The Big Week

So the competition is finally over, and what a week it was.

Ill start off with the daily routine. A 6:30 wakeup, to make my shower slot, then hop into the car at 8 to go to the stadium. We'd be the first ones there so I would have to open up all the exits and rooms and start up any machines. For example the player recreation room, i would have to plug in all the electronics, music equipment etc. And put the TV on the stadium's own channel which produces a live feed from the cameras.
But yes, this player recreation room was my responsibility. Its basically the room where the players and coaches go to to relax and just have some fun. So what i did was install a piano and drum kit, and a formula 1 game on an HD TV.










So yes this was my masterpiece, and i'm pretty proud of it.


As the week went on i got to chat with some of the big guns, and found out, all the tennis players are actually down to earth guys, especially the doubles players. One of the jobs i was allowed to do included helping with the player walkthroughs. This is where we get a singles player or doubles team and bring them to various vip boxes and hospitality areas (skyboxes) to let them do some pictures and signings for the sponsors.
And you would think the people would be a bit more civilized than your ordinary tennis fan. But no, these people would just swamp the players, crowing around, pulling their hands to sign a person's cap and all the rest. We quickly learnt from this and made sure there were stanchions (posts with ropes) to create a barrier and stop the fans from crowding around and making the player feel uncomfortable.

Another one of my jobs was to coordinate the music in the public tent. This included making sure the bands played on time, and stopped on time (not playing during a match). I had ensure they got their lunch vouchers, helped them with any problems, and made sure they were transported to and from. And had to have their passes ready for them before they arrived (otherwise they wouldn't get in of course)

I was also put in charge of the internet room. This was a stylish room designed by a furniture company called Haworth. It was a sort of retreat room for the players, where they would be able to relax on comfortable sofas, but also be able to access the internet, either by the 5 computers provided, or make use of the wireless that was provided. I had to make sure the room was set up in the mornings, see if there was any rubbish, always have a stock of fresh fruit for the players and fresh juices. I also decided to be a sort of bartender as the drinks fridge was sort of hidden away in a corner of the room which i thought players couldnt really see. So i decided every time i walked in there and saw someone i would offer them a drink.
So one day one of the players was in there, and i offered a drink (as ususal) (i would normally expect an answer such as a coke, or a bottle of water). But no, they wanted a double espresso macchiato, which really made me feel like a waiter. So i had to travel to the Hilton hospitality and hope that they could give me one...luckily they did so that was all fine.

I also was allowed to join in on all the press conferences that the players would give after their match. This was what really interested me (as im a mediahead). But also it was interesting to hear what the players would say about their performance, and how self critical they can be. I then had to escort the players back to the player area (normally with the big man Jay www.l2uj.blogspot.com, sometimes alone) without them getting hassled for pictures and autographs.

Just before the event started i had to make sure the correct flags and posters were up around the stadium. This was quite annoying as we had changed by the day sometimes, of players dropping out, and new ones joining in (for example, Nadal, and the Israeli doubles team). So i would have to keep updating a flags document and sending it to the person who would put the correct flags up.

Charles also gave me a tour of the media area. This was the area where all the video and commentary gets sent to the different stations around the world for broadcasting. It was cool to see just how much equipment they need, but also how they transport it. Such as one of the broadcasters had a whole bus as a studio. And not any old TV studio, a state of the art, fully equipped, HD TV studio, that sent out live footage straight to the broadcaster (but i couldn't take pictures, sorry).

During the event i also had to to numerous of other small jobs such as buying a football for Djokovic, and bringing a massage table to the practice courts for another tennis player.


The normal day would be long, but also dependant on the day's matches, as the sooner the last match would finish, the sooner we would be able to leave. But the normal leaving time would be around 12:00.




Gangsta Deni



Leo and Judith in the office



On the Thursday night, the (then was, not anymore) number 1 doubles team, the Bryan Brothers decided to play a little gig with the boss' band, Studio 188. And we were allowed backstage, giving me prime picture time.






One of the Bryan brothers with one of the players from another doubles team, Andre Sa





Yep, they don't just play one instrument




Lots of fans eagerly waiting to see their beloved doubles team.





One definite highlight of this week was when i had to jam with these two guys just before this concert as they had to practice some of the songs together.

