Buffalo, NY Concert 7:30pm 12/15/2011
Dec 19, 2011 21:33:11 GMT
Post by sylvester88 on Dec 19, 2011 21:33:11 GMT
From JEFC.
A review from Papasmurfdad himself, never thought he's human at all. Just joking.
Papasmurf wrote:
Posted Today, 09:47 AM
A CHRISTMAS STORY
(or 'A trip to Buffalo that almost wasn't')
It all started about the middle of November when I uploaded to You Tube my video of me singing 'Walking In The Air.' The video started generating a few comments and some back-and-fourth between a particular fan and myself. This fan was very complimentary about my videos and it came out that we had never met although we were both in Houston and Atlanta. Another fan comically commented that we had indeed met before and that it was clearly documented in the video at 3:01 (in the video two penguins are looking into the sky at the flying snowman and accidentally bump into one another as 'we' were 'waddling' about). It came out that because of my passion of shooting clandestine video that I had met few fans and had never met Jackie or Lisa much less even gotten close to them. The third fan expressed horror and devastation about that and sincerely hoped that situation would be rectified in Mandalay (I had previously said that I was going). The first fan suggested that we two become email friends as he wanted to know more about the making of my Jackie videos.
Three days later....Well wonder of wonders, I do get an email from him and he tells me that he will not be going to Las Vegas, sad, but will be making what he called the "Grand Christmas Tour" -- Buffalo, Atlantic City, and Pittsburgh. AND that he had an extra ticket for the Buffalo concert - VIP - FRONT ROW CENTER - ADMISSION TO SOUND CHECK - MEET AND GREET WITH JACKIE!! He realized, "it might not be a possibility, but is there any way you might possibly make it to the Buffalo concert?" IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN MAKE IT? I'm thinking, "A-R-E T-H-E-R-E B-E-A-R-S I-N T-H-E W-O-O-D-S?" (I'm safe asking the question. There are a few even in Texas!)
Moments later...."Honey, look at this!" I show my wife my iPhone. "Can I go? Hun, PLEASE?" "You're retired aren't you? GO! You have the time, now find the money."
My next email to my new fan friend....Oh heck! I can hold it back no longer....
My next email to my new fan friend, ALEX (sempiternam4jackie), "I would be HONORED! You have made an old man jump for joy! I feel like my little 19 month old granddaughter as just fallen asleep on my chest!" Life is good! FANS ARE GREAT!
Well, needless to say, plans were made and I had the best Jackie experience of my life!
I met Alex Wednesday night and took him to the Chop House for dinner.
The next day was all just too much. It started with the sound check/rehearsal. Wow was that exciting! Then the photo opportunity (Thanks Alex for taking such a great picture of me and Jackie!) Did you hear that? ME AND JACKIE!! I would have never thought it!
Alex then grabbed my arm and said "Come on. I'll introduce you to Lisa." I shook hands with her and words left my brain. I stumbled, "Hi Lisa, I am Mike Swayne." She just said hello and then I said I was papasmurfdad. She said a gracious "Thank you" to ME, yes little old me! That must mean she has seen my videos! It is all worth it now! We fans then met across the street at the Bijou for a late lunch. Jackie was there too! Well it LOOKED like Jackie. Soon it was concert time.....She sings her songs and our hearts melt, our eyes tear up, and we are transported to places forgotten, times younger and memories fonder! It was all over way too soon! Fans Ianjz, Alex, and Bluesea have written great reviews and used up all the adjectives! What more can I say?
Back to the Bijou for our 'after glow.' Yes we were still glowing and will for some time to come!
Next day I am in the hotel lobby waiting for my airport shuttle when who should come out of the elevator, but Ian and Alex. The cart was loaded to the hilt! They were getting loaded up for the next leg of the "Christmas Grand Tour." Just then my ride showed up so I could not help them load! He, he. I thanked Alex once again for the wonderful Christmas gift and shook hands with Ian too! Fan friends are wonderful!
I settle into an old Crown Victoria with cold, worn leather seats. The driver starts the conversation, "What brought you to Buffalo?" "To see a concert." "Oh? Who and Where?" (To me this is a strange question because cab drivers are supposed to know everything going on in their city, right?) "Jackie Evancho was at the Shea Performing Arts Center," I said. "Who?" "A little girl singer." I pull out my trusty iPhone, in which is stored every popular video made in the last year, and call up The Grove performance of 'Believe.' I take the drivers eyes from the road, dangerous thing to do, as I lean forward and hold my phone inches from his face. He watches and listens a few minutes and just says, "Wow!" He then hands me his phone and asks me to find it on You Tube so he can play the video later. Then he hands me a dirty wire hanging out of the cassette adapter in the old Vic's radio and asks me to plug it into his phone. Well, 3G is not co-operating and I can't get You Tube going on his phone. I then remember I have my MP3 player in my pocket (Jackie tunes for the flight back home). I plug it in, start it playing and he turns it way up! HC is blasting away for the remaining ride time to the airport! When we arrive I tell him he can purchase Heavenly Christmas at Walmart. He said thank you, "I'll go buy it right now!"
Jackie's amazing power to capture our hearts is at work. It is up to us fans to give it a little push. That is what I have tried to do with my videos for the past year. Thank you all fans everywhere. It may have been Alex who gave me the ticket and the wonderful experience of being on the front row, but it is you all who will now have to forgive me for not videoing in Buffalo! Alex, don't tell anyone but it was worth it, one hundred percent!
papasmurfdad
A review from Papasmurfdad himself, never thought he's human at all. Just joking.
