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CMA Fest 2017

CMA Fest 2017

Nashville, TN

Lauren AlaniaI was very torn this year on attending CMA Fest due to a medical issue I was dealing with but, after speaking to my doctor he said I could go as long as I took it slow and returned on Monday to have surgery.

Wednesday:  Pre-CMA Fest day.  The last few years we have gone in a day early to attend the CMT awards.  Last year we did the pink carpet.  This year they didn’t have one, due to the hockey playoffs the awards location was moved.  Last minute we got a pass to attend and I was thinking we wouldn’t have a good spot based on this huge line that was already there.  Next thing we know a security guard tells the people about 20 up from us to start a new line and we were brought in and sure enough ended up 2nd row from the cat walk.  A girl in front of me was asked by a TV producer to move back and she had me move forward so there I was front row on the cat walk.  When the event started all the biggest country stars were seated right across from the catwalk.  I love experiences like this, seeing who hangs out with who on the commercial breaks etc.  It was a really fun experience seeing Keith Urban rule the night in awards, he is just so genuine, kind and so deserving.  Jada Pinkett Smith, Hoda Kotb, Kathy Lee, Katherine Heigl all said hello and shook hands as they came out to present awards and all were very nice.   The night ended with Dierks Bentley bringing over this huge pretzel to share with all of us which was so sweet because we were starving.

SWON BrothersCMA Fest: 

Good:  I did continue to love the Fan Fair X experience.  It does continue to be frustrating that it is so difficult to win a pass to meet the one you really would like to meet.  We did get to meet Hunter Hayes, Craig Wayne Boyd, Sarah Evans and Trent Harmon were the more known of the singers we met.   The softball game is always a ton of fun and we had an opportunity to meet a few fun people after the game including Savannah & Todd Chrisley, Kellie Pickler, The Swon Brothers, Lee Greenwood, Eddie from the Bobby Bones show etc.  I had really wanted to meet Bobby Bones (3 years and several attempts but, he doesn’t stop and do the line), Katelyn & Shawn from the Bachelorette unfortunately didn’t do the full line either and missed them as well.  The performances at the stadium every night are always so good, it was a big surprise to have Garth there this year!  I was glad it wasn’t as brutally hot as it has been in years past but, I was definitely exhausted by the end of each day.

Chris JansenI went to Chris Jansen’s fan club party this year and he really is a great, humble guy.  His party was a good experience, they had some breakfast snacks, mountain dew of course and he played several songs, told stories and then did a photo op.  The one challenging thing with CMA fest is picking the FC parties you want to do each year.  I really enjoyed Cole’s last year but, many of them overlap or conflict and I like to get new experiences each year to share with you all.

The one person I have met each year I have been to CMA Fest and she always impresses me is Lauren Alania.  That girl is just so kind, so down to earth, she stops everywhere for her fans and takes her time and I really wish more in the business would be like Lauren especially at an event for the fans like this event.

Kellie PicklerCould have been improved: I usually love and rave about the Big Machine Group pop up and the experiences they offer.  I don’t know what happened this year but, I did not have a good experience with them.  We got up early one morning, lined up, sat in the roasting sun and at no point in time were we told that the line for Brett Young was cut off, would be cut off etc. and we asked SEVERAL Big Machine staffers that came out to video our excitement etc.  After waiting for nearly 2.5 hours and just before we entered the door we were told sorry no more.  I was so disappointed and so upset.  We should have been told at some point way sooner than that like they had in years past.  You don’t make people wait in the heat that many hours thinking they would get in and do that.  Very uncool this year Big Machine.  To make matters worse they told us he was going on to an event at another location so we went over there and the people at Fan Fair had no idea what we were talking about.  I finally had enough and found a place to sit down outside the hotel because I wasn’t feeling well and at one point I look up and here comes Brett Young.  Mind you there were 3 people and we asked him for a picture and he just kept walking acting like he didn’t hear us.  That entire experience soured me on Brett truthfully.  It would have taken maybe 15 seconds to say hi and do 3 photos.   Same thing happened about a half hour later with Bobby Bones, again just acted like he didn’t hear the 2 people next to me that yelled his name.  I get they are asked for a ton of pics and that they have places to be.  I just wish they would remember this is what the Fest is all about and without the support of fans nobody gets to be big and famous.

