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By Victoria Rosenblum, The Flip Side Communications
Keith and I took to the sky for a shoot promoting a new private jet service. I was surprised how the people behind the scenes interested me more than the comfortable seats and lavish luxuries on the 17-seat jet.
The first stop of our three-city tour was San Diego, where Keith and I got off the plane and spent time shooting video on the tarmac. While waiting to board the plane again, we spoke with one of the pilots, a gray-haired man likely in his mid-60s. We learned he spends part of his time flying the band Bon Jovi around the world during their tours. After inquiring what the group is like on their tours, asking if they’re as wild and crazy as you’d assume a world famous rock band might be, the pilot casually explained that Jon Bon Jovi is a low key guy who doesn’t chat much. Keith told the pilot he could never take a job forcing him to be that far away from his wife and family. The pilot looked out and apathetically said that it didn’t bother him and his wife. Keith told him that he would miss his wife too much, but the pilot said that after being married for 41 years, it’s not such an issue. Keith insisted the pilot should call his wife and tell her he missed her. The pilot chuckled and said if he were to do that, his wife would question whom it was she was speaking to. The pilot surprised me by speaking so candidly with the two of us – strangers he had never met before.
We eventually made our way back to the jet, flew to Los Angeles and then back home to Scottsdale. The trip went smoothly. Lucky for me, I enjoyed watching Keith jump out of his seat with a terrified look in his eyes every time the plane descended a little bit closer to the runway. (Keith insists I’m exaggerating, saying he is the strong silent type who doesn’t scare easily.) It was nice to see that even my boss has vulnerabilities.
What was supposed to be just another day with The Flip Side Communications ended up being one of the most memorable trips of my life.