In my dreams you are still here...

**NKOTBSB Tour - 7/20/2011 - KFC Yum! Center - Louisville, KY**

*Part II - Soundcheck*

Now it's time to share the wonderful experience that was the Louisville soundcheck...

From Silver...

So, I had gotten an e-mail on Sunday that I had won a Silver VIP for the Backstreet Boys for my show in Louisville.  For those of you who do not know BSB VIP lingo:  a Silver VIP includes a BSB Soundcheck that consists of 3-4 songs (more about this later), Q&A, and a group photo (the Boys and 4-5 girls).  The last time that I did VIP, I had Susan with me.  This time I was going to be by myself.

I got to the venue a little before 3:45 when check in was supposed to be.  The main box office was filled with both BSB VIP people and NKOTB All Access people.  They sort of divided us and we started the VIP process.  A girl that I had met at the Wylee Party in Nashville, Emily, came up to me and we started talking.  She had also won a Silver VIP but was thinking about upgrading to Gold so that she could get an individual picture with the group.

While standing in line, I asked Justin and the other guy that works check in (I have no idea what his name is) who was giving the backstage tour that comes with the Platinum VIP.  I knew if they were going in the same order that it would be AJ.  However, Leighanne and I had talked about Brian possibly switching with him so that he could do the backstage tour in his home state.  I had been debating whether or not I was going to upgrade ever since I had won the Silver.  Justin would not tell me who was doing the tour and I should have guessed that he wouldn't because they never do.  That is why we keep track of it on the fan club.  If I would have been smart, I would have asked Brian when I had talked to him at the Wylee Party.  However, I was so wrapped up in the conversation we were having that it didn't even dawn on me.  I also realized today that it would have been the perfect time to have another conversation with him that I have been wanting to have for a long time...oh well, it must not have been the right time and place after all.

So, I got my Silver VIP and got in my Silver VIP line.  I saw Emily upgrading hers to Gold.  I knew that if Brian was going to do the backstage tour and I didn't upgrade, I was going to completely kick myself in the butt.  If AJ gave the tour, it wouldn't be a complete loss because AJ was my second favorite for a long time.  Plus, I would be able to sit front row for soundcheck, get my individual picture with the group, and get my backstage tour.  And I would only be paying the difference between the Silver and the Platinum because I would be upgrading from the free Silver.  So instead of paying $520, I would only be paying $312.  I was SO torn.  I decided to heed Nick's advice from the BSB Cruise 2010..."just F it."  I got out of my Silver VIP line and went back to the check in table.  Once there, I debated again....upgrade to Gold or Platinum?  Justin looked at me and told me that I looked like I was contemplating something and I told him that I was trying to decide which one my husband would kill me less over.  I should have told him that if he didn't tell me who was doing the tour, I would not share my chili cheese fries with him on the cruise again this year.  It's amazing what you can think of to say after a situation is already done.  I decided to go for the Platinum.  After swiping my card, Justin asks if you have a cell phone that receives texts because that is how you get the receipt.  I gave him the number and he said he would give it to AJ later....his way of telling me that AJ is giving the tour.  Man.  Who cares, I am still going to have a great time.  Again for those who don't speak BSB VIP:  Platinum includes Soundcheck of 3-4 songs, Q&A, a pre-signed 8x10 photo of the Boys, an individual pic with the group, a backstage tour given by one of the Backstreet Boys, and a photo with whoever is giving the tour.

...To Platinum

So we were sat down in order.  Platinums in the first row, then Gold, then Silver, then Bronze, then the radio contest winners.  Justin explains the rules for the Q&A and then asks if we have any questions.  I asked him if we can take our photos without the barriers.  For those who do not know, usually the Boys stand behind a barrier and then the fans stand in front of it.  During this tour, some people have been able to take their photos without the barrier.  I think it depends on the group size and what kind of mood the Boys are in.  Justin said that it was not up to him but that with the size of our group it was a good possibility that we would be able to have no barriers.  

