According to Wikipedia, “in North America, a tailgate party is a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle.” Which begs the question, what is a tailgate party in South America? A form of sociopolitical rebellion? But I digress.
In the North American South (confused yet?), the most popular tailgating occurs at college football games. I daresay it’s the height of the annual social calendar. Heck, some people buy RVs and “go to games” simply to tailgate, never actually bothering to step inside the stadium and watch the contest. Why fight crowds when you can watch the game on your RV’s big screen HDTV? It’s a unique sensation to hear the stadium next door roar in approval — and THEN see a touchdown happen on TV. (You hear the roar first, since games are usually televised with a slight delay.)
Wikipedia further teaches us that tailgating “often involves consuming alcoholic beverages and grilling food.” While I’m not sure about the grilling, it’s safe to say that the former activity is involved approximately 99.78% of the time. At most tailgate parties, you don’t even need to drink. You can simply inhale the breath of a person standing nearby.
There was a time when tailgating was a simple proposition. People just tossed a few snacks into the trunks of their cars, and they were good to go. When they parked at the stadium, they lowered the tailgate (a phrase which calls to mind the wood paneled “family truckster” station wagons of yore), broke out the fried chicken, and said a fond “hello” to a man named Jack.
But like everything else in America, tailgating evolved. It became bigger and more extravagant. The social experience took on a life of its own. These days, I’m not even sure that “open tailgates” are a part of the equation.
For today’s well-equipped fan, RVs play a critical role. Camping in the shadow of a gigantic stadium heightens the sense of unfolding Romanesque drama.
With an RV, tailgating becomes a multi-day affair. Like an armada, RVs gather together to form makeshift campgrounds. There’s an extended build-up to the main event, involving a lot of what sociologists call “whoopin’, hollerin’, and adult beverage consumin’.”
I’m sure this sort of behavior has occurred whenever and wherever humans have conducted major sporting events. And yes, that includes gladiatorial combat in ancient Rome. I’ve no doubt the Romans tailgated, assuming they could obtain a valid chariot parking pass and season tickets to the gladiatorial games of their choice. (Which makes you wonder: if you bought season tickets to your favorite gladiator’s fights, and the guy got killed — did Caesar offer refunds?)
I have a friend who’s a die-hard college football fan. Once, over a frosty adult beverage, we were discussing tailgating practices in the South. My friend confessed that his lifelong dream was to RV tailgate. “That’s when I’ll know I’ve really made it,” he said, a poignant wistfulness in his voice. “To have a nice RV at a big football game? Life doesn’t get any better.”
Many people share my friend’s sentiment. Do you? 😎
Not sure if the Romans did the tailgate thing but they did feed the animals well lol.I don’t follow sports much (well motor-sports I do)but I have gone to some great games in the past mostly play-offs.Hey the tickets were freebies but I must admit the energy those places give off is intense!Did a Hula-Bowl a Rose Bowl and the Final four in 2004-yes all for free(just final four was recent)!Going on a week or more solo journey starting Thursday, Death Valley first stop.
Sean, Much love on this one but I think the they may have tailgated at the Maryland games. Matter of fact some of them still come 🙂 I love the added noise and purple filter to the video. Every week ya just getting better with the editing.
Matt
Jim, when I hear the phrase “Death Valley” my first thoughts are of LSU’s football stadium in Baton Rouge. Or perhaps you mean Clemson’s football stadium in South Carolina. What, there’s actually a PLACE called Death Valley?
Just kidding — I have driven through the actual Death Valley and temperatures reached 117 degrees. You might wanna check that A/C before you leave home.
As for tailgating, I’d like to do some more “in depth” tailgate party video. Most of what I brought home from that Bama-Tennessee game was really shaky. Let’s blame it on that fellow named Jack.
Also, your mention of motorsports intrigues me. Someday we will muster up the courage to camp at a NASCAR event. I know there’s a HUGE RV crowd at those races.
Safe travels!
