Good evening, friends! Thank you all for staying with me these last few weeks, leading up to Viva Las Vegas, throughout Viva Las Vegas, and the few days following the rockabilly weekend. Every year, Viva consumes my life, thoughts and soul. With the exception of monthly Patreon pledges and Steemit rewards, 85% of my annual income is bookings and deposits for Viva las Vegas. The issue lies in the fact that, by the end of the year, I’ve often amassed 20 - 25 shoots that all have to be completely during two weeks. This year, actually 33 shoots […not joking].
That workload was compounded in complexity because of Dark Pinup; the book I’ve been working on for the last 10 months with Working Class Publishing. The book has become a milestone for my career, almost 20 years in the making. I’m infinitely proud of that, but, the promotion leading up to the release party at The Artisan Hotel, the release party itself, and the car show signing. All of it, on top of the 33 shoots, was just too much. Fortunately, I started working out and eating better the last two months prior to Viva Las Vegas, and I did [more or less], have the energy to survive the entire trip.
The book release party was absolutely the most memorable night of my career. The turn out was astounding. By the time I made my way downstairs, there were well over 200 people filling the main hall at The Artisan Hotel. Within hours, Kitty and Ginny at the Working Class Publishing table, had informed me there were only 6 books left. The burlesque performances were breathtaking, by Jessabell Thunder, @dressedtokillyou, @roxidlite, and in a very personal moment, @masuimimax did her new dragon wings lady demon act. As a teenager, I had magazines laying around my apartment with @masuimimax on the cover. I’d collected cards with her likeness by pinup artist, Olivia de Berardinis. To see her on stage, headlining an event held in celebration of my book was surreal.
By the end of the evening, all the books Working Class Publishing had brought had sold out. It was a humbling experience to have felt so much love. To know that many people support what I do. It gave me the positive energy to make it through the rest of the trip. Now that I’m home, I’m finally having a chance to reflect on those moments. I have so much new work to share with you all. Until then, thanks for reading! I post daily. For more photography, art, illustration and the stories behind the work, follow me here @kommienezuspadt!