So AJ comes out and Nick comes out on his cell phone.  Howie was on his cell phone pacing on the main stage.  Brian was no where to be seen.  Nick was talking to Jen, their manager.  I never found out who Howie was talking to but AJ and Nick were making fun of the way he was pacing because he was doing it so rhythmically.  He later told us that he was stepping on the tape that was on the main stage to mark spots.  Brian was still no where but they told us he was taking care of family matters since this was his home state.  That's when I yelled out that we were in enemy territory.  AJ looked at me and asked how so.  I said that we are University of Kentucky fans and that we were in the arena of the University of Louisville Cardinals...our big time rivals.  He then commented that it would be worse if we were in the Duke arena.  I agreed and then it was pointed out that Nick was wearing a Duke Nukem shirt so that was close enough.  AJ told everyone that they could ask questions so people were just shooting questions out there....and this wasn't even the Q&A session!  Mostly people asked about being picked for I'll Never Break Your Heart and people were telling them that it was someone's birthday.  The three of them talked about how they can be mean when it comes to picking fans for "I'll Never Break Your Heart."  They said that fans get really mad when they pick the person next to the girl with the "pick me" sign and that they think it is funny to pick someone who is clearly a New Kids fan because they are decked out in New Kids gear.  I asked if we could take our pictures without barricades.  AJ said that he was making the executive decision that there would be no barricades in the photo.  The fans were all very kind to me and thanked me for that.  One fan did ask AJ where his favorite tattoo was.  It is his Betty Boop with his grandma's name that is on his arm.  His grandma was a huge Betty Boop fan.  Also, AJ's favorite song to sing is Siberia and that he believes that it should have been a single.  I know Brian thinks this same thing.  Why it wasn't is beyond me because it is also a favorite of mine.  I also found out that AJ loves Wal-Mart.

This went on for a long while and Nick decided that it was time for payback from a previous soundcheck.  Apparently, Nick had been late for a soundcheck (in Tulsa) so the Boys had everyone look at their watch and tell him that he was late.  Nick wanted to do the same thing but then changed the phrase we were going to say to "In Kentucky????"  One of the crew members came over and had the Jeopardy theme music on his phone and played that into the microphone so that Brian might be able to hear it.  Brian finally came out but he came from the head of the stage and not the main part as if he was coming from backstage.  He was following his mom, dad, and brother.  He hopped up on stage and we said our line....he said "really?"  He apologized to us and explained that he was getting his family situated with their tickets and such.  Then Nick asked him if his head was burning with his UK hat on.....I have to believe that my previous conversation with them brought this on.

So, when the Backstreet Boys sing their songs in soundcheck they ask for requests from the fans.  Their guidelines are that it cannot be too old and that it should actually be a song that was released as a single.  This ensures that they have the song to play and that they remember the words.  However, I do not like this rule because these are the same songs that they sing during the show.  So everybody started shouting out their Greatest Hits stuff.  I did not want to hear these as I knew I would see them during the show.  I yelled out "Siberia."  AJ heard me and they sang "Siberia."  I was on a roll!  I think I found that since I was sitting in the front row that I had more confidence because I didn't have to compete with anyone in front of me.  The second song that they sang was "Drowning,"  which they do play during the concert but it is a good song and one of Tammy's favorites.  I almost called her so that she could hear them singing it.  I guess lately they have only been singing 2 songs for soundcheck, even though the website says they are supposed to sing 3-4.  Oh well.

Soundcheck Photos

Then the Q&A came.  During this time, each of the Boys is asked one question.  Fans are not supposed to ask for hugs or to be sung to, but ask something that teaches us something about the Boys.  Here are the questions and their answers paraphrased.

Howie - When you hopefully go on your solo tour, will you come to Louisville?  - He is planning on doing a solo tour but has no idea what his schedule will be like.

AJ - Do you prefer touring as it was back then or now? - AJ thinks now.  He shared that for the first two weeks he is happy to be home.  Then the third week he starts to miss the road.  Then by the fourth week he wants to be on the road again really bad.

