Chronicles of a Tybaltevan's life (n°5)
Hello guys, I hope you are enjoying your weekend so far.
I am back to post the chronicle that was missing to complete the picture of the storytelling, I went so far that I could use a smooth transition for everyone to connect the dots. I really made an effort to comply with my own deadline today because my eyes are so tired I cannot read my screen properly.
Let's go!
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I feel the need to tell you what happened to me this week, because that was totally unexpected. Last Monday, I spent all my time at home reflecting on new subject matters for the weekly musical program I work for. Nothing but a usual way of starting a week for me. Around
8pm, a delivery man brought me the order I had made at a Chinese restaurant located five blocks away from my studio and, when I was finally about to eat, the intercom rang again: it was my
ex-superior at
TYBC 1... Of course, I let him in, but I wondered what he was doing in Joekeong and why he would visit me since we never saw each other outside our workplace before.
When I opened the door, he seemed very nervous and concerned. Once I invited him to take a seat on the sofa and served us mint tea, he asked me why I did not answer the phone with an accusing look. So I checked my phone and saw he had called me
twenty times that day, but I realised I had forgotten to deselect the silent mode... He explained why he took a train to see me: the
NBU reviewed TYBC 1's application for NSC and ended up green-lighting it, which meant the channel would recover its broadcasting rights and most likely debut in the international contest. Despite interviewing a handful of people for the new position of Tybaltevan head of delegation, he wanted to persuade me to come back, since we collaborated successfully in the past for WLSC.
It caught me off-guard and I was not sure what to think: what about my current job? He said he could arrange that if I accepted his offer that night. What about the people we used to work with? He was hopeful he could smooth-talk them into reuniting. Since the headquarters of TYBC 1 are located in
Gatineau, what about the fact I would not have the means to move there again? He thought for a while before suggesting I might do the round trip by train or car: maybe we could discuss particular working hours. Without really knowing what would be the consequences of my decision, I took a leap of faith and said
yes. That put a smile on his face as he gave me a friendly hug.
Kenta - my coffee-shop friend (if you remember) - did not take the news well since it meant I would be permanently away during working days and thus we would see one another less frequently. However, he made suggestions to make my round trips as convenient as possible, so I guess I was lucky to have supportive people around me to make this project happen.
From
Tuesday, the whole machinery started to take shape, as all the people I once worked with accepted to join the crazy adventure again. We brainstormed, picnicked, brainstormed again, and dived in our respective missions according to our fields of expertise. I cannot tell you much right now, but it is a
work in progress: we have the artist, the song, the staging and the music video (shot by a film director from
New Bander State).
For now, I propose you to meet my
team: I will be the Tybaltevan head of delegation, but that does not mean I am alone behind the scenes. I have to give credit where it is due.
Our delegation comprises
seven permanent members. I do not take into the account the artists, their staff, as well as the hypothetical partners and subcontractors we might call upon.
Conan Anubis is the
director of content of the five channels owned by the TYBC (
TYBC 1, TYBC 2, TYBC 3, TYnews, TY!!!). He is my direct superior. We first met when I worked for our WLSC participations and we have gotten along very well since then. I owe him my move when leaving Gatineau earlier this year and my return in the spotlight now. He is open-minded and has good sense of humour, but he is uncompromising when it comes to get things done: maybe that is the secret of his personal success. Since he is very busy, we see one another once or twice a week only, and we exchange via chats and e-mails the rest of the time.
Anubis is responsible for the
budget of the Tybaltevan participation, decides the
selection format we should opt for, thinks the
advertisement campaigns through, amongst many other things. He always attends our key meetings to monitor the process and gives his opinion on all aspects of the participation.
That's me! I officially am the
Tybaltevan head of delegation for NSC! I am responsible for making the participation of Tybalteva come to fruition and I am accountable to Conan Anubis. Most of my time is spent at the headquarters of TYBC 1 to hold meetings with my team, do things that can be done through virtual channels, and coordinate everyone's actions. But I will also travel and accompany our representatives during every edition until they step on stage.
