1.17.2008

"Congratualtions! You have the assignment of reporter for the Phoenix concert. You are to report to the box office of the venue two hours before the doors open. It is your job to bring a camera that you know how to use well, and to have three to five questions prepaired for the interview. Attached is a list of the meet and greeters you can meet up with before the show. It is not your responsibility to make sure all the people on the attached list are in the same area as you for the meet and greet. But most of all, enjoy yourself!
Fiona couldn't believe it. Was she dreaming? She pinched herself on her arm, just to make sure.
"Ow!" she exclaimed, then reread the email. She couldn't believe it. She was going to be reporter. She had her questions ready, and cross checked with the questions in the hnet Tour Archive, just to make sure hers hadn't been asked already. She had a camera ready, and by the time the concert came in three weeks, she'd have a mini recorder to bring along. No way was she going to miss a single word of anything.

When they met at Applebees during their usual time, Fiona was bursting with excitement.
"So can you guys believe it?! I'm the reporter for the concert!""
"That's awesome Fiona! Do you have questions ready?" Becky asked.
"Yeah, I've got six of them, cross checked on hnet."
"That's the only part of being reporter I didn't want. I didn't want to risk asking a stupid question." Tobie said. "I'm glad one of us got it. The four of us street teamers." The four girls laughed.
"So what are we going to do to do our job?" Amira asked, looking at Fiona. Everyone looked to her as the leader, even though none of them actually knew who the street team leader for Arizona was.
"Well, we'll for sure have to put them up at malls, Tobie, I can help you put them up at your college. I was thinking about putting an ad in a couple of the local papers, just to start."
"Ooohhh...good ideas."
"And I'm sure I'll probably get more ideas from Leigh, since I'm reporter."
"That's true." They all said.
"I'm just ecstatic that they're coming to Phoenix finally!
"Definitely." They parted ways after promising to meet again at the same time next week. Fiona got into her van and made the forty five minute drive home.

---

The next week, the met at the same Applebees, at the same time.
"Hey all!" Fiona said, after they had all joined on the sidewalk outside. "I have some of the first fliers in my van, so don't forget to get some before you go." They all nodded as they went inside.
After being seated at a table, Tobie asked, "So can you share one of your questions now?"
"I suppose I could. An easy one is, do you prefer playing sold out staduims or smaller, intimate venues."
"That is easy. I'd think they'd want to play sold out staduims." Becky said.
"But," Fiona said, "We know how much they appriecate their loyal fans, so would they rather play for us and get a better experience or arena's where they can only see the first row and it's impersonal?"
"OOOhhh...that's a good one," Amira said.
"I mean, yeah, big arenas mean money, popularity, but we know those things aren't as important to them as another band."
"That is so true." Becky said. "Wow. I wonder how they'll answer that."
"Me too." Fiona said. Their server came to take their orders.
"How about one more?" Amira said, after she'd left.
"Alright, one more. This is a hard one. I would start it out by reminding them about their player on their myspace that sells the couple of singles and albums, you guys know the one, right?" They all nodded. "Kay. Keeping that in mind, I'd ask them if they'd ever consider selling the leaked singles, like 'Breaktown', that are unfinished, that most of the fanclub already has, sitting around collecting dust, until they can polish them up and put them on an album or just as a single for a membership kit or something, and have two different versions, like 'Got A Hold On Me'. Just as an example. There's the album acoustic version, and then the membership kit version. You know? I mean, I'd gladly go back and pay for them, just for them to be "official" and not from some random place."
"That is a hard one. I wonder if they'd do it. It'd be awesome."
"I mean, they're always talking about piracy and how they don't like how fans have "unfinished" songs. At least this way they'd be getting some money for them, you know?"
"Yeah. I'd pay for them, even though I already have them too."
"See, that's what I figure. I'm pretty typical, so I think I'm representing a big part of the fans when I say I'd rather pay to have something official, even if I already have one of something." Fiona said.
"For sure. I'd pay for them too. I bet they'd have a buttload of songs." Amira said.
"And I'm thinking that way, they can have a lot more control over what the fans hear too. I mean, if they were to change the songs monthly, and we knew that, then I know I wouldn't have a reason to go look for them somewhere else, like limewire, because I knew I'd be getting them officially, and supporting my favorite band." Fiona continued.
"That is such a good idea!" Becky said.
"I hope they think so too," Fiona said smiling. Sitting back as the food was being served, her mind was spinning. She had to write this down so she'd remember those good points to bring up when she asked them. Pulling out her phone, she quickly went to the notepad and typed it in. She'd have to add those points to her sheet. As they began to eat, the conversation drifted to outfits, and plans for before the show.
After three hours, they all went out to Fiona's van for the fliers.
"I can't believe you drive a van now!" Tobie exclaimed.
"Tell me about it. It's like I've achieved "soccer mom" status. I don't like it so much."
"I still can't believe you have two kids. You look like your eighteen." Amira said.
"Well, thanks, but yeah. I pulled a Taylor and did the whole marriage and kid thing early." They laughed.
"Then you guys should have a lot in common." Becky said.
"Yeah, but I still feel weird talking about spouses and kids in front of them. Like forum rules." Fiona laughed.
"I know what you mean," Becky said. Fiona opened the back door of her van, and opened the large box. Reaching in, she pulled out a bunch of tan fliers.
"How many did she send you?" Amira asked.
"I think she said there were two hundred," Fiona told them.
"Wow that's a lot."
"I figure there's fifty for each of us, but Tobie and I can take more, so I think we'll start out with 25 for you guys." Fiona counted out twenty five for Amira and Becky. "I'll keep the rest, and Tobie, since you and I have the most flexable schedule, we'll have to find a spot for these, but I think that'll be easy."
"You think it'll be easy? I'm glad you're in charge then." Tobie said as Fiona closed the door.
"So same time next week?" Fiona asked the girls. After confirming their plans, Amira and Becky said good bye and went to their cars. Tobie stayed. "So when do you have school next?"
"The day after tomorrow. I can text you the address when I get home." "Cool. We can meet up like an hour before you have to be in class and we can go around and put up fliers. In the meantime, I would like you to think of places that would be best for the fliers, where they'd get the most attention so we don't waist so much time wandering around."
"Okay. I'll see you then."
"Yeah. Bye Tobie."
"Bye."

Chapter Two