Around 200 of the media and tech journalism elites are gathered at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California today for the unveiling of new iPhones. The majority of planet earth will never have the opportunity to attend an Apple press event in person, but that doesn’t mean you can’t live vicariously through those who do go.
Here’s what it’s like to wait in line for hours at attend an Apple event as a member of the media:
You get there really early in the morning and start preparing your broadcast.
Here they are @Tim_Stevens @StevenLevy @SquawkStreet @CNBC pic.twitter.com/hNZdA5CtFV
— Jon Fortt (@jonfortt) September 10, 2013
If you’re someone that Apple loves as much as Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal, you drive up and demand a valet.
No joke, @waltmossberg just pulled up in front of the venue in a rental Altima and layed on the horn. Huh. — Tim Stevens (@Tim_Stevens) September 10, 2013
You check in with Apple and get your press badge.
Media check in. #apple #iphone5c pic.twitter.com/khY7Im1PDS — Chris O’Brien (@obrien) September 10, 2013
Hands-on: press pass is very blue, very plasticky. pic.twitter.com/iBEI0Whiup
— Andrew Cunningham (@AndrewWrites) September 10, 2013
Credentialed. pic.twitter.com/u43wQX7ZX8 — Tim Stevens (@Tim_Stevens) September 10, 2013
Excitement is in the air.
New iPhone day = fall Xmas — Ryan Block (@ryan) September 10, 2013
Apple employees make sure things are running smoothly.
As usual, Apple people in matching tees. Would you call that color…gold? pic.twitter.com/oNbdVHMVxB — Andy Ihnatko (@Ihnatko) September 10, 2013
You meet with friends in the industry you only get to see in person at events like these.
At 4 Infinite Loop after a lovely breakfast with a friend. Waiting for doors to open. pic.twitter.com/Ok7X0gxs10 — Andy Ihnatko (@Ihnatko) September 10, 2013
And then you wait in a long line until Apple opens the doors. You look up and down the line to see if any of your friends are in line with you. Instagrams, Foursquare check-ins, and tweets ensue.
Are these people in line for an iPhone or something? #Apple #CNET pic.twitter.com/Pa7evxaSPN — Josh Lowensohn (@Josh) September 10, 2013
Once you get inside, iChefs serve breakfast.
Oh. Here's where the media is hiding. In the feeding trough. #iPhone2013 pic.twitter.com/dB4lvez0KE
— Chris O'Brien (@obrien) September 10, 2013
You pack into the lobby.
You want more pics of the media at the Apple event? Here ya go! #iPhone2013 pic.twitter.com/RBGDguZQ5w
— Chris O'Brien (@obrien) September 10, 2013
Getting really crowded at the Apple event. pic.twitter.com/x3ArtYgDyl
— Darrell Etherington (@drizzled) September 10, 2013
We are just about to go into the Apple Town Hall pic.twitter.com/w6tMKekAOt
— Tim Bradshaw (@tim) September 10, 2013
The doors open!
Doors open pic.twitter.com/mXmdSaCdna
— Jason Snell (@jsnell) September 10, 2013
And you start scrambling to find a good seat.
You get ready to start liveblogging furiously.
We are in. The setup inside the event is textbook Apple – so far. pic.twitter.com/tzCFknNidE
— Tim Bradshaw (@tim) September 10, 2013
And wait.