Clay in case she got in.

I hadn't really intended to make an effort to get into M&G in San Jose. My experiences at other concerts were pretty discouraging, and anyway I was the organizer of the San Jose pre-concert get-together. But some divine inspiration convinced me to give it one last try. On Friday and Saturday, I frantically gathered some of my best concert photos together, cropped and retouched and organized; I made a CD with lots of photos on it, and I printed high-quality 81/2 x 11 prints of eight of the very best I had. This would be my "hook" to get in. I also wrote a short letter to Clay; I had a "didn't get in" version, which stated I would have liked to meet him; and a "did get in" version - just in case, you know.

I dolled up in full make-up and wore a nice blouse instead of my PRoC shirt, I didn't want to look like what I really am - a crazy middle-aged fangirly! I packed my shoulder bag with Clingle, show program, and I opted for one of my own photos for an autograph instead of the Rolling Stone. I called Surf4Sue and told her what I was doing, and she agreed to take charge at the restaurant if I didn't show up. Everything I did was predicated on the possibility of getting in, but I tried to keep telling myself it probably wouldn't happen.

Churchmouse arrived at my house at 2:30, and we took off for the venue. dynamatic had been told to be there at 3:00. We parked at the restaurant and walked back the five blocks to the arena.

There were about fifteen or twenty people gathered outside the arena at the ticket office, including Nova, toofargone, and Goood Baby Brush. We stood around and waited as the crowd grew. I saw dynamatic for a moment, and then she was whisked inside by Ron. She had a full-access backstage pass! At about 3:45, two men came out and started handing out medallions and wristbands to people who were on a list or had passes. Jerome had not been seen at all, and we were all despairing since he was our only chance. I think Goood Baby Brush went over and asked about Jerome, but we didn't get a definitive answer about where he was or if he would be coming out.

So I was standing about fifteen feet away with a clear view of the stage door, thinking that I wasn't even going to get my gift backstage, when the stage door opened again. dynamatic and Ron stuck their heads out. She spoke to Ron, pointed at me, and motioned me to come over.

I hugged dynamatic and probably slobbered all over her, and then I just stood quietly for a while and alternated holding my breath, hyperventilating, and whimpering softly.

There were only about ten people inside at that point. We all stood around and waited for quite a while, maybe fifteen minutes. They had us move further into the lobby of the venue and then they started to let other people in. I saw our own agape come inside, she had also tried in Sacramento. Paying your dues helps!

There were three people dressed in outrageous costumes, silver-spangled suits. The woman had on an enormous bee-hive or afro black wig and huge red glasses, one guy had on an oversized silver top hat. I have no idea what the costumes meant, but they were definitely noticeable. I should have taken a picture, but I had no brain. Later at the concert, Clay got a spotlight put on this group.

It was about this time I realized that no one else knew where I was. I was standing alone when I got called in, and Churchmouse didn't see me. I pulled out my cell phone and called her to tell her where I was. She didn't even drop the phone and agreed to go back to the restaurant and help out. Then I called Surf4Sue at the restaurant, by this time it was past 4:30. "Where ARE you?" she asked. "I got in! I got in!" "YOU GOT IN?" she screamed. Sounds of much "EEEEEEEEE"-ing in the background. She said everything was under control, have a good time.

By this time I had gathered myself together and resolved to behave like an adult. They had closed the door and I thought that would be everyone, but just then Jerome comes around a corner from the stage door and following him are Nova, Goood Baby Brush, and toofargone. YAAAAAAYYY!! They saw me and waved, I don't think they knew I was in there.

They organized the group to go in; VIP's first, other medallion holders second, wristbands last. I'm not sure why the pecking order, everybody got rushed thru the same way. If I had been really bright, I would have gone to the end of the line; I would have been the last person with Clay. But I was thinking about how late I would be to the restaurant. Idiot!

Audience with the Aiken

We single-filed into the room. Security made everyone move along really fast, so even though there were 25 people in front of me, I was soon in the door far enough to see Clay.

He was first at the table. I took a couple of pictures from there, and watched him as much as I could. He was subdued, not smiling much or laughing. He almost seemed angry about something. He was wearing a black-and-white checked shirt (the collar was NOT button-down), and tan pants. I couldn't see his shoes. As the line snaked, slowly I moved closer, studying him.

Clay signs sheet music.

