Birthday DETAILS (lot's of 'em! LOL)
RM Meltzer (rmm)
Hello to everyone who knows me, and to those that don’t, my name is
Robin Meltzer, and I am
one of the 15 or so permanent volunteers for MJ News International,
which is Michael
Jackson’s British Fan Club. I hope you don’t mind me taking up some of
your time to give you
some exciting information. Well, I think it’s exciting anyway!
Since January of this year, our time at the club has been largely
concerned with preparing for
our massive birthday celebration for Michael Jackson on 29th August at
the Equinox in
Leicester Square, London. Paul Brangwyn is the man who is co-ordinating
the event for us,
and he, Gloria Haydock, myself and all our volunteers have been making
concrete plans to
ensure all our party-goers have the time of their life at our bash.
We’re not exaggerating when
we say that this is shaping up to be the greatest Michael Jackson party
of all time.
But, after preparing some information for the internet about the
birthday bash recently, it
occurred to me that we haven’t yet announced a detailed itinerary of
what you can expect to see
and do if you are attending our party. So we thought it was about time
we "sing it to the world"
as the main man once said. Empty promises are very annoying after all -
so now it’s time for
some details. And we have ‘em. Lot’s of ‘em! After all, there are just a
matter of weeks left, and
all our reserved-seating tickets for the Main Show are sold out (though
standing tickets which
allow access to casual seating around the venue are still available) and
almost all tickets are
now sold out for our Moonwalker pre-show too. So here, to whet your
appetites, is what MJNI
have planned. Oh, and don’t forget, there’s going to be even more than
this because these last
few weeks are bound to throw up more ideas which we incorporate into the
final day.
Chairs: The Equinox do not provide us with chairs, so we have ordered
hundreds of seats for
our reserved-seating ticket-holders.
Projectionist: We have hired professional video projection equipment to
allow us to show
exclusive video footage; the videos have been provided by Sony Music
Entertainment Europe
and we are currently in the process of deciding which clips to show.
Tickets: Seating has been allocated and tickets to attendees were
mailed on 25th May and 2nd
July. Tickets went on sale at the Equinox on 27th June. Standing room
tickets are still
available, and selling well.
Attendees: We have been overwhelmed by the number of fans who have
booked from
overseas, with more enquiries and bookings arriving with us daily. The
countries are:
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Eire, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Holland, Norway,
Rumania, Sweden, Switzerland and USA.
Performers: We have had meetings with our performers and they are going
through their final
rehearsals.
Tribute Song: A Michael Jackson Birthday tribute song has been written,
and we are currently
progressing with arrangements for musical backing.
Award: We’re actually all in shock at the beauty of the EXCLUSIVE (we
REALLY mean it)
award that Sony Music Entertainment Europe has so generously given us to
auction off. I’m
saying no more now as I can’t do it justice. Wait until you see this
baby!
Posters: Several promotional posters have been printed to be hung in
major outlets from 11th
July. We have been so inspired and amazed by the support we have
received from several
famous firms, namely: Equinox (of course!), Capital Radio Cafe, Rock
Circus, Virgin Oxford
Street, Tower Records Camden, Tower Records, HMV and Virgin in
Birmingham, Our Price in
Liverpool and HMV London.
Monitors: We are currently working on attaining between six and eight
television monitors to be
displayed around the venue, so that even when the fans are walking
around, they can still see
what is being displayed on our cinema screen.
Advertising: Our first ad for the MJNI’s Big Birthday Bash appeared in
KING 15, published in
December 1997. On 2nd April, we engaged our publicist who has been
mailshooting the
world’s press at regular intervals ever since.
Wheelchairs: We have made special arrangements for fans who are in
wheelchairs.
Coaches: Coach transportation has been arranged from most major pick-up
points in the UK.
Hotels: We have researched suitable hotels to provide information for
those requiring
accommodation.
YANAs: MJNI staff will welcome YANA Group Leaders to the show and
introduce them to each
other and it’ll be the first opportunity to have photographs taken for
KING of the YANA groups.
YANA groups are our organised, regional groups of fans. As the most
active Michael Jackson
Fan Club in the world, we make an effort to bring together fans of all
ages, races and
nationalities. (Cool, I sound like Michael now, time to stop...!)
PUBLICITY: Again, we have been just blown away by the co-operation of
certain organisations
within the media. Our event has already been publicised in The Voice
(Britain’s Black
newspaper) events section, and an article in the June edition of Top of
the Pops magazine (one
million readers), with more publicity confirmed in editions of BIG! and
Smash Hits magazines.
