Diary – June 28th 2009

Tune of the week: David Guetta / Kelly Rowland – When Love Takes Over

Of all the things I have achieved, this has to top them. Marks and Spencer are following me on Twitter. Fantastic!

Until I look at who else they follow. 14000 other Tweeters, mostly female I think.

Later Microsoft Office Live started following me so now I’m thinking these large companies must have some software that allows them to find out all about their consumers through their Tweets and online networking habits.

Meet Up

Talking of networking, I attended my first events since arriving back from New York. Both clashed with the Confederations Cup football tournament. On Wednesday I trundled into the city for the Birmingham Entrepreneurs Meet Up, my first in the UK. The instructions say to go to the back of the bar where there will be a table flagged so I’ve got here early but still can’t see a table having gone round the Cheers style bar twice. I ask at the bar but as per the smaller New York business events, they are clueless. I decide to make one more round trip as the organiser must be here at the very least. From the corner of my eye, I see a small Meet Up logo which I obviously missed the first two times that I passed the very first likely table I saw as for some reason I literally expected a flag!

The table is already full which surprises me this early on. The group look like creative types but turn out to be from a variety of corporate and business backgrounds although I only manage to speak with four of them before making a dash for at least the second half of the football. Not before having a drink spilt at my end of the table missing me but just catching my all important writing book. The only other female at the group, a fashion graduate catches most of it but thankfully on her bare legs as she is wearing the 1970s shorts that seem to be the rage at the moment.

Still it’s good to meet the software engineer who was instrumental in helping Egg turn into an internet bank, the business consultant who has a client setting up a new coffee franchise in Birmingham, a serial student (surprisingly not American) and the graduate who I invite to a Business Scene event the next evening.

I’m home just after the second half of the match has started and am shocked with the score of 2-0 to USA v Spain! USA only just scraped into the semi-final having indirectly knocked Italy out by beating Egypt in the final round. I would like to have seen it all but then I wouldn’t have met a whole load of new people and found out about a Social Media event on Friday morning and about the very wonderful Moo business cards.

New Business

I had an idea for a new business brand a few months ago, right before my laptop crashed but now have written the plan. See what you think Hudson Concierge and Twitter

Thursday and I’m at the second event in two days this time meeting the fashion graduate beforehand. It turns out to be one of those terrible networking events where everyone is desperate to talk to everyone else and no seems to want to start any meaningful, respectful relationships. So I grab a glass of OJ and make two trips to the lovely buffet table before settling down for what should be an interesting talk about using online social networking to promote business.

It turns out to be fun but just really a list of networking sites rather than the ways in which we should promote ourselves. He gives case studies in how the medium has helped him build contacts but no practical ways in which to promote ourselves.

 I am amazed that no-one has asked for my business card after they find out I spend other people’s money for a living. Not even the caterer asked after I went out of my way upon my exit to congratulate him on the very fitting food.

Still the food is nice. I should have eaten a lot more to get value for money.

Football Two 

I rush hoe again although this time I’m missing out on the good food to see the South Africa v Brazil match. SA are putting up a great fight and are stepping up their game to be worthy semi finalists but Brazil have to win this one 2-0. They go on to play the newly better-than-average USA in the final on Sunday. Which I will miss as I have a date in Hyde Park.

At the Birmingham Entrepreneurs Meet Up on Wednesday, I was recommended the Birmingham Social Media Group and have decided to attend on this sunny Friday morning whilst (or while if you’re American) I’m still in the mood to meet new people. Not a good time for me as mornings = business and creativity is for the afternoons but I’m intrigued and don’t want to wait a month to the next one. If I go again, my memory of this group is always going to be regretting my battery is low on my micro radio and trying to listen to the Michael Jackson tunes played across every radio station all day today. Today being the day after the passing of the talented artist who influenced a generation. I wouldn’t call myself a fan but I have utmost respect and admiration for his ability, especially as many of today’s hip hop, R & B and pop artists are clearly influenced by him. It’s warming to hear all the radio stations acknowledging his achievements on this beautiful sunny morning as I took the scenic route to the city’s Coffee Lounge.

I get to the Coffee Lounge on time but decide it looks a little quiet so its too early to go in as a newcomer – anyone who is here will feel obliged to talk to me. I’m popping into M&S to get the weekend breakfast – a rare treat and a big bonus to be in the city on a Friday – and then to Boots to get a present for my newly engaged roomie. I’ve already got a good bottle of red for her intended. I stroll back to the Coffee Lounge although the shop is still quiet. On entering I realise there is a downstairs! So that’s where it is! I grab my coffee and negotiate the steps as the noise gets louder and I’m greeted by a packed room.

