Every Person In New York

I got a call earlier today to go to the new Kanye West and Adidas fashion show and draw pictures. I said YEA before I heard anything else past Kanye. I was told I wasn’t going to be able to get into the show but I was to draw people there going in. I have only gone to one other fashion show in my life (but I watch a lot of tv) so I only sort of knew what I was getting myself into.

The show was to start at 4 so I got there at 3. There were already people there in a partitioned off area. The security didn’t want people standing right in front. I stood behind a few other people in that area and started drawing. My nose was runny and I don’t know anything about fashion and I thought I would just be there drawing in the wet (paper (and nose)) for the next hour and a half. Escalades were stopping in front and people were taking pictures of people. After a bit, Kris Jenner got out of one wearing an awesome coat and I drew her. The other people that had been standing behind the metal gate thing with me had left (I think they knew something I didn’t know). A big crowd of people were in front of the doors trying to go in but the security was only letting people in in chunks. I drew a picture of Cecilia Dean. More people were crowding in and I think the people checking people in were getting annoyed so I steered clear on the side. I then saw a friend and we said hi. I love seeing friendly faces in places where I am uncomfortable (but also I unload on them because I am nervous and overjoyed to see them). He introduced me to his wife and she was nice and they were both trying to decide whether to stay or not and decided to leave so they gave me their Adidas card (with seat number on it) and invitation (a white windbreaker with a big number 3 on it, the show information (and Vanessa Beecroft’s name (she collaborated with Kanye West for this show)), and the word YEEZY). I milled about a bit not knowing if this was going to help me get in (It was after 4:30 at this point and I thought the show might have already happened) and then got on the end of a line that had people in it with the Adidas cards. I finally got to the front and told the lady “my” last name and she said “my” first name back after looking at the list and I said “Yea!” and then I went right in. It was really dark and I had no idea what was going on. As my eyes adjusted, I saw there were a bunch of models standing in a grid (Vanessa Beecroft!) in the middle area and then everyone sitting around them. I asked a man where I should go and he looked at my card and pointed me to the other side of the room. I walked over and saw flashes going off on VERY FAMOUS PEOPLE about five feet in front of me. I saw Beyoncé, Jay Z, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Puff Daddy, and Anna Wintour. I was holding my pad out and open so I drew them all as flashes went off (that is partially why the drawings are terrible—I was drawing almost everyone in the dark). I was standing in the area where all the photographers were right in front of the famous people and nobody was making me move! I stood there drawing for about 26 seconds until a security guard said things were about to begin and I asked him where my seat was and he didn’t know so I drew a picture of Russell Simmons. Then I walked to the corner near the back because that is where they told me I had to go. A man pushed us back (physically, like, with his chest) because we were taking up too much space. I drew some of the models standing still in the dark. I was smushed against three people. As things got quiet, I heard a baby crying. I had the thought that that was odd, that a baby was at a fashion show, and then I realized it was North West. Kim walked over to the exit near the corner I was in with the baby and Kris followed her. The show began with audio of Kanye talking about stuff and the lights going up a bit and it was neat. I forget the order of things because I was excited. I think some music then came on that was timed with the grid of the models (front models were photographed and then moved to the back). Then some REALLY LOUD MUSIC came on and the top of my chest shook from the bass. It was so loud. I looked for an EXIT sign in case I was going to keel over or something. There were speakers right in that corner near my head. Jay Z was dancing in his seat. I realized Drake was also standing near the back where I was but on the other side of the exit/door that Kanye was about to come out of. I drew both of them. I saw Kanye gearing up to come out and he jumped around a little to warm up and I liked that. He came out and meandered through the models. Then things were quick and done. I sort of stood still because I was a little confused as to what just happened. Kim walked right by me. Puff Daddy took a picture with someone right in front of me. I then saw Beyoncé walking toward me and I said, “Hi Beyoncé,” and she said, “Heeey,” and smiled and it was kind of like having a Bar Mitzvah. Then Jay Z walked by and I said, “Hi Jay,” and in the second I said that I thought, am I supposed to add a Z? but didn’t and he said hey but not as beautifully as Beyoncé. I love her so much. I drew a couple more people and then went outside and forgot where I was and then walked to the train and went home.

Jason.
(I wrote this at about 7:42pm on February 12, 2015)