Through our Publicity Agent, press releases and contacts have been made
during a period of
three months to all the major, and many local radio stations, TV and
cable stations, magazines
and newspapers. Perhaps most exciting of all is that the Independent
Radio Network will be
broadcasting a series of six 2-minute news bulletins on Michael the week
prior to his birthday,
and Gloria and I met with the News Editor of IRN who told us that IRN
will be in attendance at
our Birthday Bash to follow-up on this series! Two months ago we were
informed that a Youth
Cable TV channel would like to film at the event, and we have been asked
by London Weekend
Television to appear on a new Children's TV programme hosted by the
celebrity host Andy
Peters, although this has not yet been confirmed. TV spots on
programmes like The Big
Breakfast and This Morning are pending and MTV will probably film the
event also. We are
awaiting final confirmation from Capital Radio Cafe regarding a pre-
BBash publicity party with
our look-alike performers on Friday evening, 28th August. Virgin Oxford
Circus have asked us
to arrange for some look-a-likes to come into the store to create
publicity and even invited us to
hand out flyers!
HOSTS: Well, er, one of them is me! And do you remember the cool
presenter on stage with
me at MJ Day 8 last year in the UK? Well Steve, who is SUCH a funny guy
has very generously
committed his talent to MJNI’s Birthday Bash and he and I have met for
initial discussions
about our co-operation on the day and I’m looking forward to sorting
that out in more detail over
the next couple of weeks. And MJNI’s in-house cartoonist for KING
magazine (and general
cool-guy) Des Taylor, will be joining us on stage too! Party..!
OUR PERFORMERS (approx. 150! Count ‘em!)
PREDDIE, Keith MJ Performer (confirmed!)
THE DANGEROUS BOYS MJ Performers (confirmed!)
ANDERSON, Mark Anthony MJ Performer (confirmed!)
PARASRAM, Adrian MJ Performer (awaiting confirmation)
PINEAPPLE Dance Troupe (confirmed!)
SET-UP Dance Group (confirmed!)
UK VOICES 100-piece Gospel Youth Choir (children and teenagers)
(confirmed!)
ARLI Robotic Dancer (confirmed!)
CYBORG 2000 The Ultimate Robotic Dance Act Extravaganza (confirmed!)
MORLEY, Tom Robotic Dancer (confirmed!)
ROCK, Steve Host/compere (confirmed!)
MELTZER, Robin Host/compere (yeah, I might turn up!)
TAYLOR, Des Host/compere (confirmed!)
These 150 performers are committed to making this an unforgettable
experience for the fans.
All performers are without payment, and we are very grateful for their
loyalty to the Fan Club.
OUR STAFF / CONTRIBUTORS / VOLUNTEERS (Total 65)
Aside from the performers, we have a current total of 65 friends and
volunteers helping us on
the day and the list is still growing. Their names - in alphabetical
order - are:
AWAD, Suha (Helping us set up on the day)
BRANGWYN, Paul (Producer / Co-ordinator)
BRUTON, Heidi (Helping us set up on the day)
BUCKINGHAM, Kerry (Stage Manager)
BURNETT, Neil (Unloading / loading)
CHAWE, Vicki (Usherette)
COBB, Natasha (Helping us set up on the day)
COBB, Shirley (MJNI Information Desk)
COULSON, Liz (Helping us set up on the day)
COULSON, Sarah (Helping us set up on the day)
COWEN, Mark (Helping us set up on the day hopefully)
COX, Jamie (Paul Brangwyn’s assistant)
CUSHING, Michelle (Admission superviser)
DAYIOGLU, Emine (Helping us set up on the day)
FOLLETT, Luke (Helping us set up on the day)
FREEMAN, Greg (Helping us set up on the day)
GAMBLE, Laura Merchandise Lady Extraordinaire!
Laura & Dave's driver (Unloading / loading)
GRANT, Dorian (Security)
GRASSO, Kathy (Press and VIP reception)
GRIFFITHS, Dave (Merchandise)
GUY, Brigid (Costumes
HAMLETT, Claire (Helping us set up on the day)
HAMRIDING, Henry (Helping us set up on the day)
HAMRIDING, Lynda (Helping us set up on the day)
HAYDOCK, Gloria (Producer / MJNI President)
HAYDOCK, Jade (8-year-old - hey, she could come in handy for helping!)
