Meeting Ayu story~
I never posted about it!
Okay, so here's my overly dramatic story about meeting Ayumi Hamasaki, the most amazing woman evar. It's full of drama, disappointment and triumph! I'm posting it public, even though I don't really wanna, since lots of people who aren't on LJ want to know about it, AHS people are so nice =3
So, Ayu posted on her fan club, Team Ayu, that she was recording her new album and some music videos in LA and wanted to meet American fans. I believe this was prompted after the amazing reception she received in London when she was recording "Microphone" & "Sexy Little Things". In London she was presented with a huge folder full of international fan messages for Ayu, called "A World is One" with Ayu's "A" symbol. She was moved to tears and since then has created a twitter account to communicate more with international fans, and has allowed a way for international fans to sign up on Team Ayu (She went so far as to post instructions on how non-Japanese residents could do this). So she has been making a very strong effort to reach out to her international fan base, and since LA is one of her favorite places to record, she wanted to meet fans there.
When I saw that she was inviting fans (albeit in a VERY Japanese, non-committal, way) to come meet her in LA, I was really skeptical. I initially thought it would be rude to go be a fan when she was working. Then I started to see pictures people were posting of it and my heart sort of sank. How many times would she be doing this, in LA no less? There's no way she's going to be working in San Diego, we're not that cool, so this was as close as I was gonna get. So I broke down, called in X-mas and birthday presents early, and made plans to go up to LA on Sunday, November 22, 2010. Unfortunately, it raining like a bitch that day. If it was raining heavily in San Diego, it would only be worse in LA. I was taking the train and other public means of transportation, so doing it in the rain was less than appealing. I didn't want to meet Ayu, whom I've been an avid fan of for nearly 10 years, wet and uncomfortable. So, I postponed a day. I was going to go up to Van Nuys, see JoEllen and get some pretty flowers, then go down to Beverly Hills. Adventure lay ahead!
So, Monday the 23rd. I get up, pack up stuff. I took the gorgeous portrait Averi drew and made for me, as well as a a whole bunch of Ayu merch because I had no idea what I wanted to be signed. I pack it all up in my big frakin' bag, and I take the bus to the train station. I get there about 10am, only to find that the 10:35am train was cancelled and still in LA due to mechanical problems. Next train going north was at noon. I was not deterred! I let JoEllen know that I wouldn't be arriving in LA until around 3pm, and that if I took the Metro to Van Nuys, it'd be at least another hour, in which we'd just have to go back down to LA. So instead, I take a taxi from Union Station to Beverly Hills. Only $46... no big deal.
I get to the L'Ermatige around 4pm and then walk to a near by Whole Foods and buy some gorgeous flowers! Ayu's favorite flowers are red roses (I think I read that somewhere years ago), so I get 6 of those, 6 beautiful orange tulips, and lastly 6 white flowers with a pink stripe in the center of the petal, whose name I can't remember. It was a very pretty bouquet, and incidentally, very Thanksgiving-ish! Seeing how it was November 23, and Ayu had expressed her excitement about celebrating this American holiday for the first time, I thought it was nice. I walk back to the hotel and give the flowers to the concierge to be sent up to her room. I was really unsure about what I was doing and opted to wait outside so I didn't bother the hotel staff or guests. My dad's wife, Linda, lent me her super fancy camera since I don't have one, so I practised with it to learn its functions.
Some of those random pictures:
&
As it got chilly outside, the Valle guys told me to go inside the lobby and be warm. I was super grateful because it was getting pretty cold and I had on a skirt. One of the guys said I should get a drink, but just nothing alcoholic since I wasn't old enough. I laughed and told him I was almost 26, to which he was surprised and I was flattered. It was at this point I realized I left my really nice, black pea coat somewhere. I had the awesome pink limited edition Hello Kitty / Ayu hoodie Mikey got me, but I was annoyed with myself (and still am). I killed time in the lobby and bought a couple drinks so I had a reason to be in there. I watched the Chargers totally dominate the Broncos with great pride and spoke with some Japanese people at the bar who didnt understand American football at all. They asked me what was going on and I happily explained. Some other fans showed up too, and we all chatted. Time went on, I was super buzzed since I hadn't really eaten at all the whole day, and had three strong drinks. Around 11, two other girls who had come up from San Diego also, Becky and Khan, came up to me and were sad because they had school the next day and probably had to go. I told them that if they decided to go, if they wanted they could leave what they brought to be signed with me and I'd get it signed for them. They gave me a copy of "Rainbow" and "Mirrocle World" to be signed and their addresses and phone numbers. I promised them I'd get their stuff signed so it wasn't a total waste for them.
