Sarah Dope

Sooooo.

All I will say for now is quite the rad little gig got offered to me the other day.

I will once again designing for quite the amazing and talented man that yes, a lot of you know and love.

All will be revealed in due time.

You can go ahead and make your guesses, but please do not expect me to confirm or deny anything. I shall confirm once we finish everything and are ready for public presentation.

;)

So if you keep up with me on MySpace and/or LiveJournal, you might have heard this in the past couple of days... but...

Due to unforseen circumstances, I will no longer be touring with Strata.

Sorry for the VERY last minute changes.... but it was out of my control, and I apologize to those who were supposed to come hang.

No worries. This won't be the last you see of me. ;)

They dressed the club up, Marie-Antoinette style... and it was fabulous.

Celebs galore, blah blah blah...

Open bar...

John Legend performed... and a cover band which included a few actors, including Greg Grunberg (from Heroes)...

Oh, and KANYE WEST.

Yeeesssss.

Had a great time. Pictures might start popping up on my MySpace... or elsewhere... who knows.

Hope all of you are well.

Who I want to win this year:

COMEDY SERIES: "Entourage"

DRAMA SERIES: "Heroes"

REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM: "Top Chef"

ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES: Tony Shalhoub (as Adrian Monk) in "Monk"

ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES: Kiefer Sutherland (as Jack Bauer) in "24"

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES: Jeremy Piven (as Ari Gold) in "Entourage"

For the rest of the nominees and categories, click here!


....Who do YOU want to win???


For those in Los Angeles, I will see you later tonight at TV Guide's Emmy afterparty!!!

MOJO Review

A 4-star review for Martin's book Tour:Smart appears in the new issue of MOJO magazine... staff writer Kris Needs calls the book "The ultimate touring manual", and goes on to say:

"This incredibly detailed work by former PiL drummer Martin Atkins tackles every conceivable aspect of getting the show on the road in a highly readable style."

The almost 600-page book is out now, and available at retail book stores and through online retailers like Amazon.com.

For those wondering why I haven't been posting nearly as often as I usually do...

Let's just say a few cards were thrown my way.

Patience is a virtue; and good things come to those who wait.

When everything is set in stone and is under way.... Trust that I will be telling you all about it.

Until then, keep up with me on MySpace.  ;)

www.myspace.com/sarahdope

Check 'em out!!!



www.myspace.com/unhappyanimals

You can also find these cute li'l critters in my Top Friends on my MySpace.  :)  

I admit, I don't always take a closer look into all of the profiles who add me on this account until someone writes me.

Word of advice.

If you are going to create a "hate site" towards someone, then write me, telling me to write this person hate mail... Please do us all a favor and TAKE ME OFF OF YOUR LIST AND STOP WRITING ME.

I'm not writing anyone hate mail, no matter what your reasoning is-- whether it's actually somewhat legit, or whether it's an immature mentality of "zOMG they're so ugly!"

As I just finished replying to someone-- I couldn't care less if they had a third arm growing out of their forehead. Hate mail is pointless, childish, stupid, and a complete waste of time.

I suggest you start thinking the same. Perhaps if some of you started concentrating more on your own lives and goals instead of creating hate profiles and going around adding "friends" to it on MySpace.... you would get a lot more accomplished in Life.

Anyone remember me going on about Martin Atkins' (NIN/Pigface/Ministry/Killing Joke/Public Image Ltd., etc-fame) book Tour:Smart that I (and many great others in the music industry) contributed to?

As of this month, you can now find it IN STORES!!!

Oh, and MOJO just gave us 4 stars!   :)

www.tstouring.com

WARNING:  This entry is long (like Miss E-long, haha)... and perhaps a little sappy. I won't be offended if you don't read it. I just felt like actually writing more than a few sentences tonight.



Someone once asked me why I bother with such little bands.
I asked, "Why not?"
They proceeded to tell me what a waste of time it was, and how "nobody cares."

I always chuckle at this.

