Last night I met Alanis Morissette in Los Angeles at the premiere for her Feast on Scraps DVD. All I had to do was cough up $560 for two tickets.  I flew down in the afternoon on a mostly-empty Southwest flight from San Jose (boy, it's great traveling on an empty plane).  My bargain car rental was a brand-new Suzuki, of all things, and it took thirty minutes to drive to the Silent Movie theater in West Hollywood. 

As usual, I was titanically early--I got there at 5:30 and they didn't let us in until around 7:00.  But I was chatting with other Alanis fans and the time went quickly. 

Cinnamon Girl  While waiting in line I got the idea to give her the Neil Young biography I had been reading on the plane.  Sort of a prop in case I couldn't think of anything to say when the time came to meet her.  (The book was in good shape and could pass for new.)  Hey, dig the parallels, Neil Young/Alanis: Both are Canadian; both moved to Southern California in their early twenties to find tremendous success in American rock and roll. Both favor spontaneity and groove over studio perfection.  Neither is reluctant to speak out on political and music industry issues. And needless to say, both are all-time favorites.  Maybe she'll find something interesting there.

They formed us into two lines outside the theater--about 30 fans who'd won passes from an LA radio station, and another 30 of us who'd won the tickets at auction. Eventually they opened the doors and we filed through through the small theater into a outdoor patio at the back where they were serving drinks and (very little) food. Most of the current band was back there (but not Alanis). After a half hour of mingling, we were lined up again. First the radio pass people went up to meet Alanis. After 15 minutes or so, it was our turn.

A road manager-type led our group (pushy Charlie, first in line) up a narrow stairway from the concession stand to a reception room--grand piano, food laid out--and Alanis--standing right there, looking taller and thinner than I expected. The remains of the last group were still waiting to talk to her, but after a minute or two, it was my turn--I can't really even remember what I said--I gave her that book--she laid it on the couch behind her. She said something like, "Oh, I've been wanting to read that..." I gushed a little about how much I liked her music, and I thought my time was up so started to walk away. But the road manager noticed the camera in my hand and asked if I wanted to take a picture. You Bet!  For the next 10 minutes I sat in a chair and watched her meet the rest of the folks... Sigh...

Soon we were back down in the theater. Michelle, the nice girl from Bakersfield who had bought my extra ticket, saved a seat for me on the front row. A Maverick guy spoke quickly, then introduced a woman from the Women's Rights group that was benefiting from the event--a striking, thin Indian woman. Then Alanis came down the aisle and talked for a couple of minutes about the DVD--thanked lots of people, most of whom were there--rounds of applause. Then she ducked off the stage and the lights went down and FOS began.  I had a plane to catch, and can watch FOS anytime, so I hit the road. 

The flight back was also pleasantly and I made it from SJC to the house in thirty minutes.  That's got to be a record

Sources :: Natalie on alanisutopia.com and Baba on alanisfans.it/forum