More behind the scenes at the DNC

Yesterday I wrote about some of the behind the scenes technical & logistical aspects which goes into our setup at the DNC.   Today I thought I'd share a bit more of what happens behind the scenes.

I'm really the advance man on these convention remotes.  I was at Pepsi Center in June to get a preview of the venue and what the organizers had in mind for us.   From there I put together and tested our equipment shipped it from L.A.   Next I got up at 4am Friday morning 8/22 for a 6:30am flight from LAX to Denver, rented a car and got to the site about noon Denver time.

This is a video and first look of our location and workspace in the parking lot at the Pepsi Center Friday.

I worked from noon until nearly 9pm Friday night solo to turn it into this, a behind the scenes look at our broadcast from the workspace approximately 15 minutes into Tuesday 8/26/08's program.  

After the broadcast each day, we break for lunch at the only nearby food venue we have nearby.the Hot Dog Stand.   While waiting in line however, who should show up but Barac himself?

Security is one of the biggest issues at this year's convention site.  While tempted I'm not going to show you the layers of Secret Service, local police, state police, swat teams,  more cops and paramedics on bicycles and others who make up this fort we call a venue, but know there are several rings you have to access before you can get on site.

Tonight I visited my friends from WBUR radio who are in a separate Pavilion (aka tent) who happen to be near one of the entrances.  This next clip shows a building you may have seen in the media already and probably 1000 delegates or more hopelessly delayed as they wait for the secret service security screeners to check everyone out quite thoroughly.   Think of TSA screens with lots of guns and little humor, aka the secret service.


This video was shot from inside the security parameter and is not exactly a friendly scenario as all these delegates are waiting to get through about 7pm Tuesday night.   That's it for now I hope to share with you some more of our view of the convention, in the outside.