All work and no play makes a person, well, it depends on what your work is. Seriously, I was just updating links on the sidebar, making sure we have a handy way for our readers to access other teams’ blogs and news sources for when the season cranks up. And yes, as a result, the first post I’m putting up since Ticktock left for a week to NYC is about cheerleaders, but I swear it’s a coincidence. I just happened to stumble onto two news items, one timely, and the other just too good to put down.
As some of you may know, HoneyBee tryouts are in full swing. Finalist workshops are going to be held July 22-23, and the audition finals will be held Sunday, July 27th, at 2-5 P.M. at the House of Blues. These auditions are open to the public (the doors open at noon). Also, as recipients of BeeMail know, you can also enter a contest to get VIP seating for this event. So, as Hypers of everything Hornets, we of course hope plenty of you will turn out on Sunday!
But this, too, is a cautionary tale. Sure, being a cheerleader can be glamorous. You know, in the kind of sexist, no-of-course-we-don’t -have-male-cheerleaders-at-WNBA-games kind of way, in that special, the hell with it, we cater to what people want, and it’s physical excellence in either execution or appearance, acquiescence. So just as TT6 and others have their crushes on NBA players (read Tyson, CP), NBA teams exercise their marketing know-how that says, you know what, politics be damned, sex sells. So there it is. Cold realism. Now. That said, ladies, D-O N-O-T get swept up in your own success if you make the team. You are just as much a public face of the organization as the players.
Don’t believe me? Ask the Kings’ Royal Court dancers. It might start in the clubhouse. It might just be a drink or two. Maybe at some point you’re just too comfortable with the camera. Smile! Give me happy! Snap-click. Give me sexy! Snap-click. You’re signing autographs, you’re recognized. Before you know it, you’re completely comfortable with your fifteen minutes on the stage.
And then this happens.
People, listen. There is such a thing as the internet. Camera phones. Video phones. Wireless networking. I-N-S-T-A-N-T information. Nothing is private anymore. It’s either the golden age of information or the apocalypse of privacy, you make the call. But either way, if you are trying out for the HoneyBees, remember to watch yourself. People will exploit you and use your image for their own purposes. Overnight, images of you are around the world and your employer can judge you based on it. It kind of sucks. I’m not judging either, I’m just saying when you’re involved at that level, be you a player or cheerleader, you need to watch what you do and who might be recording it.
But if anyone is out with the HoneyBees-to-be at some random FQ party and you have salacious pics…um…let me know.
Perhaps I can add to this as a photographer in case a Honeybee finalist is reading.
I shoot Honeybees. I love to shoot Honeybees. I want to shoot them all. Twice. Maybe three times.
When Im not shooting Honeybees (which is more common than I would like), I shoot glam and art nudes. I have a sign above the studio that says “welcome to storm surge photo! Please remove your clothes”. Ive got a good rep doing that and have models coming to visit me from all over the country to shoot with me.
I will NOT shoot a Honeybee like that. Why? Am I nuts? Do I hate men everywhere? No. She’s a public persona, like it or not, and I dont want to mess with the image the Hornets are trying to convey. If you saw the march Madness thing they did last year on NBA.com with the dance teams? The higher the final ranking, the more that pictures asked to be voted on looked like advertisements to strip clubs. That isnt what the Hornets and Honeybees want the team’s image to be. I more than respect that: I honor them for doing that. Ive asked the ‘Bees handlers to articulate what image they want to convey so I can match that, with what I normally shoot be damned.
So, girls, the pics you USED to take at the clubs with your crew? Think of those times as a pro photoshoot for Disney from this day until you arent on the team. if youre going to get wild and crazy, make sure there arent cameras around.
(and the moment you ARENT on the team any more, call me)
See what happens when I go to NYC for the week.
Dont worry TT6. I will make sure he doesnt get too close to any ‘Bees on Sunday. I’ll keep my body between him and them.
)
Nice to get your take as a photographer, Matt. We definitely appreciate your respect for the Hornets organization.
We have a new set of ‘Bees for the year. All are talented and (AMEN) photogenic.
Matt– I don’t know, they seem to be over the brunette quota. Maybe they’ll all dye their hair before the season though.
Not a single natural redhead (at least not that you can tell). I was happy to see one (and only one) that had naturaly wavy hair, not the perfectly straight and solidly colored hair parted on one side. I dont -dislike- that look, but like the first routine that they did in pairs, after 18 hearings of the song in a row, it gets old.