So, I decided to volunteer for Super Bowl activities since it was being held in my city. I filled out a volunteer application and received a response that they had met their quota and I would be placed on a waiting list. I was kind of bummed, then got over it. About a month later I received an email stating they needed extra people in a certain area, and guess what that area was.... helping with the halftime show. I read the email a second and third time and thought to myself this cannot be real. I began checking credential for the production company and sure enough it was real. I then began filling out my application, including information for a background check, and later found out I was going to be paid to volunteer for this gig.
Although, this wasn't an ordinary gig, at our orientation I found out I would be setting up Lady Gaga's stage for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and also rehearsing with her. I was so excited because I would be part of two of my favorite things, live entertainment and football.
Our rehearsals consisted of moving our "carts" in and out the stadium. Picture above is an actual picture of us bringing in our"carts". The purpose of bringing our "carts" in and out over and over again so that we can have everything set up and waiting for Lady Gaga to perform within 6 minutes.
On the third day Lady Gaga arrived at the stadium to begin her rehearsals, she was so pleased to see her stage. She ran around the field and gave everyone hi-fives, hugging and kisses her crew she was very happy and very personable. Her mother was also there to watch her rehearse.
After about a week in a half of watching the lighting, sound, pyrotechnic, and even Lady Gaga rehearse, the big day finally came. On the big game day we all arrived at a local football stadium, ate and loaded on to our buses, where we were then police escorted to the stadium. Once on the stadium ground, it was so exciting. People like Simone Byles, coaches, former president George Bush were all passing in front of us. Dogs, The S.W.A.T. Team, National Security were everywhere.
While standing amist of all of this action, in our assigned areas, we were patiently awaiting for the second quarter to end. While waiting to go into the stadium it felt very surreal. I felt excited and anxious at the same time, because this was the day we all worked so hard to prepare for.
We all rolled our "carts" in. Once I entered the stadium and saw people sitting in every seat from the top of the stadium to the bottom of the stadium, I felt so thrilled and privileged to have been part of such an awesome event.
Once in the stadium, we positioned our "cart" in the exact area, like practiced, and moved out of the way and stood at the Falcon's enzone and watched an awesome show that we had been preparing for.
As I look up a partially opened roof at the fireworks my eyes began to water, not because I was sad, but because I was so happy to have been part of such an awesome event and to meet such awesome people, and also that this was the end of a once in a life time experience. I would definitely do this again.
Oh by the way, we got the stage set up and all of the equipment into the stadium way under 6 minutes!!!
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