Tuesday, February 16, 2010………….What an amazing day for Clay Aiken fans.

It started early in the day…

• check and update your Ticketmaster account
• run off copy of seating chart
• find credit card and have it handy, just in case
• check in at the OFC
• fire up extra computer, just in case
• clean glasses
• pour a cup of coffee
• check in at the OFC
• visit the “Bathroom”
• remind family members to LEAVE THE ROOM
• check in at the OFC
• say a short prayer to the “Ticket Gods”

Finally, the time comes……..

• What do you mean, no tickets match my request…..again and again and again
• What do mean, the best seats available are in the last row of the balcony?
• Things I forget to get………tissues to wipe brow…muzzle so neighbors can’t here inappropriate words
• No tickets match my request……..except balcony, in the corner!!
• Finally, some OK tickets…….must compromise and purchase these!
• Get aspirin and a bottle of wine
• Feel better when you realize your Canadian friends are really in trouble

Does that sound anything like your day??

Yet, it was a wonderful day.  Clay was on-line for hours, trying to solve our problems and answering our questions.  We learned that Brian, a part of “Team Clay” worked above and beyond to help with all the glitches.

But the best part of the day was realizing that even if our seats aren’t the very best, we will be seeing and hearing an extraordinary concert on March 12^th.  To a Clay Aiken fan, there is nothing better than seeing Clay live, in concert.

The relationship between Clay Aiken and his fans is very special.  There is no doubt that he cares very much about his fans and their wants and needs.  He lets us get away with so much.  I know of no other artist that allows and encourages “Clack” at concerts and doesn’t mind that half the audience in engaged in a cellcert.  I just hope that every one of us will understand when he asks us to abide by the rules for this concert.

The concert and TV special is about Clay Aiken.  It is not about Clay Aiken’s enthusiastic fans.  So, when he asks us to put all phones away, leave our cameras and videos cameras at home and not to wear clothing that is fan-centric, we need to be extra careful to follow his requests.  If he doesn’t want binoculars in the first 6 rows, we don’t get to argue with him and suggest that it’s not fair because you can’t see.  I feel for anyone who has visual problems, however, you will be there in person, you get to hear Clay sing and when you want to see the freckles on his face, watch it on TV.  This is Clay’s night.  We need to do everything we can to support him and make him even more proud of his fans.

I loved going to E-bay and seeing the auction for the VIP package.  These tickets will bring much-needed money to The National Inclusion Project.  Unfortunately, I didn’t win the lottery so I will have to miss out.  However, as an orchestral musician, sitting through the dress rehearsal would be a dream come true.

So far, fans are coming to the concert from 25 states, three Canadian provinces and from Asia.  Isn’t that amazing?

The past couple of weeks have been so much fun. And we have so much more to look forward to!  Is it March 12^th yet?