Ride of a Day

It's been quite a day. I have finally got the 'courage' to go to SBTV in hopes to find Jamal Edwards and bravely, in a like-i-mean-business way, hand him in my proposal. It is a MUST that he be featured in the exhibition, what he has been doing for the culture is undeniable.

So I knew the street name where the office is but not the number - just, you know, to add to my already unbearable pressure this anticipation of having to go knock on secured doors and ask 'is SBTV' somewhere here? Please enjoy this video of me hyperventilating before I go in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cysv7ZqXS9I&feature=youtu.be 

It all ended worse than I thought though: I was told by one of the receptionists SBTV has moved office ages ago! Great. That's great. Yet another crucial person I don't know how get hold of. Yet.

So I came home and dealt with this photo studio problem I'd got myself into. Because you see I'd made a mistake and assumed one of the photographers has got access to a studio (it's actually more than that, I'd actually assumed they've got their own studio!) and just went on and scheduled our first official shoot without confirming with the boys first. Um, dumb. Um, totally paid for it with extensive growth of grey hairs on my head when I realised what I'd done. So I could either email the artist and ask to reschedule (look up the description of 'unprofessionalism', this is textbook) or do what I have to do to make the show go on. So I googled, made calls, bargained and borrowed money from my friend so we could have our first portrait shoot on Friday, as agreed.

After this was done, I went to the BBC Broadcasting House and waited for Charlie Sloth to appear. By now I have started giving him warning calls that I am lurking around, I've been so persistent when it comes to him I find myself apologising for acting like a leech ha! But please trust me when I say: there hasn't been a man nicer than Charlie. He might not pick up his phone when I call or reply my texts, but when I do see him he never, and I mean NEVER, not willing to help. OK, maybe he does like this exhibition idea and I guess that helps but believe me when I say the man. is. boss.

Anyway, we talked for a few minutes and I was given the email address of his agent so that I could schedule the time for Chalie's photo shoot. Well I've sent the request, and now I shall await.

I'm exhausted by the way. It didn't feel like I've accomplished much but now that I'm writing about it it does look like a long day. I want to restructure this blog and to be able to write more frequently. While the sh-t is fresh you know.

Night now. Meditation time for me. Also haven't read a book in ages, I'm starting 'The Hundred Hearts' tonight. 

It all seems like one never-ending challenge

Today, I have counted and described FOUR obstacles to making this project/ exhibition happen. And I haven't even looked into funding yet. Panicking isn't the word right now and I have to start all over again. But if I don't then I'll have failed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4iQArat1Ro&feature=youtu.be

An evening with Lloyd Webber

The man whom I credit with teaching me the history and evolvement of black music in UK? Lloyd Bradley. And I went to his book event yesterday evening.  

It was whilst I was reading 'Sounds Like London: 100 years of black music in the capital' that I came up with the exhibition idea. So not only did reading his book give me an abundance of fascinating info it inspired my project, too. 

My friend Kelly alerted me to the event. I'd already purchased tickets to go see Kwabs, but as a no-braner work comes first. 

And it was such a lovely evening! Not only did I manage to introduce myself and have my book signed, I also gave him the newly printed and bound proposal (seriously, I feel like it's my baby, too bad I can't belly-cup it because it totally would!)

Whether Lloyd will or will not get back to me - I don't know. But I do know that he's now aware of both my existence and the project. 

Listening to him speak about balck music and London was magic. As random as it seemed for a Russian to be in that room, it was the only place I wanted to be in last night. 

Also, unrelated, Lloyd runs marathons. How cool is that? There's always something totally irresistible about sportsmen. Makes you want to trust them because you know they're well disciplined. 

Blogging from my iPhone!

Please allow me to revel in the fact that, with the help of my ex classmate, I have learned how to do my blog posts on my phone! Yes! This will make my thoughts and actions more transparent because I can now literally roll them out to you as they come. 

This will also organise and motivate me more because now I don't have the excuse of 'The moment's gone, too late to write about it'. The posts will become more frequent and really up to date - which makes me happy. 

I am very annoyed though that I am not able to just upload a video on it, it's giving me the option of pictures only. I do wish I had someone to help me with this.. 

I am also using the help of said ex classmate in order to re-structure the blog's layout. As much as I want it to be fixed today, I can't - I am so dependable on people when it comes to technology. 

So it looks like I've moved from the idea of a documentary-type report to just differently structured blogging. I guess as long as it serves the purpose the means don't matter as much. For now. I am still keen on the documentary but that will happen once I've better resources. 

Hunt for a gallery space

I randomly picked up the New Exhibitions guide www.newexhibitions.com in a gallery a few weeks ago and I used it for locating all gallery spaces in the district of Soho. 29 galleries received this email:

 Here's my full report on the gallery hunting so far: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmNeGik45GI

This project is giving me so much life, the more I do the more I want to do!

Email to Soul2Soul

Well that's it - the contacting celebrities has officially started. I've been prolonging it as it seemed like the most difficult part of the whole project (it's really not though) but now that I've actually dialled Soul2Soul's number these wheels are finally in motion, and the excitement was overwhelming!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f451p6OFAPs&feature=youtu.be

I've screenshot the email so please if you have something you think I could/ should amend in the future, let me know:

If they say 'yes' I'm afraid I might pass out. If they say 'no' I will wear them out.

Don't give up. Get up!

Whatever is happening in your life (read: my life) is just not a reason to stop working. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3WQgPAFiEQ