CategoryChicago

Hyatt – Guest of Honor Booking

Every year for Christmas I like to go somewhere even if it is just a nice little stay-cation! This year I talked to a friend of mine who has Globalist status about a Guest of Honor booking. I had read about these before but never knew the details. I asked him if he would be willing to do it for me for Christmas.

We talked about the details. I needed to give him my full name, Hyatt number, booking dates and room type. Globalist members can make a booking even if they do not have the points in their account to cover the room. Once he called Hyatt to make the booking I got an email and it was added to my Hyatt app.

Upon check in I asked if there was a room upgrade available due to my friends gifted status for the stay. I actually said … “My friend told me to ask if there is an upgrade available.” I was upgraded to a corner suite with a living room and bar area.

4th of July Fireworks – Joliet Park District

Happy Birthday Day America! And what better way to say that than with FIREWORKS! Here in Joliet we are spoiled with not 1 but 2 fireworks shows. One of the shows is on the 3rd of July and this show has always been on the 4th. As a photographer I feel like I was actually able to capture a fireworks show in a photo. What do you think? These were taken at the Joliet Park District’s Memorial Stadium fireworks show. All the photos we shot in manual and had varying settings from 30 seconds to 6 seconds for the shutter speed. I personally shoot with my ISO on auto and then my F-stop was at F-8.I also HATE using a tripod but this is what they were made for right? I got a pretty good one that doesn’t break the bank either. You can check it out on Amazon here. It’s the Manfrotto brand and I have had it for about 4 or 5 years.

If you want to check out my shots from the other night you can see them here.

 

Windy City LIVE

The historic Chicago theater across the street from the studio.

Last week I had the opportunity to visit the set for Windy City LIVE and also be in the audience for the show. Whether you are a resident of the City of Chicago or a tourist visiting YOU can also do the same thing! I have been in the audience for shows in the past but man has the game changed on how it all works! First of all is that its all done via an app that you download called 1iota. Weird name I know but my Aunt Linda told me about it when she was here in Chicago visiting family. She has used it to be in the audience for various shows in the Los Angeles area. To download the app just type the name 1iota in the app store and it should come up. Once you register you can see all the different cities and shows.

After you get a notification that you have a reserved ticket for the show you will arrive and wait in line until 11:30am when they start the process to get people checked in and through security. You are allowed to bring your camera and take as many photos as you would like. They actually encourage it for their social media. At 12:30 you are then led into the studio and seated by the shows staff. I ended up sitting in the front row but I will say that studio is pretty small and the audience can’t be more than 75 people.

The shows director I’m assuming then comes out and talks to you for a bit, he is trying to make the audience feel more comfortable and looking happy to be there. The hosts come out and read a short 15 second monologue to talk about whats coming up on the show. We were there for about an hour and a half total but they also asked at the end about us staying to film another segment for a show at a later date. They ask more in the hey … your sitting here and we are going to film this and your not really going to leave until we are done. I say that because I want you to know that you are on the show and production staff’s time. If you would like to know more about the process you can also check out their website here for more audience info. 1iota.com/show/388/Windy-City-LIVE