The first thing on my mind as I walk into the stadium is "where are the cameras." As I glance quickly around I spot as many as I can find. I slide into my seat, and let out a sigh of relief. So far so good. I learned my lesson the last time I was at a baseball game. Never let anyone know where you're sitting. You don't want to be on the big screen. Then, as we wait for the event to begin my eyes wander toward the center, I can pick out all the hand held camera guys, I spot their utilities running behind them trying to keep up. I chuckle to myself. My friends give me a weird look, and I smile slightly embarrassed and mumble "it's nothing" because if I told them why they would look at me like I was a complete nerd. Which, let's be honest, I am. After listening to D talk for hours about work, nonstop at times, I can hold a conversation with him, and attempt to sound smart when I ask him questions about his job(s).
A few short moments later the show begins. My friends are drinking and having a good time. They are looking up at the crowd shot on the jumbo tron, they want to get on it of course. I glance over at one of the hard camera ops across the stadium. I can see the red light. I also see the shot on the big screen. I whisper to my friend and point, "that's the shot that's being used on the jumbo tron" as the camera is pointed directly in the area being shown. The look on her face shows she is confused. I can read it clearly. "How do you know?" I quickly try to explain but it's no use. She then screams with delight as the camera pans across to an area near us. My friends really want to be on the big screen. I cringe and duck down. I've learned that this isn't my thing. I know D and his coworkers don't ever have to look hard to find the people their looking for in the crowd. We really should be watching the game.
During half time, I see a few familiar faces. Some of them are audio, some utility, and others are camera guys. My friends ask me if D is working, and if we can go find him. If he doing camera work or utility work sometimes I will show them where he is. They usually try to get his attention. That's always fun. He acknowledges the girls and gives a half wave before focusing through the viewfinder or walking past them with a cable in his hands. If he's in the truck of course then I say no. Because that's not going to happen. They ask me again what he does. Depending on the show, I try to come up with a simple explanation, I always fail. Their next question is "does he get to meet the players?" That's a fun one. Do I answer, "I know so and so gave him a high five before the game," or "He congratulated so and so after he put up 20 points." No. I simply shrug my shoulders. Come on people, they have to be professional. They are there for work!
The game begins again, my friends are clearly enjoying themselves. The drinks have kicked in. Then one of them asks if D or I know any of the announcers or reporters. I'm around enough to know who they are, I've met a few of them, but we are not BFFs by any means, so once again I just shrug and say "no, not really." It's a great game, but my mind isn't focused on it. I look to my right to see the hand held almost get jacked by a falling player. I gasp. My friends ask "what just happened?" They obviously did not see what I saw. I tell them what happened and the next question is "They can get hurt?" No, really?
When the game gets done, and we get ready to head out the girls want to ask D if he will join us after. "We can wait for him" they say. Clearly, they have no idea what it takes to put on a show, and the hour long plus time it takes for them to tear down and strike a show. "Let's just go" I say. "If he gets done in time to join us he will. He still has to melt." I groan on the inside. I just used the word melt. Wrong word choice. I am then explaining to them what still needs to be done before he goes home. So we head out. The girls are already onto their next favorite subject. What to get at the bar. I've really got to do something different next time.
