SHREDnews

By: Poppy Cleere

Fans – Check

Security – Check

Sharpies – Check

Band – Che…WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF BOOKING THE BAND?!

Ever wondered what it’s really like behind the scenes of a public appearance? Join us as we take an exclusive look into what went on during the frantic Paramore PA at HMV in London.

5.45am – Time to get up! Yawning and bleary eyed I drag myself out of bed and wolf down some cereal. Not quite the breakfast of champions but enough to keep me going until lunchtime…apparently. I wonder how many fans are already braving the queue and what Paramore are up to. I conclude that they are most probably – and sensibly – still asleep.

7.10am– After meeting a friend at the station we’re finally all set and join the pack of commuters making their daily journey to London. Having drawn the short straw I sit next to an elderly gentleman who has rather too much nose hair to cope with so early in the day. He politely asks what I’m doing on a train rather than being in school and after explaining that I’m actually 18 (He thought I was 14!) we discuss the day ahead of us.

“Parawho?” he enquires. “Never heard of ‘em!”

It’s going to be a long journey.

8.30am – I jump out of Bond Street station, dodge a bus and then nearly run back in front of it when I see the queue; it was gigantic. The sea of wrapped up fans snaked right around the side of the store, almost around the next corner. There definitely had to be more than 250 people here.

I make my way to the side entrance – much to the disgust of some of those who had been queuing since the previous day – and I am greeted with smile by the London store manager. He hurriedly explains the plan for the morning and after making sure I’m all good and settled, rushes off to take care of more business

All I have to do is check each person’s receipt, pop a wristband on their wrist (not too tight but not lose enough so they can slide it off and trade!) and ask them if they need a ticket for the show that evening. Only the first 50 in the queue would be able to get one. I mentally prepared myself to break the news to number 51.

8.40am – It’s time! The giant door slides back and the disheveled yet happy campers make their way forward to buy t-shirts. I stifle a giggle as the first through sprint towards me; they were being let through in order yet it was as if they were attempting to win gold in the Olympics. On goes the wristband and off they go to give their details. The next pair inform me that they’ve been queuing since 3.30pm the previous day and haven’t slept a wink! These fans truly are remarkable.

Faces become a blur as I repeat this process until I’m told all the tickets are gone. Yikes! Approaching me are two very excitable teens in homemade Paramore tee’s.

“I’m really sorry” I say, bracing myself “But all the tickets for tonight are gone”

“No problem! We already have ours” I remove my bullet proof amour and stand bemused as they grin wildly and hop out of the store. Not quite what I was expecting.

So I continue with the wristbands – a few hiccups occur: people forgetting their wallets, others trying to sneakily join the back of the ticket queue and various queue members from 53^rd in the line to 325rd with crestfallen faces asking if I can get them ”just one more ticket to the show” – and finally, after almost an hour and a quarter, the box is empty.

Fast-forward to that afternoon:

4.50pm – I’m absent mindedly straightening the music DVD’s when I hear the sudden roar of a crowd. I whip my head round looking frantically for the source of the claps, whoops and cheers. It must be Paramore?! Why on earth are they here early?

“Hi everybody! Thanks for coming out!” – Since when did Hayley sound so young? And I swear her Nashville accent isn’t that strong…

“I’m Hannah Montana and…” What?

Yes that’s right. It was the bloody Hannah Montana movie playing full blast on the Blu-ray system downstairs. Who put that there and – more importantly – who put that DVD on?!

I regain my composure and after realizing the time (Paramore were due to arrive at 5pm – they should be here any second) I head off to find the PR in charge.

5.10pm – “They’re running a bit late. You may as well go and grab anything you want signed while you’re waiting” The crowd are inside by this point and a buzz of excitement in filling the air.

5.30pm – “They’re on their way” Incredibly the crowd are still as pumped as they were 20 minutes ago and all the tired faces of the morning had been replaced with excitable smiles.

5.35pm – Pacing around and chatting to the crowd is thirsty work so I go grab some water!

‘Paramore! Paramore! Paramore!’ The chants continue to get louder and louder as the crowd gets increasingly excited and believes to think that anyone coming down the stairs is a member of the band; including a poor little old lady who just wanted to get to the DVD section but was met with “OMG! It’s Hayley!!!” and hundreds of teens wolf-whistling and screaming. Thank God she took it well, she actually enjoyed the attention!

5.40pm – I run up the stairs looking for a bin to put my empty paper cup in.

“Is there a bin anyw-” I stop mid sentence after finding Paramore and their management all being debriefed directly in front of me. The lovely head of security takes pity on my shocked look and plucks the cup out of my hand placing it at the end of the stairs.

I didn’t stop to look anyone in the eye as I ran out refaced.

5.41pm – I nod to one of my friends in the crowd that they had arrived and the crowd becomes even more excited. The boxes and PA equipment are all set up just waiting to be used.

One minute later and Hayley, Jeremy, Josh, Zac and Taylor bounce down the steps to a deafening roar. Grinning from ear-to-ear they thank everyone from coming out to see them and then group up for press photos.

5.50pm – The signing is in full swing. Many excited fans have already gushed in front of the fivesome, taking pictures, chancing hugs and trying to say as much as they can before being moved on for the next group. Management busily answers phone calls and questions while I grab the band some water. With the schedule now tighter than ever there is even less time for Paramore to sign items and people are beginning to wonder if they’ll manage to get everybody through. The shorter timing, however, doesn’t dampen the spirits of Paramore’s fans and they each leave looking elated after meeting their idols.

6.20pm – Quite remarkably security have managed to get every single wristband wearer through in just over 35 minutes. T-shirts, CD’s, vinyls and even guitars have been signed!

As Paramore make their exit – not, of course, until after they have started a ‘London! London! London!’ chant – the scores of fans flash their cameras and crane their necks for one last glimpse of the famous five. What a day!

6.30pm – The crowd has finally dispersed and now it’s time to clean up. Even with the shortened time limit the signing was a success and those who couldn’t make it to the gig felt content with seeing their heroes up close and personal. It was one of the most frantic events I have ever seen, yet it was so much fun to see everything up-close and a great experience. Time to head to the show…

So there you have it! PA’s aren’t all sparkles and glamour. They may well be fun and exciting experiences but they take a lot of planning, hard work, and management before and during the event and even on the day not everything is guaranteed to go to plan.

One thing is for sure though and that’s that these events wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t for everyone involved, especially the bands who take part and perhaps most importantly the fans who make each event a truly positive and memorable experience. It was a pleasure to witness!

A huge thankyou to everyone who made this day possible – especially the staff at the store for being so welcoming, to Paramore for being so friendly and to the crowd for being so kind when I couldn’t put your wristbands on properly!”!

You can listen to Paramore’s newest track ‘Brick By Boring Brick’ now over at www.myspace.com/paramore

Their 3^rd album Brand New Eyes is available on 29^th September.

Check back next Friday for a review of the Islington show!

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