Browsing Tag

VIP

Contests/Giveaways

DWTS VIP Tour Winner Review by _dwts.hough

Hi Y’all, it’s been a busy few months but, I am so looking forward to DWTS starting on Monday and kicking off the weekly blogs once again!

xoxo

Heather

The winner of the DWTS VIP Package _dwts.hough wrote about her experience and I wanted to share it with you…

By: _dwts.hough

Having VIP and meeting the professional dancers of DWTS was honestly a dream come true.  They were the nicest people and just amazing.  I met Val, Laurie and Artem in the meet and greet and I was just in shock.  I could not believe I was standing in front of them!  They gave the absolute best hugs I did not want to let them go!  Emma & Lindsay were mingling and honestly they were the sweetest!  They talked to me for so long and it was so nice of them!  Meeting them was such a dream come true…I cried so much!  Getting this chance I felt so blessed and I just could not thank Heather enough for the opportunity!  Doing this meet & greet I know for sure I will do it again on the next tour!  Thank you Heather for giving me the opportunity to meet my idols!

My favorite dance of the night was the contemporary to “Unsteady”.  the dance is such an inspiring dance I cried through the whole thing.  It really hit home with me for sure.  It is such an amazing piece It was a masterpiece!

My favorite part of my first VIP experience was for sure meeting the pros!  Especially Emma Slater and Val Chmerkovskiy!  They have been such role models in my life and to finally meet them was amazing!  They were two of the nicest people I have ever met!  I was very surprised as how nice and humble the pros are!  I knew they were nice but, honestly I did not think they would be the most amazing people!  I am so proud to call all of the pros my idols!

I’m so very blessed for this opportunity and thank Heather for making my dreams come true!

_dwts.hough

 

VIP Experience Blog

Sandra: Guest Blog DWTS Tour VIP Experience

 

Guest Blogger:  Sandra Chen!

(Sandra is one of the best assistants I could have ever asked to have on this blog journey and I was thrilled to share this experience with her…HD)

Hi guys! So happy to be featured in this guest blog by Heather, it’s amazing and such a pleasure! I’m going to be telling you all about my amazing experience doing the DWTS We Came To Dance Tour VIP. First of all, I have to thank Heather again for this opportunity to meet my favorite dancers and watch an incredible show up so close. It was the best time of my life, and I loved every second of it. Forever grateful for that experience and to have met the wonderful person that’s Heather.

Wow, I don’t even know where to begin! I was so nervous all morning because I never done this before and meeting 4 of them all at once was just so nerve-wracking! When we had checked in, I got more excited than nervous though especially after receiving my cute tote bag and the gifts in it. Also getting that VIP lanyard just made me so happy, I still keep it in my room where I can see it every day to remind me of the best day ever. So my meet and greet was with Sharna, Val, Artem, and Laurie! I was glad that Heather went before me because she was so sweet to let them know I was coming in next and that it was my first time doing m&g! Laurie peaked to see who was next and saw me, and gave me such a big hug, she’s adorable. Heather was still in there talking to the others, but I was on the side chatting with Laurie! I got to tell her about my gift and she thanked me for that, and also remembered meeting me from the GMA cast reveal. I know m&g is super fast, so I’m glad I got to have a little conversation with Laurie before the pictures. I went down the line hugging everyone, and wow they give the biggest and best hugs. I was so speechless so I just kept saying thank you and it was nice seeing them. Then I requested to get the picture of Sharna and I hugging, and she was so sweet about it and said of course. Laurie & Val ended up hugging each other, and I wish Artem joined me & Sharna but I didn’t want to take up too much time and totally got nervous to tell him to join. They were all so humble and kind, I really appreciated it and definitely loved how my pics turned out! I also thought I had to go around to exit but Artem led me out through the curtains and held it for me, such a gentleman. That part of VIP was amazing, I couldn’t stop smiling!

Afterwards, it was time for the mingle with Hayley & Lindsay! So glad they added this to the VIPs because it gives you so much time to be able to really chat with them and take individual pictures. I was beyond happy that Hayley was in my mingle because I really wanted her there. I got to talk to her multiple times and take pics with her, and sometimes we’d just go back if nobody was talking to her. One of my favorite moments talking to Hayley was telling her about me and Erica’s name in the jive she does, and her laugh is the cutest thing. She really made this VIP experience so special. Lindsay was super sweet to meet again, and when she was leaving she even helped give my gift to Laurie. I loved how interactive they were with fans! Both the m&g and mingle was absolutely perfect, even better than I expected. Moments I’ll treasure forever!

 

We got to sit in the second row right in the middle, and I had such a perfect view. It was unbelievable how close I was, and the whole show there was so much contact made between me and the dancers. You can also hear things they say when you’re so close up, and it was just wonderful. The show was absolutely perfect, everything to the costumes, dances, voiceovers, made this show incredible and really made me connect with them more. My first VIP experience was just indescribable and made me so happy, I smile just thinking about it. Thank you once again to Heather, the whole cast, and friends who experienced this with me. If you can, definitely get VIP or just general tickets to the show because wherever you sit, it’ll be an amazing time for you. January 21st, 2017 is a day I’ll remember always! XO -Sandra

 

Questions/Answers: 

1.) What was your favorite dance and why?

