My Commentary on Nopi Nationals (Long Vent)
So Ive had the weekend to calm down, and maybe reflect on some things that have occured at Nopi Nationals this past weekend.
Let me first start off by saying this. Thanks to Alex (ARFNSX), and the other people that had helped me this past weekend in getting things done. I really appreciate you guys stepping up to help me.
Now, being a part of the press "crowd" for a little while now, Ive noticed a general trend. You're either treated well as press, or you're treated like absolute crap. From the absolute beginning at Nopi on Friday afternoon I noticed extreme disorganization, which wasnt a huge suprise, but even trying to obtain my media credentials, nobody had any clue as to where to go. Finally after an hour I find the RIGHT person to speak to and he takes care of me. Now here is where I start to get a little irate at the how Nopi treats their press. As Im driving my cart towards the "hop-off" contest, I stop to ask a security guard if it is alright if I pull my cart along the grass area. I ask this for two reason. I dont want "spectators" messing around with some of my equipment in my cart, and taking my drinks and food that I had with me. Which did occur. The security guard says that is okay. So I proceed to pull up onto the grassy area, as I am greeted by a Nopi "Event Staff" person. He then asks me for my credentials, and I flash my media pass. Once again, no problems pulling into the grassy area. Hell I even see another cart on the other side of me park there as well. No problem right? Well out of no where I see Mark Meyers , come rushing towards me screaming and telling me to "GET THE HELL OFF THE GRASS". Do you really think that's how you should treat and speak to your press? You may have some 90 year old man with a Sony camera taking your photos. You may love to post sub-par quality photos on your website and be proud of them. But there are people there that love to do what they do and take pride in the quality of media they present. But just as much as I DID respect the staff at Nopi , you sorely lost my respect as an individual and a professional.
So that isnt where it ends. Later that afternoon, Ludacris's tour bus pulls into the track area. AMS Security blocks off spectators, blocks off all other traffic near the stage area. I proceed to walk towards the area where they had blocked off and I asked the Event Staff guy if I could get in. He said he didnt know but he let me go in because I had credentials. Now, Im standing around with the guys from StreetFire.net, thinking to myself, okay so Im sure we will be able to get some shots. But then out of nowhere a guy with a black security shirt comes and tells us "you all have to get behind the barricades, press have no priveledges here, get behind with everyone else". So what is the point of a press credentials? Could you tell us Mr.Myers? Id really like to know, because the only good I saw out of the press credentials this weekend, was the free tickets I got. Because I sure as hell wouldnt have spent 90 dollars for that crap that went on this weekend.
So how about those press people. You know people should take pride in what they do and how they do it, but when you see a guy standing in front of you with MEDIA credentials and hes taking photos with his Motorola Razor or 80 dollar special from wal-mart, youve got to think to yourself. Who screens these people? It doesnt take a rocket scientist to notice a press guy taking photos with a camera phone. That is absolute and utter bullshit. Joe Schmo is preventing from the other professionals and myself from taking photos because he's trying to find a cool angle to set his camera wallpaper with. Maybe you all wouldnt have to tell your "5 dollar an hour security guards" to push press behind barricades along with everyone else if you screened them first.
As for a final thought, I have this to say. Ive been going to Nopi Nationals for 4 years straight now. My first two years showing, my third year showing taking first place in my class at a booth, and this year as covering the event. This year has to top it off the most. I first hand noticed the biased judging. Passing by some elderly gentleman wearing a "Nopi Judge" shirt, I notice this. He walks around an Eclipse I believe for about 2 minutes and then walks up to a TransAM (black in color). I then hear him say sweet car and asks the guy about it for a good 15 minutes. Its really obvious what kind of cars the judge favors.I dont like bad talking and trashing something I dont know a lot about, but Nopi takes the cake. They treat their press like shit, they think that jello wrestling contests are "cool", burnout contests are the in thing amongst performance enthusiasts, having a Ludacris concert is really a good thing for this type of event, and selling alchohol and not having any security check points to check for weapons is SAFE
Either way though, good luck to you Nopi in the coming years
. Made things a lot easier...
Originally Posted by Pablo
