Blogmas Day 2: Concerts of the Past
- Samantha Richardson
- Dec 2, 2017
- 11 min read
This will be a longer article and while I’ve been to many concerts prior to September 7th, 2014, I am only including the ones where I met the artist for this blog post. Also, there will be ones after that date that will not be included and after this article, any meet and greets or other concerts will get their own post.
September 7th, 2014
This concert was my first concert that I can recall meeting the artists. It was held at Lake Nona High School in Lake Nona, FL. The tour name was My Voice Counts and they had an Orlando and Miami stop. Most of the artists I did not know, but the one I was there for was a boyband called IM5. At this time, consisted of four original members Cole Pendery, Gabe Morales, Dana Vaughns, and Will Jay Behlendorf plus newcomer David Scarzone. David Scarzone was the replacement for Dalton Rapattoni; however, David was only in the band from May to October except it wasn’t announced until November that he had left.
I was still extremely excited to meet IM5 as they were someone I was following since late June of 2013 and it was just slightly over a year when I met them. The way this concert was set up was those with VIP were let in two hours earlier for pizza, soundcheck and a meet greet. During this meet and greet, I got an individual picture with Will, Dana and Gabe, which I consider successful since the David and Cole had massive lines for them. After the meet and greet, they did a soundcheck that included some covers from their internet series with Todrick Hall called #BandCamp along with some originals. I videotaped most of it, so I will include a playlist with the videos on it or I will compile them into one massive video; however, as a disclaimer these videos recorded weirdly and are either upside down or on their side.
After soundcheck, it was a bit until the concert itself started. When the concert started, it was all the other artists with IM5 closing. It was smart on their part that way people wouldn’t leave until the very end, but at the same time it felt like forever waiting to see the one group I came for. When the time came for them to perform, I pulled out my IPhone 5 and began recording. I did have a few moments of having to delete things on my camera roll and phone in order to make room for the videos.
After the concert, there was another meet and greet. This time it was with all the artists that perform. I can honestly say I only remember the names of three artists/groups. IM5, Cathy Rodriguez and Samantha C. because one is the reason I came, the second was the second biggest artist there and three is because she was also named Samantha.
The meet and greet seemed liked an assembly line. You started at one end and kept going through until you were done. I took a picture with each but my favorite was my interaction with IM5. The reason is when I got to IM5 in the lineup, I handed Jill (their manager) my phone before walking towards them. As I was walking towards them she said something along the lines of “hey checkout her bow.” So the boys did, but my favorite at the time David, said hey that’s my name (bow pictured above) and hugged me tighter. I was extremely happy. After that, I continued taking pictures with the rest and then headed home.
Video Link (also make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel because new content is coming very soon. Thank you!): https://youtu.be/4Z_fmEaDBu8
December 6th, 2014
This concert was held in Celebration, FL. Out of all the meet and greets, I have done to date. This was my least favorite. The concert itself was good but the meet and greet was so rushed. I do understand that they were expecting a bigger venue that could fit all the artists plus everyone who got the meet and greet, but instead they got an extremely small venue that could fit all the artists plus ten additional people before it became a fire hazard.
However, there solution was to take groups of ten into the venue for ten minutes at a time, and then further inside they split the group in half because the room was split in two in a way. Because of this, it was five minutes on each side which was pretty much nothing. I was able to hug the main band I came for which was IM5 and give them the gifts I had gotten for them. Honestly at the time, IM5 was the only reason I had gone but since then I also like The House On Cliff.
Additional artists that were there were (not all were listed on the poster); Hollywood Ending (they are no longer a band), Tristian Blaine, Noah Schnacky, Danielle Prou, Jessie Chris, Robbie Rosen, Aishlinn Kivlighin, My Only Escape and Izzy Malik.
Most of the people came for IM5 and paying for the meet and greet to just say hi was a disappointment to be honest. Luckily though I do have three pictures from that day. One with Dana’s mom (who was my favorite at the time), one with some of my 5er friends and the third with one of my friends from school with IM5 performing on the stage in the background. The concert was good, but the rushed atmosphere for the concert was not.
