Oh Lord. This is one of those stories I will (hopefully) still be telling when I am old and grey, thinking back on my exciting, thrilling youth and the ways I excitedly babbled about my experiences to anyone who would listen for days afterward.
For those who don't know (seriously...I'll tell anyone who will listen), I had tickets to see Daughtry (yes, the frontman is Chris Daughtry from American Idol and my favorite AI non-winner ever) this past Tuesday, and my mutually Bon Jovi-loving friend Michelle had gotten us VIP PASSES TO MEET THEM.
As if I needed more reason to bounce around the house before a concert. I was a basket case when we found out we had VIP passes two months ago, and I had been anxiously counting down the days.
Unfortunately, we lost one of our own a few days before the concert - and it was with a heavy heart that I contemplated the possibility of skipping the concert and the VIP experience. Luckily, that contemplation was short-lived, and my mother insisted I go and HAVE FUN. As my aunt says, "life goes on." (Though it is not in my nature to shoot up from a place of sorrow and reach a place of excitement with the snap of a finger.)
On Tuesday, after a morning of stress (we had upgraded our tickets to 4th row the night before, and I was stressing about selling our 14th row tickets...then my friend missed her original train out of LA...) I picked up my friend from the train station and we bolted downtown. We had to report to the venue before 4pm and collect our VIP passes from security.
We picked up the passes, and waited outside for about 20 minutes before the band manager, Sean, came out to lay down the ground rules. I was pleasantly surprised to find that were treated with dignity and respect, and a lighthearted approach to the (few) rules that applied to the meet and greet and soundcheck. We weren't treated as if they assumed we were all sexual molesters or psychotic hormone-driven women, like I have been treated by Bon Jovi's management before. And Sean was one cool cat.
When it was time to go inside for soundcheck, I remember thinking I should be more nervous than I was.
Well, all it took was for me to walk through the theater doors, hear Michelle squeal, "There they are!!", and see the band members on the stage. THEN you bet your bottom dollar I was nervous.
I just remember walking down the aisle and suddenly realizing that I would be "front row" for the first time in my LIFE...and I started shaking like a leaf. We walked down to the stage and all got to stand right up against it. And the band was right there. I had to look UP at them.
So we got three songs for soundcheck, and then we were ushered out to the next portion...for the meet and greet. Nervous? No way. I had butterflies, and Michelle made me go before her since she had done the VIP before. I was fourth in line, and when security asked me, "Are you ready sweetie?" I wanted to shake my head and say NO!
I walked around the corner of the curtain and they were all standing there smiling at me. Ironically, I felt like the candidates of American Idol must feel when they walk that march of fame (or shame) toward the judges during tryouts. I immediately went into autopilot, shaking each band member's hand and smiling, nodding, and introducing myself...even when they said "Hi Becky," I said "Hi, I'm Becky." Der-duh-der.
Chris (Daughtry) stood in the middle of the band, and when he shook my hand, he grabbed it with both hands and said "Oh, nice firm handshake you've got there!"
I didn't know what to say to that, so I just smiled and promptly replied, "Oh, thanks! I know a lot of men."
Pause.
I know...a lot...of men? I KNOW A LOT OF MEN?!
I smacked myself mentally. I had meant it to sound something more akin to "I hang with the guys," or "My BFFs are all dudes, ya know?" But no, instead I told them I knew a lot of men. Insert starstruck girl making a fool of herself now.
Luckily, they just smiled and laughed, and I finished introducing myself to the rest of the band. Chris and JP (the bassist) pulled me between them to take the picture, and I miraculously managed to smile - even with Chris' arm around my shoulders, JP's arm around my waist, and my arms around both of theirs.
(bigger version at the bottom of this post)
Afterward, Chris gave me a side-hug and I thanked them all, then stumbled out of the room.
I left and security helped me down the stairs because I was grinning like a fool. I heard Michelle behind me as she went in to meet them (she and JP are from the same hometown) - so I heard her scream "FRESNO!" and then JP responding "FRESNO! YEAAAHHH!"
We picked up our merchandise at the table downstairs - and they had a great loot! We each got a messenger bag with the band's logo, a bag of limited edition signed guitar picks, and a high-gloss poster print hand-signed by all of the members. The merchandise itself was probably worth nearly $100.
Naturally, once we were outside, I called my mom to relay the story of my fumble. And naturally, she nearly had a heart attacking laughing. Michelle heard it for the first time too, and nearly passed out.
