Well, I think my moment in the spotlight has come and gone (I was stuck in traffic at the time.)
My near brush with fame came about because of a web page I manage on the internet. The site, as you know, is called Suite101; it's an information portal where you can find experts in things from religion to rap artists, from ADHD to NASCAR . The experts (also known as "contributing editors" in suite-talk) are expected to write articles about their subject on a regular basis and to supply news bulletins and relevant links to more information on the subject. In total, there are over 1000 subjects, and the experts are usually quite passionate about the things they write, which makes the articles on the Suite an interesting, intriguing - and sometimes controversial - collection.
I enjoyed the articles on the suite and wanted to be a part of it. I applied for and was accepted as the "contributing editor for the subject of Bruce Springsteen." (Does that surprise anyone?) For the past year, for the princely wage of $15 a month, I have posted links, announced ticket sales, published articles and even held a contest for Bruce fans. And, although it is probably my least lucrative writing job, it's one I've taken pride in and enjoyed. The articles I've written have been full of spirit and reflected my admiration for the Boss, and it is fun being associated with him, even if it's only on this "virtual reality" level. (The Suite even provided all its experts with business cards, so Bruce's name appears on an official-type document right next to my own). I have even received fan mail through the site (proving once and for all that people actually read what I write...I've often wondered, to tell you the truth.) Anyway, it's been a totally enjoyable experience (and I would have said that even if they didn't end up giving me stock in the company).
But I never thought I'd get famous from it. (Hey, I was happy for the $15)
A few months back, Michele, the editor of Suite101's music section, contacted the contributors in her section to alert us to an opportunity. VH1 had approached her looking for stories about how music and artists influenced people's lives for a new program they were producing called "Sound Affects". A lot of the experts seemed very interested - after all, we are talking
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