Christmas Concert Link: https://youtu.be/iSVh6aKgXL4
April 28th, 2015
This concert is still one of my favorites to date. Sam Pottorff was the host, and acts found in all cities were IM5, The House on Cliff (THOC) and The Weekend Riot (TWR). However, there were additionally artists that were a part of segments of the tour, and for Orlando the two special guests were Josh Levi and a female singer whose name I have forgotten. There was an additional artist who got kicked off the tour called Austin Jones (if you type in his name you can find out why he was kicked off).
Since I had gotten VIP, we were let in earlier than GA and were able to get closer to the stage. My friend Sydney and I were probably the second row back even though it was essentially just a cluster of teenage girls.
For the concert, if I remember correctly it was Josh Levi then the female artist followed by the kicked off artist then The Weekend Riot then The House on Cliff and finally IM5. It was honestly so great. Afterwards was the VIP event. My now best friend and I took pictures with every artist but I have since deleted my picture with the one who got kicked off.
Josh Levi was so nice and he’s extremely talented. The House of Cliff is a bunch of great and goofy guys. The Weekend Riot was a two piece from Philly but Johnny left January of this year. TWR was the only one I took two pictures with, one normal and one funny. They are great guys even if one has pretty much dropped off of social media. Then it was Sam Pottorff and finally IM5.
Fun fact: IM5 had a contest for each city and I won the one for Orlando. It was a Skype call and at the time I did not know how to work Skype. LOL!
December 19th, 2015
Z100 Jingle Ball, Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL. This concert was on my 18th birthday. Although I did not meet any of the artists that night, the next morning one of my best friends and I ran into Conrad Sewell (the least known of the artists) at the Starbucks in our hotel.
The artists that were a part of this concert were 5SOS (5 seconds of summer), Nick Jonas, Shawn Mendes, Camilla Cabello (she was still a part of 5H at this time, so it was only a guest appearance), Demi Lovato, Tove Lo, Conrad Sewell, Hailee Steinfeld and Charlie Puth. Our seats were on the first level off the floor. It was honestly so great.
One of the funniest parts was each artist had these mock ugly sweaters and originally, we only bought the IHeart Radio Jingle Ball one, but we saw some girls rocking some Shawn Mendes and wanted them. We originally went to one of the merchandise stands and watched them take the last one down, so I sprinted to the one outside since I was the only one who could run. I ran and was able to get two of the last three.
The next morning was also quite funny, before we headed home to Orlando and my best friend went back to Ft. Myers. Like I mentioned earlier we ran into one of the smaller known artists. I think Conrad has had two singles that have made it onto the radio. At first I was unsure, so I looked at my best friend and she nodded; however, us both being shy we made my mom go ask. We found he was so we took a picture and he told her “your hair smells nice.” Let’s just say it’s been a big joke ever since then.
July 17th, 2016
Dalton Rapattoni was a part of the group IM5 until March of 2014. However, I never saw him perform with them and it wasn’t until 2016 that I finally met him. For this concert, it was at a place called Blue Martini in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. It’s about four hours away. At the concert, I was meeting my best friend (we go to a lot of concerts together), and we had made flannel shirts with Nobody 2 written in a jersey style on the back.
This concert was Dalton Rapattoni and two local School of Rocks. The concert itself was fairly short, but the meet and greet is what we came for. How they set up the M&G, was the first time around was for autographs and then the second time around was for pictures.
For the autograph portioned we had him sign our Nobody 2 flannels which he loved. He even took a picture of one of them, I believe it was mine. After that we got in line again for the photos, we each took an individual then a group one before heading out. Dalton is literally one of the most down to earth people I have met.
October 19th, 2016
Second time meeting Dalton Rapattoni. This time it was at a local university called Full Sail University. I was extremely happy because this was super close for me. We had bought the VIP Pizza Party ticket. It included pizza, soundcheck, and a picture.
We were let in earlier than GA and got our pizza. Then Dalton came in and we both got super nervous. He just talked with the ten of us there before we went to take pictures. For this concert I made what I call my concert jean jacket and had him sign it. I have since added artists to it and it includes artists I have met, I have seen, wish I saw, or want to see. (future article probably in 2018)
We took pictures and he thought it was really cool especially since I had Will on there too. After that we went inside and just waited with our camera. We both like to take pictures at concerts if cameras are allowed. The concert itself was about an hour long and part of it was live streamed on the American Idol’s Facebook page.
