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Feb. 22nd, 2007 11:49 pmMy very first call this morning was to a woman who gave me a major headache all the way through the interview. She was all "I don't see the point of this survey" and "I'm getting bored with this" and often followed up her answer to a question with a mini-diatribe. But I managed to get her to finish, and even to agree to us calling her again next time, which was a miracle.
On a brighter note it's Amanda #1's birthday, so she'd brought plenty of goodies for the table. When I came off the nightmare first interview, the food was all covered up with serviettes. The lady on the front desk explained that it was being saved up for a bit later in the shift because it would be a shame if it all got wolfed in the first hour.
They unveiled the food at around 10.45, when I was interviewing a two adult household and wasn't even halfway through. As the only thing I could eat was the flapjack - everything else had chocolate in it, and Lent is now upon us - I fervently prayed the flapjack wouldn't all get scoffed before my interview was finished. Thankfully, they left plenty.
South Parade Pier this evening for the first Portsmouth heat of South Coast Idol. There are two separate contests this year, Under-17s and 17-and-Overs; I'd thought my ticket was good for the entire evening, but no, I had to buy a second to attend both shows. The overall standard of the performers was pretty good, and several of them had brought sizeable - and vocal - fan followings with them! As every paying audience member got a vote, it was no surprise that, in the Junior section, two girls who'd brought large supporters' clubs went through to the final. One of them, Jade Wilkinson, who was announced as 'the winner of Swindon Pop Idol', was my favourite, with her big smile and performance with plenty of zip. In the interval between the Junior and Senior shows I spotted Sam Matterface from Quay Radio, who was co-hosting, and waved; he turned round to say a quick hello and shake hands.
The judges had gone easy on the Juniors; in the Senior section they openly voiced their criticisms. It has to be said that early in the Senior show Sam asked the judges "Was there anything you particularly didn't like?" which prompted one of them to reply "You're looking for a Simon Cowell!" Sam introduced one guy, called Marvin, in tones that suggested he was a novelty act. Sure, he didn't look like a pop star, with his specs, Asian 'tache, coloured stripey jumper and 'Phat Farm' baseball cap; then the backing CD he'd brought didn't work, and then he had trouble plugging the amp lead into the guitar co-host Hannah lent him (without the CD he needed something stronger than the guitar he'd brought). But then the song he sang was quite good, and he ended up qualifying for the final. Of the ones who qualified my favourite was Nina Schofield, a pretty girl from Winchester with a big Anneka Rice smile who did a fine version of Kelly Clarkson's Beautiful Disaster.
I'd been standing outside waiting for a taxi for a few minutes when the rain started. At least I had my green Slovenian rain jacket with me. After three taxis had been, been taken by others and gone, another pulled up a few yards forward of me and two women just beat me to it - then, hallelujah, one of the women turned to me and asked if I was going to the Hard, so we all shared the cab and passed the drive discussing the show. They were from the Isle of Wight and had come over to support the two singers from the Island - but both of them had been eliminated, and there were no more in the other heats so the women wouldn't be coming back again this year. One of them had a gripe with the voting system, as with 17 acts competing for 200 people's votes, and the top six in a first-past-the-post vote going through, as she said, if one singer had a lot of family and friends in the audience their votes would be enough to put them into the final. We said our goodbyes at the Hard, where there was a ferry just about to go; I legged it down the ramp and just made it.
On a brighter note it's Amanda #1's birthday, so she'd brought plenty of goodies for the table. When I came off the nightmare first interview, the food was all covered up with serviettes. The lady on the front desk explained that it was being saved up for a bit later in the shift because it would be a shame if it all got wolfed in the first hour.
They unveiled the food at around 10.45, when I was interviewing a two adult household and wasn't even halfway through. As the only thing I could eat was the flapjack - everything else had chocolate in it, and Lent is now upon us - I fervently prayed the flapjack wouldn't all get scoffed before my interview was finished. Thankfully, they left plenty.
South Parade Pier this evening for the first Portsmouth heat of South Coast Idol. There are two separate contests this year, Under-17s and 17-and-Overs; I'd thought my ticket was good for the entire evening, but no, I had to buy a second to attend both shows. The overall standard of the performers was pretty good, and several of them had brought sizeable - and vocal - fan followings with them! As every paying audience member got a vote, it was no surprise that, in the Junior section, two girls who'd brought large supporters' clubs went through to the final. One of them, Jade Wilkinson, who was announced as 'the winner of Swindon Pop Idol', was my favourite, with her big smile and performance with plenty of zip. In the interval between the Junior and Senior shows I spotted Sam Matterface from Quay Radio, who was co-hosting, and waved; he turned round to say a quick hello and shake hands.
The judges had gone easy on the Juniors; in the Senior section they openly voiced their criticisms. It has to be said that early in the Senior show Sam asked the judges "Was there anything you particularly didn't like?" which prompted one of them to reply "You're looking for a Simon Cowell!" Sam introduced one guy, called Marvin, in tones that suggested he was a novelty act. Sure, he didn't look like a pop star, with his specs, Asian 'tache, coloured stripey jumper and 'Phat Farm' baseball cap; then the backing CD he'd brought didn't work, and then he had trouble plugging the amp lead into the guitar co-host Hannah lent him (without the CD he needed something stronger than the guitar he'd brought). But then the song he sang was quite good, and he ended up qualifying for the final. Of the ones who qualified my favourite was Nina Schofield, a pretty girl from Winchester with a big Anneka Rice smile who did a fine version of Kelly Clarkson's Beautiful Disaster.
I'd been standing outside waiting for a taxi for a few minutes when the rain started. At least I had my green Slovenian rain jacket with me. After three taxis had been, been taken by others and gone, another pulled up a few yards forward of me and two women just beat me to it - then, hallelujah, one of the women turned to me and asked if I was going to the Hard, so we all shared the cab and passed the drive discussing the show. They were from the Isle of Wight and had come over to support the two singers from the Island - but both of them had been eliminated, and there were no more in the other heats so the women wouldn't be coming back again this year. One of them had a gripe with the voting system, as with 17 acts competing for 200 people's votes, and the top six in a first-past-the-post vote going through, as she said, if one singer had a lot of family and friends in the audience their votes would be enough to put them into the final. We said our goodbyes at the Hard, where there was a ferry just about to go; I legged it down the ramp and just made it.
