One of the great joys of fashion week is trying out new experiences. New clothes, new trends, and all that jazz. In my case what I enjoy is experiencing a variety of roles when it comes to making fashion week coverage come to fruition. This year I am blessed with a tremendous team of photographers, videographers, and editors. Lara Kappler, Michele Civelli, and Dave Colonna have all done so much to ease our coverage of Fashion Week. But since today we were one photographer short Phil and I took it upon ourselves to cover one off-site show ourselves. Armed with digital camera and a fancy video camera we saw first hand just how the other half lives.
Let me tell you it is NOT easy. At a particular show I attended today the public relations team seems so determined to ignore the crew shooting the show that we almost gave up on shooting the damn thing. The two girls handling the check-in kept brushing off every new photographer asking to be let in with a terse “we will let crew in a bit later.” This treatment continued for dozens of photographers and at least twenty minutes. Legions of editors were being let in and yet the crew was still being held back.
Just as an experiment I went over to the editor check in and was immediately found on the list and issued my seating. Wandering back over to the crew check-in I was dismayed to find a roomful of milling photographers, videographers, and production assistants still being held in limbo. The grumbles were quite palable more and more members of the shooting press expressed concern over adequate set up time. The PR girl just smiled and nodded.
While this was going on literally swarms of people were being let in, adding more fuel to the angry photographer fire. The place was now so packed most of us couldn’t even see a clear path to the risers anymore. And yet the clueless romper room public relations team continued to ignore the photographers.
Finally a full forty minutes after most of us had arrived and after what seemed like every editor, their child, and their assistant had been let in to the show we were finally let into the space. The trouble is with all the people milling about, the second the PR girls said go it was a mad rush of panicked crew all racing to get pit placement in a sea of people. I actually clocked Princess Coldstare of the Misshapes in the head with a camera as I got jostled about. Then, to add insult to injury, it turned out an entire set of backstage crew had been let in via another entrance. When Phil and I questioned the girl manning the desk about backstage access (as we had been granted it earlier in the week) she just smiled and said she wasn’t sure and that while we could go to another entrance it might not be a good idea. We decided to let sleeping dogs lie.
Thankfully, all is well that ends well, we got fantastic video of the show and afterwards we went backstage for our designer interview. I was instantly recognized by the public relations man with the clipboard as Julie Fredrickson of Coutorture without even having to check in. He just knew! We were ushered to the designer quickly and efficiently. Interestingly while I was treated like gold everyone still ignored Phil while he shot the interview.
It would seem that despite the complaints that editors lodged about poor treatment and stress they have got nothing on the experiences and treatment of crew. They are ignored, mistreated, and generally given the short end of stick even though without them we would have no records of Fashion Week to speak of besides a few crappy giftbags and a bad hangover. I remember an interview I did with New York Times photographer Elizabeth Lippman who said that before Olympus came along as the sponsor of Fashion Week photographers were treated like crap. Once they came along they got lounges and special treatment.
Well, it seems vestiges of that attitude still exist and it is a shame. So for all you stressed out bloggers and editors, remember that you could be some poor slob with a show to shoot and a deadline to meet and all that stands between you and a paycheck is some silly 22 year old girl with a headset.
Wow Julie you’re making me re-think the move to be part of the press instead of backstage “help”. It’s funny though that often one of the main things which holds up the shows are the fact that we have such a hard time getting the press to leave the backstage area so the girls can begin changing. A few of us were just talking about how hard-headed the press can be when you are tryig to run a show. Photographers in particular rarely listen when the publicists are giving them instructions. I’ve witnessed many incidences where security had to physically escort photographers out of the backstage are. Reading your post, I seen now that it all starts at the check-in entrance. I guess the whole press vs. publicist thing is just a lack of communication and understanding.
was that phillip lim?
I understand your frustration, but come on.. the 22 year old publicists are just doing their job too. They aren’t all just skinny bitchy girls that work in fashion.
but good job on being determined! That has gotten you far so just keep pushing your way through.
[...] How The Other Half Lives – “It would seem that despite the complaints that editors lodged about poor treatment and stress they have got nothing on the experiences and treatment of crew. They are ignored, mistreated, and generally given the short end of stick even though without them we would have no records of Fashion Week to speak of besides a few crappy giftbags and a bad hangover.” – Almost Girl by Julie Fredrickson [...]
[...] • Kofi-ism #1: Never tell a model she’s sweating. Models need to be complemented only. Whatever! • Kofi-ism #2: The only people worse off than uninvited fashion guests are the photo and video people”. • Kofi-ism #3: Fashion is going through a black out period. Black/African models, unless Baby Phat hires you , you’re f**ked. • Kofi-ism #4: Fashion week is over run by spectators who have no purpose but to eat, drink and be merry. If you’re not working at fashion week, please stay home. You’re killing the vibe. • Kofi-ism #5: The days of goodie bags are over. See #4 for the reason why. • Kofi-ism #6: There are way too many shows going on in the week. They need to be consolidated and staged in closer proximity. [...]