December 10th, 2016
This was a concert that involved Will Jay, The House on Cliff, Conundrum Nine, Kevin Hamel, Blindspot & others in Celebration, FL. My best friend and I were photographing the concert mainly because we wanted to and the fact she’s close with THOC.
This concert was in the same location as the one on December 6th, 2014. We only got pictures with Will Jay (formerly of IM5), THOC (which Sydney and I added inside jokes to our collection of inside jokes), and Kevin Hamel.
This concert was called Countdown to Christmas and there was a lot of artists performing just like the last time Not much happened between the inside jokes and running back and forth between the green room and in front of the stage to take pictures.
July 29th, 2017
This past summer I got to do something I would consider to be on my bucket list. That was to attend a concert Dalton Rapattoni, The House on Cliff, and Lauren Carnahan, Voltage Lounge, Philadelphia, PA.
For this concert, I was actually taking over one of these two fan made snapchats to cover the tours. The two I know are acousticattempt (I believe I covered this one) and daltonontour. It was fun, but sadly my phone died with three songs left, but oh well. For this concert and meet and greet, each person got a picture. So I took one just by myself and then one with my dad. Fun fact: my dad asked Dalton to sign his Brooks Brothers button down.
The concert was Lauren Carnahan then the House on Cliff and then Dalton. After the concert, my dad had bought some merch so we could do the second meet & greet with Dalton, and I had him sign the concert jacket again. Once that was done, we headed to the downstairs part of the venue and I had Lauren sign the jacket and then was also able to talk with Charles and Chad of THOC. It was fun that I got recognized from my jacket because the girl who was running the merchandise (her name is Destiny) is friends with my best friend and was at the concert on 12-10-2017.
October 28th, 2017
It was a Saturday night at Bill Frederick Park in Orlando, Fl. When I met Devin Hayes. Devin is a singer and youtuber who appeared on ABC’s Boyband. However, he only made the top nine which meant he was cut the week before solos and two weeks before the final band was announced, but he has not stopped him from pursuing his dreams.
At the park, he performed four acoustic covers. Two were Ed Sheeran, one Justin Bieber and one James Arthur song. First though he took pictures with everyone there. I hugged him first before giving him a card with a Panera gift card and a bracelet I made in it. He let me tie the bracelet on his wrist which was very sweet of him. After that, we took a picture together.
Devin is definitely one of the nicest and most genuine people I have met. He’s extremely down to earth and is super positive. Timberland on the show might have called his personality too cheesy, but it is not fake or cheesy at all. He literally is that nice and positive.
October 30th, 2017
On Monday October 30th, I met In Real Life at Dave and Busters on I-Drive (International Drive) in Orlando, FL. In Real Life is a boy band of five members that were voted as the top five on ABC’S Boyband that aired in the summer of 2017. The five boys are Drew, Chance, Michael Conor, Sergio and Brady. This is the only band I can say I have been following since they started.
I will say this was more of a meet and greet than a concert because no songs were performed that night. instead everyone was queued up in a line that wrapped around the outside of the bar leading up to the backdrop where the boys would be. On the screens behind the backdrop was the image of their first single “Eyes Closed” which at the time was their only song out. However, as of November 3rd, the group released a cover of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and an original called “Feel This Christmas.” I highly recommend all three songs. Also on their performance on TRL on Thursday November 30th, there was a teaser for their newest song “Tattoo” that currently does not have a release date.
Back to the event. The line at first moved fairly slow and it seemed as from afar everyone got two poses; however, about an hour in things began to pick up pace. It was good because they were trying to get everyone through, but myself and three other girls that I talked to agreed everything seemed so rushed. It was also evident on twitter that night on my one account that everyone else found it rushed. Oh well, what can you do it was a free event through a company.
I am happy though that I got to meet the five boys so early on in their career. Additionally, at the meet and greet I hugged each boy and took the picture that is above. It was a really fun time besides the rushed feeling of the event but I would place it as the second most rushed meet and greet after the December 6th one from 2014. Hopefully, they’ll come around again soon.
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