Top Wrangler: A Night With The Killers!
The Killers & me!
Hi guys! It's Sam, reporting back now that the MMVAs are all done. So, after I won the competition, I got to choose who I wanted to wrangle, and since I love The Killers, I picked them! Here's what happened...
Saturday
I was supposed to go to a wrangler meeting at 5pm with my headset on and ready to go, but I was the only one who forgot! Ooops. After the meeting, I didn't have anything to do until The Killers rehearsed at 10. At one point I went to see if they were in their green room, and Dave (the guitarist) was actually sitting there. He told me that he wanted to find the guys, so I walked him to the gift lounge and then back to the green room. I was like, "hey, they aren't here" and he said, "I know, I wanted to go to the stage." I was pretty embarassed cause I hadn't heard him say that! So, the elevator ride was awkward. I said, "sooo...how long you guys in town for?" and he didn't answer me for a good long six seconds. So I repeated myself. He was like, "Yeah, I heard you. I was just thinking. Two days." I was convinced that he hated me.
Saturday rehearsal
When we got to the stage, that's when I officially got to meet the guys, I told Brandon that I was his wrangler and he had no idea what I was talking about. Once he found out, he thought it was a great name for the job and all weekend he would wave his finger in the air and say, "wrangle me, Sam!" After their rehearsal I took them all to the gift lounge. The invitation said that everyone could bring a special guest, so I told them that they could bring someone to shop too. But I was so very wrong. I had to leave immediately cause I sorta got in trouble and I didn't even get to say good bye to the band before they left Much HQ for the day.
Sunday
Sunday rehearsal
Crew call was at 12:30, and I think I got there at 12:29 so I didn't have my headset ready AGAIN. The rehearsals were being done in reverse order of the show, which means The Killers would be doing theirs first. By the time my wrangler meeting was over the band was already on stage, so I just sat back and enjoyed. When Brandon waved at me I was like, "oh god. I love you." Oh, and can I say that Brandon looked so good? He's the only man I know who can wear white jeans, a judo club jacket and Chanel sunglasses and still look sexy!
After rehearsal the band did some interviews (Brandon looked over at one point and said "wrangle me!"). Then they left, so I had a few hours to just chill out with only a couple things to do. Like, I helped the choir find their outfits and faxed a script change to the band at their hotel to make sure they were cool with it.
Waiting to go on stage
That night, I took my post and waited for the guys to show up on the red carpet and strut their stuff. They arrived at about 8:50, and I had instructions to have them on stage to present an award by 9:14. Turns out, they were pushed to 9:01! So it was kind of chaotic, trying to rush them off the carpet and in the proper location - past all the crazy fans and all the photographers - but we did it with a minute to spare. As soon as Brandon saw me, well, you can guess what he said - "Ok Sam, wrangle me!" Anyway, this is where the true test of my wrangling skills really began!
When they were finished presenting, the band wanted to go back to their green room. I took like the worst route possible, cause they got swarmed by kids as soon as we hit the VIP area. I wasn't sure why they were all in the VIP party area, but whatever. Then we lost Dave, and then found him again, and took a better, more secret route to their green room. That's when my radio cut out. I didn't notice until I heard, "Sam! We need The Killers in (silence) minutes!" I rounded the guys up and brought them downstairs, just in time for them to win Best International Video by a Group.
Ronnie practicing
After their win, we all went back to the green room and hung out for a while. We watched some of the MMVAs on TV, and I stared at Brandon while the guys got ready for their big performance. Ronnie was drumming on his knees and other random objects while Brandon did funny vocal warm-ups. Without knowing it, I think I got a pic of Brandon in the act of doing some air keyboard. At one point I think he thought I was taking secret shots with my camera so he stole it from my hand and took a pic of me while saying, "Hey, I'm doing your job now!"
Group hug
I rounded up the troops and brought them backstage, where the band psyched themselves up for their performance. I turned away at one point, and when I looked back they were in the middle of a group hug, which I of course caught on camera. When they were onstage, I poked my head out through the set to take it all in! They played "All These Things That I've Done" and it sounded so amazing. I've seen them live before, but I can't say it was ever from backstage! When the choir joined in and the audience was clapping in unison, it was just perfect.
Brandon snaps a pic of us
Next, I wrangled them into the press room where they were asked some questions and posed for pictures. They didn't really have time to cool down after their performance so they were still all sweaty! My job was technically done at that point, so I was about to leave. They were concerned about getting out of the area when their interviews were finished, so they asked me to stick around. I had nooo problem with that. On the way back, Brandon stopped to sign some autographs but the rest of the band kept moving. Once he was done I took him up to the green room - our moment alone!
Ronnie and me
When I said good-bye, the band's label rep invited me to the after party the record company was throwing, so that was awesome! I went with a friend, and when Ronnie saw me he invited us into the VIP area. Brandon came over, told me he liked the flower in my hair and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I am now officially in love with that boy, although I did hear a rumour that he's engaged.
It was a great night, I had such a good time and The Killers are a bunch of really nice guys. This was an amazing experience and so, where do I sign up for next year?
