To Andre 3000, Terminal 5 Security and the NYPD

Read more! Last night I saw Girl Talk perform at Terminal 5. I got thrown out (literally escorted from the stage to the sidewalk across the street of the venue by 4 security guards) maybe half way through the show.

"YOU ARE AN ASSHOLE"-New York City police officer, 11/16/08, Terminal 5

____


After I got thrown out, I-YES I...called the cops
To The NYPD Officers Last Night

"Thanks for ALLL the help" I said sarcastically under my breath as I walked away from the two white police officers sitting in their patrol car.

All at once both of the police officers crept up behind me, in the fashion that they do when they're about to take out their cuffs and read you your Maranda Rights. One police officer, who described his peer as his "partner", got with in two inches of my face. He was my height, a bit stocky and had a clean shaven head and face. He was visibly in raged by my comments and made sure to "act" as intimidating as possible.

"Am I getting arrested" I said in my head, over and over again.

Ugly ass "event staff"
"Now I know why you got thrown out...you got thrown out because YOU ARE AN ASSHOLE" The police officer laid into me pretty good. People watched from the smokers area as this 250 pound NYPD officer cursed me out with a 1 minute monologue on how much of an asshole I am. He might have called me some other things like "prick", "jerk", "jerk off" but I was too rattled to pay attention. In retrospect I really should have filmed the whole thing.

"Now get your fucking shit, and LEAVE the property, before you become my property". He yelled.

I couldn't say anything. One more smart comment and my ass would spend a night in jail so I was forced to swallow my pride and take shit from this guy.

The officer definitely had a point. I deserved to get thrown out. I was being a prick to Terminal 5 security because they wouldn't let me on stage. They had the right to ASK me to leave. They had the right to ESCORT me out if I didn't leave. They did not have the right to grab me, and throw me on the ground outside of their venue.

Thanks for the help guys,

Pop/ul/ar/GURU

Andre 3000 @ Terminal 5
To Terminal 5 Security and Andre Benjamin,

You guys really take your job wayyy too seriously. I certainly was not being aggressive about getting a stage. Don't you understand, it wasn't ME pushing, it was the dozens of people behind me fighting to beat me for my spot. I asked nicely, REPEATEDLY to get let on stage to take pictures. I was alone, I was kind, I was deserving, why couldn't you let me, one person, on stage? Because you care that much about your job? Well if you cared about your job, I mean REALLY cared, you wouldn't have let anyone on the stage and you certainly wouldn't have let all those girls pass by for giving you a smile.

How many blow jobs did you get that night for being such a tough security guard?


After being thrown out...still cooool.
And to Andre 3000 for ESCORTING me out of the venue. It took 4 people to kick me out, did you really need to put me in a head lock and throw me to the pavement? It was very ungentleman of you to plow down that girl at the bar with my fragil body. Somewhere in our constitution, we were given the right to FREE SPEECH. I had every right to riel up the crowd like that.

"On three, everybody PUSHHH"

"One....two....three....PUSHHHHH"

I think I also have the right to take YOUR picture at a public venue during a concert. Maybe if you weren't so concerned with me, you would have thought to smile. Why so uptight man, it's Girl Talk, lighten up.

Uptight "Event Staff"

I'll see you guys Tuesday.

pop/ular/GURU

Sent via Blackberry by AT&T

To Joseph

Read more! Today I met with a photographer that taught my mother how to take pictures, someone I've known for a long time, but haven't seen for many years.

"He has a lot of bad habits, he smokes like a chimney and keeps a drug problem just in case his life isn't interesting enough already"

Hey Joseph,

You are one cool individual, a true artist in my opinion. Thanks for taking the time out of your day to meet with me and go over my pictures. I find it remarkable that you were able to pick up on the small details of my creative mind. How could you tell I shot for feeling and emotion? You definitely got that right, I want people to cry when they see my work, heart felt emotion is what I shoot for. The fact that you brought up Terry Richardson-might have even compared me to him, was simply amazing. I definitely see a little Terry Richardson in myself. The rock star persona, simple yet edgy photos with a raw taste for imagery is my style.

"I'm severely dyslexic" Joseph.

That's a strong choice of words.

"I didn't know Joseph was Dyslexic" Me.

"Yes, severely" Mom.

I noticed you talked in long sentences and had a way of drifting from one point to the next only to get back to your original thought . We started off by talking about track? I think that's also how our conversation ended, the stuff about photography came somewhere in the middle.

You look like you do Yoga? I think when I arrived you were talking on the phone, but other than that, you never appeared to be uncomfortable, the whole "meeting" you had your legs perched on the chair, tied up yet so poised-how the hell do you even sit like that? I can't touch my toes, maybe I should pick up Yoga?

I'm going to take your advice and focus my attention on conveying ideas and feelings rather then just taking a lot of pictures. I'm also going to use my Canon digital a lot more for everyday shooting, I most definitely underestimated the power of that little thing.

Keep checking the blog for updates, I'll talk to you next week-definitely.

pop/ul/ar/GURU

To Julia (What if my work is my pleasure?)