We met up with another mutual Bon Jovi/Daughtry friend for dinner, who had no less of a similar reaction. It was clear I would NEVER hear the end of this one! I was laughing and making fun of myself, but was definitely legitimately mortified. And when my friend Marissa pointed out the R-rated implications of my comment, you could have fried an egg on my face. I hadn't realized it sounded like THAT!
Oh, help me.
Jokingly, I exaggerated that we HAD to meet the band again so I could explain myself, and it was the topic of dinner.
The show itself was a lot of fun and we had a blast in 4th row. I was very swayed by the performance - I was excited and dancing for my favorite songs, and actually moved to tears by an acoustic performance of the song "Home" - which has become a dear and special song to me for many private reasons. I reveled in seeing Daughtry live again (I had seen them three times when they opened for Bon Jovi in 2008), and decided I definitely enjoyed them on their own solo tour.
Despite some shortcomings with my camera's performance (I actually need to look into it, because it may need repairs), I got a few dozen beautiful photos with which I am VERY pleased.
Sean recognized us during the show, and came over to us to tell us that one of the band members' wife had showed up to surprise him - she was down in front at the stage, along with a bunch of people who, for some reason we didn't know, had wristbands to be front row. We were a little confused why he decided to tell us that, but more honored/flattered than anything that he had remembered us!
After the show, we found Sean and I asked him if the band was going to come out to sign autographs. He said yes! He said he liked his guys to come out and mingle, and that they all loved to take care of the fans. I was fully impressed, and when he told us to go wait by the tourbus, I think my jaw dropped. What utter respect for the fans, and what a gracious atmosphere the band must create to have such helpful management. He deliberately made sure we were taken care of, and I was very grateful.
We joined the gathering crowd by the tour bus (there were maybe 40 of us at the most) and spent over an hour there. JP came out first and signed autographs, took photos, and mingled with the fans - I took his picture with Michelle, but didn't even think to take one for myself. In fact, I didn't even think to get pictures with any of the other members, though I did make sure to get the drummer's autograph. I have decided he, aside from Chris, is my favorite. :)
There was a little boy standing with his parents next to us, and I wanted him to have a guitar pick from the show. Since Sean had given Michelle and me a bunch of extras, I asked the boy's parents if he got one. He hadn't, so I handed one to them - they were thankful, he was excited, and I was happy.
I realized I hadn't brought a CD or anything with me for the band to sign, and after a moment's panic, I realized the back of my VIP pass (still around my neck) was blank. Perfect autograph canvas.
Robin (the drummer), came out next and placed his beer bottle next to the bus amid cheers from the crowd. He moved his way down the line, taking photos and palling around with everyone. When he got to Michelle, he opened her CD case and signed the insert, the CD, the inside sleeve, the case...everything he could touch. We started laughing, and he teased us by grabbing everything he could reach to sign - including MY pass (I was standing next to her), saying "Lemme sign this." I said "He read my mind!" And he stuck both fingers toward his eyes and mine, imitating that we were on the same brainwave.
He moved his way through the crowd, and our attention was diverted to the bus again as the accompanying keyboardist (Elvio Fernandes) came out next. He opened the bus door to get inside, and promptly knocked over Robin's beer. Everyone OOOHed and got Robin's attention, who looked daggers at Elvio from the back of the crowd. (And he is a little guy of about 5' 5")
He bellowed out "Who did what?! He knocked over my BEER?!" and acted like all hell broke loose. He marched his way through the crowd, and parted us right between the little boy and me as everyone laughed. He put his hand on my waist as he squeezed behind me, and I scooted up toward Michelle to get out of his way. He hopped over the rope and let his hand trail down from my waist along my butt, eliciting a look of surprise and a small "Oh!" from me. Part of me instinctively thought, "I have a boyfriend, buddy," and the other part of me wanted to scream "ROBIN DIAZ JUST TOUCHED MY BUTT!!"
I'm so mature.
Meanwhile, Elvio had dashed back into the bus to hide from Robin, who was standing outside the door tapping his foot and mourning the loss of his beer. The crowd was laughing at this little show, and I thoroughly LOVED how down-to-earth and natural they all were. Elvio ended up coming out with a new beer for him, and everyone cheered. Then there was a scuffle including the guys handing their bottles to some girls in the front to hold while they performed some sort of ninja dance at each other (with the crowd laughing more), and then one security guy had to go and ruin the fun by taking away the bottles.
Elvio sweet-talked the crotchety old fart into giving the bottles back, but he had to dump the beer into the gutter. The girls kept trying to get his attention and he finally said "You want the empty bottle?" They nodded and he said, "Okay...you know that's weird?" And everyone laughed again.
