NOVEL WEB Chapter 256: Chapter 256: The Never-Ending Carnival
[Chapter 256: The Never-Ending Carnival]
"It's 10 AM now, and outside the park, there are already over ten thousand audience members gathered. The Bad Room Carnival, a two-day event, is about to kick off. This carnival boasts an incredible lineup of performers," a female reporter introduced to the camera.
...
At the same time, backstage...
"Electricity, sound systems, security, performances -- everything has been checked and confirmed," Alex said as he stood next to Ryan, doing one last sweep of the preparations. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked a lot paler than a few days ago. He hadn't gotten much sleep lately.
Ryan wasn't faring much better. He'd been running non-stop, handling interviews with various media and even making an appearance on Cumulus Media's radio show. Between it all, he'd found some time to whip up a new electronic track that rivaled Avicii's latest hit, Levels.
Ryan had shared this new song with a select few, including Taylor and Hardwell, Deadmau5, and Diplo, all of whom praised it highly.
....
Ryan glanced at Calvin Harris, who was set to take the stage first during the daytime slot. Calvin fidgeted nervously, looking like he was covered in ants, clearly anxious about the upcoming performance.
"You'll face much bigger crowds than this in the future," Ryan teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Calvin took a deep breath just as the show director approached him and led him away.
...
Meanwhile, Ryan sent Alex, who had been running on fumes, home to rest and took over the radio communication device, connecting with all department heads coordinating with Alex.
Ryan stepped over to a makeshift observation window backstage where he could see the crowd gathering below.
It was still morning, so most of the audience hadn't arrived yet. Outside the park, waves of people formed an S-shaped line, waiting patiently to get through the ticket check. However, there were still at least two to three thousand people crowding below the stage. Besides the enormous stage, the park featured tall speaker towers arranged in strategic spots to cover as much area as possible while avoiding sound interference.
...
As Calvin Harris took the stage, the crowd erupted into cheers. At first, he seemed a bit tense, but as he touched the DJ booth, the familiarity provided comfort. Ryan had intentionally moved the Bad Room's DJ booth to this location, potentially to save costs or just for effect.
♫ I can't believe that every day and every night It's gettin' better if you're out of my life ♫
A female voice began playing from the speakers, but shortly after the opening lines, it shifted to pure melody. This remix was different from any previous performances, explicitly tailored for this carnival.
Not just Calvin, all the DJs performing at the carnival had remixed their tracks. The "Carnival Remixes" would be released digitally after the festival, promising continued revenue. Calvin looked totally immersed in the music, bobbing his head to the rhythm, unaware that the crowd's response was relatively lukewarm.
From a popularity standpoint, Calvin hadn't reached superstar status yet, plus it was still morning. Many clubgoers hadn't truly woken up at this hour. Furthermore, Calvin's style leaned more towards electronic pop, which wasn't as grand or dramatic as the big room sounds that typically captivated crowds.
When Calvin caught sight of someone yawning in the front row, it left him feeling a little insecure, and his expression shifted to embarrassment.
"Don't worry about that! Keep performing and connect with those people through your music!" came the reassuring voice of Ryan through Calvin's earpiece.
When Ryan's words reached him, Calvin felt a surge of confidence. Even without a microphone, he opened his arms and shouted, "Put your hands up!" as he bounced in sync with the drop.
Unfortunately, his music style just didn't work for a live crowd. By the end of his set, he hadn't quite managed to fully "wake up" the audience.
...
Just then, Hardwell unexpectedly appeared at Calvin's side and seamlessly began to take over, allowing Calvin to slip away unnoticed. The track transitioned smoothly from Calvin's to Hardwell's.
Ryan's innovative move to pack the carnival remix album was already paying off in real-time.
The carnival was a relentless, moving celebration, fully leveraging the characteristics of electronic music for a non-stop experience!
Calvin Harris and Hardwell's styles represented two extremes, with Hardwell's big room music designed perfectly for large-scale performances.
♫ I'll fill you up with bones that can never breakTake you to a darker shade of greyWarm you like a sun that'll never fadeOooh, oohThis is power, this is powerThis is power, this is power, power, power ♫
As the drop hit, Hardwell tossed aside his headphones, raised his hands up, and jumped rhythmically. Many audience members began to follow his lead, creating a stunning visual spectacle of unity as hundreds jumped together in sync.
"Hardwell Fitness is open for business!" he shouted triumphantly.
In the crowd, the only ones standing immobile amidst the waves of festival-goers were the security personnel, appearing like anchor pillars in a churning sea, highlighting the contrast between the excitement of the audience and their stoic presence.
...
The DJs performing in the Bad Room were Ryan's mentees, and he had arranged multiple opportunities for them to perform over the following two days -- this was only the beginning.
Next up was Claire, known for her exaggerated style. She had aced her audition alongside another female DJ. On stage, she was dressed like a whimsical fairy, complete with a vibrant hairstyle sporting over ten different colors with eye-catching, avant-garde outfits that seemed almost plastic under the sunlight.
Ryan had never overly concerned himself with the DJs' attire; he believed casual seemed more approachable, while overly polished looked forced. Yet, Claire's outfit he affectionately called "Little Gaga," would likely not appeal to a conventional male aesthetic.
