10/28/2009 5:51:44 PM
The Intern: The Press Conference
Author: rageintern
Yes folks, I spent last weekend with Akon. Before you get any nonsensical ideas of any kind, let me clarify. I was at the Freedom Surf Beach Concert last Saturday in Sunway Lagoon, and I was at the press conference held at Nikko Hotel in Jalan Ampang the next day. That was how I spent my weekend last week.
Anyhow, I had the privilege to attend the press conference held in Bentley’s Pub in Nikko Hotel. The press conference got moved from Euphoria (Ministry of Sound) in Sunway to the hotel. It was a rather last minute thing and I only got to attend it after some schedule reshuffling, not to mention the 40 minute mad rush from 1 Utama to Nikko Hotel by 3pm on a Sunday afternoon!
This press conference would be the first for my entire life so far and f course, I looked forward to the experience of being in one. I had no time to look up the exact location of the venue, so I went by my instincts and of course through the words of a good friend (you know who you are), who told me to park my car at KLCC shopping mall and walk to the hotel. In his words, “very near only. 2 minutes can reach”
More like… 10 minutes! I walked under the blazing hot sun from KLCC all the way to the hotel, next to Citibank’s building. Those of you who know about the locations better than I did will know what I’m talking about. I entered into the premises of the press conference with sweat all over my body.
We waited for awhile, while we satisfy our taste buds and quenched our thirst with some finger food and some free-flowing beverages. The place was quite packed by 3.30pm. By 3.50pm, Akon made his way up the stairs leading to the pub. Everyone was clapping and the camera flashes were flashing at his direction as he walked to the stage area. He had two really huge bodyguards with him, and I mean huge as in HUGE.
We have all had our fair share of people with bad attitude and diva-like personalities, especially when it comes to celebrities. Akon is definitely not one of them. He shakes other people’s hands just like how you normally would, smiling, greeting and talking to everyone without the superstar aura.
The press conference was a rather short one though. Three questions from the floor and that’s it. His burly bodyguards ushered him out of the room into a private lounge with other local artistes and celebrities. I wanted to get a picture with him, when one of the bodyguards pushed us media people back and said “Gotta go, gotta go”. And poof, just like that, Akon has left the room.
Akon definitely looked tired from the concert the night before. But as tired as he may be, he still showed up with his trademark smile and all. I’m glad my first celebrity encounter in a press conference was not a horrid one as first feared.
Hope to see you back soon in Malaysia, Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara “Akon” Thiam. That is Akon’s real name, I kid you not and I am not speaking in tongues.
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1) Author: michaelchew Date: Monday, November 09, 2009 12:00:01 PMif u never had told i would never had known akon''s real name.... s#it.... tats the longest name i''ve ever come across....