Suddenly it was like 1am and people were leaving, but I felt bad since I had the other girl's CDs. I also didn't really have anywhere to go, so I asked the woman working the front desk if Ayu would be meeting fans tonight. She told me that Ayu hadn't come back to the hotel that night. I was really confused since I didn't know what to do. Not too long after, Ayu's bodyguard Stan, who speaks English completely fluently and with a very familiar southern California accent, came down and told me that I should leave what I wanted signed with him and come back tomorrow to pick it up. The only thing I could think was how I didn't come all the way up there because I wanted things signed. Sure it was a nice perk, but that wasn't why I had come. I fumbled around in my Big Frakin' Bag and grabbed my "Memorial Address" copy and my Forgiveness Ayupan for her to sign. I had decided on Memorial Address since some of my favorite songs are from that mini-album, though I was torn between that and my "Dearest" single since it was the first Ayu song I ever heard and started this all. I also gave Stan the portrait Averi drew, and in the strong disappointment I felt, told Stan it was a gift for Ayu. I wanted her to have something so the whole, very expensive trip meant something, if only to me. The hotel was very nice and called me a cab, which I took out of Beverly Hills to a SUPER cheap motel.
I'm not sure what I was feeling at this point. I was coming off a super strong buzz, I was hungry, I had spent over $200 (and would end up spending around $300) for what I felt amounted for nothing. It was the only thing I did for myself the entire year, and it was a major disappointment. I felt like such a fool for thinking it was ever a good idea to do this. The room was like a closet, but there was a free wifi signal I could use. I tried briefly to sleep, but couldn't and didn't want to think anymore, so I spent the rest of the time online as a distraction, waiting for 9:30am. I decided that would be a the best time to go. I checked out, and the motel guy called me a cab. I got to the L'Ermatige around 10:15am and called my mom. My phone was literally on it's last leg and had been off most of the morning to save the battery. I was sad, defeated, and just wanted to go home, all of which really worried my mom. I went to the front desk and explained that I had left some things with Stan and had been instructed to pick them up the next day. A different woman called him up and he told her to ask me to wait until 2pm for the items. What could I do? I could leave the stuff and just go home (and what would I tell the girls?) or wait. So I waited.
At around 11am, Stan came down with the stuff. I was immediately happy because I could go home! Stan gave me the items, including Becky and Khan's correctly signed CDs, as well as the paper the girls has written their names and addresses on. As he did he told me that if I could wait until 2-3pm, Ayu would be down and wanted to meet me. On the paper, Ayu had written me a note with those instructions. I looked at the note, registered what Stan had said, looked up at him and just said, "Really?" He laughed at me and said yeah, and that I should wait. I said okay, totally stunned. I sat down and had no idea at all what to think. Total shock. I had posted earlier on AHS what had happened, and wanted to post up a picture of the girl's items for them, and the note. Though, I hadn't really processed at all what was going to happen. I had been resigned to not meeting her.
I really want to express how never once did I feel any anger towards this situation. I knew that it was a gamble to go up and do this, so I was never angry and I was never disappointed in Ayu. I was disappointed, but with in reason, and not at her. So when this happened, even so, I felt a little guilty. This gave way to butterflies and more feelings of shock. One of the guys from the night before showed up again around noon, and informed me that where ever Ayu had been the night before, it was some where with the model from her "Virgin Road" video, Mannie. The two have become very good friends, maybe more, and she hired him again for her "Love Song" and "Last Angel" videos that she was filming in LA for her new album. I was actually super happy for her. She works WAY too hard, so her having a night off with a super hot guy was totally okay with me. Later, a few more people from AHS showed up, as well as some others.