This is a hard one because every single dance was amazing to me and special in their own way. I have to say Hayley & Val’s contemporary piece was just stunning, made me absolutely speechless and the emotions put into this piece really touched me. Jenna & Artem’s contemporary was also so beautiful, I really enjoyed watching that and even teared up a little. A favorite group dance of mine was definitely the choreography piece because of the amazing voiceovers they did which really connects to the passion/love they show on stage when they dance.

2.) What was your favorite part of your first VIP experience?

The mingle for me was definitely a highlight of my experience, it was just so nice to have time to be able to talk to them, thank them, laugh, and take pictures! 

3.) What if anything surprised you about the VIP experience?

More unexpected than surprised, but I didn’t think the whole m&g/mingle was going to be as long as it did. I thought both would be very quick and you’d be done, but it wasn’t and that made me really happy. Also I knew we were in second row, but did not expect to be SO close to stage… it was amazing! 

XO

Sandra

 

 

Entertainment Blog

DWTS We Came to Dance 2016-17

Dancing With the Stars

#dwtstour

We Came to Dance Winter 2016-17

This was my 4th Dancing with the Stars tour (#DWTSTOUR) and hands down the BEST one to date! The stage set up with fantastic, great music/dance selection and the cast was filled with not only great talent but, the kindest people.

I am attending 5 shows on this tour and have one more to go in Costa Mesa on the last night of the tour and did VIP for each.  If you want to learn about their amazing VIP experience check out this link:  http://lightscmemories.com/vip/dwts-vip-came-dance-tour-2016-17/ and I have also kept track of the cast photos and mingles as I know many of my followers like to guess who will be in their VIP:  http://lightscmemories.com/entertainment-blog/dwts-tour-cast-meet-greet/

Cast: Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Sharna Burgess, Laurie Hernandez, Lindsay Arnold, Artem Chigvintsev, Gleb Savchenko, Keo Motsepe, Emma Slater, Alan Bersten, Jenna Johnson and Hayley Erbert!

This year’s tour really focused on each dancer’s story and it was so beautifully put together.  You would find yourself laughing, in tears, with goosebumps and just sitting on the edge of your seat.  To highlight just a sample:  Val and Laurie perform a few of their favorite dances from the season, there is a section on favorite movie dances that is just fun and stunning at the same time, special dances for just the men and just the women and a lovely moment as Emma shares the story of her engagement. The girls and Artem perform a fun Spice Girls number that will really take you back.  I loved the opening & closing numbers and the piece they all participate in on how they put together the dances each week.  There is also a section after intermission that will leave you in stitches it is so hilarious.  Jenna Johnson performs a really amazing number to Seduces Me that is just breathtaking.  Sharna & Val perform a high energy jive that just totally rocks and Sharna performs a steamy tango with Alan that I just loved!  Alan and the ladies perform a special number that will leave every man in the room jealous of him.  Artem and Gleb heat up the stage in their respective pieces that tell their stories.  Lindsay hits all the right notes in her dances too including the one she dedicates to her Dad…Crazy Train.  Keo also has some moving pieces to his life story and a rumba with Emma.   Jenna and Artem perform a special piece from La La Land that is visually and emotionally stunning.  The contemporary numbers that Jenna & Artem and Hayley and Val do are so beautiful and passionate.  The number that makes me cry and I get goosebumps every night is Sharna’s story.  I don’t want to spoil it for those that have not yet seen it but, it’s a story some can really relate to and will pull at your heart strings for sure.   This was just a quick highlight of my thoughts.  All of the performances are just amazing!

Every style of dance was perfectly portrayed, you could feel the raw emotion and energy and each performance flew by because it was just that good.  This year’s tour was very fast paced which I loved it seemed to be shorter numbers but, with a lot more content packed in which I absolutely loved.

You will absolutely walk out of the theater feeling like you have truly gotten to know the Pro’s.  They open their hearts and souls to us in this tour.  So often on DWTS it’s always focused on the celebrity. It was so special to learn all of their stories and see how it shaped their joy not only in dance but, in life.

The dancers gave it their all every single night of the performances and I cannot say enough what a privilege it was to meet them at the meet and greets, but to sit in the audience and watch their talent and brilliance come to life.

For even more photos please visit my Instagram, Twitter or Facebook pages @lightscmemories!

Also thank you and shout out to VIP Host Anthony Jones for continuing to be our rock star, taking truly memorable pictures, always being very organized and truly being invested in the fan experience!

Until next time,

Xoxoxo

Heather

Check out my favorite online shops!

Bebe:  http://www.bebe.com/

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

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

 

Entertainment Blog

DWTS Tour Cast Meet & Greet Updated List

I know a lot of people are trying to figure out the Cast Meet & Greet Schedule.  I will update this after each show so maybe it will help get an idea:-)

#dwtstour

1: Reno, NV:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Artem  (Meet & Mingle:  ??)

2:  San Jose:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Gleb  (Meet & Mingle:  Alan & Keo)

3:  Redding:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Hayley (Meet & Mingle:  Jenna & Lindsay)

4:  Eugene:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Emma:  (Meet & Mingle:  ??)

