Friday, March 18th, 2005
So, two nights ago, for my first night of SXSW ever, I headed out to The Parish right when their doors opened. The Wrens were playing last, and from what the paper said about their show last year, I figured the only way to get to see them would be to show up early. Not sure if that was accurate or not b/c I never got to see the line again once inside.
Here my overly simplified opinion of the evening: The Wrens were incredible. Everyone else ranged from moderately okay to horrific.
The Real World was there. I was on camera, but I didn’t sign their waiver, so I guess I’m going to be one of those blurred faces on TV. It also means that I can say whatever I want about them. (I took a copy of one of their waivers and read it over at a later time. You essentially give the “Producers” the right to do whatever they want with you and your likeness throughout the universe, indefinitely. They actually used that phrase. “Throughout the universe.”)
Anyway, the main crew consisted of 4 or 5 people with varying duties. Lights, cameras, guy with a bunch of wireless equipment, etc. The cast looked like standard Real World folk. From what I was told, the cast of the Real World is given an “assignment”, which is something like a job. They don’t just get to live in the house and do nothing. It looked to me like their assignment is/was to film SXSW, or at least catalog it in some manner.
So there was this weird cascading camera crew thing going on: the crew that was filming the “Real World” show was actually filming cast members that were, in turn, filming the acts performing on stage.
One of the cast members (most likely a cast member, though I suppose she could have been a production-er) tried to steal my girlfriend’s seat. I lean down, got right in her face, and said, “No fucking way.” She seemed completely shocked that anyone would say such things. Well, stop stealing seats, Real World jerk. I understand you have an “assignment” to do. But the rest of the world paid to get in to this venue, and we’re not going to be inconvenienced by your pseudo-fame.
I suppose the Real World deserves no more of my time. On with SXSW.