At this point, Elvio came over toward us to put his bag in the luggage container below the bus. Some guy squeezed up past me to get to the rope and asked him what song he had played during the show before the band started "What About Now". (Elvio had had a small solo interlude while the other members switched instruments and clothing.)
I actually knew what he had played - it was Hotel California - because I recognized it during the show and got excited, hoping they were going to cover it. Elvio thanked the guy for his compliments and told him that it was an Eagles song. I muttered "I knew it!", and after the guy left, Elvio turned to Michelle and me, asking me, "You recognized it?"
I told him I did, and that I had hoped they were going to perform it. He got excited and said it was his only time during the entire show to really do whatever he wants, and that he liked the response to Hotel California, so he was going to keep it for awhile. I told him I was glad he was, because it was a beautiful intro to "What About Now." He grinned and said "Yes, I played it in that key! You were paying attention!" And Lord, was he cute.
We hung out there as the crowd thinned - as most people are fans of Chris, and Chris had yet to show up, many gave up and left. By the end, there were only about 15 of us left. At this point, Sean came out and told us that Chris was on his way. He promised that we would all get a photo and an autograph, and that he wanted us to get in line so it was more orderly.
When Chris came out, Sean even placed security around us so no one else from the streets could cut in line or anything. Respect for Sean = increased yet again. He made damn sure that we all got a special souvenir from that night, and that we were rewarded for waiting - and I for one was eternally grateful.
Michelle and I were last in line, and I turned to her and asked if I should explain to Chris about 'knowing a lot of men' after all. She kept cracking up and said I should, but I wasn't sure all of a sudden - because I figured he didn't even remember. (Although, I reminded myself with a sudden blast of realization, that I actually was getting my ONE CHANCE to do so.)
When it was my turn, Sean smiled at me and led me over to Chris. He had changed and showered, and the butterflies were back. I started to lift my hand again, but he immediately reached out and pulled me into a giant bear hug.
I nearly fainted.
I said (into his shoulder) "Nice to meet you...again! I met you earlier during the VIP."
His response was either "I know," or, "I remember!" Whichever it was, he remembered me. *squeak*
Then I went for it. I continued on, "I'm the one you told had a firm handshake... (he smiled and said "Yes")...and then I said I know a lot of men...but I didn't mean it that way!!"
He laughed and said "Oh I know!" (as he reached out to touch my arm.) Then, laughing, he said, "We don't assume that." I laughed, and Michelle said, "No, I told her that!"
I said, "I realized how it sounded afterward, and she told me 'do you realize what you said?'" Chris laughed and said, "No, you didn't say it that way." Then he pulled me up to him for a photo, and I somehow managed to stop laughing and smile somewhat attractively. But I was still mid-giggle, and very aware of his muscular arm around my shoulders, and his warm body...because he is a VERY good hugger.
*ahem*
(bigger version at the bottom of this post)
He continued to say, "You weren't like 'Oooh, I know a lot of men...'" with narrowed eyes and his head cocked, flashing a seductive look that had us all laughing - including Sean! Relieved that he did not, in fact, think I was a hooker, I started to thank him for the night.
Bless Michelle's heart, who blurted out "Don't you want your VIP pass?" Thank GOD she reminded me, because I would have been upset if I hadn't gotten my one physical souvenir (though the picture would end up sufficing, I didn't realize that at the time of course.)
I jumped and said "Oh yeah! Sorry! Can you sign this?" Graciously, Chris said, "Absolutely," and signed it while I laughed and said, "Geez, I was too busy explaining my sexual innuendos..."
Chris laughed out loud.
Finally, I thanked him, and he thanked me, said it was nice to meet me, and I stepped aside to let Michelle talk to him.
I walked away and stood there in a daze while Michelle got her pic, and then I floated all the way back to the hotel. I skipped down the walk, laughing and squealing, stunned and thrilled that I actually had just gotten that opportunity. I was reeling, and as everything came crashing down and hit me full force, I cried.
It meant SO much to me, I can hardly put it in words. Suddenly, I wasn't mortified about my comment during the meet and greet. I was so GLAD I had said it, because it paved the way for my explaining it to Chris later....and that gave me a few moments of conversation with him, a shared joke, a lasting impression, and one hell of a special memory.
How many people say stupid things to celebrities when they meet them? And how many of them get to then explain themselves later? And then, how many of the celebrities laugh about it, run with it, and make the starstruck fan feel better about it?
Not many, I think.
I'm one lucky, blessed, and extremely grateful girl.
x
May 22, 2012
Concert Photos
(The first few are from soundcheck)
