G’ANNA
“Don’t leave until we compare schedules, please.” I looked down at my personal assistant and smiled.
“What would I do without you?” I opened the appointment app on my phone. “I have a consult with another band at ten, and then I’m heading over to the studio to see what time I need to leave to catch up with the bands. Steel and Assured Distraction left this morning.”
“Right. You plan to hit every U.S. stop with them until they leave for Europe?” Trudy never took her eyes off the screen as she scrolled around the planner.
“Yeah, probably. Only a few shows are playing here before crossing the pond. They must need some warm-up shows or something. It’s their first time on tour together. I’ll catch up only for the shows, they want new pics taken overseas. I have a couple of other bands to shoot along the way.”
“Yeah, and don’t forget your cousin’s wedding in a few months. She’s going to want bridal portraits, the day of pictures.” She rolled her hand in the air indicating all things wedding.
“Don’t remind me. What was I thinking when I told my mom, yes, to shooting it for her? Ugh, weddings. Pain in the ass. She’ll want specific shots more than candids.” Trudy looked up and gave me the evil eye. “Don’t look at me like that. You know I hate making a list of pictures. Mom and Dad, the wedding party, and on and on. People get bored waiting for the food and the fun to begin.”
“Yeah, but it’s her wedding, and she should have what she wants.”
“You’re so right, but it doesn’t have to be me taking them. I wonder if I could find her someone else. I’d be willing to pay for a better wedding photographer than me.”
“G’Anna. You’re terrible. Cara is family. You should want to do this.”
My heavy camera bag which I’d taken home last night to clean the lenses, slung around behind me when I hauled it off the table. “I know you’re right, but ugh… I don’t want to do this.”
When my phone beeped, I walked to my workroom slash office. I glanced down to see Chandler’s name on the screen followed by the text.
Chandler: Thought you were going to fly up with us.
Setting the bag on the tabletop, I typed…
G’Anna: I planned to but decided to wait and join y’all a little later.
It only took a second, and the phone rang. I knew Chandler wouldn’t let it go.
“You could’ve flown with us on the private jet. Nothing like it in the world.”
“I know, but I had some things to do this morning. The guys from Misunderstood wanted a consult about shooting the cover for their new EP.”
“That’s fantastic. Should be a piece of cake if you get them all in one place, not playing music, and sober.”
I laughed knowing she spoke the truth. “Yeah, they haven’t outgrown their band childhood. Banging, booze, and bitches.” We both laughed.
“Yeah, I’m sure I’ll get my fill of that before we get off tour. Carter and Gunner plan to whore their way across Europe when we go.”
“TMI, I don’t need to hear about those two. Now I’m going to think about it every time I look through the lens at them.”
Chandler’s loud laugh made me move the phone back from my ear. Dropping it on the table, I turned on the speaker. “Better than me. I have to witness it at every stop.”
“True. Sorry. At least they’re pleasant to look at.” These guys were too hot for their own good. They put the S is sex with their perfect bodies and drop-dead gorgeous faces.
I’d seen them shirtless more than once and knew how wild the women went when they stripped down at the end of a set to throw the sweat-drenched fabric at the audience. More than once, it almost caused a fight, and I stood too close for comfort with my cameras dangling around my neck.
“Eww. I don’t even want to talk about that. I’ve also seen a lot of other things they do living on the bus with them. Believe me when I say, you don’t want pictures.”
“Oh, right. Like having all that testosterone around twenty-four-seven is such a hardship.”
“All I can say is sweaty bodies confined to a bus isn’t something to get excited over.”
“Well, I’d take your place, but they’d look at me like I was their mother, and that would only make me feel old.”
“You’re not old. Everyone in Steel is older than you and look how much their bodies still light up an audience. The women go crazy for those guys just as much as the young ones in Assured Distraction.”
“True. I guess I don’t think about the members of Steel being around my age.”
“Yeah, and look at Ryder. More flying panties land around his feet than Keeton dreams of, or used to.”
Remarks from people in the background filtered through her phone and across my speaker. I laughed at whichever band member made the noises.
“Shut up. No one wants to see hot pink, double D bras landing at their mic stand, Carter,” Chandler chastised the bass player. I knew he had a smartass comeback for her, but the words met her fingers covering the phone mic. “Anyway, G’Anna. We’ll see you soon, then?”
“Sure, I’ll be there ready to go tomorrow.” I glanced at Trudy and raised my eyebrows. She shrugged her shoulders confirming I should be able to get there by then before saying my goodbyes.
The studio where I’d planned to meet the new clients wasn’t too far from my office. The young guys sat around in the lounge playing on their phones when I stepped through the doorway.
“Hello. I’m G’Anna Lucian. I’m supposed to have an appointment with Misunderstood about photos.” They all looked up at me, but only one stood and spoke.
“Hey, I’m Britton, the lead singer and spokesman for the band.” He shook my hand briefly.
As we shook, I looked him closely in the face. This band appeared barely out of diapers. I wonder if they realize how much I charge for a shoot. Surely, Trudy told them all about the fees when she booked this appointment.