Maybe it's just me, but I enjoy helping people out, especially if I see potential in them. I don't care how big or little they may be. Do you know how amazing it is to watch a band grow right in front of your eyes?

Six years ago, very few believed in a band like 30 Seconds to Mars. The early demos caught my interest enough to pay for a $30 ticket on their first national tour opening up for a band I had never heard of at the time (Revolution Smile) and another band that I absolutely hated (Puddle of Mudd). I patiently waited in line for hours to make sure I got myself a good spot for the only band I cared to see.

I carefully watched their set, and saw potential in them. I believed in them. As time passed, friendships were formed, and as more time passed, business relationships were formed. I still stick by their side to this very day. I believed; I supported; I scratched their back, asking for and expecting nothing in return. I was one of those relentless promoters.

...And now, many years later, look what they have grown into... and it's been absolutely incredible to watch on my own. They went from almost nobody believing... to almost everyone believing.

On a smaller scale, take Dope for example. They're no 30 Seconds to Mars, My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park, T.I., Justin Timberlake; or what have you... and although many people either hate them, or still have never heard of them-- I am proud of them. Nearly ten years of watching them under their work ethics and grow in their own ways, and they have yet to give up-- nor will they for quite some time, I can assure you.

It's inspiring. It's motivating. It's refreshing.

That's why I 'bother.'

Five Finger Death Punch took over the second stage this year of Korn's Family Values tour.

I remember long ago, shortly after I had just moved to Los Angeles, I had met Zoltan. There were times I thought he might have been a bit ridiculous, but I saw something in him the more I got to know him-- quite the special talent. Although I wasn't fond of one of the previous bands he had been with, I wasn't going to deny the guy is one killer guitarist.

I'm not going to lie, I wasn't as glued to his side as other bands in my life, but I do recall hearing tidbits here and there for pieces of music he had been working on [what would later become the metal masterpiece that they now publicly hold].

There was a long, long break that I hadn't listened to any of it, even when Z had called me up, asking me to take their new promo photos [which would later end up on the album]. I still hadn't really heard the adapted pieces...

...But I remember how I looked and how I felt the day I took some time from the road to stop by a record store and pick up the finalized album that had just released.... and it blew me away. I wouldn't shut-up about it. It was all I listened to in the Strata van, playing songs on repeat to make sure I caught every single little detail of every single instrument and lyric. Every now and then I would sit up and smack Hrag or Ryan, shoving one earpiece at them, demanding they listen to this part, or that part.

I attended the last show on the Family Values tour today in Irvine, CA.

Now since my Bloodsimple boys had to cancel out of the last three shows due to Tim's tooth infection, there was now only one band that I really wanted to see-- Five Finger Death Punch, of course.

I went there expecting a show. What I got was quite the reunion.

Miss Angie GoGo and I arrived, parked, picked up our passes, and went in. We lingered in the heat as Z was busy with press. As I took a moment to wander and check out the merch booths, I hear someone calling my name, "Oh Sarah Doooope!"

I look up, and lo and behold, it's my old buddy Derek, who does a lot of merch and tech gigs on tour. Massive hugs ensued, followed by, "What are you doing here's?" on both of our accounts. I had no idea he had started working for Hell Yeah, and he had no idea that I was home from tour. We reminisced and walked around... and suddenly, I see someone I haven't seen in a year at the least.

There is an incredible man in my life named Ro Kohli.

Most are familiar with him through his past work with Roadrunner Records. He was the best boss to ever hit Warner Bros. Records back when I worked there. He was the very first one in that office who spotted my potential, believed in me, and relentlessly pushed for me. (Ro was the one responsible for making WBR actually hire me and start paying me for my design and code work.)

Both of our jaws dropped as we ran towards each other, screaming in glee. Neither of us could believe it. There we were, staring at each other, face to face, in the flesh once again. We played the "catch up" game, and he handed me a business card.

"I need you, Sarah."

I looked at the card. War Machine. His marketing company that he had been trying to get under way for a while now.