Read more! I’m looking to start taking photos of people and not just beautiful landscapes and nature. I met up with a model that lives and works in NYC today. Her name is Julia.

To Julia (What if my business is my pleasure)

I had a lot of fun today. Who would have thought two strangers could meet in the city and have so much in common. As I told you today, you’re really the first person that I’ve met in the city, that’s almost like me. Aside from the age, we both come from wealthy suburban towns, both aspire to be famous and are both getting our start in the same industry.

I think it’s pretty gnarly that you’re from Woodstock. I’m a big fan of the hippie movement and have spent much time reading up on the various counter cultures that made their names during that time. I think it’s amazing that you know the guy that promoted Wood Stock!

After looking at all those pictures, it seems like we had very similar upbringings. A lot of wild drunken nights? Kids being forced to stir up trouble just to have a little fun ? The drugs and the bad seeds? I’d say all of the above!

I think you’re right about trusting strangers in the city. You can never be TOO SURE about ANYONE. There are the people that are just crazy, and they let you know right off the bat that they have issues. Then there are those strange people that are sly and cunning, the ones that make you feel okay about things, just so you let off your guard. I can promise you though, I’m none of those things. Just a passionate kid looking to drain the world of all it has to offer, one drop at a time.
I look forward to our photo shoot next Sunday, you’re already beautiful, but I promise I’ll make you gorgeous ;)

Talk to you before then?

Pop/ul/ar/Guru

Sent Via Blackberry By AT&T

To Danny (Watch out for those Scientologist)

Read more!
To Danny

I followed my usual patter of walking to Def Jam, first exiting Grand Central, walking West along 42nd then taking a right uptown on Broadway through Times Square and going back west to 8th ave somewhere around 46th or 47th street. I purposely stick to the same route because I often see the same people over and over again.

One person I’ve seen before is a guy by the name of Danny. He’s one of the many people soliciting naïve tourists in Time Square. Danny preys on people like me, people that are too nice and kind hearted to give a respectful person the cold soldier.

I was walking my normal route when I saw Danny, positioned just as he was when I first saw him a few weeks ago. He dressed sort of strange, not sure if it was required by his "work", or if it was just his style, but he wore glasses, was clean shaven and had on a flashy sort of preppy get up.

It was raining and I held out my umbrella to get Danny’s attention.

“You remember me” Danny gave me that look to say, “uhhh, no”

“You wanted me to do your survey, but I didn’t have time”

“Oh yeah, oh yeah, what’s your name again?”

I told Danny my name, “what’s your name man?”

“Ferarri” we laughed.

A few weeks ago Danny tried to get me to take a personality survey.

“Would you like to take the survey now”

“I’m actually running late again, I have to meet a girl” I explained to Danny that I was a photographer and was meeting up with a perspective model for a photoshoot.

“I’d still like to take the survey though”

I made several key mistakes, the first was talking to Danny in the first place. My parents of course, always told me “not to talk to strangers” and for good reason, especially in NYC. The second mistake was telling Danny my name. Not my government, but the name that people refer to me by. My last mistake, giving the kid MY CELL #.

“Here’s a card man” Danny surreptitiously folds up a 4x6 post card looking thing and sticks it in my hand. He continues to talk while I glance at my watch to see that I’m running about 10 minutes late for my meeting.

“I gotta go man, I’m running late”

“Mr. Late, always running late…I’ll call you tomorrow, you gunna be around?”

“ I say yes, but mean no”

As I turn the corner, I take out the post card that Danny gave me. On one side is a strange advertisement for a “Modern Science” 15 minute short film. On the other is a map with a big DOT labeling “Church of Scientology of New York”. I was CONNED! There was no god damn survey. Danny was recruiting me to be a fucking Scientologist. I felt betrayed. I walk towards 8th ave and see the Church of Scientology building that Danny was recruiting for.


Hopefully he doesn’t call, but if I see him again, I’m going to play along with his little games.

pop/ul/ar/GURU

Sent Via Blackberry By AT&T

To Benjamin (Union Square Skaters)

Read more! Sorry, no pics. The fucking kid @ Walgreens cut my film. Moments were lost...

To Benjamin,

Hey man, thanks for the advice on how to get started taking pictures of skateboarders. You got me really pumped to peruse this interest of mine. Hopefully what you said about contacting amateur skate teams was true, can it be that simple though? I've always been interested in the whole skateboarding scene and Union Square is exactly why I'm so intrigued by this way of life. The poise and comradery shared between skaters is amazing. It's truly unlike any other sport. So casual yet so fuckin' intense. I saw you get frustrated many times over pulling that trick over e gap and for what? You were just skating on your own, for fun-but that's the attitude of a skater.

Watching you flip out on those two Mexican guys was fucking epic man, HAHA! I wish I had my camera.

"Move the fuck over, two feet, ablo understando move the fuck over!?!?" I really thought you were going to whack one of those dudes with your skateboard.

I'm probably going to The Square again Thursday, so I'm sure I'll see you again.

pop/ular/GURU