Gabrielle

Gabrielle: Press Pass

Posted on by gabdkelsk

Well, as many of you might have read below, Kelsey and I have been experiencing some exciting things! Yesterday we were handed our very own press passes and naturally–we could’t wait to try them out. (P.S. When I say “try them out”, I mean wave them around in people’s faces to see how far we could go with them.)

My fascination with these laminated, business card-sized creations started exactly one year ago. It was sometime in June when Vine-superstars Cody and Marcus Johns announced they were having a “SuperVine Meet Up” in West Palm Beach. I was currently working as an intern (shocker there) with a videography company when I heard the news. Just for kicks, I shot both self-made celebrities an email asking if I could come out and “cover” their event. To my surprise…15 minutes later I was on the phone with Cody Johns as we confirmed plans of when/where to meet and how I could interview them. (4 minutes later I was screaming and dancing outside of my car).

Check out my interview with Marcus Johns HERE

Upon hearing about this amazing opportunity, it was only natural for my insanely supportive family of 5.5 ( the .5 is for my dog…she’s only 3 lbs) to cram in with my boyfriend in his SUV and hit the road towards West Palm Beach. One [completely unfair] speeding ticket and one flat tire later, we had arrived.

The scene was incredible. Despite the drizzly, grey sky, several hundred girls coated almost every foot of the plaza where this legendary “Supervine” was to take place. As I got out of the car and [my boyfriend] carried my equipment to our spot, a woman ran to me with an umbrella covering me as I walked. Why did this complete stranger do such a kind-hearted thing? Some might say it was out of the goodness of her heart and her uncanny compassion for strangers. I personally think it was a small, laminated card that I had pinned to my jacket. My very first press pass.

What I hadn’t mentioned was that my dad, the guy who has 143,343,401 things to do every day, managed to accomplish 143,343,402 things that day. My father had somehow managed to create a very convincing press pass complete with my name, picture and a bar code (what that barcode actually leads to…is still a mystery) but either way, that woman with the umbrella was just the beginning. All evening people treated me differently. Why? Because I looked official. Heck, I was official!

That press pass not only granted me perks, it reminded me that I was there for a purpose.

So for anyone that actually made it through this ridiculously long blog post, (hi mom) I just want to share how amazing it was covering a Chase Rice concert with my Boca Raton Magazine press pass. What is even more amazing is that this concert was in the same town and in the same plaza that I was in exactly one year ago. 

Kelsey and I had a great time at the concert last night. Our laminate treasures granted us free parking, exclusive access next to the stage and we even managed to get an interview with Rice’s lead guitarist. *swoon*

Thank you dad for being my #1 media outlet. Your support means everything.

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