5:  Portland:  Val, Laurie, Lindsay & Hayley (Meet & Mingle:  Sharna & Gleb)

6:  Seattle:     Val, Laurie, Sharna & Keo (Meet & Mingle:  Alan & Jenna)

7.  Ft Meyers:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Gleb (Meet & Mingle:  Lindsay & Alan)

8.  Orlando:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Artem (Meet & Mingle:  Emma & Keo)

9.   Hollywood, FL:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Gleb  (Meet & Mingle:  Jenna & Alan)

10 & 11.  Clearwater, FL:  Mat/Evening: Val, Laurie, Sharna & Keo  (Meet & Mingle:  Lindsay & Emma)

12.  Atlanta:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Artem  (Meet & Mingle:  Alan & Jenna)

13.  Richmond:  Emma, Sharna, Keo & Laurie (Meet & Mingle:  Lindsay & Hayley)

14.  Lancaster Night 1:    Keo, Laurie, Sharna & Gleb (Meet & Mingle: ??)

15.  Lanchaster Night 2:  Val, Laurie, Emma & Artem (Meet & Mingle:  Alan & Hayley)

16.  Niagara Falls:  Val, Laurie, Gleb & Emma  (Meet & Mingle:  Alan & Hayley)

17 & 18:  Casino Rama Mat/Evening:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Artem   (Meet & Mingle:  Jenna & Lindsay)

19.  Pittsburgh:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Keo  (Meet & Mingle:  Alan & Emma)

20.  Poughkeepsie, NY:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Gleb   (Meet & Mingle:  Lindsay & Hayley)

21.  Upper Darby, PA: Val, Laurie, Sharna & Artem (Meet & Mingle:  Alan & Jenna)

22.  Verona:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Emma (Meet & Mingle:  Keo & Lindsay)

23 & 24.  Bethlehem, PA (2 shows):  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Gleb (Meet & Mingle:  Alan & Hayley)

25.  Baltimore: Val, Sharna, Laurie & Emma  (Meet & Mingle:  Jenna & Lindsay)

26.  New York City:  Val, Sharna, Laurie & Keo  (Meet & Mingle:  Alan & Hayley)

27.  Bangor, ME:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Artem    (Meet & Mingle:  Emma & Jenna)

28.  Boston:  Val, Laurie, Emma & Hayley   (Meet & Mingle:  Gleb & Lindsay)

29:  Mohegan Sun Night 1:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Gleb (Meet & Mingle:  Jenna & Alan)

30.  Mohegan Sun Night 2:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Artem (Meet & Mingle:  Hayley & Lindsay)

31.  Red Bank  Night 1: Val, Laurie, Sharna & keo   (Meet & Mingle:  Alan & Emma)

32.  Red Bank Night 2:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Gleb (Meet & Mingle:  Jenna & Alan)

33.  Cleveland:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Artem  (Meet & Mingle:  Lindsay & Hayley)

34.  Windsor Early & Late Show:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Emma (Meet & Mingle:  Lindsay & Alan)

35.  Chicago Early & Late Shows:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Gleb  (Meet & Mingle:  Jenna & Keo)

36.  Indianapolis, IN:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Artem    (Meet & Mingle:  Alan & Hayley)

37.  Cincinnati, OH:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Emma (Meet & Mingle:  Keo & Alan)

38.  Columbus, OH:  Laurie, Sharna & Alan (Meet & Mingle:  Jenna & Lindsay)

39.  Richmond, KY:  Laurie, Val, Artem (Meet & Mingle:  Lindsay and Emma)

40.  Birmingham:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Alan (Meet & Mingle:  Emma & Lindsay)

41/42.  New Orleans (Both shows):  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Gleb (Meet & Mingle:  Keo & Jenna)

43:  Sugarland, TX:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Artem (Meet & Mingle:  Alan & Hayley)

44.  Austin: Keo, Laurie, Sharna & Emma (Meet & Mingle:  Lindsay & Hayley)

45.  Grand Prairie, TX:  Val, Laurie, Artem & Sharna (Meet & Mingle:  Alan & Hayley)

46.  El Paso, TX: Val, Laurie, Sharna & Keo  (Meet & Mingle:  Emma)

47.  Phoenix Early Show: Val, Laurie, Gleb & Sharna   (Meet & Mingle:  Hayley & Jenna)

Phoenix evening:  Val, Laurie, Gleb & Sharna (Meet & Mingle:  Lindsay & Keo)

48.  Thousand Oaks:  Val, Laurie, Artem & Emma

49.  Riverside (Early/Late):  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Gleb (Meet & Mingle:  Jenna & Hayley)

50,.  Costa Mesa:  Val, Laurie, Sharna & Lindsay (Meet & Mingle:  Keo & Hayley)

 

VIP Experience Blog

DWTS VIP We Came To Dance Tour 2016-17

DWTS VIP We Came To Dance Tour 2016-17

#dwtstour

I’ve had the pleasure of being a VIP for the last four Dancing with the Stars tours. From the first tour I participated in the VIP to this year’s tour I must say: It’s like night and day!  They have improved them tremendously every year!  So let’s talk about the details of the VIP!

Pre-Show: For my 1st show in San Jose I had the Front Row Meet & Mingle VIP Package.  We received our pre-show email about 3-5 days ahead from VIP Nation.  For our show we had to arrive between 5-6 pm (Note this varies city to city so ALWAYS review your itinerary).  There is no reason to line up an hour early or anything.  They have a very organized process to get everyone in.  The email also contains where the VIP check in table is, the link to where to find your photos and password.

We Came to DanceVIP Shout Out!  I was thrilled to see that we have one of VIP Nation’s best hosts Anthony Jones for this tour!  He also did the Maks & Val Tour this summer.  He is not only a really nice guy, he gets it and works to post pictures as quick as he can (remember we all have to be patient), he checks the photos after he takes them and truly cares about the customers.  High-five Anthony when you see him in your city because he really is a rock star for the fan experiences!

