A vocalist, songwriter, fashion designer, model, actress and a tabloid icon, Beyonce is one of the busiest and most financially successful artists in the world, found near the top of every list accounting for power and influence among celebrities and artists, hence having an audience with her is a challenging endeavour, so I was delighted to have a 20 minute interview.
The rendezvous was set for 4.30pm at the Corinthia Hotel, in London, one of Beyonce’s stops on her Mrs. Carter show world tour. On my way to the conference room from the hotel’s lobby, I encounter security guards at every door. At one room, I see a crew busily unpacking photography equipment from a mountain of boxes and hauling it into the conference room, where they have literally built a photo studio, as if we were going to do a fashion shoot. You see, Beyonce doesn’t allow anyone to take her photo other than her own photographers.
Entering the room, I am greeted by her representatives with a ticket for her concert tonight, an elegant handbag that contained Beyonce’s brand perfume and served a Pepsi drink -Beyonce has $50 million dollar promotion deal with Pepsi. I am also reminded that once I entered the room, I woudn’t be able to leave it. I acquiesce contently- a decision that I soon regret.
I endure waiting over 90 frustrating minutes for Beyonce. The chilled Pepsi fails to quench my discomfiture, so her people, who keep promising that she is on her way, try vainly to numb my displeasure with more potent drinks, including high quality wine. Finally, someone says that she has just got out of her chair, and is heading to the lift, which sound promising.
