WOW is all I can say! The concert was great! SO here is how it went down!
First, you all know I was nervous my friends who were not really NKOTB fans would not love the show. Well, spoiler, they did! And I am so glad I bought the second row seats at the last minute! I took a small loss on the other ones, but it was sooooo worth it!
So here is our concert trip report.....
We got to the Amway around 6. We rode in an elevator with this woman who was super dressed up. She looked at our shirts and said "Oh, are you NKOTB fans? Are you going to their concert?" No, we just happen to have NKOTB shirts on in an elevator at the Amway Center parking garage on concert night.
Since it was a bit rainy and only an hour and half until show time we decided instead of finding food in the area we would just eat there. Nothing like some arena food! We walked around for a while and boy is the Amway nice! We stopped and peeked down into the arena and I was flipping out seeing our seats!
As we were wandering around trying to find the stairs to get to the ground floor I look over and there was Rod Lewis standing there. So what do I do...run! My friends were like "just go say hi." And no, I ran! Nice!
We found our seats and oh my, they were awesome! We were surrounded by vip package people! The front row people were already standing at the barricade so we had a great view. We asked security about the bracelets and they said as long as we don't make trouble they won't check bracelets...score! So we stood behind the front row people for Boyz II Men. We were nice though, we let anyone with a bracelet get in front of us!
Then they started checking bracelets at the beginning of 98 Degrees. So we just casually walked back to the front row seats and sat there. The girl to my right (closer to the stage than me) and I did not have a good relationship. First she stood in front of me so I asked her not to. Then she asked if I minded if her friend joined her. I said no, as long as she didn't stand in front of me. So she said how about if you guys move down one to make room for her. Umm, move farther from the stage so your friend (who also does not have front row seats) can get closer, NO. So she was not happy with me.
Right before NKOTB came out they checked bands and wouldn't let anyone sit in the front row. Bummer, but really, we were only 2 feet behind there. And no one stood in front of us so it was awesome! I was screaming and dancing the whole two hours! We made friends with the girls next to us.
We were so dang close! Tons of security starts coming over and making hand motions from the stage to the side of the arena. OMG one of them is coming through here to go into the crowd. (Please let it not be Danny, sorry buddy, you're just not my first choice...or second or third or fourth but you are my 5th favorite New Kid!) We're all joking about how when one of them comes by we're all lunging for a hand touch!
And what do you know it was JOEY!! My childhood favorite! We all lunged forward and I went extra hard because, let's face it, I'm short and my reach is not so great. We all got a hand grab from Joey, we watched him perform in the crowd. When we turned around we saw the front row seats. Let's just say that the seats were all attached before...now they weren't. In my adrenaline rush of reaching for Joey I had unlatched the seats. Oops!
After that security stopped checking bracelets and let anyone go stand so we went and stood at the barricade for the last song. I'm such a rule follower that when the girls next to us suggested it I said no way, but they went and weren't sent back and my friend went so I followed her. The unattached seat worked well for this! We just moved it to the side and slipped out!
All in all it was a great evening. One of my friends said it was the best concert she has ever seen. They both kept saying "These guys are in their 40's?!?!" They decided they are hotter now than in the 80's and 90's. Umm, duh! So I went with two newbies who were just excited to see me go crazy and I left with two new Blockheads! Perfect! I missed my friend Shelby who is my NKOTB buddy, we've seen 11 shows together but it was still an awesome time. I ended up LOVING 3 shirts and bought two. Did I really just spend $80 on two shirts?!?!
I'll get the third shirt in Manchester! (Funny enough, I got all my NKOTB shirts out so my friends could wear one. I had never taken inventory before and I was surprised to learn I have 6 shirts! Yikes, but not it is 8! Oops!)
I was up in the air with Manchester because I'm not sure if I'm going home this summer, but now I am more determined to go home and see a show with her! (My husband may have surgery this summer and I was waiting to see when it would be scheduled. We were hoping for July but now it looks like it won't happen until August.)
And remember how I said I ran from Rob Lewis when I saw him....cause I'm a pansy! Well when I got home I tweeted him and said something like: Saw you in the hallway and was too nervous to say hi. Great show tonight. You guys made two new fans and he tweeted me back! I know, it's Rob Lewis and not an NKOTB, but he is the closest thing to an NKOTB member that has tweeted me.....Night made!
I'll post some other photos later!
But, I wanted another chance for a meet & greet (I've done one and felt like it was SOooo rushed and have wanted a "do over" since) and picture with someone besides Donnie (yes, I'm hoping more of them will be there! it sounds like they've all been showing up at them, so fingers crossed!) Plus, my sister has never gotten to meet them, so I'm excited for her to experience it. 
I'm beyond excited! And, yes, I will definitely give a full report on the after party!
I think it is time for an intervention.