Now, I know we all think he is beautiful. But in person, he looked rather ordinary to me, even a little odd, because his hair and eyebrows are a very strange, unnatural color. This doesn't show up in photographs, he really looks different in person. His skin is impossibly pale, and I thought he was wearing makeup already because I could barely see his freckles, and they're not very pronounced in the photo. His hair was short on the sides and the ears were in full glory. Up close, he immediately became my TV nephew [tm ?]. I could never have debacle thoughts about this lanky, rather geeky young man; those belong to Sexy!Performance!Clay.

There were four young girls in front of me in line. One of them was crying rather noticeably and Jerome came over to talk to her. Then she and a second girl left the line and went outside. I didn't really know what happened until later, apparently she wanted her friends to get in and Jerome finally relented and let her bring them in.

The remaining two girls stepped up to Clay. One of them held out a tape recorder and asked him to say hi to a friend or sister or whatever, he said a few words including the girl's name. The strange things people want from him! And how draining it must be. I was starting to regret being one of the leeches, and hoping I wouldn't make a fool of myself.

Speak, Clay!

The last girl in front of me moved on, and I stepped to the table and put down my CD cover. Without even a "Hi,", he grabbed it and said "What's your name?" If he even looked up at me, I didn't see it. "Carolyn," I said. He signed it "Carolyn, All my love, Clay A---". I was impressed that he spelled my name right without asking.

You've been to HOW MANY concerts? MU-A-AAH!

I put down in front of him the four plastic sleeves with my eight photos; I knew I had to get his attention quickly. I said, "These are photos I've taken at different concerts, and here is a CD with more photos on it." He flipped thru the photos quickly, glanced up and said, "How many concerts have you been to?" "Tonight will be six," I answered. "Wow! You've been to more than I have!" he said. I actually didn't hear this comment, Goood Baby Brush had to tell me later, I must have been passing out. In retrospect I suspect it was very snarky, too bad I missed it at the time! Or else I seriously scared him.

He said something about should he sign the photos or the CD, I guess I hadn't made myself clear about them, and I said, "No, no! These are for you to keep!" I think he said "Oh", then he started looking at them more closely. I couldn't really tell how interested he was, because I didn't hear a lot of enthusiasm in his voice and all I could see was the top of his head. He found the one where he's kissing Julia, held it up, and yelled "Hey Jules!", getting the attention of all the Idols down the table. Julia said something, then Kim Caldwell said, "Let US see the pictures." "You can see them later," he said, "I get to keep them." Neener-neener!Clay! Bossy!Clay!

Clay looks at himself.

Ewww! Did I rub my nose at Clay?

Then he said to me, "Don't you want me to sign one of these for you?" So I put down my program and opened it to his page, and said, "Well, I have this one, but Jerome said you couldn't sign it." "What's your name?", he said, and I said "Carolyn". "Oh, yeah, you told me that." I said, "That's all right, I guess you hear quite a few names." "With a Y-N?" he asked. "Yes", I said, thinking it was funny that he got it right the first time without asking at all. And he quickly signed both the photo and my program. His hands move like those of a pianist, long-fingered and graceful.

And then the security guard barked at me to move along, so I stepped over to Rickey. The whole encounter had lasted less than a minute. Just then I remembered something and wailed, "Oh, I didn't get a photo!" By then Clay was already signing something for Goood Baby Brush, so I thought, I'll just take a photo from here, and just as I got my camera up, he raised his head and flashed a brilliant smile (the only one I saw that day). Boy knows how to pose and play to the camera! GBB I apologize for stealing five seconds of your Clay-time!

Clay multitasks, signing and posing.

Rickey signed my program and I told him how beautiful his duet with Julia is. He smiled and thanked me, and I took his picture. (Later, when I looked in my program, I discovered he had personalized it with my name. He never asked me so obviously he was listening when I gave it to Clay. None of the other Idols even bothered to ask.) Trenyce was next, looking very bored. As she signed my program I told her that "Proud Mary" was really great in Sacramento. "Thanks," she said, inspecting a fingernail.

I moved on to Kim Caldwell. She quickly signed my program and I said, "Remember me? I'm the armadillo lady." "Oh, yeah!" she said, and shook my hand. Trenyce perked up and said, "Hey, I remember that armadillo." Apparently I had gained some status. I took Kim's picture. Then I told Julia how beautifully she sings with Rickey and she smiled and said "Thank you" shyly as I photographed her.

