The Faery Ball
Sorry I took so long between posts, I caught a summer cold and it really kicked my butt. Luckily, I'm getting over it now. Yesterday we had my middle daughter's 7th birthday party, and it poured! I had 12 little girls in my house for two hours. It actually went surprisingly well, but I don't want to do it again any time soon. . .
Okay, back to RT!!!
On Friday I had practice for the Faery Ball starting at 8:30, from there I had to go to my workshop at 11:00. I did a workshop with my good friend and fellow writer Lori Armstrong on writing realistic fight scenes. I think it went quite well all things considered. I didn't feel prepared for it as it was the first time I had done this particular subject. No one threw things at us so I'm considering it a success, hahaha.
After that we wanted to get changed and go to the awards luncheon. We waited forever to get in and once in, couldn't find a seat anywhere. When I saw they were serving tuna salad, which I HATE for lunch, I decided to bail. We met up with some friends at the Mexican restaurant and had a wonderful lunch. But, by the time lunch ended, Lori and I had hit the wall. We snuck back to the room for a nap before heading to Club RT for a half hour of meeting and greeting. No one really came over to see us, but we were there. I did manage to get two really cute fairy t-shirts from the woman who did a lot of the backgrounds for the faery ball. She ROCKED!
From club RT it was time to go back to the room and get ready for the Faery Ball. Kathy Love and I almost killed our friends with our wings as we moved about the room in anything but fairy-like grace. Light on my feet, I'm not.
After gathering for a group picture, which I'll eventually get on this computer, we walked through the staff areas of the hotel and crammed onto a tiny elevator, which tested the limits of my claustrophobia, until we reached the ballroom where we were to make our grand entrance.
Beth Ciotta sang BOOK OF DAYS by Enya, and it was beautiful. I mean, not just a little beautiful, bring tears to your eyes beautiful. She is the sweetest, most talented woman and I love her to death. We had to process in with our big ole gowns and do a little dance number around the May Pole. I was told by Mark, who held the May Pole, that we were the worst group to go, hahaha. I don't think anyone really noticed.
To be honest with you, this is the part that chapped my tukkus the most. Many people went to the Faery Ball. In fact there were so many people there, many of whom saved seats for others, that several people couldn't get seats for dinner. During Beth's song and while we were doing our thing, the majority of the people paid not one iota of attention. I found that terribly rude.
If you want to have a conversation while someone is singing, go outside. I realize that watching a bunch of women prance around a May pole might not be the highest form of entertainment, but we shelled out big bucks to have a dinner, the least people could do was be polite during the ten minutes or what not that we were doing our little number. I was more mad that no one was listening to Beth though.
She did a wonderful job and too many people were far too RUDE to pay attention to her. I'm all about having fun, but damn it, be polite.
The rest of the night felt very much like a wedding. We danced too little and laughed and talked too much. There were some truly fabulous costumes and I think everyone had a good time. After the ball a bunch of us stayed after to help. By this point I was almost delirious with fatigue, but so was everyone else.
I can't believe Connie Perry and her wonderful family/staff/slave laborors were still moving. I was downright pooped.
Oh, and I have to give major kudos here. One of the cover models Brooks, who is as sweet as can be, stayed into the wee hours of the morning to help out too. These guys have a grueling schedule at RT and are busy all the time. It was above and beyond the call of duty for him to help out. He really is gorgeous inside and out.
I probably had more to say, but quite honestly, I was so tired, I just didn't have a whole lot left in me and much of that night is a blur. By Friday of RT my reserves are running low and this time was no exception.
I shall go look for pictures now because those dresses were too pretty for you not to see!
Ari
Okay, back to RT!!!
On Friday I had practice for the Faery Ball starting at 8:30, from there I had to go to my workshop at 11:00. I did a workshop with my good friend and fellow writer Lori Armstrong on writing realistic fight scenes. I think it went quite well all things considered. I didn't feel prepared for it as it was the first time I had done this particular subject. No one threw things at us so I'm considering it a success, hahaha.
After that we wanted to get changed and go to the awards luncheon. We waited forever to get in and once in, couldn't find a seat anywhere. When I saw they were serving tuna salad, which I HATE for lunch, I decided to bail. We met up with some friends at the Mexican restaurant and had a wonderful lunch. But, by the time lunch ended, Lori and I had hit the wall. We snuck back to the room for a nap before heading to Club RT for a half hour of meeting and greeting. No one really came over to see us, but we were there. I did manage to get two really cute fairy t-shirts from the woman who did a lot of the backgrounds for the faery ball. She ROCKED!
From club RT it was time to go back to the room and get ready for the Faery Ball. Kathy Love and I almost killed our friends with our wings as we moved about the room in anything but fairy-like grace. Light on my feet, I'm not.
