Welcome, Anthony Rapp! (part three)- Page 186

[RachLaura]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 10:41pm

HAHA! I never realized that's what that thing was!

[MissMonika]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 10:44pm

what is it??

[One Song Glory]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 10:48pm

Hi people. I just came back from Anthony's signing in DC and it was great!

My two friends and one of my friend's dad got there at about 5:30 PM and we were about the 50th or so people there. At 7:05 according to my watch, Anthony came in and read the chapter 'We Begin' but starting ay page 111. After that was the Q&A. There were questions about bloopes on stage, about Chris Columbus, about the movie, about his book, etc. Then, he sang a SoL a cappella for us. Then the signing. Everyone got a card that had a number on it. I was number 51. They called us by groups. First numbers called were 1-30, then 40s, then 50's. My group and I got in line and waited until we took our turn to meet Anthony in person and sign our things.

When I was up, he asked "How are you?" I said "Good, how 'bout you?" he kind of laughed at that. I told him I went on BWW and told him my username after he asked for it. After he signed my book and took a picture with me, I commented that I thought it was cool that he likes to play Scrabble 'cause that's my favorite board game. He laughed again and said "Yeah, but I don't get to play it that often anymore." I said "Me neither, but I do like to play when I can." That's when I left.

Then my two friends and the one parent and I left the store at around 8:30 and went to a resturant and watched the DVD in my friend's car until we were dropped off at our houses. It was a great day, and I'm so happy I got to meet him in person.

Updated On: 3/1/06 at 10:48 PM

[RENTingFAME]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 11:01pm

Yay... more signing stories! There haven't been any for a while it seems.

Those pictures are hilarious. Wow.

[Dramatic_Irony]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 11:29pm

I've missed the signing stories. Sounds like you had a great time!

On the naked role rat subject, I only knew the species from Kim Possible, so the actual picture was a little...scary.

[RENTingFAME]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 11:45pm

I'd only seen it cause of Kim Possible too... Sad the way we're educated as a society these days. :/

[Silence = Death]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 12:20am

Hey, guys. I just got back from the DC signing. A lot was already said through...OSG, I think it was, but I'll tell my story anyway.

I got there around 5:30 because we couldn't find a parking spot. When we got there, we got our tickets for the line (I was 86) and everyone I was with bought their stuff. I went to the section that everything was at and I was standing right behind the last row of chairs. People had been coming out, saying that how they were gonna run everything, and saying that Anthony was there and warming up or something. He came out around 7 and immediately smacked himself in the mouth with the microphone. After that, he read from the book. Some people wanted to read along so he told them the page so that they could read along in their 'hymnals'. After he read, he answered questions, as usual. There weren't too many interesting questions that I can remember but I loved listening to him answer them. He sang Seasons of Love *beautifully, I might add* and then started signing. Once I got in line, I started realizing how many people were around and started to freak out a little bit. (I don't do well in big crowds.) The closer I got to the front of the line, the more people I realized would be sitting there staring at me as I met him and that freaked me out. Plus, I'm not good at meeting new people so that really was bad for me. But my girlfriend and friend got the people to take a picture of me with him *even though I told them not to*. And yea, I seemed a little freaked out, so I told him it was just because I didn't like people *which came out completely different than I meant it to* and he just laughed. Then he thanked me for listening to his CD and I went on. My girlfriend got one of our GSA posters signed by him and he talked to her about it for a little bit. And then my friend continued to embarress me by telling him that I really admired him and all of this stuff. But yea..not the point. I had an awesome time. It was amazing hearing his voice in person and actually seeing him talk about all of these different things.

I know this may not be a very good description but I am still taking a lot in because tonight meant a LOT to me, on many many different levels that I won't bring up.

But yes, to bring this to a close, I saw the myspace girl, she was a few rows in front of me, but I'll leave it at that.

[opiv]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 12:32am

Ahh that sounds awesome S=D.

[RachLaura]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 6:25am

Aww sounds like you had a great time.

On a different notes,
Goodmorning girls & guy

[KiminVA]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 6:43am

Good morning, all! I was too tired/ wired when I got home last night to post-- I figured I'd better get some sleep so I could actually make some sense!

My buddy and I left Richmond around 12:00 to head up to DC, about a 2 hour drive. Thankfully, we found a parking deck just around the corner from the bookstore, which was mighty convenient. From there, we went to Olsson's, bought my friend's book and got our numbers for the line. We were 23 and 24, very nice.

We hung out in DC for a while, then went back to the store around 4P and sat in the coffee shop for a while before wandering over to the seating area, which had filled up quickly. We were initially standing behind the last row of chairs, then they brought in some more seats, so we were able to chill for the next hour and a half before Anthony went on.

