I set up a shoot with a model who was in her early 30’s. I was not really that interested in shooting her, but I was still getting used to the studio and was shooting every model I could. For some reason we set up the shoot to start at 9:30 p.m. I think it had to do with her job. Now I am not a late night person as a rule. If I am up past ten I want to be home sipping on a bourbon or a beer. So I told her we would have a short shoot, ending no later than 11.
The studio had a big refrigerator. The owner kept beer and boxed wine in it. So when the models were over 21, I would tell them I had beer and wine if they wanted a drink. I told this model, who we will call
“K” about the wine and beer. I would point out that I call most of the models I don’t name “K”, I have no idea why that sticks out.
She said, “I really like to sip on Southern Comfort when I model. Ok, I like Southern Comfort myself. So I thought why not get some. I bought a pint of it and took it to the studio for the shoot.
K came in and was not overly friendly. We talked briefly about what we would shoot and went to the shoot room to get to work. I got two plastic cups out and poured each of us about half a shot. I then put the lid on the Southern Comfort and set it aside to take home. I gave her cup to her and we each took a sip. Then we started shooting.
I have the model change outfits often and I move lights a lot. After a few shots I would tell her to change while I moved the lights. About 15 to 20 minutes into the shoot I walked back to the counter to take another sip of my drink. I looked at the pint, and it was empty. I remember thinking very distinctly, “Oh Shit.” I did not know what to do, so I decided to keep shooting.
I was watching her and she was posing and acting about the same when suddenly, as she posed in a tux jacket with nothing else on, she stiffened up and fell over onto the floor on her knees. I started toward her and she started crying and screaming, “modeling is going to ruin my life. I don’t know what to do. I am so sad.” She was wailing and kept saying this stuff over and over. Now I knew I had a drunk on my hands.
So it is around 10 p.m. and she is too drunk to pose and too drunk to drive home. I was pissed. I got her up and helped her put on the clothes she wore to the shoot, then she sat down on the floor and started crying again about modeling ruining her life. I could not let her drive. I did not want to stay at the studio. My solution was to get her, put her in my car and drive her to my office. Back then we had an old couch in a back room. I put her on the couch and she immediately passed out. Then I just went to my office desk and started working on some real business. But I was upset, I wanted to be home sipping Southern Comfort, not babysitting a drunk.
After about 2 hours of working I went back to look in on her. It was around midnight and I was tired. I heard her moving.
“Where am I?” she said.
Turning on the light I said, “You’re at my office.”
“Come fuck me. I need some sex.” She literally screamed.
“I don’t want to fuck you, I want you be sober and go the hell home.” I yelled back. I was really wanting to just put her in the car and let her drive. But I couldn’t do that and have her kill someone.
She pointed at me, yelled, “asshole” and then her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell back and passed out again. I was beginning to think I was here for the night.
I went back to my desk and tried to work. Around two I was worn out. I had to go home and sleep. I went in and shook her. She woke up and seemed embarrassed. She said she was sorry for drinking all my liquor and getting smashed. I drove her back to her car. She admitted she had a few drinks before she got to the studio, and had just sucked the Southern Comfort down. “I need it for confidence.” She explained.
I learned some lessons. First, never shoot K again. Second I never have any hard liquor at the studio. And third, if they want a beer or wine, I never let them have over 2. And I have never had a repeat of this problem at the studio.