Entering VIP:   We arrived about 15 min before check in and just waited outside the doors.  Right on time the doors were opened, they did the usual security checks at the door and then you went to the sign in table.  It took maybe 5 minutes to get checked in.  For this venue we didn’t know what seats we would be in until we picked up our envelope.  I was thrilled with the seats we had!  They are distributed in the order you purchase the tickets.  We also picked up our 1 drink ticket, the tote bag for this package included an umbrella, blanket, signed tour program (Note it’s different for each pkg).  When you check in you are given a laminate with a letter on the back and that is the order they call you for your pictures so there is not one giant line and everyone can enjoy the party until it’s their turn.  One other detail note that was different than past tours but, I am not sure if this was venue related or how it will be on the entire tour but, they took ALL gifts as you were checking in.  They said it’s because they had to check them before giving them to the dancers.  I understand both sides if it’s for dancer security by all means but, there were a lot of disappointed people so just expect that going in so you are not bummed out.

Now on to the good stuff!  After check in we were directed upstairs.  For this venue the layout was a bit odd compared to other venues I have been to but, they have to work with the space the building offers.  We didn’t wait very long at all when they started telling Group A to line up.  A few minutes later we saw Keo and Alan coming our way, it was their turn to do the Meet & Mingle!  It appears that it’s all rotating like last tour (2 in the Meet & Mingle and 4 in the photos with Val & Laurie being consistent ).   To give you an idea for our cast photo we had Val, Laurie, Sharna & Gleb.  I will update this after each show to give you all an idea:

DWTS Tour Cast Meet & Greet

The photos were wonderful as always, it was my first time meeting Laurie & Gleb and it was so fantastic to see Val & Sharna.  Anthony takes great care in taking the photos for us.  The staff is also very kind, nobody is yelling at you it’s a pleasant experience.  You do have to leave your purse, bags and anything else on you at the table and you cannot ask for autographs etc. at the cast photo portion.   This year too it was one professional photo taken by Anthony, no selfie options in the main photo.  You could however do selfies with the dancers in the Meet & Mingle.  The green screen operator for this city wasn’t the best at taking the shots and they were having issues with the Wi-Fi not being fast enough so the green screen pictures were very hit or miss on if you got them in your email.  However, Anthony with VIP Nation being the rock star host that he is, is already on it for us!  I noticed today in the photos link there is one for the Meet & Greet pictures and then one for the Photo booth.  That was smart thinking to just upload them all vs having issues city to city with Wi-Fi.  After the photos were done and the dancers all left to get ready for the show you could go to the merchandise stand and do some crowd free shopping which was also nice.

Please note on the pics:  the itinerary says up within to 2 weeks.  I know it’s super hard to be patient but, I know Anthony will post as quickly as he can.  He is one of the best in speed to get them posted.

 

 

 

 

Show time!  I am going to do a separate blog on the actual show after my next one in January.   I also do not want to spoil anything for those that haven’t seen it yet.  I will say this for now.  It is AMAZING and you should be very excited and counting down the days until you go!  It’s the best tour they have done to date.  It’s formatted a bit like the Maks & Val Tour whereas it tells a story in many segments which I loved.  It allows you to get to know the dancers better by hearing their individual stories.  It’s also very fast paced but, I loved the pace of the show this time.  You were on the edge of your seats the entire show wondering what was going to happen next.  The other difference from the past tour is there was no audience engagement like the kick off of the last tour and they don’t bring anyone on stage.

You will get to see a few of the best dances of our Mirrorball Champions Val & Laurie and a few other truly amazing performances by the cast from this season.  However, my lips are sealed on more details for now so you can be surprised and enjoy the shows in your city.

Bravo & Thank you:  VIP Nation you always put together fantastic unique experiences and it doesn’t go unnoticed! Thank you again for putting Anthony on this tour!  Mandy Moore, Supervising Choreographer Amy Tinkham, Creative Director and Guy Phillips, Executive Producer truly put together an amazing show that I think every fan should be sure they have a ticket for! The creative genius is obvious at every moment in the show.  The vision and layout for this tour is truly worth 10 Stars!  The crew and all the other behind the scenes individuals also deserve a shout out!  The Dancers (Val, Laurie, Sharna, Gleb, Artem, Lindsay, Keo,  Emma, Jenna, Hayley & Alan all truly leave it on the floor each night.  It’s emotional, it’s passionate, it’s raw, it’s FUN, it’s full of energy and I am so excited I will get to see this tour multiple times and have a new take away each night!

 

If you don’t have a ticket…Buy one today and if you are able to do VIP it’s worth the investment for this experience they have many different levels and price points too!  Here’s the link for tickets/VIP package! http://www.dwtstour.com/#tour

Want to see more photos?  For many more pictures from the tour, past tours please follow me on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook @lightscmemories!  If you have any questions that I can help with please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Until next time,

XOXO

Heather

Note:  I have been asked what I was wearing in the pics I posted.  Check out www.bebe.com for fun tops like the one I was wearing!

 

Entertainment Blog

Dancing With the Stars We Came to Dance Tour 2016-17

Pre-Tour Blog

#dwtstour

I wanted to share some pre-tour info with you all.  On December 16 the tour will kick off in Reno, NV and travel around the country to 40+ cities!

