39. Chapter 36
Sloan
As soon as I ended the show I called Jax knowing he would be even more stressed than he was when I talked to him earlier. He didn’t answer, and hasn’t responded to my text either.
This isn’t like him, but I know there’s a reason, so I go back to closing out all of the post production information and data I need. Until I make enough to hire a production manager, I have to do all of this myself. With the help of Ali of course.
I call her just to make sure I’ve got everything I need.
“Hey Al,” I say when she answers.
“That was a great launch to your channel. The views were crazy.” I hear the excitement in her voice and it pulls me away from the looming nerves around Jax in the back of my mind.
“I know. I felt like the comments were going crazy. Hey, I just wanted you to run me through post production one more time. I don’t want to mess anything up.”
“Yeah, sure,” she says, “but I told you I’d help you, Sloan.”
“No, I’m not asking you to do free work. I just need a little refresher before I get started.”
“Ok, so post production data should be quick—about 45 minutes of work. I’m sending you a template to use to collect the data, so you just look over the specs in the table.
Things like number of views at the beginning, end, and a few checkpoints throughout.
Because it streamed on your page and theirs, I copied the tab for both feeds so you can collect the data separately for both streams. You want to see where your audience is.
Look for any dips in views or surges. You’ll also collect data on average watch times, if the viewers are organic or followers, if you gained any more followers from the stream. Things like that.”
I take a breath as I jot down a few notes and add them to my notebook. I already have them in here somewhere from the first time we went over this, but the refresher is good.
“From my vantage point without pulling numbers, it looked good. But views were higher on the Mango Land stream, which is to be expected, so don’t let that discourage you.
After you collect the data, you want to write up a spec report.
You’ll use this to plan the next show. I left questions to answer, and they will guide you through a plan for the next stream.
Because it will be the same coverage of the draft, it will be straight forward, but I can already tell you, you probably want to stream the next one from the field and then compare the data.
You also want to collect data on the Spotify podcast. How many listens over the course of this week.
That’s in there as well.” She takes a breath and I hear her typing.
“How long should that take me?” I ask, making sure I know what to shoot for to optimize my time. Doing this alone could make it hard for me to manage my time, so I’ve really tried to focus on the typical timeline so I know I’m not giving too much to one area.
“The spec report should take about an hour. Total with data collection, post production is about three hours of work on the long end. This time give yourself some grace and spend a few hours on it today, and a few tomorrow.”
“Thanks. That sounds really doable.”
“It is,” she says, “but make a schedule and stick to it so you don’t burn out.” She’s said that before but I appreciate her reminder. “Time can get away from you really easily.”
“Thanks, Al. I appreciate your help.”
“Please let me know if this gets too hard to maintain. I don’t mind helping,” she reiterates.
I hear the front door open and close, and know it’s Jax. I can feel his presence even though I can’t see him.
“I appreciate it. I better get to work. Talk to you later,” I say, hanging up, just as he walks into my office.
He has a water bottle in his hand, and his hair is soaking wet, like he just showered. He has a faint crease between his brows, and I hate how much this draft is taking from him.
“Rikki wants to go to Ruby’s tonight. This shit is a lot.”
I look at him, and attempt an apologetic smile. “I’m not sure this is the best time for you guys to be in public drunk and visibly distressed. Maybe you two should hang out here tonight. We can order some food. I have a lot of work to do, but I don’t mind if you guys drink here.”
He considers it for a moment and then gets on his phone, I assume texting Rikki.
“That’s probably smart. Thanks babe. You really are my brilliant girl.” He places a kiss on my lips and flops down on the couch, visibly exhausted.
The last week went much smoother after Jax and Rikki let loose and got over their feelings about this draft enough to relax a little bit.
They’ve been spending a lot of time together working out, going to a few Moonshine football games, and Jax has been helping me a lot with the show, but today the anxiety is back. He didn’t sleep much last night, and was already up and at the gym by the time I got out of bed.
Horner and I are filming Round 2 of the draft from the field. This one is a less extravagant production. Instead of having a performance, there will be a montage of clips from various Mango Ball games highlighting various players.
Sitting across from Horner, he looks just as on the edge.
“Are you enjoying the draft?” I ask him curiously while we wait to start.
“The fans love it, and I love seeing their excitement,” he says, but his tone is lacking the excitement.
“But?” I add, trying to fill his abrupt silence.
“The guys on all the teams across Mango Land are so stressed. I’m fielding calls all day.
I have to make changes next year, I just don’t know what they look like.
I don’t know how to maintain the excitement for fans, and not drain my players.
” He’s so caring, and I hate this reality for him just as much as the guys.
“I say fans first, but that will not come at the expense of my guys ever again.”
“I know you’ll figure it out. You’ve created an empire here,” I say honestly, and I signal to him that we’re ready to roll. “Do you want a second?”
“Yeah,” he says, taking a few deep breaths, before giving me a thumbs up.
His energy instantly shifts and he becomes the bubbly, happy guy this community has come to know and love, but the second the montage rolls and the song “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz starts, his face is no longer on camera and his smile falters just slightly.
When it ends, his mask is back in place, and he stands to build the excitement around the anticipation for Round 2.
“Alright, Mango Land, let’s get to business.
Here is the breakdown for Round 2, and it’s all about the trades.
Fans can vote for trades on the immunity list as well as trades between teams. After today the immunity list is closed, meaning these lucky players will stay on their home team.
There are three players total chosen by the fans to trade.
” He takes a breath, “This round’s trades are as follows… ”
He starts off with the news of Ozzie trading to the Bagel Bombers but before the fans can even react he lists the rest of the trades in rapid fire, clearly wanting to get this over with, and I’m not sure why until he announces the last trade.
“Our last trade for immunity belongs to none other than our shining catcher with all the moves: Rikki Voss.” He takes a quick breath as my heart skips a beat, and I focus more on trying not to show my shock to the fans than focusing on his words.
I see comment after comment flood the screen as he makes announcements for the final round, but my mind is with Jax. He has to endure this last round of uncertainty alone.