There were some younger girls behind us, very excited to be there. They were generally fine until Anthony came on, and then the screaming began. I was able to sort of duck behind this half wall that was beside me to minimize the noise, but my buddy tells me he's now deaf in one ear. ;~)

Anthony read from the chapter "We Begin." The "hymnal" comment was funny(see S=D post re: the signing). What I really enjoyed about the reading was that Anthony truly performed the material, which made it even more meaningful. That is one of my favorite chapters in the book, so it was just great.

Q&A began, and I did get to ask a question. (Note: for anyone who is attending the signing, try to be one of the first couple people to raise your hand if you want to ask something-- you'll have a better shot!) I asked if he'd struggled at all with self-censorship while he was writing. His response was not really, although he'd been careful to tell *his* story and not turn the book into some sensational tell-all type thing.

One of the neatest moments came when someone asked how Anthony had experienced the book affecting others. His response was very cool-- he said that people had shared after reading the book that they had called their mothers, appreciating them more. I found this very touching.

After the Q&A he sang "Seasons of Love" & sounded great. The girls behind us were begging him to sing "What You Own", which he had sang a portion of during the reading (see chapter). He said no, it wouldn't sound right, etc. The girls were making such a big deal of it that I jokingly suggested he could call Adam on the cell phone to get him to sing along.

Anthony's wry response: "Oh, he'd looove that!"

Quite funny.

Then they began the line, and we were in the first group. While we were waiting, a young woman came up & asked if I was from BWW. I said I was. It was WickedlyPerfect, and I was so glad we were able to meet each other! We chatted for a bit, then she went & got in line (she was also in the first group). S=D, I'm sorry we missed you!!

Signing began, which moved fairly quickly. My one regret-- we got so caught up with the technology of whether or not the picture took that I didn't really have a moment to speak to Anthony. My bad. Once again, getting focused on recording life instead of living it. In any case, he was very nice, although he did seem a bit tired (no wonder).

From there, we waited for WickedlyPerfect at the door, then walked her to the Metro Station, having a nice chat on the way. Then it was homeward bound to Richmond.

There were about 200-250 people there, packed in, but it was, overall, a very pleasant event. No finger sandwiches, not too much singing, and not too much squealing. Everyone was very well behaved.

*Whew!* Now, once I figure out how to get my camera hooked up, I'll see what I can do about posting pictures!

Cheers! ;~)

[One Song Glory]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 7:27am

I remember seeing you there, Kim. I really loved the comment about getting Adam on a cell phone.

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 8:44am

It's been like that for about three weeks now.

[jlc6314]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 9:13am

I'm glad you guys had a good time at the signings.

[RENThead414]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 9:14am

Yay book signings! Glad everyone had a good time :)

[CanadianSnowbird]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 10:08am

Aww, glad you all had such a great time.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 10:10am

heh. I didn't call my mom when I finished reading 'cause it was four in the morning, but I e-mailed her.

She thought I was a little nuts. I think she rarely sees me totally lose all emotional control like that. It was also like two weeks after she had seen me just go to tears during Rent.

[secondstar05]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 11:37am

Ooh, Anthony's myspace is all pretty now.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 11:38am

Yay Kim! Glad you had a great time! And tell your friend that hearing aide technology has never been better!

I refused to call my mom after reading it, just because it's so cliché. How do you approach that? "Hey Mom, I know we had a fight and I hung up on you the other day, but I just read this book where someone's mom dies, so I had to call just in case." Okay, obviously I don't have to say that, but that would kind of taint the whole thing in my mind.

Although, I was listening to the Bright Lights, Big City CD over the summer and after Are You Still Holding My Hand finished, I was a complete mess and was tempted to run upstairs and hug my mom and her I loved her. But it was like 4am and it would probably would have freaked her out.

[gertrudejessalynn]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 11:38am

Ooo, yay book signings. I have to live vicariously through you guys, so keep the stories coming.

Anthony made his myspace page look all pretty...
See!

[secondstar05]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 11:39am

We are like one mind, gertRUDE.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 11:40am

I guess. I had read the book early, so it was before everyone was pouring in with the same -- perhaps intended -- reaction. But I couldn't go to sleep until I did SOMETHING, and per usual, I was sitting in front of my laptop. I think in the midst of explaining the bigger picture to my mom, telling her I was really taken with the book said something to her, as well.

MySpace DOES look pretty! yay!

[gertrudejessalynn]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 11:41am

Aww, shucks, calling me GertRUDE... you sure know the way to my heart.

Updated On: 3/2/06 at 11:41 AM

[secondstar05]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 11:45am

Hehehe... awee.

(Sorry, you just make it so easy!)

*HUGS*

[Silence = Death]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 12:06pm

Kim, I didn't see you but I was very close to you. I think I saw the back of your head when you commented on him calling Adam, lol. I was standing riiiiight behind the girls who were trying to get him to sing What You Own.

I'm glad you had a good time!!

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 1:03pm

Myspace is blocked here at school. Bleh. I'm sure that it's pretty though because duh, it's Anthony.