Apart from working, I also got to see some of the matches, as close as anyone can, right at court level.






Just check out the background, in the exit wings...you'll spot me with the long hair, and the black suit.

This match was truly one of the best tennis matches i've seen. Both players giving their all to win. And even though it was only a best of 3 match, it lasted for more than 3 hours. And the crowd were extatic, as Federer is the number 1 guy in China.




A bit of Djokovic in the final


And Tsonga vs Davydenko in the round robin stages:






So yes, an incredible week and i'll keep posting as soon as more stuff comes in!

ill just leave you with some other random pictures i took:



The two finalists, joking and laughing together after a long tournament, waiting for their prizes





Djokovic receiving his trophy




Davydenko's thank you's



Davydenko receiving the runners up trophy






Players' locker rooms hallway



Guess how many tennis balls in this mercedes game




fans waiting out by the player entrance to try and get some autographs and pictures




All the players got their own car with their name on it. This is Juan-Martin Del Potro's car (as you can see)

Busy busy busy

so its crunch time and its getting excitng. Just took some time for myself to write a little update.

This week has been amazing so far, all the players are here and seems they are on top form, except for federer who is still suffering from a bad back. The week before the event was pretty hectic, everyone was trying to get everything done just in time for the start of the event, and that includes me. I had to keep replacing posters i put up as players dropped out (nadal) or others came in (Giles Simone).
I was also put in charge of the player recreation room, which consists of a f1 game (with a racing seat and all of that), a pool table, and drums and a piano (All being used by the players pretty frequently).
Also, a week before, a nice shipment of 50 mercedes cars came in to be used for escorts, r class and s class, and my god they are nice.




These are the ones that wait at the hilton, the s class is obviously more impressive, the cars are stocked with a tv screen in the driver's panel thats linked to a camera in the grill of the car, completely pointless i guess, but still cool. The cars are also hooked up with tv screens, that show terrestrial tv and a dvd player. Then they also have a fridge in them too.





I had to also attend the opening ceremony of the event, it was pretty cool. It included a red carpet thing, but its craaaazy how fanatic chinese teens are. I mean, these people were pushing over the barriers, just screaming for anyone's signature.




Once inside we were treated to an introduction of all the players and then a fashion show. Which had a nice twist in it as some of the players decided to join in and strut their stuff on the runway.







So yeah im going to save the rest of the pictures until the event finishes but im having an amazing time. here are some more:






My event accreditation



The court



Heinekn fridges being done (dad, took this one for you, charles thought youd maybe need to approve them? haha)






They also decided to open the roof on a sunny day, the atmostphere changes immediatly. Everyone was getting excited as next year they will be allowed to open the roof during the matches (as the shanghai masters is officially an indoor event)

GREETINGS FROM THE STADIUM

A sunny day let everyone see what the roof could actually do and they opened it up for an hour.

Im pretty busy with everything now, im even stationed at the office in the stadium

but i will do a full post as soon as i can!

Week 3

Everything is getting a bit more hectic now. I'm receiving more and more tasks to do which is always good.

I'm now in charge of all the bands that will be playing at the event (making sure they start their sets on time, making sure they are happy etc). Next to the music i am also in charge of all the posters around the site. I have to make sure that all the posters are in the right places and are also up to date. You'd never think it would be tough, but i have to go around all the posters to make sure that any tennis players that aren't playing in the tournament (they were left up from last year) are taken down. Then i have to find new images of the players that are playing from the internet. And what makes this job hardest is the doubles teams, as i'm not well acquainted with them. So i had to go around every doubles picture to see if they are still playing with the same partners.

In the office i am currently doing one of two things, either counting tickets, or designing the display in the Shanghai Masters Tour 2009 booth. This booth is for next year's event, which follows a change. The site will have another court built and will have the top 50 (or so) players playing at the event, instead of just the top 8. The Masters final is being moved to the new location of Wembley stadium. So they have decided to create a large display booth to show the plans for next year.



Sorry no pictures!

Week 2!

So the second week has finished and it was pretty fun. The weekend was all about the F1. As it was my first time at an F1 race i really didnt know what to expect. But i can tell you know, those things, are bloody loud. But it was all fun, i had grandstand tickets (for free) so i couldnt complain.



(Had to pretend to be Chinese)