The following is a "present-tense" account of my experience this past weekend when Brave New Films partnered up for a GOTV event at the Fabulous Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada.

***
It's 10:00 am Sunday morning – the day after the Fabulous Festival.  

My co-workers and I are straggling out of bed after a full day of getting out the vote in one of the most contested battle ground states in the U.S.

Brave New Films' staffers watch the morning cable news for election updates.  From left to right: Elise Wagner, Nathan Havey, Axel Woolfolk. 

We began our journey Saturday morning, leaving Los Angeles at 7 a.m. heading toward Sin City, a.k.a Las Vegas.  It didn't feel like a five-hour road trip, especially while driving with my lovely co-workers from Brave New Films.

Brave New Films' staffer Nathan Havey driving us to Vegas (a.k.a the most HIGHlarious co-worker I've ever worked with!).

This is my second time venturing to Las Vegas.  The faux Statue of Liberty and Luxor pyramid welcomed me once again on the world's most famous adult playground – the Strip.  We pulled into The Orleans Arena and immediately got to work, setting up at the BNF station immediately in front the famed arena.  

The Fabulous Festival was toted as the largest dance music and night life festival in Las Vegas.  Doors opened at 10 p.m., and club kids, ravers, dance music fans alike began shuffling into the arena wearing Superwoman, Dracula, and pirate costumes.  If anyone's ever been to a Rave, then you'd know it's quite a spectacle.  Not only is the dance floor lit with florescent lights, but party-goers walk around like flashing light bulbs.

If you haven't experienced Fabulousness, check out this video:

Hours into the night, it begins to drizzles – as is the case when you plan for a big event.  Never fails.

Even still, we all had the opportunity to reach out the most pivotal voting demographic in the U.S – young voters 18 to 25.  Joined by volunteers from Environment Nevada, Brave New Films' staffers approached people with pledge cards and "I Will Vote On Nov. 4th" bracelets; some happily informed us "Dude, I already voted!"  Others proclaimed, "I'm not voting, don't trust politicians."  Some were inspired by our message and promised to vote on November 4th.  Even though we encountered a few jaded concert-goers, overall a great deal of folks either voted or asserted they will vote with enthusiasm.  Very encouraging, nonetheless.

November 2nd – two aways from the most historic election of our lifetime.  I wanted to share with you Ruby Jean, an African-American woman in Nevada we met at a Barack the Block party in a strip mall.  This is why I love canvassing and participating in GOTV activities – it's also why I get chills when thinking about the impact this election has had on folks all around the country for years to come.  Check it out.

***

November 5th – the day after.  Rebirth.