Last Sunday night I attended the Alma Awards in Pasadena, California. It was a night of excitement, magic, and as has been my experience in life, unexpected adventure! My friend Sarah was working for the Alma’s backstage as a talent escort and assistant and said I should come along as seat filler. I attended last year and had a good time so decided to go again. FYI: for those unfamiliar with the Alma Awards, it’s an award show on ABC that celebrates and pays tribute to Latino Stars in Hollywood, everyone from film, television, music & fashion. The afternoon of the show I was running a little late, (due to a last minute wardrobe change which meant a tedious ironing job on my red, floor length Marilyn Monroe-esque gown) When I got on the 10 freeway I was relieved, there was no traffic! Woohoo! The call time was 4:00 pm, and I had 45 minutes, so plenty of time, or so you would think. Just as anyone who lives in Los Angeles knows, the traffic is unpredictable. When I reached the 110 freeway it was gridlocked with a major accident. I tried to remain calm (keeping in mind all that great advice from Eckhart Tolle to just be in the “moment”) Yes, this worked for awhile. But then, as the clock ticked away I realized I might not actually make it to the show.
Miracles of miracles, with about 10 minutes to spare and 10 miles to go, I finally passed the accident to an open freeway. I managed to find parking rather quickly a few blocks from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Like Cinderella out of a fairy tale I began running down the sidewalk in my gown and heels. A cop was nice enough to stop traffic (even a limousine that might have had a star waiting to be dropped off for the red carpet, let them wait, haha) and escorted me across the street.
I made it, don’t know how, but they still let me sign in despite my tardiness. I met up with my friend Lisa who had also come to be a seat filler. We seatfillers were then ushered into a large auditorium, it was magnificent in size, an ode to art deco, the velvet seats and carved architecture giving the feel of an old, 1930's Hollywood theater. But it was the painted murals on the tall, tall ceiling, that gave inspiration to much debate and laughter. Was I crazy or were the painted murals on the ceiling of naked mermaids and mermen on top of little Lochness monsters? No, I wasn't crazy, Lisa concurred. It did look like naked ocean people on sea creatures. It was quite comical and quite scandalous I daresay.
The stage was big, but much less controversial, mostly I just remember it had red banners, a huge wide screen television and a catwalk, the design of the stage changing with each performance or presentation.
Now, being a seat filler you know that you will usually be moving seats thorough the night and playing musical chairs. In fact, everyone plays musical chairs that is close to the front of the stage, even the stars. The way they identify the seat fillers is we wear a black bracelet. Every time there is a commercial the assistants with headsets may move you to fill up a spot for a celebrity, etcetera. But it is all coordinated, when a celebrity is nominated they have a specific place to sit so the cameramen know exactly where to find them and point the camera when it’s time.
The experience of seat filler can be both fun but also stressful. If you like where you are sitting, and in a prime location, then you may be suddenly moved to a less idyllic spot when say America Ferreira needs to be placed in your seat to accept an award. You are also constantly reminded that you are basically a peon and subordinate and not to speak with the stars (like I really care anyway, lol). You are not to ask for autographs, take pictures and are not paid for your services. So you should just be grateful you get to hang out with the “special people” and watch the show. But I didn’t really come to make chit chat with Charlie Sheen and Paula Abdul, I just wanted to get out of my apartment and do something interesting, see a few stars and performers I admire.
I was very fortunate to be seated so close to the stage. I was center 10th row in front of the podium, a great location, and surprisingly, I was never relocated. I got to see all the action up close, without having to move and I really enjoyed that. My friend Lisa, on the other hand, got up to use the restroom, and in doing so was moved right up front next to Ugly Betty’s Ana Ortiz (who seemed nice). And then suddenly she was moved by Eva Longoria’s husband Tony Parker, and then behind Charlie Sheen, etcetera. I think she enjoyed herself.
ATTENDEES OF THE SHOW
I suppose first I’ll mention most of the stars that were there… Eva Longoria, Shakira, Wynona Judd, Cristian de la Fuente (hot hot) Jessica Alba,(looked very lovely post-baby), the Cast of Ugly Betty, the tenor Placido Domingo, Edward James Olmos, Linda Ronstadt, The Black Eyed Peas, Jon Secada, Brian McKnight, Sergio Mendes, Charlie Sheen, Q’orianka Kilcher, soap actor Galen Gering (whom I met once while playing volleyball at Santa Monica Beach) Eduardo Verastegui (great acceptance speech, very handsome), Dancing with the stars performers, singer Mario, Paula Abdul, Terrance Howard, singer Lisa Lisa, fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez, Cheech & Chong, Zac Efron, Selena Gomez and more… Oh, and I forgot, yours truly was there, Miss Jessica DiMond, hehe.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SHOW
Watching Wynona Judd perform “Blue Bayou” in a tribute for Linda Ronstadt. She looked beautiful in a long, nearly floor-length floral-inspired jacket, pants, and her beautiful trademark curly red hair. Wynona’s performance gave me chills, her voice was so expressive and lovely, absolutely amazing!! She also seemed very humbled (and is from what my friend Sarah said of her backstage) Towards the end of her song Wynona looked down at Linda Ronstadt and touched her hand to her heart and said, “Life moment, right here." I guess even superstars have idols, too.
