The adventures and mis-adventures of a real-life artiste manager in the city. Come take a peek.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
The end of the road.
Hello gentle reader.
This will be my last posting here. Allow me to explain.
I started this blog when I had to close down Diamonds & Studs several months back. And this blog was meant to be a place where I could express my sexuality more openly and also talk about myself and my work. It was fine and dandy for a while. But I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!
You see, I also have another blog, more established and read by a vast majority of Malaysian blog readers. I found myself double-posting after some time, and as I'm sure bloggers with multiple blogs know only too well, it can be a bit of a pain trying to maintain two blogs of very similar content.
So now I've decided to only blog at one place, here.
Come over for a quick tour. It's almost an identical mirror of this blog.
Thank you.
Post-script.
If you've linked me, may I kindly ask you to please re-write the url address and point it here. It's 'mrmanager.blogspot' instead of 'vernthemanager.blogspot'.
Not that this blog is the London Underground, but to the few readers who do visit here, I apologise for the lack of updates. Ever since Ning and I returned from Switzerland, life and work have been hectic, to say the least.
To cut a long story short, we landed Kuala Lumpur on the 30th of January, had a few days to recover from jet-lag and then went straight up to the Genting Highlands on the 2nd of February for the Berita Harian Awards, an annual popularity awards show hosted by the country's highest circulation national language newspaper BERITA HARIAN. Nikki was nominated in the Best Duo category for her hit CARAMU, which is a collaboration with Zahid, a big reality show star here in Malaysia.
Ning was not nominated for any category. I like to think that Ning is beyond competition, but the truth of the matter is that she has no new album out and that automatically disqualifies her for any competition. Not that we mind in the slightest. As I say, Ning is beyond competition.
But I was proud that both Ning and Nikki got to perform. The Awards show has taken up all my time this past week, and now that it is over, I can get back to normal life again. Here's a photo commentary of the show.
Our day on Sunday 4th of February started with a live cross-over on TV3's gossip magazine show MELODI at 12.30pm, and Ning, ever the big sister, touched up Nikki's make-up before they went on air.
After MELODI, we went over to the hairdressers at First World Hotel where we bumped into Nana and Marsha.
By 7pm, all my girls were dressed and ready to shine. We congregated at the holding room for the Red Carpet walk.
Nikki wore a gorgeous red creation (satin and silk with lace and Swarovski crystals) by Jovian Mandagie, with matching ruby and diamond accessories by HABIB Jewels.
My best friend Hazami (who has the voice of an angel and a string of hits) and my sms friend Jac (Malaysia's first Malaysian Idol).
Ning waved to the fans during the Red Carpet walk and even stopped several times to allow them to take close-up pics. Now that's a gracious diva.
Hazami and Nikki were interviewed by TV3.
Ning described her outfit (silk and satin with embroidery and Swarovski crystals), designed by Jovian Mandagie, to TV3.
Cleopatra! Or Mortitia Adams?
Yanie wore a sumptuous black satin gown by Hatta Dolmat and posed for the phtographers before she entered the Arena.
After the first opening segment, Ning and Nikki went backstage to change into their performance outfits, which were made by Hatta Dolmat.
Nikki, Ning, Noryn and Dayang rehearsed their vogue poses in the dressing room.
Hatta, the designer of Ning and Nikki's black gowns for the performance, unruffled Ning's train in the dressing room.
Diamonds Are Forever. A three-minute commercial for HABIB Jewels. Ning sang effortlessly and elegantly and Nikki sang stylishly with attitude, albeit at the expense of a few notes, but attitude and style are the hallmarks of a true artiste. Noryn impressed with a loud voice and Dayang, as always, sang deliciously sweetly.
After the performance, Ning and Nikki changed back into Jovian's outfits and sat in their seats in the audience, next to Zahid (winner of Akademi Fantasia Season 2).
After the show, the artistes were ushered to the backstage exit. Whilst waiting for the coach to ferry us to the Post-Party, I took these pics...
Nikki and the handsome Faizal (winner of Akademi Fantasia Season 4) in a very fetching tuxedo with a royal blue bow-tie.
Yanie was interviewed by MELODI.
Pretty Fasha who won Most Popular Actress and Yasheeda, Marketing Manager HABIB Jewels.
