The Catalina Express was quiet. The Bud Light Whatever USA winners were staring at their phones. Some in disbelief. Some would bust out laughing while going through their Snapchats. Stories were being shared. Some were catching up on sleep. Others just stared out the window as the Express headed 20-or-so miles east to the California mainland.
It was over. The best damn 40 hours of their mostly young lives were over and it was time to head back to the real world where Lil John isn’t DJing on some street in their small town. They were headed back to New Hampshire. Montana. Idaho. Ohio. Michigan. Saratoga Springs, New York. They were headed back to a life where Snoop Dogg isn’t riding a hot dog cart down a Catalina Island street. They were headed back to a life where Snoop wasn’t rapping Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘N Roll” and House of Pain.
The Catalina Express was taking Whatever USA winners home with what many were calling the best weekend of their lives.
Bud Light had succeeded.
Lil Jon gives the 2015 Whatever USA commencement speech
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Answers for those who weren’t there:
How did people win to get to Whatever USA?
They submitted Instagram videos, photos, entered at bars across the country where they made videos. I even heard of a couple college football players from Montana who were picked after partying in Lake Havasu with Whatever organizers. Contest winners were allowed to bring a plus-one. Airfare, ferry transportation, hotel, drinks and some food were paid for by Bud Light. A 1920s dinner party was held Saturday night on the Avalon pier where winners were dressed in suits and cocktail dresses and ate salmon, meatballs, pizza, burritos and other foods I couldn’t clearly see. There was a margarita stand serving up what I was told were amazing drinks. We didn’t hear of winners who went hungry or without a Bud Light.
Were there beer coolers all over the place where people could just grab beers?
No. Winners received wrist bands each day that allowed them a certain number of Bud Lights or Bud Lime. You could get beers from street vendors or from one of the local bars. Again, we never heard of anyone complaining about needing a beer.
Any trouble?
No. And I asked multiple L.A. County deputies that question. The crowd was tremendous. People were there to chill in paradise, have fun and make a bunch of new friends. The common theme about Whatever USA was how happy everyone was. They’re on a free vacation and were ordered to have a safe and fun weekend. That’s what happened.
What was the highlight of the weekend?
Had to be Snoop riding the hot dog cart to the stage in the middle of Avalon. And his performance with the Pacific Ocean in the background. The 1920s party in the Catalina casino (round building in the photos — it’s a theater with a ballroom on the top level) was pretty impressive. Very few people get to party in that building. The place is full of amazing history. That’s the casino behind the boats.
You’re telling me Snoop played int he middle of town on Catalina Island?
Yes he did and it was simply awesome. Cary Grand and Clark Gable used to film movies here. Snoop is just another celeb to put on an Oscar performance on Catalina.
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What about the locals? Were they cool?
I heard someone mention that a 97-year-old man was dancing at one of the DJ sets (see photos). Then there was Larry, my life coach, and his girlfriend just chilling on the beach. The only issue we noticed was with tourists who couldn’t access some of the bars and restaurants that were within the Whatever barrier. Many locals were given day badges to watch the performances and have some fun.
What’s one thing you would’ve done differently?
I should’ve gone to the store on Crescent Ave. that was selling beach chairs. Larry and his girlfriend chilled in this location that was about 20 yards from Snoop’s performance. I would’ve spent at least a couple hours just sitting with them drinking Buds (Larry was just to the right of the inflatable bottle. We eventually did Fireball shots with them at a bar. That’s where we found out that Linda was just a live-in girlfriend. Larry said he’s been married too many times and is tired of spending money on divorces.
Who performed?
• Diplo
• T-Pain
• Snoop
• Lil Jon
• Girl Talk
• Other groups/DJs I can’t even remember
You’re just saying all of this because Bud Light paid for you to go party, aren’t you?
I would pay good money to do it all over again.
What will stick in your mind about Whatever USA?
The happiness of the winners. They couldn’t believe how fortunate they were to get this experience. One winner I met during a delay in Detroit was @beenjammin32. He was stunned Friday morning at 8:30 and was still stunned the last time I saw him on Saturday night. Ben and fellow travelers who had flight delays even tagged themselves #TeamStraggle. I sat next to a couple Texans on the ferry ride back to the mainland who were past the college age in life. They just kept laughing and shaking their heads about the weekend. They talked about Whatever USA as if it changed their lives.
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