Sean
Sean.. (off subject) you best get Kristie some heavy sun block… from that closeup.. one of the medics that saw the clip din’t have good things to say about them spots… Just might want to keep her out of the sun from now on… was his advise… and use heavy UV protection… he knows his actresses and is constantly whispering in my ear … to give ’em a break…and out of the sun… later bad ju ju happens to their skin…if not.
As to the climb into the stands, you are finding out that digital vs film is not as good with reguards to motion.. especally in low light… one might choose to use a different frame count when in that condition… or skip frame so its more like stills instead of you moving and the shot background moving … can give people eye strain and motion sickness so we have found when we did the aerial filming of the movie… and after watching it on the proof monitor.. I agree.. ours even came out bad…
Can we get back to RV’n and camping? Not much about the tailgate party can be said.. except before game day .. when everyone hang’s
Ok time to get into the subject called boondocking with the airstream… what you need, want and will want so it will be a lot of fun… going to the outback has its adventures.. but, as one said.. so when do we know we are their.. and what are we going to do when we get their… well… lets explore that subject as a story line and video shoot….
By the way.. wally was never given credit for opening up the alaskan (alcan) highway.. yep that was one of the things he pushed.. and finally the government from both sides allowed them to caravan up the old road.. which then got so popular that it turned into todays highway… but back then. If you can find any info on it… he took a group of explorers in airstreams up the old road… it appears to have been quite a adventure… but, little is published about it… ….research!!!
ABQ balloon fest is coming up… are you headed west yet to stay out of the bad wx? Here is the schedule..
Saturday Oct 3
5:45am – 7:00am Dawn Patrol Show
6:45am – 7:45am Opening Ceremonies
7:00am – 8:30am Mass Ascension
8:00am – 5:00pm ECHO Chainsaw Carving Championship
2:00pm – 6:00pm America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race Inflation
6:00pm – 7:30pm Twilight Twinkle Glow
6:00pm – 8:00pm America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race Launch
8:00pm – 9:00pm AfterGlow Fireworks Show
and yep we’re going to be their… as one of the tech’s has his balloon entered in it… but, that is not all…
We’re head up from the taos Pueblo … indian pow wow to be at albuquerque balloon fest… then on to the black hills annual pow wow… the music and drums are outstanding…
and that is not all…who knows you might be related… either way makes for a great adventure and travel expidition… and as part native american… we got you a personal invite… (well kinda… ) but bring your bow.. as you get 4 arrows to shoot… you know the one bow.. one arrow one goal .. well you know the saying… besides its historical .. and you can dance the circle of life… with all them pretty young gals… (ouch that hurt …) Who knows Kristie may like to buy one of the white buckskin dresses… but, remember.. if you come home to the trailer (your lodge) and find your stuff all sprewed out… you best not go inside… but, if you find your stuff you left (hat, rifle, bow, arrows.. dog… etc inside.. your lodge. .. life is good…
INVITATION… kinda…
I am pleased to personally extend a warm Welcome to you. The theme of the 2009 Pow Wow is “Honoring the Four Generations, Strong Lakota Women, Mending the Sacred Hoop”. (note: Hoop being the circle of life… no begining no ending )
The He Sapa Wacipi is an impressive cultural event held annually at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Hundreds of Native American singers and dancers converge on the Civic Center to compete for thousands of dollars in song and dance competition. It is a public event and features not only Lakota, Dakota and Nakota but also many tribes from as far away as Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and the northwest, northeast, Canada and even from the southeast. Many tribes are represented in the actual competition. These competitors bring with them their families and friends. (lots of different native dress… even Kristie would be impressed by all the colors, jewel’ry, silver, turqose etc…)
Over 700 dancers and 35 drum groups represented 57 different tribes. The Black Hills is sacred to the “Oceti Sakowin” (Seven Council Fires) we expect a huge turnout from these nations at our powwow.
