Filed under: Cambio News
Well, it looks like one of the most incredible and exhausting weeks of my life has come to a close. I'm sitting at my desk, looking at all I have to show for my experience. I have a ton of articles, photos, and videos online. My backpack contains seven or eight all-access media passes, programs from every event, my ticket to the GRAMMY Awards, Coldplay's light-up wristbands, a voice recorder chock-full of red carpet interviews, and a notebook with fragments of quotes scribbled on the pages. I'd say that's a pretty accurate representation of GRAMMY Week.
It's been life-changing. Video production was never my thing, but by now I feel confident enough to shoot just about anything. I'd only met a few celebrities before; now I can't count even them on my hands and feet. I'd never worked on a red carpet, and now I have three
The writer, in Los Angeles during Grammy Week
It's been mind-blowing. The teen musicians I worked alongside were the best players I've ever met. I could close my eyes during their set, and if I didn't know any better, I'd swear I was listening to dudes in their thirties. And they were friendly virtuosos, too. The conversations we had showed that we all have a serious knowledge of and passion for music of all genres.
It's been inspirational. Meeting more than a handful of my musical idols would have made it worthwhile on its own, but being able to interview these musicians and industry professionals as a reporter for several outlets was a dream come true. I worked with reporters from Rolling Stone and other publications...that was the icing on the cake. And the telecast itself was the cherry on top.
Ah yes, the telecast. I didn't even watch the whole thing and I was stunned. I had seen Bruce Springsteen rehearse his opener, but it was so cool to see the audience mesmerized by his band. Bruno Mars put on one classy performance, and Coldplay created an epic light show. And the Beach Boys reuniting? I got shivers from those harmonies in "Good Vibrations." I wish I could have seen Adele's big comeback, but I'll just YouTube it later. Besides, I was too busy rocking out to OneRepublic's set at the afterparty.
%Gallery-147050%
Dozens of interviews and zero hours of sleep later, I'm starting to realize how lucky I am. I spent the week working hard and playing hard. I'm a better journalist and fan because of what I accomplished. It was my first GRAMMYs ever, and it was unforgettable. Here's hoping it won't be my last.