Actually, I’m not greeted at all but figure out I need to put my moniker on a sticky name badge.  I make sure that I give a nod and a smile to anyone standing or walking in on their own to give them the go-ahead to come and introduce themselves but I eventually approach someone unaware from behind who had just finished a phone call. The I move on to the person who had emailed me back when I inquired about the event. There is something to be said for name badges, despite my disliking wearing them.

I go on to meet someone who has been living in Barcelona for 20 years; I thought I had a culture shock after being away for just 5 months! I also met someone who had written 2 Pink Floyd books. Or rather he had re-written one and then had re-wrote so much it became his book.

There were at least 2 other people here from Wednesday’s Meet up that I didn’t get a chance to speak with then and although I blatantly said hello, it didn’t develop into a full conversation here either.  Maybe it was their turn to be busy today. I only spoke with the Fashion Graduate who came in after me.

There were a few strange people too, as there would be at any gathering so despite being asked in no uncertain terms why I was at social media event and being told I was approaching online networking incorrectly – also with a tone of aggression, I liked a few of the more friendly people I met there so will try it again.

On the way back, still straining to listen to the radio’s coverage of Michael Jackson’s death, I take the scenic route but have not managed this successfully as yet, missing a turning and ending up 10 minutes from home at my regular coffee shop. Oh, well, it is a lovely sunny morning.

Glasto

I love the Glastonbury weekend. I’ve never been as I have no inclination to stand, sit or sleep in a muddy field for 3 days solid, trusting my belongings to 178,000 strangers and assorted pests or the alternative of walking 2 hours to the nearest hotel with running water after standing up for the best part of 8-10 hours every night. On reflection, had I known I was going to be in the country, if there is any year I shoulda/coulda/woulda, it’s this one. Springsteen headlining on Saturday night.

I cannot think of anyone else that was ever likely to play at Glastonbury that was worth the sacrifice. Unless Gun reform of course but then I would go anywhere in the world to see them play. There is a lot to be said for being fans of solo artists then bands that inevitably break up.

If you can’t take the girl to New Jersey, bring New Jersey to the girl

The Boss is at Hyde Park London on one of the hottest days of the year. All my CDs are in New York but the radio has been very Springsteenesque this week building up to the two big weekend shows.

I cannot believe it’s been over 20 years since I last saw him. In what world is that OK? What was I thinking?  That day on the Tunnel of Love tour in c1988 is one of the best of my life so why did I leave it so long?

Maybe that’s why. The day couldn’t be topped. I still love the Tunnel of Love album and the highlight of that show was Tunnel of Love and Born in the USA. At that time, the song hadn’t been wrongly used by so many political campaigns as being a patriotic message and of course it’s long been removed from the set. But Tunnel of Love is still one of the best which ever format it’s heard in.

I pre-booked my train tickets so as to have not too early a start on Sunday morning but have popped out to pick up the Sunday Times. The local news shop is closed (!) so I have to go across the big street to the other one. I eventually leave with a good 10 minutes to spare to stroll to the train station. Luckily I have as 5 minutes into the walk, I realise I’ve left my train tickets in my other purse, having swapped at the last minute to carry as little as possible. I race home and race back in the midday heat picking up speed. Any other time I wouldn’t have minded getting the next one but the support acts were only announced on Friday, after I booked my train and I want to see the third support in particular, Gaslight Anthem also from New Jersey.

They looked great at Glastonbury last night, all the better for the Boss coming on stage to join them for a track. They must have felt like the luckiest band on the planet; to be at the same festival is one thing, being at Glastonbury is an honour anyway but to have one of your inspirational fellow statesmen on stage with you, singing one of your songs! Does the world get any better than that?!

I’m at the train station with 2 minutes to go, look up at the boards. My train is cancelled.

Power Failure

There’s been a power failure in North London and the next one is in 20 minutes but it’s a slower train. It’s already waiting and in the panic, having already gone through ticket inspections, I get on regretting not grabbing a large comforting coffee first.

The train is comfortable but full to bursting having picked up the passengers from my cancelled train too and painfully stopping at every city for several minutes. As we approach London, I’m already an hour late and calculate Gaslight Anthem will be going on about now, it’s stopped. Completely.

The train is too busy for me to try and find a coffee, plus I wont have enough time to drink it now before I make a run for the tube when we reach Euston so I decided to make the most of the time and find a bathroom to pop my contact lens. These are the only pair I have, saved for a special occasion as the other 100 or so pairs are in NYC.

Every the time the train nudges forward, it feels like being able to breath again only to have the oxygen taken away from me when it stops.