Around 4:30, Ayu finally came down. I think my heart stopped for a few seconds. I was sort of sad she at on sunglasses since she has such amazing eyes, but the thought didn't last long. She was like a queen, and was wearing this really beautiful flowy cotton outfit in shades of dark grey. She was so tiny, lol. I knew she was short, but she was even smaller than I had in my head, mass wise. She couldn't have weighed more than 110lbs. I was so beside myself, that I quietly sat off to the side and let her sign everyone else's stuff and just listened. Stupid idea, since I nearly missed my chance to speak to her. I finally got the courage to ask her to sign my copy of Uraayu. It was then that Stan told her that I was the girl from the night before. At that moment she smiled and made a squeaking sound and gave me a huge hug. All I could think was, "Oh my god," which I actually said out loud, and Stan laughed at me again. Ayu had not made physical contact with anyone up until that point. At this point Ayu and I had a little conversation which I'll summarize. She asked me where I was from, and I told her. She asked if it was far, and I told her not really. She asked me how I'd gotten up and if I'd get back home okay, and I told her about the train and that I'd be just fine. She asked if San Diego was pretty, and I told her was beautiful. She then asked if we could get a picture and I told her I'd love that. After the pictures I asked her if she got the portrait Averi drew, and she said she had and that it was beautiful. She asked if the girl who drew it was there, but she wasn't. The way she said, "It is beautiful," I can still remember perfectly. It all seemed to happen in a heartbeat but obviously lasted longer than that, and I wish I could remember it crystal clear, but it's a bit hazy. Anyway, I got two pictures (one didn't have the flash), and then Ayu had Stan tell the other fans she wasn't working today, so they shouldn't go to the studio (which apparently people were doing, I was mortified at thought of that, and glad I went to the hotel instead). Ayu asked us all to post the pictures for her on Twitter and then said goodbye. I already posted the pictures I took with her a few entries prior to this. I wish I had smiled bigger in the clear one and that my cap wasn't so far back on my hair line because my forehead looks HUGE! Lol, but still, it was amazing. It's still like a dream. I took a little while longer at the hotel and posted the pictures up and then caught a cab back to Union Station, and then train home.
Now, every time I watch an Ayu video or live performance, I can't help but smile. No other celebrity I've met has been as gracious and selfless as she was. She didn't have to come down, but she did. And more than that, she actually gave people, even me, personal attention. It's all like a dream. I've always dreamed of being able to see her live, but this was a million times better. All the drama leading up to it only made it sweeter. Oh, and screw those guys who came and brought like 10 things EACH (and there were three of them) for her to sign, and then tried to get her to come to their shop for a picture. It made me feel ashamed and embarrassed and worried that Ayu wouldn't keep doing meetings like this for other fans because of manipulative people like that. Just because you spoke Japanese doesn't mean no one else understood what you were trying to do.
Anyway! That's the story! Glad I wrote it down so I can come back and remember it years from now ^o^
Okay, so here's my overly dramatic story about meeting Ayumi Hamasaki, the most amazing woman evar. It's full of drama, disappointment and triumph! I'm posting it public, even though I don't really wanna, since lots of people who aren't on LJ want to know about it, AHS people are so nice =3
So, Ayu posted on her fan club, Team Ayu, that she was recording her new album and some music videos in LA and wanted to meet American fans. I believe this was prompted after the amazing reception she received in London when she was recording "Microphone" & "Sexy Little Things". In London she was presented with a huge folder full of international fan messages for Ayu, called "A World is One" with Ayu's "A" symbol. She was moved to tears and since then has created a twitter account to communicate more with international fans, and has allowed a way for international fans to sign up on Team Ayu (She went so far as to post instructions on how non-Japanese residents could do this). So she has been making a very strong effort to reach out to her international fan base, and since LA is one of her favorite places to record, she wanted to meet fans there.
When I saw that she was inviting fans (albeit in a VERY Japanese, non-committal, way) to come meet her in LA, I was really skeptical. I initially thought it would be rude to go be a fan when she was working. Then I started to see pictures people were posting of it and my heart sort of sank. How many times would she be doing this, in LA no less? There's no way she's going to be working in San Diego, we're not that cool, so this was as close as I was gonna get. So I broke down, called in X-mas and birthday presents early, and made plans to go up to LA on Sunday, November 22, 2010. Unfortunately, it raining like a bitch that day. If it was raining heavily in San Diego, it would only be worse in LA. I was taking the train and other public means of transportation, so doing it in the rain was less than appealing. I didn't want to meet Ayu, whom I've been an avid fan of for nearly 10 years, wet and uncomfortable. So, I postponed a day. I was going to go up to Van Nuys, see JoEllen and get some pretty flowers, then go down to Beverly Hills. Adventure lay ahead!
So, Monday the 23rd. I get up, pack up stuff. I took the gorgeous portrait Averi drew and made for me, as well as a a whole bunch of Ayu merch because I had no idea what I wanted to be signed. I pack it all up in my big frakin' bag, and I take the bus to the train station. I get there about 10am, only to find that the 10:35am train was cancelled and still in LA due to mechanical problems. Next train going north was at noon. I was not deterred! I let JoEllen know that I wouldn't be arriving in LA until around 3pm, and that if I took the Metro to Van Nuys, it'd be at least another hour, in which we'd just have to go back down to LA. So instead, I take a taxi from Union Station to Beverly Hills. Only $46... no big deal.