After gathering for a group picture, which I'll eventually get on this computer, we walked through the staff areas of the hotel and crammed onto a tiny elevator, which tested the limits of my claustrophobia, until we reached the ballroom where we were to make our grand entrance.
Beth Ciotta sang BOOK OF DAYS by Enya, and it was beautiful. I mean, not just a little beautiful, bring tears to your eyes beautiful. She is the sweetest, most talented woman and I love her to death. We had to process in with our big ole gowns and do a little dance number around the May Pole. I was told by Mark, who held the May Pole, that we were the worst group to go, hahaha. I don't think anyone really noticed.
To be honest with you, this is the part that chapped my tukkus the most. Many people went to the Faery Ball. In fact there were so many people there, many of whom saved seats for others, that several people couldn't get seats for dinner. During Beth's song and while we were doing our thing, the majority of the people paid not one iota of attention. I found that terribly rude.
If you want to have a conversation while someone is singing, go outside. I realize that watching a bunch of women prance around a May pole might not be the highest form of entertainment, but we shelled out big bucks to have a dinner, the least people could do was be polite during the ten minutes or what not that we were doing our little number. I was more mad that no one was listening to Beth though.
She did a wonderful job and too many people were far too RUDE to pay attention to her. I'm all about having fun, but damn it, be polite.
The rest of the night felt very much like a wedding. We danced too little and laughed and talked too much. There were some truly fabulous costumes and I think everyone had a good time. After the ball a bunch of us stayed after to help. By this point I was almost delirious with fatigue, but so was everyone else.
I can't believe Connie Perry and her wonderful family/staff/slave laborors were still moving. I was downright pooped.
Oh, and I have to give major kudos here. One of the cover models Brooks, who is as sweet as can be, stayed into the wee hours of the morning to help out too. These guys have a grueling schedule at RT and are busy all the time. It was above and beyond the call of duty for him to help out. He really is gorgeous inside and out.
I probably had more to say, but quite honestly, I was so tired, I just didn't have a whole lot left in me and much of that night is a blur. By Friday of RT my reserves are running low and this time was no exception.
I shall go look for pictures now because those dresses were too pretty for you not to see!
Ari
posted by Arianna Hart @ 7:53 PM
3 Comments:
At 5:46 PM,
Beth Ciotta said…
Wow, Ari. You just brought tears to my eyes. It means the world that you simply mentioned me here and said that I sang the Enya tune beautifully. You even remembered the title! That means the world. Reading on, and seeing that you were outraged by people's rudeness . . . wow. I'm . . . wow.
I understand completely why you would be ticked that a lot of people didn't pay attention to the fairy procession and may pole bit. You and the other featured authors sponsored that party. A lavish party, and I do believe the most talked about party of the convention. Your costumes were stunning and you all deserved to be acknowledged in that moment.
As for me, I'm afraid I'm a bit jaded as I perform in the Atlantic City casinos where, sadly, it's become the norm to talk through an entertainer's performance. Somewhere along the way people have forgotten common courtesy. I noticed it during the hula performances at Luau party too. I don't care if I like a performance or not, I pay attention and I applaud their efforts. As you said, it's the polite thing to do.
That said, quite honestly I didn't notice if people weren't listening to or watching me. I was too wrapped up in the moment. :) That song was a bit of a challenge for me as was reading the chants and timing them with your entrances and exits. I was caught up in the 'performance'--in you and the fairies, and me and what I was doing. I think the number went beautifully. Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity. Again, don't worry about me. I'm thick-skinned. I'm just sorry that you, and perhaps some of the other authors who shelled out all that money felt under appreciated. That party really was the talk of the con. Thank you for the fabulous fun and food!
At 2:55 PM,
Mary Stella said…
It was a beautiful party, Ari, and I very much appreciate the effort and expense you and our other hostesses expended to present it for us. We turned around and watched and listened. I promise!
All of you looked stunning and you're right about Beth's performane, too!
I also bought one of Yevgennya's faery t-shirts. I don't know if you know this, but she is Heather Graham's future daughter-in-law.
At 11:13 AM,
FerfeLaBat said…
I and my friends could not get a seat. We sat on the sofas at the bottom of the escalator and counted the people going up and then coming back down. Approx 150. MJD said she felt like she was back in HS and I agreed. People saving seats, not enough tables for everyone and not a whiff of the promised Moon Pies. And now I see that I missed a cool Maypole Show to boot.
Sigh.
The Hilton said that RT told them to expect 600 per event and that there were about 850 people registered. Thus no matter what, 250 people were going to be SOL at any given point in time.
I drowned my sorrows at the bar later with Bonnie Vanack and friends. Saturday night we ate at Wendy's.
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