“Ms. Lucian, we need to have a great photo to use for our cover. Your name came up over and over when we asked around, so I’m assuming you specialize in that.”
“My photos cross many lines of the photography business, but yes, I’ve shot many bands before. If you looked at my work online, you’ve seen how many album covers I’ve done and how many magazine covers I’ve taken of bands.”
“Right.” He pointed his finger at me like it was a gun and clicked his tongue. Cocky much?
“We’ve brainstormed ideas about how we want it shot already and are prepared to discuss them with you today.” He turned and looked at the other guys and jerked his head sideways indicating they needed to join us at the only table in the room. He held out his hand in its direction. “Please, join us.”
I walked to the table, and he pulled out my chair. At least someone tried to teach him manners. “Okay. Let me start by saying timing is going to be tight for me. I’m leaving on a four-month European tour with a band. I’ll be back in three months for a brief visit to fulfill a family obligation.”
“And you’re leaving when?” Britton asked. His tone told me immediately he was displeased with what I’d already said.
“Actually, I’m leaving as soon as we’re done. The band is playing a couple of shows in New York and want me there tonight to capture the first one.”
“Hmmm… interesting.” He looked down at the table. “Is this Assured Distraction and Steel?”
I usually didn’t share the finer points of my schedule with clients, but the well-advertised concert wasn’t a secret. “Yes, it is.”
“So, from what you’re saying, I’m assuming you're starting their big Euro tour with them when you leave.” He cocked an eyebrow.
Right away, I knew this shoot wouldn’t happen. I didn’t like his attitude or smartass comments. Answering to this kid wasn’t my style.
“Well?” he continued with the inquiry.
“Look, Britton…” I started folding my calendar and papers back together. This interrogation was over. “I don’t think I’m the right person to do your cover shot. Our styles don’t click. Your band needs to find someone else. If you’d like a recommendation for someone who will do a fantastic job for you, call my office and talk to my secretary.”
He stood so fast his chair fell over backward causing all the other members to stand, too. Looking around, I jumped to my feet. Intimidation tactics never worked with me.
“Not so fast, Ms. Lucian, please.” He took in a breath. “We only want the best to take the picture, and we both know it’s you. So, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.”
I spun around and headed for the door. “No, Britton. I’m not getting ahead, I’m getting out. Find another photographer. I’m not interested in shooting your band.”
“Oh, I suppose because you're old, and we’re young, you think you can make decisions for us?”
I looked at him as I opened the door. “Your age has nothing to do with this. It’s your attitude. I’d never work with someone as cocky as you. And for the record… I don’t take suggestions for shots from bands, they take direction from me. You might not want to lead with a comment like that with the next sucker you find.”
He stuck his gun finger back out and made the same clicking noise. “We’ll keep that in mind, but I think you’ll change your mind and do the job. For now, go hang out with your old men. They’re has-beens anyway.”
Laughter escaped my lips before I could get out the door fast enough. “Little shit’s gotta lot to learn,” I said to myself as I walked to the building’s exit door.
I scrolled through my emails standing outside JFK in New York City waiting on my Uber. The trunk popped open scaring me enough to pull my attention up in time to see the driver running around to load my suitcase.
“You keeping the backpack?”
“Oh yeah, sure.” I looked up again and acknowledged he’d spoken to me. Staring at my phone in this big city was probably a bad plan. I needed to be more aware of what was going on around me.
A new car smell hit me when I climbed into the back seat. It didn’t look new, but it had that fragrance associated with one. “Madison Square Gardens, please.”
“Right. It’s on my phone.”
“Sorry, right. I forget it’s not a cab.” I looked up at the front dash to see if any identification might be displayed. Some cities required it. Apparently, New York City wasn’t one of them.
“Going to see something good there?” The driver made some idle conversation as we began the traffic-laden route.
“Yes, I’m going to catch Steel’s concert tonight.”
“Getting there kinda’ early, aren’t you?”
Divulging that expensive camera equipment rode in my bags never seemed like a good plan, so I never said what I did. “Oh, uh… yeah. I’m meeting a friend there to go to dinner first.” He nodded his head accepting the information. I knew they were instructed to make conversation for better ratings, so I played along with his list of impersonal questions about the city until we arrived at the enormous venue.
“Thank you.” His tip slid from my fingers to his.
He smiled since people usually included tips on the app. “You bet. Enjoy your show tonight. Steel’s one of my favorite bands. I’ve seen a couple of their shows before.”
“Good to know.” My rolling bag waited for my attention with the handle extended, so I grabbed it and started toward the guard sitting on a stool at the gate. He kept random people from going where the buses parked in the back of the venue.
“Yeah?” He looked me up and down.
“I’m G’Anna Lucian. I have an appointment with the two bands performing tonight.”
“Right. I need some ID and to hear from the band. They didn’t leave me any instructions for someone coming in.” He took my driver’s license and pass from me.
“Okay, I’ll call them.”