4/24/2011 c1 Y-knott
Thank you for sharing your experience. At times it was gut-wrenching to read- the cold; the exhaustion; non-stop talking teenagers (shudders); the tension; the incredible rudeness of others; the lies. Damn. But I loved your brief moment with Saintward; my heart kinda skipped.

You may not have gotten all that you wanted out of the experience, but you stuck it out and made a friend in Maggie.

PS, so Jay is Jasper and not Mr Jay?

4/23/2011 c1 NY13
Did you know that there is a manuscript museum in Manhattan that has original drafts from Dickens, Ben Franklin, and Mozart. Did you know that all have lines crossing out and corrections except for Mozart...perfect the first time...that's just the tip of the treasures in that town...there are thin places there too...your muse is in your heart, your dreams, your friends, your passion, your romance...not some English actor with a gentle face.

4/22/2011 c1 The Oldest One
Wow, what an experience! Thanks for letting us see first-hand what it's like to be one of those people on the sidellines you see in all the premiere videos. And thanks for being one of the civil ones. I'll be thinking about your story for a long time.

4/21/2011 c1 1AdonicaSS
I've joked many times that I wouldn't wait in line for the Second Coming. Your experience reinforces that decision.

I've known people who work in PR. I've even met a couple of celebrities. Sadly, I think your experience is completely typical. There is no such thing as a normal human moment for people who have reached the stardom level of a Pattison. I don't know how he maintains any level of sanity. I guess he travels with his parents and sisters sometimes, and that helps. It is no wonder that celebrities use drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, or all three.

Having said that, it is nearly impossible for me to work up any real sympathy for Rob, or anyone who has achieved that level of fame. The money he has now can buy a lot of therapy and privacy. He has dreamed of being the actor he has become. I hope he is enjoying every second. Youth and looks fade away quickly.

I suppose my words reflect my age and my own struggle for success.

Thank you for writing a thought-provoking piece. Welcome to the Posse!

xx

4/21/2011 c1 Ishouldntbehere
What a great story! Even with the heartbreak, I. Hear. You!

I live 25 min from NYC, and had an event that night, but the weather was absolutely awful - I can't remember a rainstorm like that with a driving wind for quite some time. I don't think I would have been able to stand outside in it for so long - I get bronchitis so easily.

It's so hard at these events because the rules seem to be constantly changing, and people take advantage... your experience was tame compared to others I've heard from other events, believe it or not.

These PR people really need to be more aware of what the fans go through. Sometimes they do treat us as “cattle”, even with a level of contempt. Then there are the “Carlos’” who recognize the power they have to shape the experience. It’s about their ability to make a bad situation bearable, a good situation great. There’s a special circle of Hell for the ones that do recognize and simply don’t care, or just take a power trip - ask SR (lol).

Thank you for taking the time to post this - I think it was cathartic for you to write it and you kind of had to, but you didn't have to post it. I look forward to more when you feel the need…

4/21/2011 c1 7Gingerandgreen
This was fascinating and thought provoking. I once saw Princess Diana, by pure chance, in an empty London side street. She looked very thin and unprepossessing, and I felt sorry for her. I stared.

I also saw Jamie Oliver, who I genuinely respect, in some upmarket farm stall shops down the road. He was grumpy, and we were all very English about it, whispering to perfect strangers about what we had seen, but shutting up the moment he came within earshot. And staring.

Both of these experiences were about voyeurism. I had no expectation of an actual connection. My daughter wants to go and do what you did for Rob, but for Rupert Grint. I think the connection she is hoping for is with like minded fans, not with the actual person Rupert Grint (although I hardly expect her to turn down a connection with him, should one arise!).

I know the common image of a voyeur is a man in a dirty raincoat, but perhaps it is time to reclaim the term. If what we are doing in this Fandom isn't voyeurism, I want to know what is. 'Seeing' does not need to be reciprocated to be satisfying. Why not be proud of a dedication to satisfying our own desires that extends to spending a night in the freezing cold and rain with like minded people? What a profound and unforgettable experience you had, you are amazing for doing it! I'm proud of you, dammit!

I so want your job, by the way. If I could do what you are doing by standing outside in freezing temperatures all night, I would!

4/21/2011 c1 Celtic Karma
I was there too (wristband #126) and I share your pain... Watching that rooftop clock and temperature display all night, I really can't believe that we all put up with that nonsense. The bitter disappointment when we realised that we had basically been cynically manipulated by the PR machine, I feel ashamed now. Ashamed that I travelled 6000 miles to be there, ashamed that I didn't speak up and question the way we were treated, ashamed that I was too scared of missing something to just walk away. When the pavement started to flood and my feet were actually under water I did waver, but the lovely ladies around me reminded me about the "surprise", so I stayed. Crazy!

I did get my "moment", I spoke with Rob, was mildly witty, and was rewarded with an autograph, a giggle, a look and a hair-flip (gasp). Did we "connect"? No, sadly, I don't think we did. I was just part of a day's work, and I don't think we did "see" one another...

Seeing him up close was a surreal experience, he is so beautiful, photos do him no justice, but now that I can look at it objectively I feel a little empty. I am not that person, the one who would put up with any humiliation for the merest glimpse of the object of my affections. So why did we do it?

It was certainly an experience, but one that was rendered completely unnecessary, given that we gained no more from it than we would have after simply turning up a couple of hours before...

I enjoyed reading your story, it helped me as I struggle to make sense of the events of last Saturday and Sunday. You have described it very eloquently. One good thing that came out of it all was that we met some lovely people that night (alongside some examples of the most awful, selfish, loud people I've ever encountered...) Oh, and we saw with our own eyes the most beautiful human on the planet.

I'd love to be able to say that I'd never do it again, but I can't be sure about that. Clearly I do not value my sanity!