» Loathing a fashion show
Sandra Omo finds out that a badly organised fashion show is best avoided
I never imagined that a day would come where I would loath doing a fashion show. In fact, what I felt three days ago, even now, was beyond loathing; I virtually have no word to describe it. At one point, it was disappointment, then came anger, followed by shame – yes shame for being part of such a show, then at last came irritation; I felt irritated the whole night. Prior to now, I have heard models talk about disappointing jobs, and I have had some of those myself but when it comes to fashion shows, I was confident that no matter how bad it might have been, nothing matters once I step on the runway. However, the last show I did proved that this is so not true. I actually came close to walking out on the organisers when it got to my turn to get on the catwalk. For all I cared, I was better off not being a part of this show.
“All I could feel was hatred for the moment and regret for being there – as did the audience”
I recall arriving at the venue and I was impressed: two floored, a long fashion bar with a fashion theme, and an actual runway in front of the bar: perfect for a fashion show. However, the minute I arrived backstage I could smell a rat. I asked my choreographer friend what was wrong because I learnt that a couple of the designers had not showed up and the majority of the models had done a no-show. He explained that the organisers would not heed to his advice and as a result, this is what they had got. Yes, when there is a rift between an experienced choreographer and an inexperienced organiser, the fashion show suffers, and when a fashion show suffers it is the models that bear the shame, and that is exactly what happened.
I did not attend the rehearsal – I had no need to. Maybe I too would have done a no-show if I had done, as the others tell me the rehearsal was a flop, but there I was, looking forward to making my debut, since my return, on the runway, and I was not at all prepared for the disappointment that followed when the show eventually began.
The first designer was barely ready and after the first four models walked down the runway, there was a pause as the other models were not ready. As if once was not enough, the whole show was a ‘run and pause’ to the extent that the models began to walk the runway twice in the same clothes just to allow designers enough time to dress the other models up, and it still didn’t work. After the second designer, the audience was so fed up that the majority actually turned their back on the catwalk and just chatted on. The MC tried, unsuccessfully, to revive their interest by introducing an act to perform in the middle of the show. This meant another pause – huge mistake! By the time the fifth designer came up, half the audience were gone and I was still to begin the show for the last designer. A handful of the disappointed audience stared at me as I walked down the catwalk and all I could feel was hatred for the moment and regret for being there – as did the audience.
Maybe if it was the hospitality that was bad (as is usually the case), then it would not have mattered to me because I would have the show itself to look forward to. But when it is the show itself that is the failure, what else is there to do?
Boy, for the first time, I regret doing a fashion show. I have another fashion show tomorrow and although I am looking forward to it, I am hoping I never again experience what I did at this one.