Nick - If you were the only 4 left on the planet, who would you mate with?  - All of the Boys seemed impressed with this question and complimented her because it must have been something she had thought long and hard about.  Nick says that would take some genetic engineering since it would be impossible to mate with one another since they are all male.  So he decides that he would just genetically engineer the perfect Backstreet Boy with Brian's calves (always been a favorite feature of mine), AJ's voice, Howie's body hair, and his hair.  Then they would have to fly to the moon to mate with the aliens so that can populate the earth again.  AJ then chimed in that if the question was that there was one girl left that he would feel sorry for the one girl because she would have to do it so much.  She would be like, "again?"  All of us said that would NOT be the case....

Brian - Are you and Leighanne planning on having anymore children?  - He simply said that they have been blessed with one child but that is all they are having.  He avoided the fact that Leighanne cannot have anymore children.  Then he asked why he always gets the "dad" questions.

After question and answer, it is time for the group photos.  The Bronze VIPs are ushered out because they do not get photos.  The radio contest winners go first, then Silver, then Gold.  Finally, the Platinum VIPs go.  I was the first one in line for my photo.  Drew, Brian's bodyguard, is the one that was holding us in line.  He tells me "Long time, no see" (he had just seen me at the Wylee Party) and gives me a high five.  When getting our photo taken, we can only give the Boys handshakes, no hugs.  Apparently, they had been getting sick quite a bit and that was to reduce the chance of that happening.  So I shake each of their hands and tell them hello.  I never know what to say to any of them except hi.  Almost all of the people with Gold VIPs had gotten in the middle of Howie and Nick so that they were in the very center. I, of course, had to be next to Brian.  When I shook Brian's hand he said, "Well hello again."  I told him that I could not find him a UK jersey and he told be it was okay and thanks anyway.  I then picked up my pre-signed 8x10 photo and sat down to wait for the backstage tour.  

B-Rok, Me, Howie D., Kaos, and Bone

Backstage Tour

AJ at beginning of tour

AJ was our tour guide and told us to start thinking at the beginning on what our pose will be for our photos because he didn't want any boring "prom" pictures.  I am always so bad at thinking up of poses.  We first saw the sound booth.  He then talked about the Penis Stage and how no one had thought out one of the costume choices.  I had never thought about this before but at one point, Brian and AJ come out on the head, wearing nothing but white ("Show Me the Meaning").  You use your imagination on that one....  He also talked about how you have to bend over when going underneath the stage and how it is really hard on someone who has had knee surgery on both his knees.  So he talked about how he was going to go to Wal-Mart to buy a skateboard so he can just sit on it and wheel himself down the stage.  And no one else will get to use it.

He then took us backstage and showed us the spot on the stage where he had fallen during the very first concert in Chicago.  Because of this, they added hand rails to the spot.  AJ was the guinea pig.  Then, we saw where some of the pyrotechnics were kept.  He talked about how during the "rain wall" during Jordan's "I'll Be Loving You Forever,"  he burned his head because he wasn't wearing his hat and stood under it.  Sometimes, I think AJ is not very bright.  We then saw the computer station that runs the whole show.  It was here that AJ said that they try to do something different every show.  This proves my point that no two shows are ever the same and makes me want to do Mega Tour even more.  We then met some crew members and then had our photos taken.

Me and AJ McLean

I was one of the last ones because I could not think of a good pose.  I settled on one finally.  I had totally forgotten that my friends had talked about asking him to take off his shirt if they ever did platinum.  I think it would have settled the debate that Donnie's abs are much finer than AJ's (but that is another post for another time).  While there were a lot of cute poses, I didn't want to do one that someone else had already done because then I felt like I would have been stealing.  The important thing is that I finally have a photo with someone other than Brian (although I do have one with Kevin but he is just not a member anymore).  I can now get my photo with Donnie if the time ever arises because I proved my friends wrong.  The conversation was if you had the opportunity of getting a photo with AJ or Donnie, who would it be with?  I said Donnie because I would have more opportunities later with AJ since I do way more BSB stuff.  They told me that I would never get a photo with AJ because I always stand next to Brian....take that girls!!!!  Not only did I get a photo with AJ, but I am leaning towards Howie in my group photo!  LOL.

Well, I guess that is my BSB Platinum VIP experience.  Stay tuned for my concert review....where more cool stuff happens!