Singer Jon Secada’s duet with Brian McKnight at the piano, both surrounded by dozens of white candles was also brilliant. Their voices blended well together, with Jon singing mostly in Spanish. He really has a big voice, very passionate. I’ve loved him since he sang “Just Another Day”. I used to listen to that song over and over as a kid on my little walkman and sing along. It’s performers like him that inspired me to love music and be a singer today. I also enjoyed the Narciso Rodriguez fashion show. I really do love fashion and it had all the energy of the New York, Paris and Milan shows with its pumping techno beats and long-legged, peacock-like strutting models.
The taping took almost five hours. Which will be edited down to a 2-hour show to air sometime this fall. It’s funny to watch the taped versions of the shows because celebrities tend to mess up more when presenting, and then everything is re-set and done over. All in all it was an enjoyable experience, and I thought the night would close just like that, but just as things with me tend to be unpredictable, there is a cliffhanger to that night's story, and you will have to read on to find out what happened... And I doubt its what you think would happen...
After the show my friend Sarah finished working backstage, we hadn’t hung out since last year(she lives out of state) so I said I would give her a ride home and catch up a bit. It was late and we were hungry so we went to Del Taco to pick up some food and then I'd drive her back to her grandmother’s where she was staying.
I parked near Sarah’s grandmother’s place and turned the engine off. Then Sarah said that maybe I should park closer to the house. I turned the key in the ignition to start my car, and suddenly there was no power, the engine would not start. The battery was dead. I was freaking out. My car is only 4-years old, has never given me any mechanical problems. It was already after 11pm by then, and I was exhausted, I just wanted to go HOME! We decided to go inside, eat our food, and see if we could get my car jumped. I remembered having jumper cables (courtesy of the emergency car kit my sis Amy once gave me as Christmas present, Thanks Amy, they came in handy).
So we ate and Sarah’s sister said she’d help me charge the car (I’d never done it before). Just as we began charging the car I was hit by a wave of nausea, and the feeling that I might vomit. It wasn’t nerves. It was something different. Oh my gosh, this was the LAST thing I needed! I knew it was food poisoning or my gallbladder. Now I was a damsel in distress personified, bona fide, standing outside in the middle of the night by the curb, my car broken down, getting sicker by the moment, and in my red ball gown and heels no less (I had nothing else to change into).
I asked Sarah’s grandma if I could sit down inside. She was such an angel, and poured me a spoonful of Pepto Bismo. Let’s just say, I sat chatting with her for about 3 minutes before I had to rush to the bathroom and throw up (Oh, why, pray tell, am I telling these details? Why, because this is life, I’m human, and I don’t like to sugarcoat things). I was certifiably sick. And so embarrassed to be imposing on strangers (but they were truly amazing, compassionate people, my heroes that night, I cannot offer enough gratitude)
There was more bad news... my car would not take a jump. After one try, and being turned off before it had been running long enough it died, and would not charge up again. There was not even enough power to lock the car with my keychain fob. I called Triple AAA from my now frail condition on the couch, turns out I wasn’t a GOLD member and they would only cover 7 miles of towing, $9 per mile after that. I lived about 25 miles away. Couldn’t afford to tow it. Well, I called my sister Cindy and begged her to come get me. I wanted to be in the comfort of home, and not sick on the bathroom floor or couch of my friend’s grandmother’s house.
Cindy said she would come, it was about 2 a.m. by the time she showed up. I was so grateful. We left my car where it was overnight, because the steering wouldn’t even move in neutral. A street sign said there was no parking after 4 am but it was up to fate. So if I got a ticket or towed I’d have to figure it out. I left a note taped on the windshield saying the battery was dead and I'd be there to fix it the next day. Cindy drove me home and I fell asleep curled up on the bathroom floor by the toilet. What a lovely close to that night’s festivities…
The next day I found a good place to buy a battery (which I also couldn’t afford but Sarah’s sister, the absolute angel, gave me $40 to put towards it) I cannot say how grateful I was to have these people help me…Sarah, her sister, her grandmother, my sister Cindy, and her friend Jeffrey who installed my battery. And luckily I did not get a ticket. So 1 point for the Jesster, woohoo!
The moral of the story. Don’t eat Del Taco chicken tacos if they’re bad, or you have a iffy-gallbladder (which isn’t really predictable, either scenario). Try not to get stranded in Alhambra, California. Bring a spare change of clothes so if you are sick on someone’s bathroom floor, or tending to your broken down car at the curb you’re not wearing a ballgown. And be a gold member for Triple AAA if the membership is to be of any REAL use to you, hahahaha (yeah, that one really made me laugh).
Alas, I am reminded, once again, that in all the craziness of this life, one MUST be grateful for the blessings, and I did receive many that crazy night and days thereafter, of which I am truly, and most humbly grateful.
And to my readers from around the world, I’m sure you’re just pea-green with envy (double entendre, get it, lol) when hearing about this land of Hollywood, with all its stars and all its magic, ‘cause I certainly make it all sound so glamorous and idyllic, haha. Yes, there are parts about it that are, but it also requires pure grit, determination, and miracles to keep you here. Sometimes I feel like Scarlett O’Hara digging in the dirt on my hands and knees trying to find a carrot, or turnip was it? I’m not looking for the carrot but the break, and I am a musician and I can’t leave this place until I have a music career. So, Los Angeles, you wild beast, you have been quite a ride but you will not conquer me yet. I will tame you, or at least survive you – Jess the Blog Authoress
