Hi all
Just got back. I'm going to post as much as I remember but probably will come back tomorrow and edit ('cos I'm DOG-tired
being a duckie is hard work!)
First off - no worries about seeing me in the duck costume - as soon as everyone's pics and vids hit the internuts, there'll be plenty to choose from - even aside from the coverage of the actual ceremony - including many pics of me holding up Ze's Vloggie - the very first Vloggie ever awarded! and I got to hold it
We got the costume at the Assistance League of Los Altos costume shop. It is the best of all possible duckie costumes - both because it actually looks kind of like a rubber duckie - and also because the place we rented it from is a charitable organization - so the money spent on renting it will go towards women's shelters and assisting elderly folks. Yay!
I ended up dressing in a Starbucks bathroom. The bf escorted me over - I thought it would be best to show up wearing the whole enchilada, and it was kinda hard to see through the duck head (the openings were on either side of the head and on the mouth) but I started to get more and more used to it. Lots of happy people greeted the Duckie on the way...
I was first greeted by "technical evangelist"
Robert Scoble - he and his son were on their way in and helped me figure out where to go. There was a bit of confusion once I got there - wasn't sure whether to go in or not - got in okay. I was warmly greeted and a nametag was prepared for me:
Then I just kind of stood around and sweated (which I did all night - who needs a sauna when you've got a duckie suit?) and tried to stay out of the way. As people filtered in, I started to receive a bunch of different kinds of reactions - some people tried to ignore me, but most people came right up and started to mess with me - heeeee...
Here's where the "me as Ze" thing doesn't work as well - I don't know who most of these people are. Some of their faces are *kinda* familiar; some names are also *kinda* familiar - but ask me to remember who was who? eh. So forgive me if I tell you experiences without telling you who I had them with - there are photos.
There were many, many people who wanted their pic taken with Ms. Duckie or to videotape her dancing - and she loves to dance. There were also many people wanted to ask Ms. Duckie questions - I had a mike literally shoved in my beak about three times - can't remember exactly what I said - I think maybe once I was funny... okay maybe more than once. In any case, people were very indulgent and warm and friendly overall. Really, really nice, friendly, funny, smart people. Oh - yeah, some of them were EXTREMELY good looking, too! Holy cow.
One of the highlights of the evening was someone (I bet Ze can guess who - and anyway, there will be pics!) who wanted to take pics depicting him beating up Ms. Duckie. Tsk, tsk. (It's very hard to
lie down in a duck suit, let me tell you - but I managed it!)
Many bottles of Calistoga mineral water later (I wonder if Calistoga would want a Duckie as one of their spokespeople... ya know, it could work!), I was seated to stage left amongst some very nice boys who were to be presenters for the Favorite "Children and Teen" vlogs. The awards show started without a hitch with an intro by
Jerry Zucker, and quickly moved to presenting the award for Favorite Male Vlogger. My stomach started doing little flips as I quickly realized that yes indeed, The Man I was there to represent did need my services! Indeed, the audience DEMANDED it! So I did my best not to trip and almost forgot not to bow and lose my head...(I was gonna curtsy! ASSHOLE!) I was a bit nervous so when they asked if I had anything to say I just shook my head - but I was able to squeak out that I came from Treasure Island, which for some reason got a big laugh... I channeled all duckies' enthusiasm into my response to how I felt about Ze's work - big spreadeagled thumbs up! Then I got to babysit the
cute little gold man for awhile... it's kind of hard not to fondle the little guy, you know? (Ze, a member of the Vloggie staff was kind enough to offer to send him to you - so he's spending couple days with some nice person before he gets to you.)
As awards shows go - it was short and sweet, very entertaining, and ended on such an inspiring note. I truly wish you all could have been there and hope we all get to see the coverage - The vlog that won "Best Overall", to a standing ovation, was
"Alive in Baghdad" - the excerpts from which were extremely moving - and as the presenter said, it was a great example of where this medium is most necessary - showing people what they need to see instead of what some big corporate entity thinks will draw in the most revenue.
After the ceremonies ended, a couple more people wanted pics, and a
very nice young woman interviewed me briefly, basically asking what I thought of the show (huh. I thought she meant the awards show - now I wonder if she meant "The Show" - d'oh!!!! oh well. Guess she would have corrected me... I hope...?). I can't quite remember what I said now! but I think I said that it really didn't seem like the typical award show, the egos seemed more toned down, it was more like a group of extremely gifted people getting together to celebrate something very important, and giving kudos, too, kudos are important.... (kinda tired at that point...) If I could just remember the name of the publication you could maybe read it. If anyone wanted to print what a duckie had to say. Especially a dog-tired duckie.
I decided not to go the the afterparty - hope you guys aren't too disappointed. I think maybe everyone who wanted a pic of me got one - and really, they were there to talk to each other. And Ze's Vloggy was safe and sound. Besides (most importantly) my sweet guy was waiting for me in the car all that time, in case it needed to be moved to avoid being towed. There is, like, NO PARKING around there on a Saturday night!
It was immensely exciting to be part of that. This was actually a gift you all gave me, you see? Not doing Ze any favors - this was an experience I will treasure. I hope I did you proud!
Addendum (I reserve the right to add to this as I remember stuff): A number of people were wearing little rubber duckie stickers in support of Ze.
'nuther memory that just popped up - someone brought their adorable little boy - who, upon sight of Ms. Duckie, began to initiate "full panic" mode. In order to stave off any impending nightmares or need for future psychotherapy for the little tyke, I quickly whipped off the head to show that there was, indeed, a huming bean inside. Possibly even one he wouldn't find as frightening. He calmed down pretty quickly, although he was extremely dubious. (Later on, I was told that he kept asking, "Where's Chicken? where's Chicken?")
A more embarassing memory - I'd better get this out there before the media does... hehehee... One of the people who shoved a mike in my beak (they weren't being rude - you really did have to shove that thing in there) wanted me to do a Show intro. So of course I readily and eagerly crowed, "Good morning Sports Racers! Welcome to the Ze Frank Show!!!"
ay caramba....
One more memory -for posterity - I got to take a pic with two of the cutest bunnyrabbits I've ever seen. If anyone finds a copy of it out there I will be very grateful.