Three years ago today I was sitting in the AmericInn in Chanhassen,
waiting for the call that it was time for me to head to Paisley Park to
begin editing material for "The Rainbow Children" Celebration. It was
a Sunday. The looongest day of my life.

I arrived on Saturday night -- unsure if I'd be going straight to the
Park to start working. I spent all day Sunday at the hotel, waiting,
ready to go at a moment's notice. I was holed up in the hotel
room thinking about meeting the man I had idolized for nearly
20 years. And thinking about my first professional job as a video
editor. And the known perfectionism of the man I was about to
work for. MAJOR STRESS. The minutes and the hours slowly
ticked away....

FINALLY, on Monday, I was picked up and delivered to Paisley Park
early in the afternoon. I waited in the edit bay for Prince to finish a
meeting. I'd been there a few hours, playing with the Avid, getting
to know it. The phone rang.

"Hello." I said.
"Is this Chris?"
"Yes."
"Hi, Chris. This is Prince."
"Hello, Prince."

Heart pounding, slight stress sweat breaking!

He gave me quick instructions on some material to pull up for his
review, and the conversation was over in a matter of probably a
minute. I survived round one!

I got to work on the assigned task and awaited his arrival. It was
a few hours later that I was at the drinking fountain in the hall when I
saw him walking down the hallway, in a funky violet outfit. I took my
seat back at the Avid, and shortly he entered, hand outstretched.

"Thanks for coming," he said.

I don't remember how I responded. But I survived round two --
I met him, shook his hand, and maintained my composure.

So what was going to be a four week job only lasted about 2 weeks,
much to my disappointment. Of course I fantasized that the job
would last forever and I'd enter the true Purple Circle. LOL. But
that wasn't the way it was meant to be. Still, what a incredible
gift to meet the person I worshipped for so long, to finally see him
as not a God, but a person. I got paid to spend a couple of weeks
at Paisley Park - how cool is that?

I'm very grateful.

How cool is that, ask ? Very cool! Congrats on having an experience like that.

xpsiter said:

thanks! it was just a little bit awesome!

Wow! That's a great story. Happy Anniversary to you man. You put a smile on my face

madartista said:

Great, great experience.

omg, i remember you sharin this with us back then! sweet!

What kind of work did you do for the Album. And how did it sound before you got to it?

superspaceboy said:

I was doing video work, nothing on the album.
I did get to hear him working on "The Last December", though!

man this is so exciting!!! thanx 4 sharing....this just makes me wish that i meet him one day 2....

madartista said:

Cool. Was there a video for anything on TRC...or was it the promo video for it that I saw when it came out and it had people from the celebration discussing it.

I hate U!
























Because I love U!






















But I can't love U!






















Because I hate U!

That's great, madartista. You must have more to share from your time there! (hint hint)

superspaceboy said:

Nah -- no TRC material after all, I converted existing
videos clips from different formats for broadcast
during the Celebration.

sbacon1999 said:

I share what I can.

missfee said:

it could happen 2 u!

madartista said:

Not to be ignorant...but that seems like a "simple" thing to do...and to bring out someone special to do it, seems a bit much (that is of course, he may not have someone he knows to do this). What were you originally supposed to do...or was that vague to begin with?

I think it's cool that you were asked to do anything for him. Heck I'd be happy to replace the little lights in his heels.

Thanks for telling us about your experience with Prince. I love the AmericInn.

Zelaira said:

yeah, the free internet was great!

...that was a nice story, thanks for sharing.
[This message was edited Thu May 13 18:20:24 2004 by Starmist7]

Did you have your pic taken with him??

rainbowchild said:

nope -- THAT would have been extra cool!!!

How cool is that?

Thanks 4 sharing!

LittlePill said:

I love U/Hate U too!!!!

madartista said: