My story... (
copied from post on DDB)
Here's my tour experience ya'll... sorry it is so long, I cut out a ton of stuff but it's still over 4 pages. Some will probably be of little interest to most, but who knows, maybe others will get ideas to take on to other shows. Okay, here goes...
Part 1:On Sunday evening I met up with a handful of JSBs at a restaurant that's right next door to the arena. It was really funny as we each arrived, not knowing if the person we were approaching was one of "us" or just some random stranger. Fortunately needacoke had printed us each up neat little nametags to wear that night and the next day, so it was easy to remember who was who after our initial introductions. Though all but a couple of us had never met in person, we were all gabbing like old friends within minutes. It was really fun putting faces to the names of those we've been chatting online with for months. I had reserved an area outside on the patio and was really glad that the weather was just perfect. We ate dinner, talked about how excited we were to see Jason and meet everyone else, and took a whole lot of pictures. Everyone had their camera there so we had to pose for the same group shot about a dozen times; by the last few we were all giggling, so I’m wonder how those few turned out.
After dinner, we got out all our posters, banner paper, paint, glitter etc. and got to work on our banners and putting any final touches on our signs. We also put together the "Welcome to Georgia" gift bags for the other 9 idols. roy_33 made really nice labels to go on the front of each with the idol's names in their own tour color. There was constant laughter while this was going on, especially when the glitter pen Wendy was using exploded sending glitter EVERYWHERE! haha After finishing up and confirming everyone's plans for Monday morning, we headed out. I drove home that night.
The next morning, with help from my wonderful husband, I loaded up more stuff than should ever fit into a two-door Honda Civic. Two six foot tables, a gazebo, cooler, helium tank, suitcase, Jason's gift basket, folding chairs, umbrellas, signs made the night before, video camera, regular camera, CDs....and a ton of other stuff that I still haven't even unpacked from the car. I hit the road for the arena bound and determined to claim the only spot I'd found months before that would be big enough for our group. After gettin stuck in traffic I got there about 20 minutes later than originally planned but thankfully kali had arrived there just before me and we were just in time to keep a group from another fanbase from setting up shop where we wanted to be. whew! 4EverBlueJeanBaby (Carrie) and her “tag-along” friend Robyn, roy_33 and others arrived within minutes and we all got to work.
We set up our gazebos (ended up with three total), placed the tables where they needed to be, blew up a ton of baby blue and smileyface balloons and hung our JSB Dreadhead banners and signs all around. We even had a rainbow pinata!
After getting settled a group of us wandered over to the lot where the buses would be parking to see if anything was going on yet. A security guard told us that a barricade would be set up out front in a couple hours. So we headed back to base camp and welcomed other JSBs as they arrived.
Poisnivy had created us some really cool temp tattoos; guitars, rainbows, buses.. you name it, and a bunch of us had a ball picking out which ones we wanted and where to put em. TigerSooner4Aggie provided the music; she'd downloaded just about every Jason song, interview and appearance that could be found and had her portable sound system hooked up to her car battery. I decorated my car windows with paint and sat back and enjoyed a few minutes talking with the others and trying to remember everyone's REAL names. (eventually I gave up on trying to keep em all straight and just stuck with DDB names).
Carrie and I had gotten each JSB a cool limited edition coke bottle and printed out each a copy of this JSB pic design amberscape helped us put together for Jason:
We passed the bags out and left the rest on the table to be picked up.
A little while later we noticed security setting up the barricade and we all grabbed our cameras, signs and gifts and ran to claim our spot. While we were waiting, our very own ljazz was working as a reporter for a local radio station, B98.5, to interview our group and give them a report on what the scene was like at the arena that day. By now you all know what transpired with the idols not coming out after we waited out there for several hours, so I'll just skip over that part. I did however send Jason's basket and the gift bags for each of the other idols inside with the head of their security.
Around 4 o'clock the food was delivered and we all headed over to enjoy some yummy BBQ. I'd printed out "meal coupons" for each person in order to keep track of how many we'd ordered food for and how much extra we had for guests (even though we did have some guests join us, we ended up with a ton left over anyway). The tear-off stub at the end of each coupon was that person's entry into a raffle for one of the silver Dreadhead necklaces. The winner of the raffle was shygirluk (Rebecca) who came all the way from England with her parents for the show. Yay Rebecca!
I want to thank all those who brought the delicious brownies and desserts! Yum! What's a Dreadhead party without brownies?!;D
Part 2:After everyone had their fill, we cleaned things up and started getting ready for the show. I ran and got checked in to the hotel, took a quick shower and headed back over. Unfortunately I ended up being directed to park on the opposite side of the arena; so I had to run to get back over where the front doors were. About this time 4EverBlueJeanBaby (Carrie) called my cell and informed me that CNN was there wanting to interview the group. Just when I got to where they all were, they turned the cameras on and starting filming. Not sure what all they got, but I guess we'll find out Friday night when it airs!
We headed inside and all split off to find our seats. Carrie and I were in the second floor section back from the stage, on the last row. We looked around for blue shirts, and Jason's signs and noticed that no other fanbases really had anything that tied them together. A couple here and there would be wearing the same shirt, but nothing like the cohesive look of the Dreadheads.
As the show started, a guy appeared on the screens over the stage and began getting the crowd pumped up and pulled a few fans out to dance. He was standing on a chair out in the audience somewhere and had one of the PopTarts with him. After a minute I realized that he sounded rather close; so I slowly turned around to find him right behind Carrie and me. That's when we realized that we too were on those big screens. Our phones started to ring as other JSB's saw us up there; one even sent us phone pic of us on the screens.
Shortly after all that, Chikezie came out and the show started. I can honestly say that I was really surprised at how good each performance was. I came to see Jason, but really enjoyed each and every one, at least all those I stuck around to see.
As luck would have it, we had a couple tall guys in front of us, but since we were on the isle we were able to move to the side and had a really good view of the whole stage.
We were getting really excited when it was intermission 'cause we knew that meant Jason would be next. About that time, Poisnivy came back and whispered that Overstrung had told her about some empty seats that were up to the front. So me, Carrie and her got up there as quickly as we could and I about fell over when we realized we'd be seeing Jason's set from dead-center seats, five rows back from the stage!
The lights went down and I got ready for the best concert experience of my life. Jason, the Jason...the one who's voice has been running through my head since the beginning of the year... walked casually out on that stage, right in front of me and sat down. Though every note, expression, and smile of the next 15 minutes are engraved in my mind, at the same time... it's almost a blur. Robyn (Carrie's friend who came with her but sat in their original seats, said she didn't see half of his set because apparently watching Carrie and I in our Jason trance was so much more entertaining. I can tell you it was really incredible. He was incredible. Just sitting there on that stool, he has more stage presence than any one of them. You're just drawn in to his music... to the words of his songs... to the notes he's playing. For those who've been there, you know what I'm talking about. To those who have yet to have that amazing opportunity, I pray that one day you will.
As soon as he left the stage, Carrie, Poisnivy and I bolted for the door. We got outside and were the first to claim our place by the barricade where they would be coming out after the show. It was fairly quite for the next little bit and then we heard the crowd inside roar when the Davids each appeared and did their songs.
Others began coming out an taking their places along the fence, the earliest being other Dreadheads. We were a group determined to see our guy! We hung our "Welcome to Georgia, Jason" banner in front of us, rehearsed what we planned on saying to him, and got our cameras ready. We waited for every one to exit the arena and then another hour or so while they met with fans backstage.
Part 3:By the time the first idol came out the crowd behind us had grown to about 12-14 rows deep. Every idol that came down the line seemed really nice and I was able to get each to sign the group picture poisnivy had printed out. Carly's story about Ramielle and the chocolate bar was really funny and I loved hearing her accent as she told it. I was surprised at how short Ramielle actually is and Archie looked like he was about twelve, but really was adorable. We asked them all about the gift bags we sent inside and they all said they really loved them, commented on what was in them and how nice they thought it was that Jason’s Dreadheads share the love with them too. They said no other fan base does anything like that and that it says a lot. I remember telling Brooke that it is because of the way Jason treats others that we are inspired to do the things we do. She paused and looked up from signing at that point and said “yes...you’re right, he is a really wonderful person”.
While waiting around all day long, we'd gotten to know one of the arena security guards, Margaret. She was a lifesaver when the crowd behind us started pushing forward as each idol approached. Every time, she'd have to yell for everyone to back up before we ended up completely squished. She was well aware of who we were there to see so when Jason finally stepped through the door, she went right over to him. She pointed our way and said "Those are your Dreadheads, they've been here waiting for you all day". It didn't take a split second and a huge smile came across his face as he turned and looked toward us. His eyes grew big and he started running toward the fence. He stepped up on the bottom rail and almost dove into the crowd of Dreadheads saying "My Dreads!" and embracing as many as he could get his arms around. It almost made me cry. He REALLY was the caring, loving guy we'd all seen him to be on TV and online. His actions that night just validated it.
After the big hug, security suggested to him to head over and start with those at one end and make his way back down the line of fans. He did so and we had a few minutes to gather ourselves and be in awe of what had just happened.
When he got down the line to me he signed my picture, squiggly dreadhead and all and then I asked if I could get a picture with him. He leaned over into me and held my camera out to take the picture. I have no idea how long that moment actually was, cause standing there leaning against him, it's just kinda froze in my mind...
After the picture I asked him about the gift basket and his eyes lit up and he said he loved it. He must have already torn through it cause he said he'd already drunk one of the drinks I put in there and REALLY liked it. (I will tell you that it's made locally and it wasn't one of the cokes. )
After he took a picture with Carrie and they talked about the puzzle for a minute I couldn't help but ask for a hug since I was too far down to be part of the first one. In true Jason style he said "Sure!" and I got one of his big ol' wonderful bear hugs. I will tell you that the "thank you" I felt in that hug SO MUCH MORE than made up for the hours and days and months I've spent doing everything I can to promote him and get his career off to a good start.
The smile that was on my face at that moment has made it's way to a permanent place on my heart.
After he moved on down the line, I told the ton of people behind me that if they would back up a second so I could reach down and get my stuff, I'd leave and let them move up a spot. Eventually I got out of there and went and collapsed on the grassy area off to the side where other JSBs were going to sit after their time with Jason was up. We gathered everyone in sight and took a few more group pics before heading back to the JSB camp and packing everything up. Thank you to all those who helped me fit all the stuff back in that little car!
We all said our goodbyes and those who were staying the night headed back to the hotel. Carrie and I stayed up half the night downloading the pictures from our cameras, giving a short update for those still on DDB at that hour, and talking about how incredible it was to finally meet Jason.
And that's pretty much my experience from the Atlanta show. Again, sorry it was so long. It's really hard to fit so much excitement into a short post! I’ve left things out here and there, but I’m sure they’ll be mentioned in time or by someone else.
Again, I want to thank all those that helped to make our JSB tailgate a success. You are all wonderful and I hope we will all stay in touch and meet up again the next time Jason comes to town, if not before then!