John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, telling the Autograzzi - "I'm Gonna Sign until My Fucking Signature is Worthless"
In recent months I have been focusing on celebrity event shooting, but when I was a "Fan Paparazzi" I used to have to wait until the exits at an event or After Party to photograph my subjects, sometimes I miss doing this, hanging with my "fan" friends, a few of my paparazzi friends, this is a great time to really talk about the war stories of the celebrity business. Last week I schedule my jaunt to NYC purposely so I could hang out with a few of my "photo with" and "autograzzi" friends. Since I left the business has grown tremendously, with at least two dozen new faces out in the field. Every year the "Songwriters Hall of Fame" is held at the Marriott Marquis. Most of the people in this picture are there for 'graphs or "photos with". The peps to the left are checking out who is coming down the escalators and to leave. Last Thursday one of the honorees was John Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls
As John Rzeznik exited the hotel a feeding frenzy of sorts took over with the autograzzi jostling each other to get his signature on a CD, a guitar pick guard, a photo etc., while the photo with people try and get a shot "with"
here are some of the folks getting the guitar guards signed
Since I left, I see this family has started a business, here's a mom digging guitar guards out of a bag, at 1AM last Thursday, to give to her hmm what 10 year old to get signed (Dad's getting things signed too.)
This is about the time that John Rzeznik gleefully states, give them to me, "I am going to sign every fucking one so none of you bastards make a dime off of me."
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He signed, and signed and signed for a good 15 minutes, until finally he broke free from the frenzied crowd. (did you ever see "Suddenly Last Summer", well in the last scene where Sebastian gets devoured by the boys cash grabbing boys, this is what this scenario reminds me. It was disgusting, and shocking to see. (I guess both obtaining 'graphs and doing paparazzi work isn't very pretty as we try and satisfy the demand for the paying public)
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and no worse for the wear John Rzeznik and his beautiful girlfriend were off
Here's a link to the speech he gave that night at the "Songwriters Hall of Fame"
As John Rzeznik exited the hotel a feeding frenzy of sorts took over with the autograzzi jostling each other to get his signature on a CD, a guitar pick guard, a photo etc., while the photo with people try and get a shot "with"
here are some of the folks getting the guitar guards signed
Since I left, I see this family has started a business, here's a mom digging guitar guards out of a bag, at 1AM last Thursday, to give to her hmm what 10 year old to get signed (Dad's getting things signed too.) This is about the time that John Rzeznik gleefully states, give them to me, "I am going to sign every fucking one so none of you bastards make a dime off of me."
+%5B425x380%5D.JPG)
He signed, and signed and signed for a good 15 minutes, until finally he broke free from the frenzied crowd. (did you ever see "Suddenly Last Summer", well in the last scene where Sebastian gets devoured by the boys cash grabbing boys, this is what this scenario reminds me. It was disgusting, and shocking to see. (I guess both obtaining 'graphs and doing paparazzi work isn't very pretty as we try and satisfy the demand for the paying public)
and no worse for the wear John Rzeznik and his beautiful girlfriend were off Here's a link to the speech he gave that night at the "Songwriters Hall of Fame"
posted by HughE Dillon at Wednesday, June 25, 2008
42 comments
and it must be a little emasculating for the men to have to step aside. I really felt for Taye here. I was trying to call him to get his fashion shot or even a good head shot but he kept making faces
I have shot Idina before and sometimes she does this irritating doe in headlights stare. Gurl just relax, we love you and want to do good by you, but stop with this face. Hey I hear your new CD drops soon and you will be playing the Borgata in Atlantic City next week. (Which by the way is the same week as the opening for: The Water Club– a signature hotel by Borgata. This luxurious property will introduce a new brand of hospitality to Atlantic City, offering a unique personality of its own, while just steps away from the entertainment, nightlife, and dining of Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. The 43-story, $400 million hotel will feature 800 upgraded guestrooms and suites; a two-story 'spa in the sky,' 18,000 square feet of meeting space; three Residences modeled after chic, urban lofts; five heated pools -indoor and outdoor, each offering a distinct experience; and six retail shops, while offering direct access to and from Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa.) 
Ok I have no idea why Taye turned his back, maybe it was the flashes, maybe thats why you sometimes have that doe look stare, you are forcing your eyes to bear the brunt. 
now theres the photo I would want, look at that smile
Girl you are working that necklace. It must have been taped into place, it did not move, it was kicking it in place.
How about a shot like this after Taye asked one of the photographers to take your pictures. Unlimited Together we're unlimited Together we'll be the greatest team 
bye bye
back to my stepford wife pose, which is entirely too serious
Being a paparazzi I love these unscripted moments when two actors greet each other and have a geniune moment. Here is Michael Cerveris, musician Harry Connick Jr. and daughter Georgia.
The publicists wear many hats, most importantly to help their client navigate the red carpet of hazards and pitfalls. Now this pitfall probably doesn't happen every day, but because it had rained, the red tape used to fuse the carpets together wasn't sticky enough to stay put. This guy is retaping it as Anthony Rapp (Rent) cools his heels. 
Across the street the fans were out in full force; every year more and more people show up, but this year they are probably here for one guy who will be appearing on Broadway this fall. And thankfully for me I don't have to kill myself trying to shoot him there as I got him tonight.
Here Daniel Radcliff is with his publicist who is keeping a close eye on the crowd and his time. He is just about in the same spot I was standing when I was checking out the scene earlier in the day. I was quite irritated that the bodyguard on his right didn't move out of the way a tad. Had I gotten a clear shot his Daniel's face and the crowd, it would have been the "Money Shot"
Note his publicist gently pushing him down the carpet for the next shot. In the background is Taye Diggs. I will be doing a piece on he and Idina on Wednesday and confess what is like to be married to a beautiful women as he is.
During events like the Tony's, Oscars, Grammys etc a photographer will run through 3 or 4 memory cards. Getty Images has a person on site to hold the cards, the batteries, and extra stuff so when the photographer needs something they can call to the person who was standing behind me.
A good publicist knows how to cut through the red tape and get on with it
The photographers are packed in like sardines to get their photos. Note the girl in the blue tafeta dress squeeze under and between the guys to get the shot she wants. She is actually standing in the place where my ladder is located. I shoot behind these guys in the "window", which is the spot where she is standing, but high up on the ladder. Shooting between the two guys shoulder is called the window.
Project Runway Winner Christian Siriano gets fanned by his publicist so he can face the photographers. 
