Over the weekend, my Super-Couponing world crashed right into another area of my life… that of Jill Cataldo, KISS fan.
It’s a little bit like Bruce Wayne and Batman, I guess… most of the time I’m a mild-mannered mom of 3 trying to make the world a little bit better … but there are just some days in which I proverbially hang up my coupon queen tiara in exchange for the black cape and bat-suit :)
So, I can thank the Loop radio’s night disc jockey Byrd for blowing my cover and ultimately causing my coupon-world and my KISS-world to collide. Let me tell you what happened…
Yesterday was the premiere of KISS singer Paul Stanley’s new concert film, “One Live KISS.” My affection for KISS began at a very early age and continues to this day — and over the years I’ve had the opportunity to do some work for the band and Paul individually on various projects in my other field of expertise, graphic and web design. Anytime you can combine your work with something you love, it’s a win-win situation — just as it is with my couponing classes!
Anyway, my husband, daughter and I were part of the production crew for Paul’s concert film, which was recorded at the Chicago House of Blues in 2006. Last night was the big premiere of the film, and we weren’t going to miss an opportunity to see the film larger than life on the big screen, as well as our names rolling by with the dozens of other people on the crew and in the “KISS family” who made this project a reality.
We entered the theater and I immediately noticed all the 97.9 The Loop radio posters everywhere. I hadn’t realized the Loop was involved with the event (this is the same radio station I’m on each Tuesday morning doing the Deals of the Week segment with Johnny B.) I thought that was interesting & went to mingle with the other fans in the lobby.
Now, KISS fans are a unique group of people from all walks of life, and events like this tend to draw them like flies to honey. So the theater was abuzz with people milling about, swapping stories about the band and waiting for the event to begin.
In walks Byrd, the night DJ at the Loop. Byrd attracted a lot of attention from the KISS fans, as he had done the voiceover work for the concert film trailer & was now attending the premiere with the rest of us. I was helping hand out laminates and merchandise for the event and Byrd came over to pick his up. He commented on my Loop leather bomber jacket and we talked for a few minutes.
And then, it happened. A KISS fan and Loop listener was hanging out near the table listening, and then she leaned over with a big smile and said…
“I know who you are! YOU’RE THE COUPON QUEEN! I listen to you all the time on Johnny B!”
She took my picture. It was hilarious, really. And after that, another Loop listener came over and told me how she saved $30 last week from the deals I gave out on the radio. And this listener’s husband assured me that being both the Coupon Queen AND a KISS fan somehow made my couponing credibility weigh even heavier with him.
And by the end of the night, I got to see my name in lights on the big screen too. If you’re a fan of Paul Stanley & KISS, One Live KISS is in stores now, and I couldn’t possibly say enough good things about this film.
Now, in retrospect, it really wasn’t bad at all having two of my passions cross paths for a night.
But of course, then people wanted to know if I had any coupons for free KISS stuff.
artofthedeal says
Cool story. Thanks for letting a little more of yourself out on the blog. After hearing you on the Loop I think we all knew there was more to Jill then just coupons!
If you don’t mind a couple questions……your kids get to meet Paul Stanely too when you do this? What else did you do for Paul?
beaner2 says
but where did you get the jacket!!
rpascente says
I was there too! I saw your name in the credits, though I wasn’t sure whether it was you. I had a great time and I’m glad to hear that we share something else in common. I’ve been a Kiss fan ever since I was in grade school. The film was fantastic. Any opportunity to see Paul is fantastic!