It isn't like me to be watching the clock, waiting for my job to be over. But that's how I felt at this Party. At least the guests had fun.

There's usually some sort of communication between me and the person designing the party ~ as to where my activity would be set up. But this time, I was just told what to do, where to go.... I was told to set up in a corner of a small balcony that was in the middle of the room.

It had no outlets for my lights. If I used my extension cord, it would have gone out of the balcony and across a crowded walk-zone ~ couldn't use them. The room was dark the whole time. And there was even a time when the lights were put out completely. I absolutely could not possibly see anything for those few minutes, struggled through the rest of the time with a smile.

I was expected to set up in a way that no-one could see what I was drawing. It was not very entertaining that way - people just waiting impatiently, looking at my face instead of my drawing. The space was very narrow ~ there was no other way to set up because the guests would not have been able to walk passed my easel/supplies if I didn't stay at the end of the narrow hallway-type of a space on that balcony. I'll draw a picture of it for you later ~ as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

The music was very loud. Extremely loud. Extremely wild. The kids were encouraged to jump around on the dance-floor as a big lewd group. So there was no way I could communicate with either the person I was drawing Or the people who were waiting. Maybe I'll draw a picture of the set up for you later, so you'll understand.

When I had arrived at the Party, I was also given a Lot of Words to write onto each picture. No time for so much Calligraphy. Wasn't I supposed to draw the People? for a small extra fee, I would have been glad to nicely print that up onto each picture Before the party ~ if they just told me.....

Long party. I was hungry. I was thirsty. I couldn't move from my crowded spot with the poorly designed set-up. It's Very unusual to have this many 'handicaps' toward doing a good job ~ which I sincerely want to do for my clients.

Still, I'm soooo glad I was at this Party. Not only because I do get paid ~ it's my Job ~ but also because I was able to put a lot of my own personal experiences into perspective. I was able to understand some of the situations I had been in when I was growing up. The confusion of being told that opulence is desireable. I hadn't felt comfortable with it back then, and now I understand that that's okay. Really.

I see a lot of Parties now. All types of Parties. All types of People. So I can compare them in a way that wouldn't have been possible if I didn't have such jobs. I have to say, though, that even though I did not like being at this Party because of the Set-up, all of the people who were there were trying to make the best of it ~ just like I was. It is a part of life that does exist. There are worse places to be. I just wish I was given the reins to make this Party as good as I know how to do.

I discourage drawing from photographs during a Party. There's plenty of people who got dressed up to be seen Right There.

But I'm not in charge. Once in a while, I'm expected to draw from photographs during the Party. Here's 2 that I did at a recent Corporate event.

Don't hide! BE at the Party. Be Yourself. I wish people would Act and Interact themselves ~ ~ not hiding behind their labels, not hiding behind their children.

I like the pictures. I'm just trying to do what's best for the Party.

Just grabbing a moment to post a few of the pictures from a real fun Party. We all had so much fun. I was drawing with my friend Marty, and the guests were real lively.

The preprinted papers that were supplied to me by Balvenie Scotch had an interesting line on them ~ a real conversation-starter to connect these pictures with the drink, might even be considered a 'pick-up' line. It was real goooood:

"It might be a matter of taste, but I find illustration to be much more sophisticated than photography. Don't you?"