If you don’t have your tickets yet please go to:  http://www.dwtstour.com/

If you would like to hear what past tours are like or VIP check out these articles!

http://lightscmemories.com/vip/dancing-stars-vip/

http://lightscmemories.com/entertainment-blog/dancing-stars-dance-night-tour/

Picture4

Here is a photo with the fantastic cast!

img_6726

If you have never done VIP absolutely buy a package if you are able to.  The cast is truly kind and this is a unique opportunity to not only see an amazing performance but, get a photo with select members of the cast and meet & mingle with others at the party.  Last tour Val & Alek were in all photos and then the rest rotated every other show and then the troupe rotated and two were at each meet and mingle party.  Not sure yet if it will be the same this tour.

Dancing With the Stars Dance All Night Tour 2015-2016It sounds like this tour will be even more incredible than the last so definitely don’t miss out!

 

 

 

 

 

The VIP Packages include:

***FRONT ROW ULTIMATE VIP MEET & MINGLE PACKAGE***  

Approximately:  $599 (varies by location)

– One reserved ticket in the front row
– Meet & Greet and individual Professional Photo Op with select cast members of the DWTS touring cast INCLUDING SEASON 23 MIRRORBALL CHAMPION AND OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST LAURIE HERNANDEZ
– Access to pre-show DWTS Lounge for an exclusive Meet & Mingle party, including:
—- Green screen photo booth to capture additional photos of yourself at the VIP party
—- One (1) drink ticket for the pre-show lounge (beer, wine, soft drinks, water)
—- Mingle with select members of the DWTS touring cast
– VIP Meet & Greet laminate
– Exclusive Autographed Tour Program
– Exclusive DWTS gift item
– Crowd-free merchandise shopping
– On-site VIP host

pizap-com14805532502771
***PREMIUM VIP MEET & MINGLE PACKAGE***

Approximately:  $399 (varies by location)

– One reserved ticket in rows 2 through 4
– Meet & Greet and individual Professional Photo Op with select cast members of the DWTS touring cast INCLUDING SEASON 23 MIRRORBALL CHAMPION AND OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST LAURIE HERNANDEZ
– Access to pre-show DWTS Lounge for an exclusive Meet & Mingle party, including:
—- Green screen photo booth to capture additional photos of yourself at the VIP party
—- One (1) drink ticket for the pre-show lounge (beer, wine, soft drinks, water)
—- Mingle with select members of the DWTS touring cast
– VIP Meet & Greet laminate
– Exclusive DWTS gift item
– Crowd-free merchandise shopping
– On-site VIP host
Picture5

***VIP MEET & MINGLE PACKAGE***

Approximately:  $299 (varies by location)

– One reserved ticket in rows 5 through 15 (up to row 20 in certain markets)
– Meet & Greet and individual Professional Photo Op with select cast members of the DWTS touring cast INCLUDING SEASON 23 MIRRORBALL CHAMPION AND OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST LAURIE HERNANDEZ
– Access to pre-show DWTS Lounge for an exclusive Meet & Mingle party, including:
—- Green screen photo booth to capture additional photos of yourself at the VIP party
—- One (1) drink ticket for the pre-show lounge (beer, wine, soft drinks, water)
—- Mingle with select members of the DWTS touring cast
– VIP Meet & Greet laminate
– Exclusive DWTS gift item
– Crowd-free merchandise shopping
– On-site VIP host

Picture3

I will be attending several shows and I look forward to sharing the experience and photos with you all!  Please be sure to follow my Instagram, Facebook and twitter @lightscmemories to be the first to see them!

Want to find some really cute dresses and tops to wear for your photo ops?

Check out my favorite online shops!

Bebe:  http://www.bebe.com/

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

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

Special offers just for my followers for this shopping season!

Coach Winter Sale: Up to 50% Off Select Styles at Coach.com Plus Free Shipping and Returns!

http://www.coach.com/shop/sale-women?skimoffer=84134

Your Dancing with the Stars or  New Year’s Eve dress is waiting for you at Nordstrom. Free shipping & returns!

http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/womens-dresses-shop?campaign=1128DressSpotlightmedia&mcamp=3784&siteId=TnL5HPStwNw-IoGQuX9MwxopzkHb_gNUpQ&skimoffer=83139

 

Until next time,

Xoxo

Heather

Entertainment Blog

Dancing with the Stars-Cirque du Soleil Week

Season 23, Week 4 Double Elimination:  Cirque du Soleil

#CirquedusoleilNight

First and foremost huge congratulations to Emma Slater and Sasha Farber on their absolutely beautiful engagement tonight on the results show.  They are two incredibly kind people and what a beautiful surprise on tonight’s show.  I wish them so much happiness.

I was so excited for a new theme week this season, Cirque du Soleil!  It seems like anything else there was very mixed reviews online.  I personally loved it and in my opinion it really brought out fantastic creativity in the Pro’s and almost all the dances were off the hook amazing.

At the start of the show they dropped the bomb that it would be double elimination Tuesday.  I also don’t know what happened at the start of the show again with the microphones.  Couples were just coming out without hearing any audio.  BTW I loved Erin and Julianne’s dresses Monday night.  I would love to know the designers.  If anyone sees that info let me know.

Great live performers on the results show too:  DNCE, Zara Larson

Cirque KURIOS

Lindsay Arnold & Calvin Johnson Jr

#TeamLindsatron

KURIOS Cabinet of Curiosities: Charleston

First off bravo to Lindsay this was such a fun dance!  Fantastic creativity and Calvin is such a joy to watch and he was able to really show off his strength and personality this week.  The dance was super fun, the lifts were all amazing and I actually had to rewind and watch it again it was so good.  I thought they deserved 9’s.  A fun partnership indeed!

