Around mid June I went out to try to get singer Avril Lavigne and Jon Anderson of Yes fame (He sang the song Owner of a Lonely Heart). Sadly I couldn't find Avril Lavigne. But I went to an easy venue and got old school Jazz pianist Monty Alexander. He came out after the show and was very nice.
Next went to a hotel and got a bunch of Skateboardists I never heard of. And at the end of the evening after Jon Anderson's show, beat him to the hotel and he was very nice about photo ops. Success!
Monty Alexander
Full list of skateboard photo ops
To kick off June I went to a flight for with DJ Tiesto. He flew in, wasn't too nice, signed but didn't do ops. Then singer Rebecca Black was leaving. She wasn't too nice but I manage a selfie.
Rebecca Black
Tiesto autograph
Next I wanted to try for the Hear sisters. Going in the venue we got Nancy but didn't spot Ann in time. Nancy was surprisingly cool. Leaving just as Ann was coming out a truck obstructed our view and we got up to her too late as she was already halfway in the bus.
Nancy Wilson
Next I decided to try an easy venue for XTC drummer Terry Chambers. After the show I got him and the 2 barely valid musicians that tour with him. Nice as can be. Then to another venue for the band Jet. Basically everyone is original. After the show all 4 of them stopped.
Full list of photo ops
Next a venue for Bill Clinton and author James Patterson. Secret service was harassing us but we were allowed to stay till James came in. He got dropped outside the venue and we got ops. Then to another venue for country singer Paula Cole. While waiting a police sergeant saw what we were doing and tried to give us the BS that we couldn't stand on public grounds. Even though there was a bum standing there doing insane stuff even before we got here.
After much back and forth we waited at another part where we could still see. But then we had to head to another spot for actress Patricia Clarkson. Sadly this is just an update for me but she was nice. Back to the Paula Cole spot and the bum was back to where he was and the police were gone. We went inside saw Paula and she was nice as can be.
James Patterson
Patricia Clarkson
Paula Cole
Next day it was another event with Kevin Sorbo and Pat Boone. As I arrive, I immediately see Kevin. He is nice and does multi combos. This is an update for me as I mooched him at a con long ago, but I got autos which I didn't have before. We see Pat Boone but he is cock blocked from us by venue security.
Go to the next spot for Eugene Levy and Dionne Warwick. Eugene is a strict one per. I get a combo (upgrading my photo op from NYC). Sadly Dionne is adamant on no photos despite her being all dressed up and me begging and pleading. Back to the first spot where magician Joshua Jay walks out. Get the photo op.
When the Sorbo event let out, didn't see Kevin Sorbo leave while James Arnold Taylor and other minor actors left out the front (thankfully I have James Arnold). But Pat Boone leaves and I get an upgrade photo op plus autographs. The final spot for the evening was Paul Simon returning from a show but he ignored.
Kevin Sorbo
Eugene Levy
Joshua Jay
Pat Boone
Autographs
Next up I try for Jennifer Lopez flying in, but the police kicked us out. Beat her to the hotel where I manage to get a photo op and break my 15-year J Lo curse. Unfortunately, she has shades and a cap. PUNCH. So it was a bittersweet victory.
Looked for Paul Simon at his hotel and didn't find him. Then tried a venue for the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern. No idea who she is but I had nothing else going on.
Then to a venue for Grace Jones where I wanted an upgrade and autographs. Janel Monei comes out and does nothing. Thankfully I have her. Finally, at 4am Grace Jones comes out. No shades then I take someone's photo on my camera. She then decides the flash is too bright and I end up having to get a crappy phone photo op. Wow I really got PUNCHED hard here! Two Punches with two female singers/actors in one day. In both cases I got the op but also didn't get the op. It hurt bad. Especially in this case when someone else get the shot I wanted on my own camera! Grace also signed.
After JLo/Grace PUNCHES, next day was largely a bust. It starts with a flight for singer Troye Sivan who also played young Logan in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. He is nice as can be. Also grab a photo op with his band member Simone Nolasco.
Try again for J Lo at her hotel for an upgrade, but she just waves at us from her car. Would it have killed her to stop and do some car ops? Tried for Grace Jones at her hotel but she declined us. She told me to give my info to her guy for autograph mail ins. Beat her to the airport where she also refused photo ops citing no make-up but gave us spankings which was caught on video by her guy (who then sent it to us). Sadly, we made an oath not to post the video of us getting spanked by Grace Jones.
Tried for J Lo coming back at the hotel and that too was a bust.
What followed the previous day of busts? Another day of busts! First went to the J Lo hotel didn't see her. Then went to the airport for a flight for singer Khalid but the flight got canceled. Back to the Paul Simon hotel then the J Lo hotel where she left and did nada. Couldn't beat her to the next spot as the next spot was the venue.
Checked the venue for Paul Simon but decided to try hotel instead. Back to the Paul Simon hotel where we see him come back and got right up to him but he declined. I did get a photo op with multi-instrumentalist Mark Stewart who is on wikipedia.
Next day is a final attempt at Paul Simon. Had him right on the sidewalk by the hotel and he denied. Then beat him to the airport and had him right there where again he denied. After that did some pure Pokemoning. Tried a hotel and got Envy Peru. Tried another hotel got 2AM Ricky. Had a free meet and greet for Khalid at the pride concert. Don't know him or care for him but free is free. Got the photo op. He was nice.
Then went to the Happy Together Tour mainly for Jay and the Americans. Needed original member Sandy Deanne. Unfortunately there were no original members of Jay and the Americans at this show in this show. SMH. I did get Little Anthony and Gary Puckett, but I had them already. Day is another bust.
