I'll be the first to say that Apple has some good products. When I first heard that an Apple Store was opening in South Carolina, I was thrilled. If they weren't so expensive, I would be typing this article on a Mac right now. I look forward to checking out the store and maybe getting an iPod Shuffle for long runs. Unfortunately, there were a couple of details I wasn't aware of. Apparently, the new iPhone is sold out in most places and you can only get it at the new stores as they open. This means that for today, Charleston was the only place in the country where you could buy one.
All I can say is that it must be a pretty amazing piece of equipment. Some people were so desperate for the damned thing that they were actually willing to camp out overnight before the new store opened here in Charleston, SC. Seriously, it started last night at about 9pm. I walked my bicycle by the corner of King and Liberty at around 11pm and saw the budding crowd, complete with lawn chairs. I had my camera with me, but for some insane reason I didn't think to take a few shots. My God, I could have actually sold them to the media! What the hell was my problem? Oh, wait. I know what it was... i was drunk. But hey, at least I was smart enough to walk the bike instead of riding it.
That being said, I did manage to get up this morning and bicycle back to the scene. Here are some reduced versions of my photos. I didn't worry so much about the lighting conditions since there were so many professional photographers around. I'm just some guy with a point-and-shoot camera, and I'm not going to get anything exclusive at this point.
Special Admission and Police Protection
I saw a few people get in past the line. For a moment I thought the lady on the right would get beat down by the mob. Then I looked down the line and thought that maybe they would just insult her insufficient knowledge of Indie movies or bands no one has ever heard of. Failing that, they would talk about Star Trek.
I was a little confused until I realized that she wasn't just some lady with a fancy camera. I think she had a press pass. Looking around, I could see a few news people here and there, as well as some cameras which were way too big for just a person with a hobby.
Another thing I noticed was the group I was standing in across the street. Upon reflection, I realized my position. I was in a crowd of people who were only gathered together to mock a line of people who were only gathered together to go into some store to buy some phone that Apple will gladly make more of tomorrow. It was a weird little ecosystem, but I wasn't just a spectator. I was a part of it.
The Long Hike to the End of the Line
I decided to take a look around the corner to see how far the line had gone. I'm going to post these photos a little larger so you can really see what's going on. Take a good look at the landmarks to get your bearings. This is just a series of random shots taken as I walked down Liberty Street. These people really, really, really wanted to get into that store. What could they possibly receive as a reward for staying up all night outside of a new business? Coffee? Doughnuts? Desperately-needed alcohol?
Trying to Find My Way Back
This is what it looked like on the way back to King Street. Normally walking a block or two isn't a big deal for me, but this time I almost felt like I would get lost somehow on the way back. Something about a large line just makes everything seem so far away.
Although some folks brought lawn chairs, some of them just sat down on the sidewalk. Others were lucky enough to have a window ledge.
I suppose it could have been worse, though. At least it wasn't raining. That would have been downright sad.
Your Reward: A T-Shirt!
The doors opened and everyone pretty much went crazy. The crowd poured in and may or may not have forcibly made out with the employees inside. After a few minutes, two people came out to distribute their supply of t-shirts.
That's right. The reward for sitting outside of the new Apple Store all night is a magical t-shirt which tells everyone how you were there first. Wear this puppy proudly, and everyone will know that you're the kind of person who will call in sick when they start selling the next version of the Wii.
We're Open, But You're Still Going to Wait
After the doors had been opened and the cheering had stopped, and after the t-shirts had been distributed, people started to get a sinking feeling.
There was no more novelty to the situation. There were no more thrills to be had. The free stuff was already in their hands. By degrees, they realized that they were just standing in a huge line for a store which cannot possibly support their numbers.
Slowly and painfully, people began to move forward. At a few points, employees came out to tell the crowd that there were in fact two lines. If you were not there for an iPhone, you could just walk into the store.
That must have hurt. Some guy looking for a Shuffle or a Nano could just walk right by while the Chosen Ones, the Elite, the Oh-So-Ahead-of-the-Curve iPhone customers had to remain behind. Surely this trauma will go into the official history of each person's Amazing iPhone Purchase, which they will tell at-length to anyone who will listen. Failing that, they will probably tell it to anyone who cannot escape. If you know any of these people, be sure to check the exits and windows before walking into a room with them.
Cops and Apple Geniuses, Working the Crowd
In the end, it wasn't too bad. They did a pretty good job of organizing the opening, and the police officers, though vigilant, appeared to be rather bored. No one seemed to get upset about anything, and no one minded the photographers.
In fact, the only difficulty was getting the photo above. I had a hell of a time getting an open shot of the store with a police officer in the center and an employee in the foreground. Customers were constantly walking by, and at one point the employee pictured above seemed to be blocking me. It happened more than once. I was like he didn't want me to get a photo of the cop... he would stand directly in front of her. Was he under the retarded frat-boy impression that he was protecting her from something, or was he just blocking the crowd from rushing in to ravish his fellow Apple employees? I tested him a few times by aiming my camera elsewhere and then back, but the results were inconclusive.
To be fair, I should mention that I often have the feeling that people are intentionally blocking me from taking innocent pictures. Most of the time, it's slow-moving fat people who seem to want to block buildings by standing directly in front of my lens. That being said, it was probably just the crowd he was worried about.
- Brian.
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