Cirque Mystere:

Artem Chigvintsev and Maureen McCormick

#TeamMaureen

Mystere:  Argentine Tango

Their package was hard to watch.  Maureen is clearly a very sensitive person and I just wish every week she would just find the fun in this and just trust in Artem.  It was sad to have Artem say maybe I am in the wrong business.  He is one of the kindest men you could ever met and just wants the best for his partner.  I hope Maureen will get to the point where she will walk in and feel the joy everyday so they can stay.  I really thought their dance was really good tonight, it was definitely Maureen’s best dance to date.  Just remember dance is FUN.

Cirque The Beatles LOVE

Jana Kramer & Gleb Savchenko

#TeamGlamer

The Beatles LOVE:  Foxtrot

It looked like it was a tough week for Jana and Gleb but, clearly they shook it off.  All the traveling is exhausting and not all dances come together as quickly as you want.  They remain a great partnership and I thought their dance was beautiful, classy, graceful and moving.  She is determined so I am sure she will keep working on it.

 

Cirque KA

Derek Hough & Marilu Henner

#teamhennergy

KA: Paso Doble

I still think Marilu needs to just relax and remember dance is supposed to be fun.  I get the desire to be great and perfect but, don’t focus so much on that and lose the fun.  I did think this was Marilu’s best dance to date and I know she has the desire to do this and she has the skill to do it but she needs a breakthrough I think in the performance.  It was a good performance, the creativity was great!

 

Cirque Zumanity

Amber Rose & Maksim Chmerkovskiy

#TeamSpicySalsa

Zumanity:  Argentine Tango

Amber and Julianne had a bit of a misunderstanding from last week.  I have met Julianne a few times and she is a complete sweetheart but, I also can see where Amber was coming from.  Not every girl is a size 0 or 2 and every woman should celebrate what makes her sexy, curves and all.  I felt that both women handled the interaction with class and demonstrated how women should handle issues, talk it out like grownups and move on.  I thought Amber and Maks’s dance tonight was very sexy, filled with passion, intensity, content and really good.

Cirque "O"

Ryan Lochte & Cheryl Burke

#TeamCherLoch

“O”:  Viennese Waltz

Ryan has been on quite a journey but, I really think he is showing improvement every week and allowing everyone in and to get to know him better.  Their dance was beautiful, elegant and showed a lot of beautiful creativity.  This show is about a journey and I love to route for individuals that are growing each week and improving. Ryan should be proud this week.  Some individuals did yell something out when he was getting the judges’ comments but, I was glad to hear they were positive people yelling “Go Gators”.

Cirque The Beatles LOVE:

Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds & Allison Holker

#TeamHolkerFace

The Beatles LOVE:  Tango

Oh I felt so bad for Babyface and Allison tonight.  This was definitely not their best night.  It was very tough needing to stay on time with the lights and it was just off.  They are both really amazing, classy people and I wish it had gone better for them.  I had a feeling they would be going home tonight.

 

Cirque "O"

Terra Jole’ & Sasha Farber

#TeamXL

“O”:  Samba

Terra and Sasha have a great partnership.  I hope Terra continues to believe in herself, girl you are a dancer!  He’s pushing you because he knows you can do it!  Terra goes out every week and just kills it and this week was no exception.  It was sharp, crisp, had lots of hip action and content.  Another job well done it’s always fun to watch this team hit the floor!

Cirque Michael Jackson ONE

Laurie Hernandez & Val Chmerkovskiy

#TeamVaLaur

Michael Jackson ONE:  Jazz

I absolutely love seeing how happy and excited Val is this season.  He always gives it his all but, you can see the joy this season.  Laurie is just an inspiration.  She works hard every week and comes out and just nails the performance.  I had a feeling this dance was going to get the first perfect score of the season.  It was absolute perfection. It was filled with sass and class and hard core dancing.  Bravo and well deserved perfect scores!

Cirque La Nouba

Vanilla Ice & Witney Carson

#TeamIceNSpice

La Nouba:  Viennese Waltz

Vanilla Ice really has impressed me.  He clearly works hard at learning and still maintaining his schedule like many others do on the show.  I really thought he was going to be the dark horse of the competition and be with us for a while.  I thought their dance this week was choreographed really well by Witney and it was good.  It went along with the character of the dance.  Vanilla should be proud of the effort he put into the show.

Cirque PARAMOUR

Sharna Burgess & James Hinchcliffe

#TeamStopandGo

PARAMOUR:  Quickstep

Sharna always has fantastic creativity and chorography and James is one that is blowing me away this season.  He reminds me so much of Hélio when he danced with Julianne. James has crazy charisma and the skills and I look forward to their dance each week.  I thought their dance was absolutely fantastic, it had great energy, and it was super fun.  It’s always fun when Sharna channels her inner Jessica Rabbit too.  Bravo. I do have to say that Sharna & James absolutely positively did NOT belong in the bottom 3 tonight that is just crazy to me.

14202678_10154491879441740_1341242590084994957_n14264981_10154491901266740_4242782700183476508_n

Sadly eliminated tonight were:

Babyface & Allison:  What a class act Babyface was sad to see them go.

Vanilla Ice & Witney:  I was surprised to see Vanilla go so early too I really thought he would be one to watch as the season went on.  He and Witney were good!

 

 

Next week:  Most Memorable Year will post more info as it becomes available.