I get to the L'Ermatige around 4pm and then walk to a near by Whole Foods and buy some gorgeous flowers! Ayu's favorite flowers are red roses (I think I read that somewhere years ago), so I get 6 of those, 6 beautiful orange tulips, and lastly 6 white flowers with a pink stripe in the center of the petal, whose name I can't remember. It was a very pretty bouquet, and incidentally, very Thanksgiving-ish! Seeing how it was November 23, and Ayu had expressed her excitement about celebrating this American holiday for the first time, I thought it was nice. I walk back to the hotel and give the flowers to the concierge to be sent up to her room. I was really unsure about what I was doing and opted to wait outside so I didn't bother the hotel staff or guests. My dad's wife, Linda, lent me her super fancy camera since I don't have one, so I practised with it to learn its functions.
Some of those random pictures:
&
As it got chilly outside, the Valle guys told me to go inside the lobby and be warm. I was super grateful because it was getting pretty cold and I had on a skirt. One of the guys said I should get a drink, but just nothing alcoholic since I wasn't old enough. I laughed and told him I was almost 26, to which he was surprised and I was flattered. It was at this point I realized I left my really nice, black pea coat somewhere. I had the awesome pink limited edition Hello Kitty / Ayu hoodie Mikey got me, but I was annoyed with myself (and still am). I killed time in the lobby and bought a couple drinks so I had a reason to be in there. I watched the Chargers totally dominate the Broncos with great pride and spoke with some Japanese people at the bar who didnt understand American football at all. They asked me what was going on and I happily explained. Some other fans showed up too, and we all chatted. Time went on, I was super buzzed since I hadn't really eaten at all the whole day, and had three strong drinks. Around 11, two other girls who had come up from San Diego also, Becky and Khan, came up to me and were sad because they had school the next day and probably had to go. I told them that if they decided to go, if they wanted they could leave what they brought to be signed with me and I'd get it signed for them. They gave me a copy of "Rainbow" and "Mirrocle World" to be signed and their addresses and phone numbers. I promised them I'd get their stuff signed so it wasn't a total waste for them.
Suddenly it was like 1am and people were leaving, but I felt bad since I had the other girl's CDs. I also didn't really have anywhere to go, so I asked the woman working the front desk if Ayu would be meeting fans tonight. She told me that Ayu hadn't come back to the hotel that night. I was really confused since I didn't know what to do. Not too long after, Ayu's bodyguard Stan, who speaks English completely fluently and with a very familiar southern California accent, came down and told me that I should leave what I wanted signed with him and come back tomorrow to pick it up. The only thing I could think was how I didn't come all the way up there because I wanted things signed. Sure it was a nice perk, but that wasn't why I had come. I fumbled around in my Big Frakin' Bag and grabbed my "Memorial Address" copy and my Forgiveness Ayupan for her to sign. I had decided on Memorial Address since some of my favorite songs are from that mini-album, though I was torn between that and my "Dearest" single since it was the first Ayu song I ever heard and started this all. I also gave Stan the portrait Averi drew, and in the strong disappointment I felt, told Stan it was a gift for Ayu. I wanted her to have something so the whole, very expensive trip meant something, if only to me. The hotel was very nice and called me a cab, which I took out of Beverly Hills to a SUPER cheap motel.
I'm not sure what I was feeling at this point. I was coming off a super strong buzz, I was hungry, I had spent over $200 (and would end up spending around $300) for what I felt amounted for nothing. It was the only thing I did for myself the entire year, and it was a major disappointment. I felt like such a fool for thinking it was ever a good idea to do this. The room was like a closet, but there was a free wifi signal I could use. I tried briefly to sleep, but couldn't and didn't want to think anymore, so I spent the rest of the time online as a distraction, waiting for 9:30am. I decided that would be a the best time to go. I checked out, and the motel guy called me a cab. I got to the L'Ermatige around 10:15am and called my mom. My phone was literally on it's last leg and had been off most of the morning to save the battery. I was sad, defeated, and just wanted to go home, all of which really worried my mom. I went to the front desk and explained that I had left some things with Stan and had been instructed to pick them up the next day. A different woman called him up and he told her to ask me to wait until 2pm for the items. What could I do? I could leave the stuff and just go home (and what would I tell the girls?) or wait. So I waited.