Linda, who won Best Female Radio DJ (dress by Jovian Mandagie) and Ning. I sms'ed Linda when she won and she replied immediately! Ooiii! Now that was fast, considering you just made your acceptance speech two minutes ago!
Yanie and Diddy, the SALING TERPESONA pair.
Spotted at the Post-Party...
Marsha. My fellow East Malaysian. Singer.
Sazzy. Always game for a laugh and sporting, looking elegant in dazzling white. TV host.
Hani. Gorgeous in yellow silk (dress by Jovian Mandagie). TV host.
Nana. Radiant in burgundy red satin. Radio DJ.
Cheryl (TV host), Ning and Hazami. Waiting for the coach in the cold night air outside Genting Hotel, after the Post-Party.
We drove home at 2am and arrived Kuala Lumpur tired and sleepy. I am satisfied that the weekend went well and my girls did their best.
Finally, after months of secret negotiations and thorough planning and plenty of rehearsals, Ning finally sang at the WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM, Davos, Switzerland. It was a proud moment for all of us. It was a proud moment for Malaysia.
Security was extremely tight and our movements were severely restricted and confined. Hence, the lack of pics, but I'm going to let these limited pictures speak for themselves.
Baby Elle doing his magic.
The dancers getting ready.
Salad for the artistes.
Dressed for the opening segment. Ning, being the headlining act, wore a gold top, a blue bottom and a stripped white and red selendang, the Malaysian flag!
Our Prime Minister Pak Lah welcomed the world and the Malaysian Gala Soiree began.
Ning and Puan Hartini, the General Manager of Petronas Performing Arts Group.
After the opening segment, showtime began and Ning Baizura sang to the world for three and a half hours!
The measure of success of any event is the number of people who come. The Malaysian Gala Soiree attracted over 1,500 out of the 2,000 delegates consisting of world leaders, global decision makers and celebs.
DAY 3 (Friday, 26th January) began with a lazy morning. I took a stroll along the lake and watched the birds and ducks. It really is very beautiful and serene here.
I also watched Ramli and Mohar feeding the birds and the ducks bread and biscuits.
Later I joined Ning at her hotel for lunch. Ning had the lamb.
And I had the veal. I think it must be becoming apparent to some of my readers that I am simply not a very politically correct person. Oh well, I try to be good, though.
After lunch, we got ready to board the coach to Davos. 3 hours drive up the mountains. And once at Davos, the view was stunning. Snow capped mountains and pine trees everywhere you looked. It was also EXTREMELY cold, at -11 degreesC.
At last, we had arrived at the World Economic Forum.
Ning covered up well to keep her throat and chest warm. It's not easy to sing when outside is -11 degreesC and inside only just slightly warmer.
The artistes, dancers and musicians rehearsing the opening segment.
Rehearsal ended at midnight and we drove back to Rapperswil.
DAY 4 (Saturday, 27th January) is the big day! Tonight, Ning will sing for world leaders. Tonight is the night when we will do our best to make Malaysia proud.
It's still snowing. Here's Ning with the musicians posing for the blog, before boarding the coach to Davos.
Everyone entering Davos must wear the security tag issued by Interpol. No tag, no entry. The entire ski resort of Davos has been taken over by the World Economic Forum organisers and the place is simply crawling with security personnel and Interpol detectives. I guess if you bombed Davos, you'll have a world crisis, because everyone who's anyone is here. Bill Gates, Madonna, Tony Blair, Bush, the list goes on.
Close up of the tag.
Ning said she wants to sing her heart out to the world tonight and make her country proud. As for me, I just want a pic with Madonna!
I woke up to a lovely sunny but frosty morning. It had stopped snowing and I could see the hills in the horizon from my hotel room balcony.
As planned, we boarded the train at 11.28am to Zurich. It was a full train and Ning and I were seated to friendly, talkative and inquisitive Swiss boys.
Then we arrived Zurich. It was cold, overcast and snowing. But we were not deterred. It was our only free day and our first time ever in Zurich and we were adamant to enjoy the city. Ann, a blogger living in Baden, had planned to join us, but she eventually couldn't make it. Nevermind. Next visit, perhaps.
It so happened the Malaysia Airlines office was in front of the Zurich train station (thank you Ann for directions), so we dropped by and asked the friendly staff for tips on where to go and what to do! It was a strange sight to see a caucasian dressed in the Malaysia Airlines uniform.
