Behind the Headlines

By Paula Wethington / paula@monroenews.com

It’s been a long time since I got a story assignment with the instruction, “wear your press pass.” But because of security details at the Radio Disney concert this afternoon in Ida (story will be in Sunday’s edition of The Monroe Evening News), I needed my press ID to get into the VIP reception at Ida Public Library.

The press pass I usually pull out is in my wallet (actually, my business card works in most situations). But, I do have a copy hanging on a lanyard tag to use as needed. It is useful to be that visible at times.

When I got to the library door, the event staff checked my media credentials and gave me a new lanyard with a card labeled with “VIP: Radio Disney Jingle Jam.” Within a few minutes, another event worker gave me a yellow ticket for the reception and a green ticket for reserved seating at the concert. So, I put all the passes in the concert lanyard and concluded I now looked like a music groupie with everything that was hanging around my neck.

After the reception ended and the audience was waiting for the national show to start, I went inside the library lobby to warm up.

A girl who was probably about 10 years old looked at my array of tags and said, “No fair! You’ve got a VIP pass.”

Her dad started laughing and said, “she’s a reporter.”

“Did you meet Keke?” the girl asked me.

“Yes I did. She was really nice.”

This response resulted in another agonized response from the young fan.

I explained that I didn’t get Keke’s autograph and had only enough time to give her two or three questions. Even a VIP pass doesn’t give you much more time than that, I explained. Other fans want to say hello.

But, I told the girl, if she wanted to meet Keke in person, there was still a chance to do it. There would be a public meet-and-greet with souvenir sales and autograph signings after the show.

This young fan let her dad know she was quite willing to give up her spot for the Night Light Parade so she could meet Keke Palmer. And, I think he was going along with her request.

Here are the tags that got her attention:

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to hear Keke perform live. I had to leave the show early.

But I did listen to clips on the Internet from the entertainers before going to Ida this afternoon and I like Keke’s music.