A Whole New World (without the magic carpet)

Since Tour, I've helped host the SRA Conference 2011, attended Sports Colours 2011, celebrated my 21st birthday, finished my degree at UH, started full-time at The Grapevine as a Reporter, and best of all, had my Summer Ball!

Westwood with the Crush Team.

Sports Colours 2011

The first picture of all my Final Year housemates (Kela Lewis-Morin, Claire Brookes and Davut Unsal) and I together at All Bonked Out! (The last of three years of "Bonk!"-ing)

Summer Ball 2011 with Letara Buckley (my shirt is PURPLE, despite what it may look like in pictures)

But after all the fun times, I now feel like I deserve my grey hairs - I feel so old! The only way I can describe the feeling of leaving university is like this:

Imagine it is autumn, a pile of dead leaves are on the floor, and you and your friends are insects living in the pile. You know that sooner or later the seasons will change and your temporary home will be gone, but sooner than expected a leaf blower comes and "whoosh!" everything has separated. You and a few others managed to cling to the same leaf, others maybe didn't get blown too far away, but the pile is gone! Sad times.

Although comparing myself to a bug living in a damp rotting leaf-pile isn't the nicest way to describe things, it is just a metaphor and I will always hold on to my university experiences. Even if I have to visit the Forum again when I'm 45.

Scooby Doo: Day Three

The first thing I did on Wednesday was head to the LRC to update the blog (see Scooby Doo: Day Two), and no matter how many times I go there people still look confused to see me.

I soon found out that I didn't have my Creative Writing lecture that day (lucky for the lecturer) and instead I met with my group and we went over our pieces.

Afterwards I headed to Galleria, a shopping mall in Hatfield...

While I was there I experienced a new reaction. For the first time since I put this costume on, I was hated - by a toddler. I quote "I hate Scooby Doo", it hurt, and then it was accompanied by a secondary school kid in McDonalds shaking his head at me disapprovingly - ouch!

After shopping we went to the Fame office as we heard that next door there was a focus group for students that involved free pizza and wine (wow I'm getting dictated by my stomach like Scooby!).

After a lengthy discussion about student scholarships it was time to get ready for the night ahead: Bonk! feat. Ms Dynamite @ The Forum Hertfordshire.

It was the kickboxing social and Davut Unsal's birthday celebrations so we decided to pre-drink at the Elehouse, a bar next to the Forum.

Once inside, I was told that Ms Dynamite had agreed to conduct an interview for Crush Radio. I had tweeted her beforehand warning her that I'd be dressed as Scooby Doo, but wasn't sure she would have seen it. Yet, the first thing she said when she saw me was "didn't you tweet me!?". I realised that you're a lot more memorable when you're dressed ridiculously and after a brilliant interview conducted by Lynette Moore I headed to the crowd to watch Ms Dynamite perform!

During her performance she stopped to take pictures of the crowd, said she'd put them on Twitter and asked "who knows about Twitter?"... looking around the crowd she shouted for all to hear "I know Scooby does!" - puppy love!

Can you spot me?

Clubbing in a full Scooby-suit is not the best thing for your health but after meeting the garage legend herself and getting the oppotunity to teach people the "Scooby Skank", it was definitely worth it!

Interview Etiquette

Another post about interviews at The Forum, but this isn't about the success of interviews. Rather, it is about those that have said "no" to an interview.

Firstly, I am totally sympathetic to those that say "no". There are multiple reasons why guests can't, either they are bound by their managers, in a rush to go to the next venue or have been told by their PR not to.

Usually those that have said no have been of a much higher status, for example Trey Songz, Tyga and Lloyd all US international stars. However, The Game also came to The Forum and said yes to an interview by Samuel Recko.

Although, this may not be the best example. From Samuel Recko's words, The Game (or just "Game" now? :S) was very unresponsive and kind've rude - he was using his phone whilst being spoken to.

Now I'm not saying it's just US stars that reject student radio interviews Tinie Tempah, Tinchy Stryder and Roll Deep all said "no" too. But it is about how you say the dreaded two letter word. Tinie spoke to me directly, he apologised, and even promised "next time" (I intend to hold him to this).

Another guest that came to the University of Hertfordshire's club was Reggie Yates. Although we were told "no interviews" he was probably the nicest about it anyone could be! He told Callum Hale and myself that we could speak to him directly, not just his manager and agreed to a photo with us.

This is where my point about etiquette comes in...

Although student interviews may be considered unimportant to a presenter that is used to being on Radio 1 every week, he still aknowledged and respected us.

And so, my message to future guests of any student union and something I myself will consider when I'm hounded for interviews in the future:

If you can, say yes, five minutes of your time may effect the whole future of a budding journalist. If you can't, say no respectfully and maintain a good reputation among your fans.