Sarah EvansThe only other thing I wasn’t a big fan of that I had not done before was the photo line.  Now on one hand it’s very cool that they have that option.  It just get so crazy congested and I wish the staff that worked the photo line would be a bit nicer.  I understand not everyone listens but, don’t lump everyone together.  Nobody wants to spend a lot of money for an experience and be constantly spoken to in a negative/nasty way or man-handled.  If you are going to offer the experience then find a way to keep the lines moving without being nasty to everyone.  Deal with the few bad apples and you will see the rest will follow the rules.

Hunter HayesHelpful Tips discovered:  I have been attending this festival now for 3 years and I have always done that long walk over the bridge back and forth to the stadium.  This year my friend that attended with me discovered the buses that ran back and forth.  That really was a godsend this year because I wasn’t feeling that awesome and I think that walk each night would have been tough.  So cheers to CMA Fest on the buses, I wish I had discovered them sooner.

Overall, it was a nice event.  I really wish I had been feeling better as it’s something I do look forward to every year but, you can’t win them all.  Hopefully next year I will be feeling amazing and I can do a very detailed day by day blog like I have done in past years!

Fun concert wear!

Bebe:  http://www.bebe.com/

Nordstrom:  http://shop.nordstrom.com/

White House Black Market:  https://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/

Coach:  http://www.coach.com/shop/women-wristlets

 

 

Until Next Time,

Xoxo

Heather

VIP Experience Blog

Luke Bryan Epic Performance/Coastal Credit Union Music Park Live Nation Epic Fail

Luke came to Raleigh for back to back shows this weekend, I went last year and had so much fun I just had to do both shows again this year!  Luke never disappoints.

I did VIP for the Friday night show and then purchased a regular ticket for the Saturday night show.  Saturday was an epic fail on the part of Coast Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek which is a Live Nation Venue.

Friday Night: 

VIP package Amphitheatre shows:

  • One (1) premium reserved ticket in the first 20 rows or one (1) general admission pit ticket*
  • Invitation to “Luke’s Lounge” before the show with cash bar**
  • Two song acoustic pre-show performance by Luke Bryan***
  • One (1) exclusive Luke Bryan merchandise gift
  • One (1) commemorative laminate
  • On-site concert concierge

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Due to an accident on the highway I ended up arriving a bit late but, I did find out that CID Entertainment still is using the way they did last year’s so it’s a free or all to get in to the tent and get a good spot.  I truly wish they would change to a system others use and hand out #’d bracelets and then make everyone line up outside the tent by number.  That is the only fair way to do it otherwise you have sprinters getting by you, line skippers etc. and it’s absolutely not fair.  You should enter in the order you check in and a simple cheap hand numbered bracelet would make it fair and organized.  Tim McGraw, Steven Tyler etc. all use that and it works!  Since I arrived late I didn’t get a good spot in the tent at all.  Luke however never disappoints with his special acoustic sets.  He always shows such fun personality and provides great performances.  I also need to shout out to Jonathan from CID Entertainment.  He was very nice and personable and walked around to be sure everyone was having a good time.

 

After the set I headed to my seats to see the mess that was made by not following the seating that was sold to us at the point of purchase. I ended up with what was supposed to be a 3rd row seat in Section 2 (Center Section) when the tickets were purchased Section 2 Row G was actually front row with the Grey stage in front of it and then the pit on either side.  And Row J was 3rd row.  Since the venue was not set up the way they sold the tickets it was more like row 7 or 8 which was disappointing. I also had the person behind me steal my cup (VIP giveaway) out from under the seat.

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Luke truly brought the FUN tonight and we had a good ole Hurricane party!  Luke is by far one of the absolute best live performers out there and truly deserves that Entertainer of the Year the title.  He is even more engaging and fun than others that have held the title before him.  He played all of his hits and made everyone forget about the rain and wind happening around us.  He’s captivating and just full of energy from start to finish.  Dustin Lynch and Little Big Town were also absolutely amazing opening performers as well.

