[My Weekender] with Jason Meek

Jason Meek is the Director of Cultural and Live Entertainment Programs for the USA Pavilion, responsible for shows all over Expo, in Shanghai and beyond.

I'm really excited about this weekend, it is the last of World Expo and we have some great bands performing on our stage at the USA Pavilion, including Daniel Hart's solo project.

Afterwards it's off to Kathleen's 5 for a mixer with all our pavilion sponsors before the night really gets started with our last official team dinner! One of my favorite things about running our program at the USA Pavilion is being able to treat my amazing staff and performers to some great food and drink. Allison, Kirsten, Peter, Yang, Mina and Abe have worked their asses off for 6 months, holding it all together.

Tonight's big party is at Uminosachi on Xinle Lu, and it will be PARTY. With all you can drink sake, shouchu and beer, the night is just be getting started. Afterwards who knows where the night will take me -- Richy, 88, Rich Baby, M1NT, D2, Velvet, Sky just to name a few of my favorite hangouts. After programming and scheduling day in and day out, when I leave Expo I prefer to have my friends plan the night for me -- they know what I like!

After a speedy recovery on Saturday, I head into Expo. With just two days left, I need to get across the river to see a few more corporate pavilions on the Puxi side, most notably the amazing SAIC-GM Automobile Pavilion produced by my good friend CT and the Japan Corporate Pavilion where my buddy Ryouta and his band Asian Miracle Generation performed.

I really should spend some time writing "thank-you-notes" to the many amazing people I have collaborated with over the past 6 months. In between emails, I'll help sneak my friends' friends into the VIP access of the USA Pavilion. We all know how things get done here in China, and all the success of my program over the past 6 months has been some combination of talent and hard work and guanxi.

Before heading out on Saturday night I have a phone date with a friend in LA to discuss a brand new China-project I am super excited about. The details are still top secret, but for those of you who have been following our programming over the past 6 months, all I can say is be very excited because big things are on the way.

This is the last Saturday to go out with many of my Expo friends so I'll be sure to make a night of it, but not too late of a night. Sunday is Halloween and Monday our USA Pavilion farewell party... and I need to find a way to survive until Tuesday!

For the long-awaited last day, I'll be saying my goodbyes and standing by my "Dance America!" cast. They've been such an amazing addition to my life the past 6 months and I am going to miss them all so much. I'll be in the front row cheering for Julius, Ambrose, Bianca, Meghan, TJ, Donte, Genise, Marissa, Chris and Lauren for their final shows and watch our stage close down for the last time.

You won't see me at the closing ceremony as I already got a sneak peak at the rehearsal. (Thanks Yu Jiejie!) I'd rather stick around for the last USA Pavilion tour and crack open the champagne, the real party is just getting started. And as much as I love to be behind the scenes and in the audience, when I hit the town I definitely like to be part of the show. The World's Fair may be over, but the "expo" is just getting started. Now stop reading this and let me see you get out there, have fun and entertain!