I went to see Val’s talk at the Southern Women’s show in SC.  As always he was wonderful and charming.  If you want to see pics from event check out social media at @lightscmemories Instagram, Twitter and FB.

Finally tickets and meet & greet VIP Packages went on sale this week so don’t miss out!  www.dwtstour.com

img_5858img_5790

Ladies, I am in love with these new Coach bags, check them out:  http://www.coach.com/shop/women-handbags-satchels

Bebe also has some pretty fall tops:  http://www.bebe.com/Tops/184.sec

 

Until next time,

Xoxo

 

Heather

 

VIP Experience Blog

Steven Tyler Out on a Limb VIP Experience Atlanta 2016

Steven Tyler Out on a Limb VIP Experience Atlanta 2016

IMG_5110

Where to begin on Mr. Steven Tyler!  He is simply one of the kindest, more engaging down to earth rock stars I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  This was my 6th time meeting Steven over the years and he never ever disappoints.

I got the 2nd tier VIP Package which included:

MEET & GREET PACKAGE Includes: 
– One (1) premium ticket
– Priority check-in and entrance
– Meet & Greet with Steven Tyler
– Photo opportunity with Steven Tyler
– Access to the pre-show reception which includes specially selected appetizer along with complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks
– Merchandise item designed and created exclusively for package purchasers
– Collectible laminate to remember your evening
– Onsite check-in staff

IMG_5281 (2)

We had a 2nd row dead center seat for the show which is why I went with the 2nd tier package vs the front row to save about $200 knowing these were very small venues 2nd row was great!

This is a solo tour Steven and the band Loving Mary did to promote his country album.  This was the 3rd time I have seen Steven perform with Loving Mary and they are also absolutely fantastic and you could tell Steven truly was having a really fun time each night performing with them.

IMG_5117

We received our check in info a few days prior which is always great so you can plan what time you need to arrive etc.  We had to arrive at 4:00 this time.  I thought the venue staff could have been a bit nicer at the Cobb Energy Center.  I had a man trying to tell me I had to check my point and shoot camera which I later had corrected and was allowed to take it in and then we waited in an organized fashion by numbered bracelets in a nice climate controlled area.  The staff came out and very kindly went over the rules with us and told us how we would receive our photos.  So far this is the only negative, we still don’t have our photos and it’s been 4 days yet it is a holiday weekend so hopefully by tomorrow.  Update:  Photos came out 5 days after this show.

IMG_5123

When we entered the room we did photos with Steven first.  It was in a nice private box area which is LOVE when artists do that.  He was giving each person at least 1 minute of his time as I timed a few which truly sets Steven apart from others.  You were greeted very nicely by his VIP staff and they asked your name as you entered and Steven would then say hello Heather how are you today, he always gives you a huge 14237686_10154052748678978_9111808101970890523_nhug and kiss and we would chat for a bit and he truly makes you feel like you are the most special person in that min.   In my opinion he then gets back the mutual respect of each person and you rarely if ever seen him groped in photo and if he’s hugging you or kissing you it’s because that is what he wanted to do.  It’s nice to have relaxed experiences and be able to say what you want to say.  The photographer then would count down 4, 3, 2, and 1 so you were ready for the photo which again gets an A+ in my book.

IMG_5132

After the photo then we had a few drinks, some snacks and then had to go back out and through security again.  This was also not a great thing in my opinion, we had all already been checked but, perhaps there was no other entrance into the venue.

The show was absolutely fantastic.  Steven takes that stage with such ownership, charisma and man does he blow the roof off the venues.  He played a perfect mix of Aerosmith and singles from his Country record.  He is one of the rock legends that every fan of rock music should be sure to see just once.  However once you see him once you will be forever hooked.

IMG_5139

My opinion is I did much prefer the meet and greets with Steven’s solo shows.  It’s not that I don’t think Joe Perry is a great guitar player and member of Aerosmith I just think Joe doesn’t care for the meet and greets and it really takes away from these truly special interactions that Steven provides.

Also wanted to give a shout out to the On-Site VIP staff Tanya, she is very good at her job, treats everyone with professionalism and kindness!

Concert Wear:

13903406_10153950994483978_8991553200840175587_n

I did wear my favorite off the shoulder Bebe top and black dress pants:

To order yours go to:   (STYLE # 266813):  http://www.bebe.com/

Or they have a new one for Fall that comes in a Purple and black:  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.

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

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

IMG_4829 (2)

 

Until next time,

Xoxo

Heather

Entertainment Blog

Ideal Meet & Greet/Photo Op

Ideal Meet & Greet/Photo Op

If I could sit down with celebrity VIP teams…

This is a topic I have been thinking about for the last few years.  It’s part of the reason for starting this blog.  I never want this page to be a negative place but, rather somewhere to share information, experiences, value etc.  If I could sit down with artist’s and their management teams to give them insight into what fans feel are best VIP practices this is what I would say:

  1. Artists should keep their commitments. It’s one of the things that I think a pop star and his team did wrong earlier this year.  If they didn’t want to do meet and greets anymore that’s fine but, finish the ones that you had committed to, implement rules to meet your needs in the interim and have your team enforce them but, respect that a good portion of your VIP attendees often are paying to travel for the experience.

