Went to an event in early April with Tosin Cole and Courtney B Vance. I already have Vance but need Cole. Sadly as it's ending I see Vance but never see Cole. BUST.
Courtney B Vance
A week later an event with singer Taylor Dayne, the group Tag Team (whoomp there it is) and singer Freddie Jackson. I arrive and I see Taylor Dayne on a go cart. I ask for a photo op and she goes "absolutely". I try to get autos but she ignores this. Her handler says to wait and don't go away but sadly they walk away and forget about me. Meanwhile the area I got Taylor is sealed to the public. So I was waiting in another area. I see actor Laz Alonso sitting on a convertible. I get the op but this is a repeat op. I sadly never see Tag Team or Freddie.
Taylor Dayne
Laz Alonso
Next up an event with a bunch of people from the TV show Black-ish. There were a bunch of people showing up from the show and 2 producers. I needed 3 actors. Older actress Jenifer Lewis and younger actors Marsai Martin and Miles Brown. Sadly traffic holds me back and I am late! As I arrive I see Jenifer Lewis mingling with the crowd. I park illegally and approach and ask her. She goes "don't sneak up on me" (she said that to everyone asking for an op). Security was trying to intervene but she goes "let him have it" and she took what she described as a socially distant op.
After this success I go to quickly park the car. To my bad luck while I do that the two other people I need come in! Not all the other actors I don't need, but the two I needed! PUNCH! They didn't do ops but no one asked. With this heart breaking defeat I wait for others coming in just because. Tracee Ellis Ross wanted socially distant ops. I got one even though I have her. Got a repeat with Marcus Scribner. Also Yara Shahidi came but she was in a rush so I let others that actually needed her to get her.
Wanted to wait for exits but they put all cars in an underground garage. So I had to beat the cars to the next spot which was an easy restaurant right on a sidewalk. First person I see Miles Brown and he declines! Talk about lucky and unlucky at the same time!
Doesn't end there, Marsai Martin declines. I plead some more she accepts. As she accepts she almost trips. Then goes inside.
I wait for exists from that spot. Marsai Martin comes out and stops. Miles Brown comes out and declines again. Couldn't have been a calmer setting! Finally both Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross come out. Even though I have them both I get a group shot to salvage something. This marks my first post COVID celebrity group photo op on the street.
Jenifer Lewis
Tracee Ellis Ross
Marcus Scribner
Marsai Martin
Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson
Next up, Johnny Depp. I have a photo with him but for a big name like that I thought I'd go for autographs. We were about 10-15 at his hotel. He didn't stop but he said to bring items up to his room. His people and the hotel employees brought us a cart and we loaded it with items. Five hours later our stuff came back signed. Then went to try for Kevin Bacon. Not too fond of my shot so I wanted an update. We wait and the cop tells us he's not coming out. A minute later he shows up and stops for us.
Johnny Depp autographs
Kevin Bacon
Next day I screw up not going for Depp as he stopped and did combos. But didn't take items in. The day after I go for him, we are like 25 people. He sneaks in. To salvage the day I go to the airport for Sergio Mendes. He is Jazz legend. Not the type of name I normally go for but he co wrote songs in the movie Rio which I enjoyed. He was cool, removed the mask upon request, and signed.
Sergio Mendes
Autographs
