What’s it *really* like on the red carpet?

Red carpet. Two words that conjure up images of old-school Hollywood glamour, film stars air-kissing, glitz, sparkle and of course good-looking people.

But is it really that glitzy on the red carpet?

I’m often told ‘Oooooooh, your job must be so glamorous’ and in many ways it is.

My friends and even some of my colleagues find my overwhelming desire to interview soap stars, especially the cast of Days of our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful a tad, well…they might say sad. But I find it one of the most glamorous parts of my job.

The fact that the likes of Stefano DiMera, Sami Brady, Ridge Forrester and Brooke Logan Forrester Forrester Marone Forrester Marone Forrester etc are just a phonecall away is not just a perk, but zhoosh enough for me to rival any red carpet extravaganza.

Maybe it’s because as YOU’s entertainment editor and the person in charge of our wildly popular Scene & Heard pages I’m a hobnobber of note. I go to all the openings, the glitzy do’s, the star-studded bashes and air-kiss with the best – and worst - of them. I’m on a first name basis with everyone from Arno Carstens to Zizo Beda. I have to be. It’s what I do. And I of course relish every moment of it.

But not all functions are created equal. Most don’t even have red carpets. I can rattle off the few glam do’s that always do – the SAMAS, the SAFTAS, the YOU Spectacular…

Red carpet is different from your run-of-the-mill social event. For starters you need to up your fashion game. Like the Met and Durban July red carpet means an instant added pressure to look your very polished best. The stars go out of their way to look spick and span. Some turn to designers and high-end boutiques to dress them, others put a fresh look on old outfits, some – heaven forbid – even buy their own outfits. But few do this. Because truth is actors want to look their best when they’re being photographed. A red carpet designer look is important. Or else you end up on our worst-dressed list.

Covering a red carpet event is different too. It’s hard to get the informal, unposed shots of stars that we covet so dearly when the cast of Generations and Isidingo are queuing up to walk the walk. It’s usually quick. Too quick. Snap pic. Write down name of their partner. Find out about the outfit. Oh dear, they need to move on, either to take their seats or because another photographer is begging for a snap.

Another hazard, like at the recent SAFTAS, is you run the risk of intruding on someone else’s shot. There’s an unwritten rule about this. Kind of like ‘you stay outta my shot and I’ll stay outta yours’. Then there’s me leaning over to hug Sophie Ndaba, only to discover I’m now intruding on her on-camera interview with a TV show. Ooops!
 
So, back to the question at hand – what’s it really like on the red carpet?

Yes, it’s hard work but oh-so-glamorous.

My advice? Just make sure you’ve got a good vantage point for celeb spotting!