Written by lainie at 07:43 PM on April 14, 2008 in work?, Music, Friends, Events, Arty stuff.

For those who didn't know, I was to my surprise nominated as "art director" for Jerome's album launch, and given about a week to do it (I've yet to decide if that was ample or no time - I guess whatever I did would have fitted into whatever time span they gave me).

I thought of many alternative, more apt sounding titles, like "The Freelancer has More Time Than the Rest of Us", or "Make Room Pretty" Person, or "Arts and Crafts Manager", or anything else that sounded more accurate forwhat was essentially a group of friends gathering to help in different aspects of Jerome's album launch, Songs for A Shadow.

 (photo by Nikki Tok)

Thought bubbles above a sofa. Wanted something like a fun, chilled out living room for his launch.

The following photos are from Friday, a day before Jerome's launch, after we were done with setting up (not to say our work was finished), and were fooling around. Danlim took the photos:

(either Winnie or I took this photo)

I had two columns filled with "bubbles" going up - the room was mostly decorated with cheap black paper, pillows and lamps (collected from friends). I'm not kidding.

 Made those signs to stick on the wall so any fool standing in the room has no choice but to make a statement. This one of Zedeck and I is quite posed, obviously. If you're creative with camera angles, you could have taken a lot of compromising photos that night.

 Talking Cock, and Loving It.

Alternatively known as the "Omg! I love Nando's!" conversation.The lights here are quite different by the next night, when more friends loaned us their lamps. Softer, warmer.

All photos from here on by Nikki Tok (unless I say so, natch):

 Fahmi was emcee. The screen at the back played a loop of Danlim's photographs of shadows - Setting up the projecter was a real pain in the ass, we didn't know where to put it.

All suggestions seemed  to result in either a lot of duct tape at the ceiling / stairwell, or an obstruction on the floor.

(photo by me, but photo on screen by Danlim)

I finally figured out we could try putting the projector backstage (where i shot this pic) and project it on the back of a screen (a huge white cloth), as long as the screen's thin enough for the images to show through the other side. The solution seems so simple and sensible in retrospect, but it took time to arrive to it. I'm new at this, especially the technical stuff.

I was hugely relieved when it actually......worked.

 My favourite part of the night was when Jerome and (surprise guest) Shahril Nizam did a duet. I took a video on Rach's camera, will upload it when I can.

 Adlin and wife sold Gingerbread Jeromes for RM2 each. So cute!

Sandalwood incense was burned because Jerome wanted them. That's a nice touch I wouldn't have thought of (being allergic to most forms of aromatherapy - including this one). It is, however, a very affordable way to lend some atmosphere to a room. You just need someone diligently lighting them.

Bar with very cheap alcohol (probably responsible for my hangover)

I really like my bubble wall (and bubble shadows).

Jasmine, surprised!

Fang checking out some of the merchandise on sale

One of the two Annexe stages I put in the middle of the room as seats, with cushions and cloth. They were pretty comfortable, and at least not everyone was on the floor, or sitting on chairs in rows like they were at a forum.

I wanted it to look kinda homey, but we had to work within the budget - known as "what budget, we probably can't afford it, whatever it is". I never thought all those times working with Katagender would come in this handy (also another group with a lot of "What budget?" issues).

(photo by me)

The priciest thing used to decorate the room came as a gift from Ben McKay and Pang: A 20 x 4 feet printout of Shahril Nizam's cover art for Jerome's CD along the merchandise wall. I'd wanted to nail it up instead of using clips, but Pang suggested this instead so Jerome can reuse the ...very large...poster.

 Jerome's music video playing during intermission.

(photo by me)

Winnie camwhoring with some dude. That lamp changes colour every minute. Quite a....bachelor shagpad lamp, lotus flowers optional. There were biscuits on the table - those awesome kinds with the coloured sugar icing on top.

(photo by me) I like this.

Both corners of the stage have lamps that doubled up as vases for some lotuses that Pang bought (lotuses feature in one of Jerome's songs, Flowers). Next to them are my housemate's....light balls. Balls of light. Balls made of woven cotton with lights in them. Never mind.

(photo by me)

Ferns performing. I met Abby (right) at a Mak Bedah thing, she's fun.

 Look at the crowd! We reached capacity (!) - Pang came up and told me paint was cracking on the walls, we had too many people coming in. Don't worry, the building wasn't gonna crumble. Just crack the wall paint (I suppose).

(photo by me - I'd prefer not to admit to it, but it seemed unfair to accuse Nikki Tok of this one)

Pang (brown tshirt) had to stand at the doorway and let 1 person in everytime someone else walked out. Most people didn't believe him.

(photo by...Effa, possibly)

The Gingerbread Jeromes were the source of many awful puns that night.

Bulimia's debut performance, quite popular, lots of audience reaction. Anom rapping, with her guest showboys that were trained at Bau Bau Cafe earlier to sing the lines. Fat! Tak Nak!

(photo by me)

Bernice likes to read barefooted.

(photo by me)

In case you don't know what Bernice's face looks like (unlikely, but still).

Borrowed two black sofas, red cushions and a chaise lounge (in pic) from Annexe to put around the room. Really lended to the living room feel.

(photo by me)

Bird pooping on my ex-typography lecturer in Cenfad, and I-Lann.

Jerome's was the final performance, before Danlim and Sarchan took over with the DJ set and we all set to dancing.

I had a good time. That was my first time setting up a venue for an event, and I think it went a lot better than I thought it would (for once thing, quite a few people asked me if I'd work with them too).

Being new at it, and quite blur, there were probably issues I didn't notice. But yeah, I think it went alright! w00t! Something very satisfying about putting stuff together.

You can listen to Jerome's music on his blog, or watch one of his videos (starting from Tomas). There are some similarities between the video and the way the room was set up - possible because both play on shadows and lights.

Right. I am tired. Shleepy.....and heading out soon.