I sincerely appreciate, your attendance at this year’s powwow. Lila Wopila (go ahead and say that 5 times real fast.. and see if it still comes out to being…)Thank You,
Dixie Holy Eagle
President, Black Hills Powwow Association
Not as rac’ie as the football games but, a walk back into history before airstreams… (lot in common though as the waggons had wheels and were pulled by a tow group…today its the airstream and the pu truck .. good old horse)
Got to go.. miles to cover still…
Thanks GMAs, and with regard to the video… You are right about the image stabilization. The ENTIRE “rainy day” gameday video was shot with a little Panasonic TS1 point-and-shoot camera. It shoots 720P video in the highly compressed AVCHD Lite format. The entire video was a bit of an experiment just to see what could be done with the waterproof cam. The TS1 isn’t exactly a Sony EX1, if you get my drift (err, it’s about $6000 cheaper). The image stabilization is pretty lousy and the codec is more compressed than what we usually use…. So the actual video quality of that piece isn’t really up to our usual standard. Sorry about that…. It was really just done for fun.
On one hand, it’s incredible that you can shoot 720P video with a little camera you can fit in your shirt pocket. On the other hand, it’s quite easy to hit the camera’s limits. I agree that a couple of those shots are too shaky for comfort and I’ll probably edit them out of the piece.
With all of that said, I was proud of the water-soaked shots down in the street. It’s cool to have a camera you can happily dunk under water. 🙂
This one isn’t really on point with regard to camping; it’s more of a “day in the life” type of video. And it’s true that tailgating was a major incentive for us to buy our Airstream.
Kristy was none too happy with me shooting that close-up! I don’t think any of us would pass scrutiny under such a close-up, especially after being rained on for an hour. Maybe that will get edited out too. 😉
We attended the Albuquerque balloon fiesta last year and had a great time! It’s one of the most visually striking events in the U.S. I know you will enjoy it. Just stay safe… Last year some guys hit a power line with their balloon, and didn’t survive the outcome.
I will keep the Black Hills gathering in mind. That’s a fine place to camp also.
Did you ever check out our Wally / Airstream video? I was pleased with that one…
If you are refering to Wally’s world… yes I did see that.. and can tell you shot it using a lot of good stuff… Scripted very good… and had a lot of interesting comments. was very impressed with the video… ya done good…
As to Wally… no one… I don’t think, has ever done a bio on the man… just bits and pieces of a writing… but to make a video of the history of him, his travels and the trailer he made.. including a history of the airstream trailer.. would be nice… He has a lot of potential for a movie script too…. info should be gathered before a lot of these older people cross over… and the historical information is lost on the man… while not as important as wright or linberg he still was a visionary and look at the outcome… of all his adventures…
such was the blog where… He truly is a wealth of knowledge about the history and business of RV’s. Has he told you the stories with him and Wally Byum? The one about the lion? Or the days we traveled in a month long Airstream caravan in 1962 from Ohio to Alaska, and we had 4 blow-outs in 1 day on the Alcan Hwy.
I have seen some stills of this so called road.. that the military used duce and ahalf’s on… and this man took a caravan up it.. and back… wow…
So if you want to get some documentary stuff going.. that would be a good choice to start with… (it would be a two dvd set for sure) … and I am not saying that you could sell it to the media “life and history of a founder” … but…
Oh ya we have been to the ABQ fest several times… and filmed a lot of the goings on… matter of fact you may have seen some of ours in the show and tell avation sections… no matter which direction you look you have great shots of color and splender… competition and … frustration… with and without light.. really gives the camera a work out… not to mention the person behind it too…
and while your out their.. time to go up to the canyon lands… and do a little jeep trip (ya you can rent ’em) out into the back country… where the indians played.. grin…
Lots of playground out this way… 😀
Hey how come Kristie is not vocal in the shots?? … she should be helping to do the VO stuff too you know….. if done with vigor…
Ya having a camera that is waterproof is hard to find… after all when your walking on eggs … don’t hop!!! …