HAYDOCK, Vicki (VIPs, media, raffle, chairs)
HENDERSON, Vicky (VIPs, media, raffle, chairs)
HOLLAND, David (Helping us set up on the day)
HUTCHESON, Emma (Helping us set up on the day)
JAEN, Nathalie (MJNI Information Desk)
KERRY, Angela (YANA Groups - foreign fans)
LEVY, Jean (Media / publicity)
LUNDSTRAM, Kathy (YANA Groups)
MELTZER, Robin (Show Presenter/compere)
MIAH, Nazma (Helping us set up on the day)
MIAH’s friends (x4) (Helping us set up on the day)
MORLEY, Tim (Helping us set up on the day)
MORLEY, Tom (Breakdancer, photographer, unloading)
NORRMAN, Johanna (Helping us set up on the day)
PARSONS, Nicki (Helping us set up on the day)
PARVEZ, Noorie (Photography, decorations)
POPOOLA, Toyin (Assistant Co-ordinator, Seating Supervisor)
Reg (Security)
ROCK, Cheryl (Helping us set up on the day)
ROCK, Steve (Show Presenter/compere)
ROCK, Tony (Helping us set up on the day)
ROE, Simon (Videoer)
SKIPP, Abigail (Helping us set up on the day)
SMITH, Jo (Helping us set up on the day)
SMITH, Tony (Techncial advisor and assistant)
SOMMERS, Katherine (Media, General Assistant)
STOTT, Glyn (Merchandise)
Glyn's driver (Unloading / loading)
TAYLOR, Des (Show Presenter /compere)
TUCKER, Sally
WALLER, Keith (Decorations)
WATTS, Warren
WHITE, Sally (Make-up artist)
YENISH, Joe (General Assistant)
Sharon (A Lovable Liverpudlian)
THE ITINERARY
MICHAEL JACKSON: A 40TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Presented by MJ NEWS INTERNATIONAL
~ Proud to be The World's Premiere Michael Jackson Fan Club ~
Saturday 29th August 1998
THE EQUINOX, Leicester Square, London.
09:00 Michael-music relayed outside. Performers entertain waiting
crowd and the passers-by!
Song sheets handed out for 'Happy Birthday Michael'.
09:40-10:00am Main doors open to Moonwalker attendees into the foyer
where they can
soak-up the Ghosts atmosphere. This area will be theme decorated -
inspired by the Ghosts
video. Free gifts handed out to children.
10:00 Merchandise area opens. Moonwalker ticket-holders shown to their
seats by MJNI
ushers and usherettes (hopefully in Ghosts costumes!)
10:25 Performers on stage (30 minutes).
11:00-12:30 MOONWALKER. We start the day with the screening of
Moonwalker to
celebrate its tenth anniversary.
12:15 Merchandise, BEAT IT Burger Bar and other bar areas open.
12:30 INTERVAL - Time for fans to purchase merchandise and/or take
refreshments.
13:15-16:30 THE MAIN SHOW - Stunning (we mean it) Three-hour Tribute
to the King of
Pop...
Including....
13:20 CINEMA SHOW Part 1: Rare footage of MJ video clips to enthral
the fans.
14:15 Sing a song to Michael Jackson - join in with our 100 voice
youth choir! Eat a cake!
Hear some presentations! Have a laff! Then buy some incredible items in
our massive auction
of rare/signed items.
15:10 CINEMA SHOW Part 2 (
16:30-17:30 PARTY TIME. Let the party begin... Non-stop 'Blood On
The Dance Floor'
Disco - Michael Jackson megamix by popular MJ DJ Keith Preddie. Fans can
dance their
sparkly socks off or just chill out with a drink and enjoy the music at
this non-compulsory MJ
FANCY DRESS PARTY! Fans are invited to come dressed as a character out
of their favourite
MJ video, to add colour and atmosphere to the day. Anyone feeling
extrovert will be invited on
stage to dance to the music, either alone, or with the help of some of
the performers.
17:30-18:00 BAD TRIBUTE - Performers on Stage for a spectacular
Tribute to the BAD
Tour's 10th anniversary in the UK! Cool or what?!
18:00-19:30 Raffle draw and fancy dress competition. PARTY TIME, as
above.
19:30 Go home smiling!
Everyone here at the club: Gloria Haydock, Paul Brangwyn, Laura Gamble,
Toyin Popoola,
Michelle Cushing, Kathy Grasso, Katherine Sommers, Joe Yenish, Kathleen
Lundstram, Gayle
Escobar, myself (in fact ALL OF US!) look forward to welcoming you on
the day.
And THANK YOU FOR READING THIS MONSTER!
Rob xx