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A. Ron McGee.
Professional photographer of 50
years and someone I have worked
with on many art shoots. If Ron says
it will get done, it gets done.
b. Kristin Janise.
The kind of person that says very
little and does a lot, quietly and
without the need for any fanfare. If
Kristin says we have the bridge swim
under control, we have the bridge
swim under control.
c. Veronika Valentine.
When Veronika says she has your
back, she has your back. Our
conversation went something like
this:

JW: There will be a lot of
details that are going to That translated into no access for
jump up at the last minute, Pat had gotten a commitment photoshoots.
logistical problems we don’t
even know about yet, and a from our professionals, Smokie,
low level of chaos. Michelle, Suzy, John, Michee, There had to be a solution, even if
VV: You have just defined my Paige, and Jessica. All of whom it was ‘guerilla-style.’ Having done
life. I got this, what do you
need. Let’s get it done. were going to drive or fly in for the the math, I was confident that
JW: Well, in addition to what event. we could shoot all the mermaids
I was just mentioning, all and be done in under 90 minutes.
the Vegas models that want I asked models that I had worked Of course, this idea significantly
to be mermaids need to be
communicated, coordinated with if they were interested in added to Pat’s stress level. But the
and have tails matched to being a part of the mermaid math was easy; if you have four
their measurements. Oh, and shoot and becoming mermaids. photographers and two drones,
Rest assured that when Pat Speaker 1: How are the Charging forward with the belief here are the tails. The answer was an overwhelming 12 mermaids in tails and four
brought me on as her partner, mermaids going to get that you never know what you ‘Yes.’ With Veronika leading mertenders, it was very doable.
around Fremont street in
she never in her wildest dreams tails? can or cannot do until you try, a the charge, our Vegas model
would have considered being Speaker 2: I don’t know yet. lot of determination, and a splash mermaids, Veronika, Miranda, The next issue was Fremont Street
in that position. So that’s kind of of arrogance (just enough to fuel Presley, Karla, Indranee and Janet and what to do about it. With only
humorous in a twisted way. Speaker 1: How can we the determination and belief) we were excited and ready to go. a few days until the shoot, we had
shoot 12 mermaids in under
2 hours? charged forward. little time to develop a solution. So
This is a typical conversation, and Speaker 2: I have a plan… Kristin brought in Chris, the owner Ron, Veronika, Miranda and I went
you can guess who is saying what: just working on the math Having been a start-up CEO many of Waterworld Scuba in Henderson, to Fremont to make a plan and I
to verify it will work. I will times over many years, I know
have an answer tomorrow. to coordinate the bridge portion imagined Pat having palpitations
that executing on a good idea of the swim, where we could do a since we had no idea what, how or
Speaker 1: We have to have requires good people.
safety divers, boats, and photoshoot and provide everything if we could figure something out,
all safety precautions for safety. Interestingly enough, Chris and we were out of time.
in place…you know that, Just that simple. Here was the Veronika is awesome, and she is a certified mermaid instructor in
right?
plan: didn’t flinch, even though she had addition to being a certified scuba
Speaker 2: Yes. no idea what I was talking about, instructor. So both Chris and Kristin
1) We would split between
Speaker 1: And we have a professional mermaids what the tails were or what was are professionals experienced in
plan? and model mermaids, entailed (pun) in getting it done. I diving, mermaiding and water
Speaker 2: Yes. knew this at the time and waited safety. Mermaid count… seven from
2) Pat would get the to see her reaction. If she got
Speaker 1: Is it locked Las Vegas and seven professionals
down? professional mermaids for scared, I would pull it back and do inbound. So far so good.
the swim portion, it myself, but she didn’t, not at all.
Speaker 2: No, working on
it. 3) I would handle everything She looked at the rolled-up tails There were a couple of things
Speaker 1: OMG OMG OMG else with the help of three and said. “On it… I will get back to that were still hanging loose.
[+ many expletives]. secret weapons. you in a few hours.” She jumped in Apparently, Lake Las Vegas is
her truck and fired up the engine. private and all of the beaches
Yes, that was awesome! that open to the lake are private.

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