A few weeks ago, Brian Bassett at TheJetsBlog.com shared his plan to get me inside Radio City Music Hall for the 2011 NFL Draft. Bassett envisioned a scenario where I’d roam Radio City for quotes and blurbs while he worked the media area for intel and updates. We were to be a complementary tandem for the first time in the two years since I began contributing to TJB.
Bassett knew acquiring the credentials would be tough since the NFL guards the draft with intense scrutiny. I’d like to say we were Danny Ocean and Rusty Ryan, but the plan involved no ruse. It really wasn’t elaborate at all. Just complicated.
As always, Bassett’s credentials were provided through his relationship with SNY; my access came courtesy of a marketing agency, but with stipulations: I’d be required to deliver a few sponsored tweets and a blog post in exchange for VIP seating and media credentials — relatively painless. I was in!
Then my media credentials were no longer available (see: intensely guarded reference above), and Bassett’s flight to New York wasn’t even going to attempt a Thursday morning takeoff because of unpredictable thunderstorms. We were frustrated, but we never panicked.
Bassett contacted SNY to have his draft credentials transferred to me, and once again, I was in — for real, this time.
Told you.
Unfortunately, Day 1 of the NFL Draft was a wash. While fans enjoyed the primetime spectacle, the media didn’t have working internet. The Wi-Fi network was down. And then my Samsung Vibrant’s battery depleted at record pace, rendering me completely useless from a live-blogging and updating standpoint.
Refusing to accept defeat, I grabbed my Canon Powershot SX30 and roamed Radio City for Jets fans willing to discuss the NFL Draft. This is the part of media life I enjoy. Interacting with fans and readers, getting their opinions, and creating a tight multimedia package to complement coverage is what I call productivity.
Windows Movie Maker is sufficient. I honestly prefer Apple’s iMovie for being more user friendly, but I won’t trigger that PC-Mac debate this moment. Just saying, creating a B-Roll in iMovie is a lot easier than figuring out how to cut footage for B-Roll in Movie Maker. Never figured it out and had to rely heavily on transitions. But, ’tis what it is.
Thanks are in order to taeOne, who was gracious enough to let me use his music for background instrumentals. You’re appreciated, Bill.
Day 2 of the draft was a lot more productive. The NFL’s IT folks scrapped the Wi-Fi completely and let everyone hardwire into the network. I was plugged in and loving every minute of it.
Too bad it wasn’t an extremely eventful day for the Jets. Gang Green only owned a late third-round pick, which they used on checkered nose tackle Kenrick Ellis from Hampton. Two days at the NFL Draft, two defensive picks, and two reaction videos.
An unnecessary chunk of Day 3 was spent editing (and re-editing) video from Day 2. Windows Movie Maker complicated matters after corrupting edited clips. I lost everything and had to start again, creating the video package you see immediately above after two tries and nearly two hours.
With scheduled selections in each round, the Jets were keeping me active for TJB, too. They entered the day with four picks in rounds four through seven, shuffled the draft board a little in the fifth round, and still finished with four picks despite trading their sixth-round selection to Philadelphia. The Jets came away with four new offensive players, tipping their hand a little in free agency (whenever the lockout finally ends).
The draft also gave me an opportunity to really use Twitter in a meaningful way. Sure, I like tweeting random Wedding Crashers and Goodfellas movie quotes, talking about sneakers, and uploading pictures of poorly-written advertisements, but all my tweets were delivered with purpose throughout the three days of the 2011 draft.
You can follow my TJB activities through these links:
[Apr. 28, 2011] 2011 Draft: Let’s Talk
[Apr. 29, 2011] … And the crowd goes wild!
[Apr. 29, 2011] Buzz: Because now is perfect for round 2-and-3 speculation
[Apr. 29, 2011] Film Room: Fan reactions to Wilkerson pick at RCMH
[Apr. 30, 2011] Film Room: Fans react after Day 2
[Apr. 30, 2011] Things to know about Bilal Powell
[Apr. 30, 2011] Things to know about Jeremy Kerley
[Apr. 30, 2011] Things to know about Greg McElroy
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Milcruz2005