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Saturday Night:

I ran into Jonathan from CID Entertainment when I was waiting for my Dustin Lynch meet & greet and he said he would run me down a new cup to replace my stolen one from the night before.  I think he got busy though unfortunately so I still don’t have the cup.  Hoping CID Entertainment will mail me one.  I also let him know about the seating issue.

Dustin Lynch is a complete sweetheart.  It was so nice to meet him and I will say the photos were posted quickly.  Only disappointment was mine was the only one that fuzzy/blurry which is why there should always be 2 photos taken at a Meet & Greet.

Dustin for blog

Now after seeing the seating issue on Friday night, I started calling Live Nation, and the venue early Saturday in hopes that they would correct the layout and in turn give us what we were sold.  I got absolutely no where other than being passed around, everyone pointing the fingers at each other and nobody wanting to do anything.  You cannot sell a front row ticket which clearly showed on a map a grey stage in front and the pit on the right and left and then turn around and change it, not notify the customers and then do absolutely nothing about it.  The best one was when they tried telling me it was that way last year too and I was like no it wasn’t I was at both shows and was in the left pit both times.  I would have bought pit if I knew they were not going to arrange it as sold and it would have saved me money.  It’s unacceptable on so many levels.  Every single person in the front row with me was furious because we ALL purchased the tickets seeing the same map.  However Live Nation had conveniently changed it Friday night after the show.  They tried blaming Luke Bryan and team which I thought was crazy.  Most artists and especially country artists do not seek to truly screw fans or sell tickets under false pretenses.  I called Live Nation and they said the venue said the seating chart did not change there was always a pit, I said yes there was a pit on the left and right of the stage but, not in front of Section 2, they said there is nothing we can do call the venue.  I called the venue, they admitted the seating had changed but, said I would have to speak to the Box Office Manager.  I left my number and never received a return call.  It’s unprofessional, shady sales, it’s a major disappointment to the fans, its false advertising and to all of us that got screwed over its theft in a way.  It’s like we went to a car dealership and bought a BMW and then we arrived and they sent us home with a bicycle. The tickets were purchased in April with the stage in grey in front of Section 2, Row G and as recent as the last time we checked it on Thursday it was still a grey stage in front of us.  They should have done something.  A:  Fixed it between Friday and Saturday’s shows.  B:  Communicated to those that got screwed over.  C:  Offered something in the form of compensation for what happened.  We all paid a premium for those front row seats and had people that had pd ½ of that now standing in front of us. I have lost all faith in Live Nation and Coastal Credit Union Music Park.  I was beyond disappointed as were all of the rest of us in the same situation that night.  Even two reps from CID Entertainment told us that the layout did not match the map at the point of sale.

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Luke’s performance was fantastic but, it was just disappointing not to have been front row.  We were dodging tall men all night just to see.

However, I think everyone should go see Luke Bryan, Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch in concert.  They are all absolutely fabulous performers and just bring the FUN to the stage in every way and give 200% of themselves out there.

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Hopefully Luke will be back next year and hopefully the venue will do something to make up for what they did this year.  I know many of us are going to be sure we keep this information out there so that Luke’s team is aware of what the venue did in this case to his fans.

I did also share with Jonathan at CID Entertainment my suggestion for Luke’s Fan Club.  I think it’s awesome they do the Meet and Greet Giveaways at each show but, I wish they would improve their entry process so you would receive an email saying your entry was received, good luck or something.  Dustin’s fan club does that and at least you know your entry was confirmed.

Concert Wear:

I wore my new Cold shoulder blouse from Bebe, you can get yours here!

http://www.bebe.com/Tops/Blouses-Shirts/Keyhole-Cold-Shoulder-Top/pc/184/c/0/sc/215/114454.pro?selectedColor=pcl

I also used my Coach Wristlet and cross body that I was given as gifts from friends for my birthday.  They were perfect!  The wristlet held my car key, ID, money and credit card and the cross body fit the wristlet, camera and lip gloss with room left over but, it was nice not to have to carry around a bulky purse with me.

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http://www.coach.com/shop/women-wristlets

http://www.coach.com/north/south-swingpack-in-embossed-textured-leather/52348.html?dwvar_color=SV%2FTU

 

Until next time,

Xoxo

Heather