At around 11am, Stan came down with the stuff. I was immediately happy because I could go home! Stan gave me the items, including Becky and Khan's correctly signed CDs, as well as the paper the girls has written their names and addresses on. As he did he told me that if I could wait until 2-3pm, Ayu would be down and wanted to meet me. On the paper, Ayu had written me a note with those instructions. I looked at the note, registered what Stan had said, looked up at him and just said, "Really?" He laughed at me and said yeah, and that I should wait. I said okay, totally stunned. I sat down and had no idea at all what to think. Total shock. I had posted earlier on AHS what had happened, and wanted to post up a picture of the girl's items for them, and the note. Though, I hadn't really processed at all what was going to happen. I had been resigned to not meeting her.
I really want to express how never once did I feel any anger towards this situation. I knew that it was a gamble to go up and do this, so I was never angry and I was never disappointed in Ayu. I was disappointed, but with in reason, and not at her. So when this happened, even so, I felt a little guilty. This gave way to butterflies and more feelings of shock. One of the guys from the night before showed up again around noon, and informed me that where ever Ayu had been the night before, it was some where with the model from her "Virgin Road" video, Mannie. The two have become very good friends, maybe more, and she hired him again for her "Love Song" and "Last Angel" videos that she was filming in LA for her new album. I was actually super happy for her. She works WAY too hard, so her having a night off with a super hot guy was totally okay with me. Later, a few more people from AHS showed up, as well as some others.
Around 4:30, Ayu finally came down. I think my heart stopped for a few seconds. I was sort of sad she at on sunglasses since she has such amazing eyes, but the thought didn't last long. She was like a queen, and was wearing this really beautiful flowy cotton outfit in shades of dark grey. She was so tiny, lol. I knew she was short, but she was even smaller than I had in my head, mass wise. She couldn't have weighed more than 110lbs. I was so beside myself, that I quietly sat off to the side and let her sign everyone else's stuff and just listened. Stupid idea, since I nearly missed my chance to speak to her. I finally got the courage to ask her to sign my copy of Uraayu. It was then that Stan told her that I was the girl from the night before. At that moment she smiled and made a squeaking sound and gave me a huge hug. All I could think was, "Oh my god," which I actually said out loud, and Stan laughed at me again. Ayu had not made physical contact with anyone up until that point. At this point Ayu and I had a little conversation which I'll summarize. She asked me where I was from, and I told her. She asked if it was far, and I told her not really. She asked me how I'd gotten up and if I'd get back home okay, and I told her about the train and that I'd be just fine. She asked if San Diego was pretty, and I told her was beautiful. She then asked if we could get a picture and I told her I'd love that. After the pictures I asked her if she got the portrait Averi drew, and she said she had and that it was beautiful. She asked if the girl who drew it was there, but she wasn't. The way she said, "It is beautiful," I can still remember perfectly. It all seemed to happen in a heartbeat but obviously lasted longer than that, and I wish I could remember it crystal clear, but it's a bit hazy. Anyway, I got two pictures (one didn't have the flash), and then Ayu had Stan tell the other fans she wasn't working today, so they shouldn't go to the studio (which apparently people were doing, I was mortified at thought of that, and glad I went to the hotel instead). Ayu asked us all to post the pictures for her on Twitter and then said goodbye. I already posted the pictures I took with her a few entries prior to this. I wish I had smiled bigger in the clear one and that my cap wasn't so far back on my hair line because my forehead looks HUGE! Lol, but still, it was amazing. It's still like a dream. I took a little while longer at the hotel and posted the pictures up and then caught a cab back to Union Station, and then train home.
Now, every time I watch an Ayu video or live performance, I can't help but smile. No other celebrity I've met has been as gracious and selfless as she was. She didn't have to come down, but she did. And more than that, she actually gave people, even me, personal attention. It's all like a dream. I've always dreamed of being able to see her live, but this was a million times better. All the drama leading up to it only made it sweeter. Oh, and screw those guys who came and brought like 10 things EACH (and there were three of them) for her to sign, and then tried to get her to come to their shop for a picture. It made me feel ashamed and embarrassed and worried that Ayu wouldn't keep doing meetings like this for other fans because of manipulative people like that. Just because you spoke Japanese doesn't mean no one else understood what you were trying to do.
Anyway! That's the story! Glad I wrote it down so I can come back and remember it years from now ^o^