Clearly, this was a look Claire had crafted for herself. Beyond being a performer, she was also a visual artist creating animations for the large screens during DJ sets.
"Ryan! The VJ animations for your new song will be ready this afternoon -- perfect timing!" Claire called out just before heading on stage.
As for the music, Ryan wasn't about to let her experiment with anything too avant-garde; he'd picked some currently popular electronic tracks for a mashup. Mid-performance, Claire began headbanging enthusiastically, her infectious energy radiating throughout the crowd.
Unbeknownst to Ryan at that moment, this woman would later have three children with a man named Elon Musk, and their names would be X Æ A-12, Exa (Y), Techno Mechanicus (Tau) and one of their famous creations would be the concept of an AI thought experiment called "Rococo Basilisk," which proposed that a future superintelligent AI would punish those who failed to promote its emergence. It turned out Claire had already posited this three years prior.
...
As Claire's performance continued, another striking woman with a sharp style joined the backstage area -- it was Amelie, the other female DJ who auditioned alongside Claire.
Amelie appeared just as impressive today, with short hair, a slender silhouette, black jeans, and a cropped black top, making it hard for Ryan not to question her orientation.
"Are you nervous?" Ryan asked.
"A little," she admitted, a smile finally forming on her face.
Before long, she took the stage, showcasing a robust techno style that exuded industrial vibes. The crowd seemed to respond to her presence, sending excitement surging through them. Observing her smooth transitions and confident stage presence, Ryan considered her a prospect worthy of his attention, bumping up her priority in his mind.
...
"According to Nielsen's real-time data, there are over three million viewers tuning in to the live stream," said Gaye Hirsch, the program development director at CW Network, as she hung up the phone and turned to Dawn Ostroff.
Upon hearing this, Dawn, the network's president, let out a sigh of relief. CW had invested significantly in the carnival's live broadcast, even borrowing a whole broadcast team from CBS -- real money at stake. They'd only made this move because of Ryan; otherwise, she wouldn't have taken such a risk.
"At least that gives some reassurance to our advertisers and sponsors," Dawn took a sip of her coffee.
"If this trend continues, by this afternoon, the ratings could surpass five million, and by evening..." Gaye began to dream about the possibilities.
"It's summer, so we're free from a bunch of football programming," Dawn said, feeling grateful.
If it were fall, Fox, ABC (ESPN), and NBC would run a barrage of football content starting at 4:15 PM.
But even now, the programming from major networks was formidable. ABC planned to air America's Funniest Home Videos, CBS would showcase 60 Minutes, and Fox would roll out The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, and Family Guy, followed by reruns of shows like Desperate Housewives, Amazing Race, Big Brother, and America's Got Talent into the late-night slots.
"How many tuned into the Super Bowl this year?" Dawn asked suddenly.
"About 90 million."
Last year's figure had topped 130 million Americans tuning in, while the previous presidential election only brought in 120 million voters.
"If even one-tenth of those viewers check out the Bad Room Carnival live stream, I'd be thanking the heavens," Dawn said with imagination.
"Like a mini Super Bowl?" Gaye chuckled, adjusting her glasses.
...
What started as idle chat turned serious when, by 3 PM, live stream viewers comfortably crossed the five-million mark.
"Taylor has taken the stage, singing multiple hit songs; this place is turning into her concert. Strange that Ryan isn't up there with her to recreate that Grammy moment," Gaye recalled.
"The best bits are definitely saved for last," Dawn said, unconcerned. She figured Ryan's arrangement for the lineup was solid.
Afternoon time slots need a breakout moment, but if Taylor were to perform again later in the evening, would the audience feel fatigued?
...
Meanwhile, outside the park in Miami, a large group had quietly gathered across the street, numbering at least in the hundreds. These weren't festival-goers but protesters holding up bold signs reading "Desecration" and "Shame." Many held candles, while some displayed black-and-white photographs of individuals who had perished at the Ultra Music Festival tragedy.
These protesters chanted slogans against the Bad Room Carnival, their demonstration gaining momentum and drawing a crowd, prompting several curious reporters to approach and conduct interviews with their representatives.
"This is blatant desecration! He disturbed the peace of the deceased, using their lives to promote his event! Shut down the carnival!"
"Shut it down!"
Their chants grew increasingly loud, even affecting those waiting to enter the venue.
...
"Ryan, there are too many people; it's going to be difficult to disperse them. They're just standing across the street, and we really can't do much," Berwick updated Ryan on the situation.
"Have the police been called?" Ryan pondered briefly.
"Absolutely, but they've only sent a few patrol officers, merely a token presence," Berwick replied.
In short, their ties with the local authorities weren't all that strong. Ryan immediately thought of Alex, who typically managed communications with Miami's locals, but he was asleep at the moment. Ryan then remembered someone else and stepped aside to make a call.
...
"Hey, Rick... Yeah, I've been working on this carnival for a while, but now there's a group stirring up trouble outside. If you could get the local police... Yes, that's right, just like that." Ryan hung up and returned to Berwick.
...
"This parade seems too coordinated to be spontaneous. Let's send someone to keep an eye on them, and it would be best to identify the organizers on-site." Ryan instructed, his mind racing with the unfolding events.
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