Kara Scott: Red Carpet of Doom

After one day at home doing absolutely, blissfully nothing, I headed to Los Angeles yesterday afternoon for the WPT Invitational.

I was going there to do hostessing work for the TV side of things – interviewing players when they bust etc – but I also had to do something that I’ve always dreaded: walk the red carpet.

The invitational is a celebrity event so there is a lot of press there to catch photos of Terri Hatcher looking tiny and sparkly in her little silver dress, or Jenny McCarthy looking tiny and gorgeous in her little black dress or any number of professional athletes looking huge and intimidating in pretty much anything.

So yeah, I chickened out

Before the event was to start, I was asked to walk down the red carpet. No big deal, right? Wrong. I took one look at the 15 feet stretch of photographers, tv cameras and journalists and the sheer terror must have shown on my face as the Producer immediately insisted I go have a drink, calm down and try again in a few minutes.

It’s weird because I spend a lot of my work day in front of a camera but it’s completely different being the focus of attention rather than the interviewer. So yeah, I chickened out.

With that microphone in front of me I’m far braver

About 15 minutes later the producer came up to me and said that Vince Van Patten and Mike Sexton had gallantly agreed to let me walk the carpet with them. I was absolutely in awe, watching them work the room and chat to the cameras. It was very clear; this is what true professionals look like. And they were so kind as to pull me along with them.

I was flooded with sheer relief when it was over. As fun as it is on those rare occasions when people want autographs or to have photos taken with me, I quickly realised that celebrity status might look cool from the outside but wow, no thanks! I was pretty happy to retire behind my microphone yet again to interview the real stars of the evening. With that microphone in front of me I’m far braver!