EPT![[image loading]](http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/11390536853/9/tumblr_lszzjmZpp81qce91n)
Monday was hectic with getting people and resources in place just to prepare for the next few days of set-up. Basically, I couldn't do anything vital to my job set till the rest of the Camera Operators arrived so I just did whatever I could do to help.
Tuesday is when things really began, the morning was full of working on getting the Live-U packs and cameras ready. I'm glad that I spent time learning the manual(even though nothing major needed to be done)! The latter portion of tuesday was invested testing the Live-U packs in Circus Maximus(C-Max). My crew was the PM shift for C-Max but our talent( the lovely Tricia "Megumixbear") was not set to arrive till Wednesday.
Wednesday afternoon Tricia arrived and we spent awhile talking about what we were planning to do for the rest of the week. The highlight of Wednesday was getting to greet players as they checked in with Tricia. Getting interviews set up I actually got invited to have dinner with team EG(SirScoots+Anna Prosser as well), Seltzer, and djWheat. Fatefully, as we were seated I was called out to do more testing for the Balley's Live-U packs. More testing ensued...Scoots if you're reading this, dinner's on me next time!
![[image loading]](http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/11390536853/4/tumblr_lszzjmZpp81qce91n)
Thursday I got up bright and early(after a late night no less) figuring I would catch the opening ceremony and help out the AM C-Max Live-U team. Delays, due to the Blizzard IP Blacklist issue, kept the morning slow and I ended up eating a long breakfast. By the time my shift was primed to begin things were up and running rather smoothly. Our shift started and we were out of the gates running getting crowd reactions, player interviews, and even spot casting some games! The highlight of the night was sitting down with Select, Slush, Kiwikaki, and Socke in Balleys for a round table interview. Great Fun!
![[image loading]](http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/11390536853/5/tumblr_lszzjmZpp81qce91n)
Friday was interesting to say the least. All the internet for the event went down right before the main stream was to begin. Rough beginning to the game. 8( I really felt that even through this I was a great asset to the whole production. While helping out the AM C-Max crew David Ting(Head Honcho for IGN eSports) comes to us and wants us to go live from where the internet issue began. After letting Mr. Ting know of my live news experience, I was in essence told to do my thing.
Arriving on the scene, I jumped out of the taxi and got right to work. Talking with Police and ComCast supervisors I got a quick run down of what had happened. A Semi with trailer in tow had misjudged his vertical clearance and had pulled down the lines leading to the boardwalk. Running to where Lani and the Live-U crew had set up I was ready to give her the information when she told me to actually report the news on air! Now I'm not camera shy, I've been working with them and around them for at least a decade. But the idea of being in front of thousands of fellow gamers was a bit daunting. I was told afterwards that I did a great job. I have yet to see the actual footage so I'll wait to give my own critique till then. The rest of Friday was a blur of interviews that took place during my PM shift(and it was a long day). The night ended well with watching the GSTL Finals in the Playhem Pen with new friends.;-)
![[image loading]](http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/11390536853/7/tumblr_lszzjmZpp81qce91n)
Saturday actually went as planned with the internet being reliable and shifts happening on time. Overall, the day was a huge success and after two days of putting (virtual) fires out the crew needed a moral boost. Pretty much everyone went out and had a couple in celebration of a day actually going as planned.
![[image loading]](http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/11390536853/6/tumblr_lszzjmZpp81qce91n)
Sunday was bitter sweet as through difficulty the crew had banded together but the event was coming to a climactic end. We were ready to show off our hard work focusing our efforts on the final stretch but sad that it was set to end. The day was stacked with interviews but we finished up soon enough to actually watch the finals in the main area with the spectators. This was my first chance of the week to actually sit and watch an entire set of games. With a good seat centered up in the crowd and a cold beer in hand....I was a happy StarCrafter.
The wrap party after the event was really alot of fun with an open bar, Kareoki, and many friends to say goodbye to. I actually didn't stay long however because my flight back to Texas needed me ready to hop in a taxi at 3am.
![[image loading]](http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/11390536853/8/tumblr_lszzjmZpp81qce91n)
I'd like to take a moment and recognize the crew as a whole for having grace under pressure keeping things together. So many things happened that were out of our hands and yet we made it work. You guys are awesome. Getting to know so many new people interested in this thing called eSports was so amazing. It felt a bit like family having so many people of similar intrests together working for a common goal. There are sooo many people I'd like to specifically make shout outs to but there are so many I'd probably forget someone! Meeting so many complex and interesting people over a weeks time was the best thing I could have ever hoped to take away from any event.
You know who you are, and you are awesome!