I don’t wear a watch any more but I heard the 3pm news come on the radio before I rapidly switched stations to avoid it. I keep reminding myself I’m going to see Bruce Springsteen! Everyone else is a bonus.

Finally, the train reaches Euston and I’m ready to sprint. I wanted to buy a postcard with the London tube map to send back to BF and friends in NYC but that gesture is out the window now. Luckily the tube is waiting for me and the stifling underground heat is no match for the adrenalin building up inside of me.  10 minutes and I’ll be in Hyde Park.

I don’t the exact time I arrived at the entrance near Speakers Corner, but it was somewhere between 3.30- 4pm. In music terms, Gaslight Anthem had come off and the stage was being set for James Morrison. Well I’m here. Where’s my coffee?

This seemed more like a family occasion with a subdued, relaxed, grown-up audience. We have all grown up along with the Boss but are clearly still in the 70’s, 80’s or 90’s at heart – whichever era of Springsteen belongs to you. Wow, what a back catalogue.

The event is so grown-up they have a coffee and cake stall. 2 words that normally fill me with girly delight but the line was too long and happily the more traditional burger joint next door has a very satisfactory large coffee. Two words I thought I’d never use to describe something at any rock gig.

Time to check out the view of the stage for two much more important words Bruce Springsteen.

Hard Rock Calling

It must be around 4pm as James Morrison comes onto the stage and I sip my coffee just as some rain drops come down. I have my cord, cap hanging from my bag filled with M&S picnic goodies so put the coffee down to scoop my hair up under it. What’s a few rain drops in this heat. Given the time, this large drink is pretty much going to be the last one if I am to find a spot within the first 30 rows and stay there until the main event to keep the view of the stage.

James Morrison was as refreshing as the coffee and the rain and a lot heavier than I imagined. Is this for the Hard Rock Calling crowd or his normal live set? In either case, the boy done good despite his obvious disappointment with the lack of good backing singers amongst the crowd. Hard Rock is not how I describe any of the acts although I won’t know about the first one that came on, Beauvoir Free.

The heaviness was probably mostly contained within Gaslight Anthem. I heard them being described as Springsteenesque on Radio 2 yesterday by a reporter who was clearly excited about the prospect of the Boss going on with them. That’s how I knew to tune into their set on TV later.

I didn’t hear of the duet being mentioned at Hyde Park or on Twitter so I guess I didn’t miss it live. It did happen during the Springsteen set later though.

I negotiate my way into position near the end of Dave Mathews Band set holding a bag of hot chips. I know DMB are big in the US and although I know the name, I couldn’t give you a tune. I know this is their play for world, or UK domination and their tracks sound good and go down well with their fans but it wasn’t quite as too my taste as Gaslight Anthem. I find a good view and sit down with my chips for a little rest before having to stand up for a marathon 3 hours or so.

So now I’m here, waiting for the Boss and the legendary (word use absolutely intended) E Street Band to come on and ignite the stage. Will it be pulsatingly loud as the last time? Will the bass drive an arrow threw my heart? Will the sound of guitars rocket above the crowd towards me? Will Clarence’s sax overpower us? Will the drums pound through the holler of the crowd?

They come on stage. No introductions. No greeting. No logos. No fancy lights. Just good old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll starting with the Clash’s London Calling. An excellent start.

The fact that I could hear the conversations around me but not the sound of heart beating loudly meant that this wasn’t as loud as before. But we are all 20 years older and the first time is always the best. Right?

Rock n Roll

I know he doesn’t include Tunnel of Love or Born in the USA in his set anymore but Born to Run is still included and still the crowd pleaser. Hungry Heart and The River were both unfortunately omitted but I’m sure I will hear them live again at some point. Hungry Heart and especially Tunnel of Love would be two request songs – he does a couple in every show but now Trapped has popped into my head so as I look at the crowd, there is a small sign requesting it. I’m beside myself with excitement when the Boss selects it later on. That was my moment.

It’s a shorter set than I envisaged, not much longer than 2½ hours and the boss finishes 15 minutes early at 10pm. There is time for another 2-3 numbers and the next day I hear that Jon Bon Jovi (Bi Jovi) was waiting in the wings to duet on Hungry Heart. If that is true, that would have been my moment.

It’s a fantastic show, something positive to come out of the Summer of 2009. Despite the fact my last train home is delayed again, packed again but with coffee and complimentary water and a taxi waiting at the other end, it was all worth it coming home at 2.20 in the morning.

I look forward seeing Springsteen again and much more frequently. Next time at the old Giants stadium, New York in October. Here’s hoping.

PS Confederation cup final: Brazil 3-2 USA, Brazil coming from behind to win it. Still no press coverage for the success of the team in the US.

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