Behind the Scenes at the Magic Dancers Photo Shoot
By Nick Adams | September 15, 2007
I am writing this article completely exhausted after spending most of my Saturday at Ken Griffey Jr.’s old mansion with 19 half-naked Orlando Magic Dancers. My job sucks.
Historically, interns do all the jobs their supervisors are unable to perform due to time restrictions. So when my supervisor, Web Services Manager Matt Gardner, approached me about attending the Magic Dancers annual uniform and swimsuit photo shoots, I thought to myself, “Matt must be married.” Matt is happily married with two boys.
On the other hand, I am a 22-year-old single male. Needless to say, I was more than happy to assist him.
I awoke at 9:00 in the morning, applied a little extra hair gel and cologne and headed out around 9:30. I wasn’t supposed to be at Michael Cairns Studio until 11 a.m. However, I have learned if you’re traveling on I-4 for an extended period of time, you need to leave at least half an hour early.
I arrived at the studio at 10 a.m. and was greeted by Chris, a broadcasting intern. We exchanged hardships of our first assignment. The next person I met was Michael Cairns. He was very friendly and joked about what side was his good one.
I turned the corner and felt like I had walked into the bathroom after my sister had just been grooming herself for an hour and a half for her hot date. I lost my breath from the mixed fumes of hair spray, makeup, and perfume. Why are they wearing perfume for a photo shoot? Are they scratch and sniff photos? If so, I’ll take a hundred. Back to the topic.
I was pointed into the direction of Jeanine Klem-Thomas. Jeanine is the Dance Team Manager and a former Magic Dancer. She was just as friendly as Michael with an infectious personality. Jeanine and Michael made a rather intimidating first assignment very comfortable. I decided to interview them first because I knew they would be busy the rest of the day.
Michael had just recently moved into his new studio and was offering his services to the Magic dance team for the ninth straight year.
“The dancers are a lot of fun. How can I not have a great time? It’s like I’m on a island with 20 beautiful women.”
Michael offers promotional photos for actors, models, and local tv stations. Accommodating the dancers is not only a pleasure but a challenge for Michael.
“They give me a challenge because they are constantly coming up with new poses and ideas, keeping the photos fresh and new. However, they do make this job very easy.”
I could relate to that.
After talking to Michael, I approached Jeanine. Jeanine not only brought her great attitude but also provided a wealth of experience. She has been coaching the dance team for the last 10 years and has been a part of the team for the last 13 seasons of Magic basketball. Not to mention, she manages and coordinates STUFF, the Magic Mascot, along with the Dancing Dancer Dads, the Magic Minis and the Magic Silver Stars. She stressed the importance of the photo shoot.
“Today is a very important day because the photos we will shoot today will live with the girls throughout the entire year," Klem-Thomas said. "You will see these photos in every type of medium possible. For example, flyers, brochures, on the web, you name it.”
As I would eventually realize about Jeanine, she always spins things back to positive.
“It is a very long and hectic day, but we love it and will have tons of fun.”
Jeanine then introduced me to her new assistant manager, Cherie LaRosa. Cherie had much of the same qualities as Jeanine and was excited about her first year as assistant.
“Things are going so far, so good. I am really excited about the opportunity to help Jeanine this year.”
Cherie was a member of the team four out of the last five years and informed me of the differences between managing and dancing.
“The pressure of managing as opposed to dancing are different. When you’re dancing, your worries are more about dance routines and staying in shape. In managing, your worries are on helping Jeanine and all the girls.”
Now that my interviews with the coordinators were complete, it was now time to check out, I mean interview, the ladies.
NEXT PAGE
PAGE: 1 | 2 | 3
|
Historically, interns do all the jobs their supervisors are unable to perform due to time restrictions. So when my supervisor, Web Services Manager Matt Gardner, approached me about attending the Magic Dancers annual uniform and swimsuit photo shoots, I thought to myself, “Matt must be married.” Matt is happily married with two boys.
On the other hand, I am a 22-year-old single male. Needless to say, I was more than happy to assist him.
I awoke at 9:00 in the morning, applied a little extra hair gel and cologne and headed out around 9:30. I wasn’t supposed to be at Michael Cairns Studio until 11 a.m. However, I have learned if you’re traveling on I-4 for an extended period of time, you need to leave at least half an hour early.
I arrived at the studio at 10 a.m. and was greeted by Chris, a broadcasting intern. We exchanged hardships of our first assignment. The next person I met was Michael Cairns. He was very friendly and joked about what side was his good one.
I turned the corner and felt like I had walked into the bathroom after my sister had just been grooming herself for an hour and a half for her hot date. I lost my breath from the mixed fumes of hair spray, makeup, and perfume. Why are they wearing perfume for a photo shoot? Are they scratch and sniff photos? If so, I’ll take a hundred. Back to the topic.
|
Michael had just recently moved into his new studio and was offering his services to the Magic dance team for the ninth straight year.
“The dancers are a lot of fun. How can I not have a great time? It’s like I’m on a island with 20 beautiful women.”
Michael offers promotional photos for actors, models, and local tv stations. Accommodating the dancers is not only a pleasure but a challenge for Michael.
“They give me a challenge because they are constantly coming up with new poses and ideas, keeping the photos fresh and new. However, they do make this job very easy.”
I could relate to that.
After talking to Michael, I approached Jeanine. Jeanine not only brought her great attitude but also provided a wealth of experience. She has been coaching the dance team for the last 10 years and has been a part of the team for the last 13 seasons of Magic basketball. Not to mention, she manages and coordinates STUFF, the Magic Mascot, along with the Dancing Dancer Dads, the Magic Minis and the Magic Silver Stars. She stressed the importance of the photo shoot.
|
As I would eventually realize about Jeanine, she always spins things back to positive.
“It is a very long and hectic day, but we love it and will have tons of fun.”
Jeanine then introduced me to her new assistant manager, Cherie LaRosa. Cherie had much of the same qualities as Jeanine and was excited about her first year as assistant.
“Things are going so far, so good. I am really excited about the opportunity to help Jeanine this year.”
Cherie was a member of the team four out of the last five years and informed me of the differences between managing and dancing.
“The pressure of managing as opposed to dancing are different. When you’re dancing, your worries are more about dance routines and staying in shape. In managing, your worries are on helping Jeanine and all the girls.”
Now that my interviews with the coordinators were complete, it was now time to check out, I mean interview, the ladies.
NEXT PAGE
PAGE: 1 | 2 | 3