Charles was next and was the friendliest and most enthusiastic. "Hi Charles", I said. "How you doin'" he said, and I said, "Great, how about you?" as he signed. "Great!" he said, and I snapped a photo.

Strangely, there was an empty chair between Charles and Kim Locke and she was all alone at the end of the table. She yawned as I walked up and handed her my program. "What are you doing down here all by yourself?" I asked. "I was hoping you'd be next to Clay and I could get your picture with him." "Oh, I usually sit down there, but today, I don't know...." she trailed off. "Are you all tired out since it's the end of the tour?" I asked. "No!", she said, "We're EXCITED. We're PUMPED." I took this to mean both that the last two concerts would be special for them, and also that she was excited to move on with her life. I took a photo, which I botched, and I asked if I could do it again. She posed, I snapped...and then I was out the door. It was all over in a flash.

I stopped to gather my stuff and realized that I still had the large envelope for the photos and CD, and that my LETTER was still in it! I asked a security guard if he could take the letter in for me and he said no. Then the young British fellow from 19E piped up and said it was OK for me to go back in and take it to him. (He seemed really nice, by the way. I think this is the guy that got webweaver in.) The security guard growled, "Now, you're just going to take that in and COME RIGHT BACK OUT." I said sure, no problem. I walked back into the room, down to Clay, and set my letter on top of the CD where he had left it. He never looked up from signing. And I walked out again.

The Idols are really just autograph-signing machines in this setting; Clay has to sign at least three things for each of the fifty or so people who file thru at each one of these, and he has at most one minute per person. I got a definite us-versus-them vibe from the whole table; the Idols spent more time chatting with each other (as if the fans weren't there at all) as they did talking with fans. They seemed a bit bored or perhaps still waking up.

Clay's attitude seemed cordial, but rather cool, brisk and distant. What everyone has said about M&G not being a very pleasant way to meet him is true. The security in San Jose was really cracking the whip to move people along. I never really got to look in his eyes, because he only glanced up at me a couple of times and was mostly looking down, either to sign things or to look at my pictures. So no, I don't think he ever noticed any resemblance between me and Faye. I also see from Nova's photos that I was "pointing" a lot - I have no idea why. Not nice to point at Clay!

But I'm not complaining AT ALL. I never expected to get any nearer to Clay than the front row, and when I did meet him I had no expectation that it would be this great "connecting" experience. I am one of a thousands people he met that week, and I'm just happy I had the opportunity to show him my photos and get a unique autograph. I was determined not to be "gushy" and foolish; looking back, I wish I had gushed a bit more. He might have thought it was cute, and he seems to respond in kind to whatever people put out.

I forgot to say anything to him about how wonderful his voice and his talent are, but I figure he's heard that a million times. I should have spent more time with the other Idols; I moved on more quickly from each of them than I had to because, well, they weren't Clay, and I was a little dazed. I worry that I forgot to thank Clay and the other Idols for the autographs and the pictures; I really don't remember if I did. Pressure make you forget, y'all.

By this time it was 5:15. I tore out of the arena and half-ran, half-skipped the five blocks to the arena. I pulled out my cell phone and called Mr. Spot. "Hello?" "I GOT TO MEET HIM! I GOT TO MEET HIM!" "You DID?" And I told him a few details and hung up.

I swept into the courtyard of the pub where the PRoC was gathered at multiple tables, and announced myself. "EEEEEEEEEEEEE!" "EEEEEEEEEEEE!" they replied. I was inundated with hugs and congratulations, and passed around my hot-off-the-sharpie Clack for admiration. Churchmouse had ordered me some fish & chips and I tried to gulp down a few bites as I said hello to old friends and attempted to meet new people. LadyPBnJ administered her trivia quiz from DC. Soon Nova, Goood Baby Brush, and toofargone arrived and told their exciting stories, especially that Clay asked for Nova's phone number! Keep that phone handy next week, honey, he's lookin' for a girl!

All too quickly it was time to get to the venue. Goood Baby Brush kicked ass and took money, and we all hugged and said goodbyes or see-ya-laters and headed for the venue in small clumps.

On the way to the venue, DVD Matt was looking for a better tickets and ran into a scalper. Or so we thought. He had two FRONT ROW tickets to sell - for FACE VALUE! So Matt hemmed and hawed for a minute, wondering if the tickets were real, while we're all screaming at him, "Matt! It's FRONT ROW!" He finally bought them. Matt also got his mother into the M&G to meet Clay, so it was a GOOD DAY for ALL!!