I input ideas about literally everything, make decisions and settle disagreements. Not to mention I keep in touch with my counterparts abroad and closely collaborate with contacts working for the hosting broadcasters. I also manage the
official Youtube channel "Tybalteva", where some of our material will be uploaded.
Claudia Pasta is my
right-hand woman. Whenever my schedule does not enable me to honour a commitment, she stands in for me. We also happen to work and travel together during particularly time-consuming phases of the process. On a daily basis, she is our
logistical fairy: she is in charge of my schedule but also takes care of most administrative steps for our team and our representatives (visa, delegation's passes, flights...)
She's also in touch with the hosting nations and artists' managers to ensure their schedule will go smoothly upon their arrival (accommodation, catering, contest-related happenings, hours of rehearsals...). As a
semi-professional flautist, she shares her musical opinions when we are actively looking for an entry.
Salvador Cobra is the famous
presenter of "
Muùsiki Ati!" (Music first!), a weekly
musical talk-show broadcast on TYBC 1 that enjoys significant viewing rates all year round. It is an unavoidable program for artists who desire to promote their musical projects. Aside from that, Cobra is a prominent musical figure: he presented the
Gaètinàsù Festivàalki (festival of Gatineau) six times and is the
main conductor of the
Tybaltevan Philharmonic Orchestra. To top it all, he is a
multi-instrumentalist (pianist, violinist, organist, vocalist, xylophonist, horn player), has
perfect pitch and extensive musical knowledge.
Among us, Cobra is in charge of thinking our musical options through,
reviewing the submissions we receive and
analysing their merits. As an expert in "real music with feeling", as opposed to junk food for ears, our debates often turn out to be pretty challenging. On demand, he can temporarily assume the role of
vocal coach for singers or backing vocalists in need of advice to perfect their upcoming performance.
Azealia Fangs is the new recruit of our team. As an
artistic jack-of-all-trades, she will be filling a gap that required someone skilled and versatile.
Rapper, singer, songwriter, musician, dancer and
visual artist from our underground music scene, Fangs presents a show about musical and societal topics on the radio station "Chatterbox FM". Due to her outspoken and unfiltered way of expressing herself, her show "
SEA QUEEN SPEAKS" frequently provokes buzz, good and bad. Such platform could be used to promote our participation in the contest.
Although Fangs is also involved in the song selection, she is mostly responsible for the
visual aspect of the Tybaltevan participation: from the
artworks posted on social media to
general artistic direction if the artists do need advice in this regard. Finally, she is our official
choreographer - if applicable - and
stage director (visuals, camera angles, lighting and staging will be her responsibility).
Sasuke - one of
Kenta's trustworthy close relations - is my new
bodyguard. As a result, he is in charge of protecting me from harm whenever I am away on business and follows me closer than my own shadow. Beware of him because I swear he could smash a skull with his bare hands! Since he was not hired by the TYBC, he does not play any role in the participation of Tybalteva in NSC. Nonetheless, he doubles as my
personal chauffeur, so that I don't have to worry about attending meetings or coming home at night.
On his own initiative, he goes to fetch food for lunch when we are very busy. Those were valid reasons for me to mention him. He does not talk much and he stares at most people in a threatening way, but I assume it is just the way he is.
Mikado is
Claudia's dog: a male pug of
Tamausian breed that is our
mascot. He takes his missions very seriously:
Firstly, he is our mini clock: count on him to let you know 11:45am is lunch break time and food must be served ASAP! Secondly, when discussions get overly passionnate, he may bark to tell us "now cut the BS and find a solution, you fools!". Thirdly, he proudly inspects our offices to make sure no one plays Animal Crossing instead of working.
He likes to travel with us, so every time he knows we will go out later during the day, one can be sure to hear him snore in his basket to recharge his batteries. For his hard work, he receives a wage in the form of strokes, treats and lunch leftovers.
Now you know all about us guys! We are working a lot to be ready next week. If, by any chance, you have questions directed at me or our future representative that were left unanswered in my chronicles, feel free to share them and I may post a Q&A sometime next week depending on what you would like to know. If you have no questions, then it is all good: stay tuned for what comes next and thank you for reading!