So we made our way to the Niederdorf-Strasse, an old street lined with boutiques and cafes and interesting shops leading to the gothic part of the city. The street winds its way up a gentle hill, and we stopped along the way many, many times.
First stop: shoes.
Ning: Abang, cantik jugak ek kasut boot nie.
Ramli: Ye ke? Nampak macam pelik je, Cik Ning.
Ramli, the one half of Mohram, came along with us. I've always thought that Ramli was a severe and strict guy of not so many words. Wrong. Turned out he's a joker like Ning and loves a good chat.
Thankfully, we didn't waste too much time in the shoe store. The next store we entered was a coat and jacket haven, and I tried on many coats myself. I finally decided on this fabulous coat of questionable origin. I just hope Greenpeace fanatics and animal rights activists don't splash paint all over me.
Ning found this gorgeous goatskin coat and fell in love with it immediately.
Now that I was on a roll, I decided to acquire another coat, of even more questionable origin. Now I really do look like a Manhattan pimp.
One hour later, we walked out of the store in our new coats and went next door to Crumpler, the Aussie bag and luggage shop. Ning bought this stunning suitcase for a steal.
I didn't quite fancy bags, so I strolled outside and decided to take pictures of the adjacent fountain when suddenly out of the blue two Swiss boys ran into my camera frame and posed for me! How nice!
Tall boy: Welcome to Zurich! I like Chinese!
Me: Really? I like Chinese too!
If you think it wasn't really cold, check out the icicles!
Here's another novel sight.
Meanwhile, Ning was in the next shop buying scented bath salts, scrubs and deliciously smelling soaps.
Fiona: See how soft your skin is after scrubbing it with this soap!
Ning: I'll have a dozen, please. No. Make that two dozen.
David: Would you like some more bath salts or will these be enough?
Me: Yes, I think I have plenty enough to last a year. Maybe two. Thank you.
Then we entered another shoe store! Look in the window and you can see someone famous asking for her size for a pair of boots.
Me: Ning, that will be your third pair of boots in two days.
Ning: Suka hati mak! Mak suka! Mak suka!
After spending hours along the Niederdorf, we finally arrived the Grossmunster, the gothic enclave of the city. We took tons of pics and stopped at the nearby Starbucks for coffee. Then it started getting dark and we made our way to the Bahnhofstrasse, a long and curving street that is now one of Europe’s most prestigious shopping streets, packed with jewellers and designer boutiques.
Ramli was amused by how much the watches cost!
And Baby Elle loved taking pictures!
My new Timberland boots were killing me. So I decided to buy these pair of lighter boots which were much more comfortable. Click on the pic for a closer view.
Next stop was a perfumery. The uneducated staff with very bad make-up and fake tans were rude and inhospitable. I could not decide if they were just rude people or simply racist, unlike Fiona and David at LUSH who were very friendly and nice.
But this did not deter Ning. She loves her perfumes.
Then we came to Swarovski, the famous crystal store. Ning was in heaven.
And tried almost every piece of jewellery they had. Another hour.
Baby Elle was busy too. Making friends with a Greek boy called Filipo.
Filipo was browsing the store and Baby Elle, being a friendly Malaysian, struck up a conversation, which led to this picture being taken.
Baby Elle: You have very nice thick eyebrows. I'm a make-up artist. You should let me trim them for you.
Filipo: Yes, of course.
Baby Elle: How old are you?
Filipo: Yes, of course.
Baby Elle: You don't speak English?
Filipo: Yes, of course.
The 'conversation' went on for several more minutes, before Filipo excused himself and ran towards the direction of a pretty looking girl.
It was already 6.30pm and we made our way back to the train station. It was crowded and noisy, like any other station.
But Ning had not finished shopping. Even at the train station, she managed to wander into the shops and buy more hats and mufflers.
We boarded our train at 8.12pm and made our way back to Rapperswil, exhausted but very satisfied.
End of Day 2 in Switzerland. Tomorrow is sound check up at Davos. I am excited!
Vern is a real-life artiste manager to one of the biggest stars/gay icons in Malaysia, and two fabulous divettes. He is also an executive producer and owns his own record label. Read all about his adventures and misadventures in the Malaysian music industry; an industry fraught with back-biting, bitching, ass-licking (sometimes literally) and plenty of french air kissing (so much love). Formerly known as Diamond Stud, Vern has since shut down Diamonds & Studs and is now proudly out of the anonymous closet.
