All of the work we'd been doing was starting to pay off. After working in a cramped studio, Chris made a deal for a much larger facility. It would be in, of all places, a former bowling alley. It was 2 stories, built in the late 50's, and even had a private entrance. So we wouldn't have a repeat of the "Paris smuggling" that had been our ticket to the big time. Chris spent the next month supervising the design of the place. We made a nice deal to sell all the bowling gear (but saved one lane's worth for ourselves, how many photographers can boast of an in-studio bowling alley?) and gained a huge new workspace complete with upstairs offices.
As if all this wasn't exciting enough, Chris got a call that sent us in another direction.
"Hey, Hollywood! What've you got planned for next month?"
"Let me check my calendar," I said with a mouthful of bacon cheeseburger and looking at a blank desk "Gee, nothing."
"Remember Chuck Tyler?" he said
"Tyler? Tyler? Oh yeah! He's the cheapskate who wouldn't let us ride to Vegas for the Tigress show."
I was telling the truth. Chuck said there was no room on the private jet to Vegas for us, and THEN claimed the record company switched planes on him when we suddenly noticed the huge Gulfstream jet at the Vegas airport while we were flying home on a packed commercial flight.
"Well, Chucky-boy is making up for it. How'd you like to go to London with Tigress?"
"London! Are you serious?" I yelled
"You bet! Tigress is doing their promotional tour and we get the job of shooting photos for their website and elsewhere."
"We're there, baby!" I yelled out
"Yeah, well I figured since you invaded Paris it was only fair to let you invade London too." He said with a sly grin.
"Hey! Watch it! You're talking about the girl I loved for one night, and one night only!" I replied with an equally sly grin.
We were over the moon.
Tigress' tour would be a whirlwind 3 weeks bouncing around England, Ireland and Scotland. The girls would be doing lots of TV appearances, interviews, photo shoots, etc. And we'd be along for the ride snapping pictures for the record company and their website. The timing of this was perfect, the builders would be at work while we were gone, so we could shut down the old place, head off across the pond, and come back to a new home. Chris had his cousin supervising the construction so we knew things were in good hands when we took off for London.
For a change, Chuck was a man of his word. We had a private jet taking us to the U.K., and we had Tigress along for the ride. It was a long flight from LA and I hate to admit it, but I slept most of the way. I think Chris was busy reconnecting with "Candy" and "Mandy".
Tigress hit London in a big way, there was a huge reception for them when we arrived and we were snapping away. The next few days were a blur. I was hoping I might get to play tourist at some point.
But we had a big appearance to plan for.
Tigress would be performing on England's top music program "Mega Music 360". And it turned out we'd be part of the performance. Chris had the idea of us playing paparazzi on screen while they performed. This would give us even better pictures. Chuck and the girls loved the idea. I just hoped I didn't trip over anything while on camera.
"Mega Music" was England's version of "TRL" and usually featured a rotating group of hosts. But this week it brought in someone else. Hilary Duff.
We arrived at the BBC studios that afternoon for rehearsals. Chris and I followed the girls around, snapping photos here and there. I was loading shots into my laptop when I heard a banging sound from a hallway. I looked around the corner and there she was.
