Adventures in Audienceland...X-Mas in September?

G'Day ya'll (am feeling cheery Southern hospitality t'day, lol). Its been another interesting week or so doing audience work for television. I suppose I'll first start with my gig yesterday which was...drum rolls please..."Deal or No Deal"!!! I emphasize the drum rolls and exclamation marks because it was quite an exciting day... one of awe and wonderment, one of magic and delight, one of anticipation and exhaustion, but above all, a day of abundance. Without further ado, here's the scoop...

Yesterday's taping of "Deal or No Deal" took at Sony Studios (conveniently located down in nearby Culver City). Call time was 8:15 a.m. The show was an especially important one that day.... it was the Christmas day special,(yes they film these shows this early here) which means they'd be giving out huge free gifts to the audience(Oprah-style). Everything was hush hush about the show, because this is a PRIME show to attend. I mean, come on, who doesn't want free stuff?


And free kisses to Howie Mandel under the mistletoe, like HELLO, LOL!
Apparently last year word had spread around faster than wildfire about the "Deal or No Deal" Christmas special and it was practically a riot outside the studios with 1,000+ people. You see, there is only about 300 audience member spots to fill, so you can imagine the pushing, arguing, and negotiating that was being done to get in.

Luckily, we made it into the show with relative ease (except for the brief moment when the casting lady had forgotten she'd added me onto her casting list the previous day, but it was sorted out). There were no riots or fights breaking out either. The casting people made the show top secret so that they didn't have a repeat experience of last year.

There was however, a little drama that morning (as seems to be the case all too often). We're standing in line before we get checked in and I feel a wave of nausea hit me. Yes, my life is beyond ridiculous sometimes, the main theme should be "Expect the Unexpected". I was dressed up in high heeled boots and a skirt, not the most comfortable ensemble to kneel down in, but I didn't care! I crouched down to the sidewalk and tried to do that whole mind-over-matter control trick, taking deep breaths and saying "I am well, I am well, I feel better" to my subconscious. Eventually I started to feel a little better (guess it worked, sort of like a Jedi mind trick?) and I got through the day but cursed my breakfast of granola bar and lemon yogurt (isn't yogurt supposed to settle your stomach instead of upset it, argh!)

We didn't make it onto the actual set till probably 11:30, maybe later. The set was rather large, decorated as a winter wonderland with fake snow, Christmas trees, colorful lights, a fireplace (with cute stockings), and a little ice-skating thing in front of the stage (didn't think it was real ice at first but then I saw some kids skating on it). It was really cool and luckily Cindy and I got to sit together in a tiered section behind the main stage. I was also glad that the crew didn't recruit me to move because they were looking for girls dressed up and they almost made me sit down on this area next to the ice and stage. I would've been on camera most of the show but it would have been uncomfortable and my stomach was still iffy-feeling at that point so I was glad to stay in the background.

Here are some Highlights of the Show:

Seeing Howie Mandel in person, can I admit, he is kinda hunky? Hunky and bald! Woohoo!

Just generally being a part of the show, seeing it behind-the-scenes was really cool and everyone got super into participating, clapping, cheering for the contestants.

Watching the cutest little kids ice-skate on the small makeshift ice rink onstage. Dressed in colorful coats, vests, hats, scarfs, and leggings they were so precious, and impressive, too, with their Olympic-style spins. I couldn't even skate like that NOW if I wanted to, and they looked about six! Guess I missed my calling!

Getting free candy from the crew was much appreciated during the taping (my sister and I remarked that when you spend long hours going without food or freedom you learn to appreciate the little things, even if its a box of raisinets to be shared between 30 people, or a melted miniature candy bar thrown at you, I mean, tossed to you, from the crew) Sure, you could buy any of that candy stuff in your own, free good time, but when you're a captive audience member for endless hours you appreciate EVERYTHING you can get.

Getting free stuff was also much appreciated

Did I mention getting free stuff was also much appreciated? LOL! I'm saying it twice to emphasize the point that I'm REALLY and TRULY grateful.

We got about seven presents throughout the show. I don't think I can say what they are, so you'll have to watch episode# 417 aka the Christmas Special of "Deal or No Deal" on NBC, which airs on Christmas Day I believe.

I will of course be trying to sell the majority of my gifts as I am temporarily in debt, (yes, I use temporarily because my current state is only "temporary", you can blame that philosophy on "The Secret", lol) But I do feel my spirits renewed (its amazing that $3,000 worth of swag can turn ya into a giddy schoolgirl) cause now I have some assets to sell, besides my body, lol (just kidding of course, I would never sell-out, the utter despair and desperation hasn't quite peaked to that point just yet, hahaha). I feel special right now...after all I didn't get much for my birthday, and when you're single you don't get many presents for Christmas either, or like ever...(might as well just skip Valentine's Day ALL AROUND) My sister Cindy and I were joking that we were going to set up our own eclectic goods Emporium in our apartment with all this new stuff we got. What'ya think?


Here's a quick rendering I did to give you a visual of me and the free stuff. Don't worry, I really can draw better than that...but do I look too greedy? Cause I probably was like a kid in a candy store.

Now now, before I make you pea green with envy, just remember that it required great sacrifice to attain aforementioned gifts (I think the LONG hours of endurance, my nauseous stomach, sore feet and bum are witness of that). We were on set for about 10 hours with no lunch break and one bathroom break. Besides, lately my life has been a lot like Oliver Twist's... everything in upheaval and humility...


Yes, I did think that pic would incite sympathy. Did it work? Cause it should. I can TOTALLY relate to that character. Okay, I'm not an orphan in 19th century London, but I'm a single, starving artist in Los Angeles and that does make one desperate from time to time. I have been praying a lot lately for some good things to come my way and help a gal out. And the Universe answered, unexpectedly, with a bunch of gifts from Deal or No Deal, LOL! Guess I should count me blessings ay? (sounding like Ollie Twist in a cockney accent) And I am, 'tis a blessin' indeed, make no doubt! P.S. Let me know if any of you are interested in checking out the Eclectic Goods Emporium at my house cause we got some good stuff there, haha! - Jess the Blog Authoress