"It's time."

We eventually parted each other as Angie and I decided to kill more time under some shade, still waiting for FFDP to get onstage.

My Ocean beeped, informing me I had a text message. This time it was from Rebecca Clark, a great friend of mine, as well as an amazing photographer [her and her sister both] in the rock and comedy scenes. (Granted I see her more often these days than most other people in my life, but it is always good to see her, plus... it had been a couple of weeks.) She informed me that her friend had just spotted me, and that she was waiting to receive her passes at the door, as well. We would meet up later before shooting together in the pit.

4:50 came around, and Angie and I made our way to the second stage.

As I wait for set-up to finish, I see a lovely girl. I take a double-take, squint a bit... and then become giddy. It was an old friend, Jen, who I hadn't seen in three years? Maybe two.. but either way, it had been far too long, and I definitely was not expecting to see her there.

We hugged each other, and like I had done with Ro and Derek, we played the "catch up" game for a bit. She expressed how proud she was of me for keeping myself busy with all sorts of projects, and I feel the same for her, keeping herself busy with model and movie work.

Five Finger Death Punch were about to start. I made my way further into the photo pit, and someone had stopped me from up front, asking if I was a part of some other Photography thing, or if I had known if any of the other photographers were. I apologized and informed him that I was not the one he was looking for, and that I honestly did not know if anyone else was. He then asked me who I was.

I started to introduce myself, "Oh, my name is Sarah--"
"She's Sarah Dope!" Someone else had finished my name for me. The other man had continued to try to tell the other how I was the one who did the photography on the album... but the man and his lady had already known.
"Oh! We were just talking about you a few days ago! Your work is amazing!"

I think I blushed, and thanked them repeatedly. I am always appreciative of those who dig my work, and even more appreciative of the ones who tell me so, no matter how many times I may hear it. It is always, always appreciated, and it always puts a big smile on my face.

The band went on. Metal madness galore, and I loved every single minute of it. There was so much energy in the crowd, as well as the photo pit as all of us ran around, trying to get our own shots without getting in anyone else's way.

At one point, someone had tapped me, and I look to my left-- Kirsty Lingman, another great rock photographer who I also hadn't seen in a while. We gave quick smiles and hugs as we both dove back into our jobs.

After the set, I needed to head out. I was in the middle of saying my goodbyes to the boys as I, once again, hear my name being called. "SARAH DOPE!"

This time I turn to see Adam Grayer, band coordinator for Jagermeister. Yet again, someone else I had not seen in quite some time.

There were many hugs and "how are you's?" as usual. And, of course, in good Adam fashion, offers for free Jager shots. I looked at him as if he were crazy. In this heat? No thank you.

Someone walked up to me to hand me his business card, saying he had seen me online earlier. I looked down at what I was just handed-- It was the President/CEO of HollywoodMusic.TV. I thanked him as Adam made a comment, "This girl is amazing! I love this girl. She and I are immortalized in print together..."

He continued to talk about the Tour:Smart book, complimenting my contribution to it.

From there, it was time to head out back to Hollywood.... with a big smile on my face from the day. I had just run into so many people who had been watching me with hope; with faith; with belief.

It's days like these that remind me what an amazing family I really have.



P.S.... Those live shots will be coming soon.

Hey everyone!

A very good friend of mine, PHIL VARONE, will be doing a lecture and Q&A about his new movie/documentary, WAKING UP DEAD!



He will be showing a shortened version of the movie, followed by a lecture about his story. Afterwards, he will open the floor to questions...

Oh, and P.S.? IT'S FREE!

So if you are in the area, COME OUT!!!

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH @ 8:00 PM

FREE , FREE, FREE

THE ACME THEATER

135 N LA BREA AVE

LOS ANGELES, CA 90036

323-525-0202

TOMORROW at the VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATER!

Who else is going?

I'll be there to support my boys in FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH!

If you are attending, PLEASE check them out, headlining the second stage! Also, come say hi if you see me running around!