Papasmurf wrote:
Posted Today, 09:47 AM
A CHRISTMAS STORY
(or 'A trip to Buffalo that almost wasn't')
It all started about the middle of November when I uploaded to You Tube my video of me singing 'Walking In The Air.' The video started generating a few comments and some back-and-fourth between a particular fan and myself. This fan was very complimentary about my videos and it came out that we had never met although we were both in Houston and Atlanta. Another fan comically commented that we had indeed met before and that it was clearly documented in the video at 3:01 (in the video two penguins are looking into the sky at the flying snowman and accidentally bump into one another as 'we' were 'waddling' about). It came out that because of my passion of shooting clandestine video that I had met few fans and had never met Jackie or Lisa much less even gotten close to them. The third fan expressed horror and devastation about that and sincerely hoped that situation would be rectified in Mandalay (I had previously said that I was going). The first fan suggested that we two become email friends as he wanted to know more about the making of my Jackie videos.
Three days later....Well wonder of wonders, I do get an email from him and he tells me that he will not be going to Las Vegas, sad, but will be making what he called the "Grand Christmas Tour" -- Buffalo, Atlantic City, and Pittsburgh. AND that he had an extra ticket for the Buffalo concert - VIP - FRONT ROW CENTER - ADMISSION TO SOUND CHECK - MEET AND GREET WITH JACKIE!! He realized, "it might not be a possibility, but is there any way you might possibly make it to the Buffalo concert?" IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN MAKE IT? I'm thinking, "A-R-E T-H-E-R-E B-E-A-R-S I-N T-H-E W-O-O-D-S?" (I'm safe asking the question. There are a few even in Texas!)
Moments later...."Honey, look at this!" I show my wife my iPhone. "Can I go? Hun, PLEASE?" "You're retired aren't you? GO! You have the time, now find the money."
My next email to my new fan friend....Oh heck! I can hold it back no longer....
My next email to my new fan friend, ALEX (sempiternam4jackie), "I would be HONORED! You have made an old man jump for joy! I feel like my little 19 month old granddaughter as just fallen asleep on my chest!" Life is good! FANS ARE GREAT!
Well, needless to say, plans were made and I had the best Jackie experience of my life!
I met Alex Wednesday night and took him to the Chop House for dinner.
The next day was all just too much. It started with the sound check/rehearsal. Wow was that exciting! Then the photo opportunity (Thanks Alex for taking such a great picture of me and Jackie!) Did you hear that? ME AND JACKIE!! I would have never thought it!
Alex then grabbed my arm and said "Come on. I'll introduce you to Lisa." I shook hands with her and words left my brain. I stumbled, "Hi Lisa, I am Mike Swayne." She just said hello and then I said I was papasmurfdad. She said a gracious "Thank you" to ME, yes little old me! That must mean she has seen my videos! It is all worth it now! We fans then met across the street at the Bijou for a late lunch. Jackie was there too! Well it LOOKED like Jackie. Soon it was concert time.....She sings her songs and our hearts melt, our eyes tear up, and we are transported to places forgotten, times younger and memories fonder! It was all over way too soon! Fans Ianjz, Alex, and Bluesea have written great reviews and used up all the adjectives! What more can I say?
Back to the Bijou for our 'after glow.' Yes we were still glowing and will for some time to come!
Next day I am in the hotel lobby waiting for my airport shuttle when who should come out of the elevator, but Ian and Alex. The cart was loaded to the hilt! They were getting loaded up for the next leg of the "Christmas Grand Tour." Just then my ride showed up so I could not help them load! He, he. I thanked Alex once again for the wonderful Christmas gift and shook hands with Ian too! Fan friends are wonderful!
I settle into an old Crown Victoria with cold, worn leather seats. The driver starts the conversation, "What brought you to Buffalo?" "To see a concert." "Oh? Who and Where?" (To me this is a strange question because cab drivers are supposed to know everything going on in their city, right?) "Jackie Evancho was at the Shea Performing Arts Center," I said. "Who?" "A little girl singer." I pull out my trusty iPhone, in which is stored every popular video made in the last year, and call up The Grove performance of 'Believe.' I take the drivers eyes from the road, dangerous thing to do, as I lean forward and hold my phone inches from his face. He watches and listens a few minutes and just says, "Wow!" He then hands me his phone and asks me to find it on You Tube so he can play the video later. Then he hands me a dirty wire hanging out of the cassette adapter in the old Vic's radio and asks me to plug it into his phone. Well, 3G is not co-operating and I can't get You Tube going on his phone. I then remember I have my MP3 player in my pocket (Jackie tunes for the flight back home). I plug it in, start it playing and he turns it way up! HC is blasting away for the remaining ride time to the airport! When we arrive I tell him he can purchase Heavenly Christmas at Walmart. He said thank you, "I'll go buy it right now!"
Jackie's amazing power to capture our hearts is at work. It is up to us fans to give it a little push. That is what I have tried to do with my videos for the past year. Thank you all fans everywhere. It may have been Alex who gave me the ticket and the wonderful experience of being on the front row, but it is you all who will now have to forgive me for not videoing in Buffalo! Alex, don't tell anyone but it was worth it, one hundred percent!
papasmurfdad