 

  1. Don’t do photo assembly lines. I truly wish all artists that did meet and greets would commit to an hour or so of their time depending on the #’s and do it right, treat each person like a human being, say hello, ask their name, ask where they are from (stars may be shocked how far some will travel to see them), have a genuine interaction, then take the photo.  Let’s face it these meet and greets, photo ops, fan trips cost a large sum of money, show the fans you value and respect their time and money by giving them an interaction.  When an artist’s team brags that they did 300 pictures in 16 minutes that truly is disappointing vs a recent event I was at they had about 200 people and they devoted a solid hour or more, it wasn’t rushed and everyone that walked out after was so happy, felt so special and most of all valued.

 

  1. Make the interactions private. What I have been seeing quite a bit lately is a curtain box created and have thought that is such a great idea.  You can step in, have your interaction and not have 200-300 people watching it.  It helps with your nerves too, nobody wants to feel like they are in a fishbowl it also solves the issue of people taking photos of the entertainer/star as they approach.  It will also help the genuine interaction because then they are not still speaking to the person ahead of you etc.

 

  1. Make the rules clear, stick to them and let them know what will happen if they violate the rules. If you say don’t take your cell phones out and ask for a selfie and someone does don’t post the photo, if you say don’t hug, kiss and rub all over an artist and people do don’t post the photo.  I would guarantee you would only have to enforce it once and word would travel.  Too many fans will just take liberties, ignore the rules just to achieve their own objective and it truly does spoil the process for others in many cases and it’s disrespectful to the artist.

 

  1. Post photos in a timely manner. The companies that have them posted same day or in 24 hours always get a WOW for service from me.  VIP Nation events have been crushing it with this service the last year.  All events I have gone to hosted by them they have been up during the show or the next day.   It’s been nice to see many are getting them done quickly lately, people are always so excited to receive them so the faster the better.

 

  1. Give organic genuine experiences. A few tours recently I have seen many people asking for kisses, hugs etc.  You are putting the stars in an awkward position because if they say no then they can be looked at like they are being a jerk but, people have to realize in most cases you are a stranger or a familiar face in the crowd to the artist.  Would you want a stranger walking up and asking you to kiss them, hug them etc.?  It’s such a better experience when it happens organically and it’s something the artist initiates because it’s genuine and something they truly wanted to do.  On the flip side though as the artist make an effort to say hello, ask someone’s name and go from there.

 

  1. Please no gum or food in your mouth. I have a few photos with different entertainers with a wad of gum clearly seen in the pic and then recently had an experience where someone was eating a marshmallow.  Again people pay a lot for these experiences, travel long distances and it’s just respectful not to have food/gum in your mouth and seen in the photos.

 

  1. Respect the time of individuals paying for the VIP experience. Don’t make them arrive 2 hours ahead to just stand in line and don’t leave them in the various elements like extreme heat & cold.  Be organized. Nobody likes to stand around waiting for hours.

 

For random interactions with stars I always like to see who puts in the extra effort with their fans.  I can say after seeing it many times that Keith Urban is one of the best at this.  Keith will stop and literally do selfies with 40 people and it takes maybe 10 minutes.  Now in these random cases I think it’s fine to do a quick hello, photo and move on you are not paying for it.

I think the stars also need to be careful the way their team is representing them.  At the softball game at CMA fest one of the entertainer’s boyfriend’s came out where fans were lined up after the game and was telling a guy to hurry up and have her car pulled around because she didn’t want to stop for fans.  Another country star I saw three times at CMA fest once on the pink carpet, at Fan Fair X and then out and about and he could not be bothered to take a photo or have an interaction but as soon as a TV camera was on him he changed right away.  I personally will not spend my money, pay to travel, attend a concert of anyone that shows such disregard for fans.  It’s all in how the situation is handled.  Like I said in my CMA Fest blog from Day 3 instead of responding “NAH” to someone, say sorry not today.  Treat people like human beings and they will in turn reward you by devoting their time and spending their hard earned money to support your career.

One star recently said it best you always have to treat each person special because that may be your 1 time ever to meet that person that has supported you and you don’t know what they had to do to be at that show, if they saved for 6 months, flew across the country etc.  Whether it’s a 30 second selfie interaction or a paid meet and greet it’s your chance to make and leave an impression both on the fan and star’s end.  I will always support the ones that care and truly get it because that adds value to the experience.  I also feel we all have to treat them respectfully.

I would love to hear more thoughts on this from those that read the blog…

 

Until next time,

 

Xoxoxo

Heather

VIP Experience Blog

Keith Urban: Raleigh, NC

Keith Urban:  Once in a Lifetime Package

#keithurban

0B_ZJ6m4I was so excited when I saw that Keith Urban was going to offer VIP packages with his ripCord Tour.  The Once in a Lifetime package option allowed you to get an individual photo with Keith!  Prior to this you had to win a fan club contest giveaway to meet Keith and I was never fortunate enough to win.  I have met Keith at CMA fest though the last two years and he has always impressed me.  He has no ego, a genuine kindness, he’s a sweet man and truly one of the best at fan interaction.IMG_4961 (2)

It looks like they sold 6 of these packages per show which was great because it was a nice small group.  You had to arrive at check in between 5:15-6 pm, you received your bag of special items to go with the package.  I included a photo of what you received from merchandise discounts at the show or online, a blanket, license plate holder, temporary tattoo, special light up VIP lanyard, hat etc.  After check in you were taken back to an air conditioned tent and I don’t think there was more than 75-100 people in there including those packages like mine, radio station winners, CISCO staff (they sponsored the party) and then the fan club photo winners.  They had food, water and soda for us.  Keith’s staff handled everything very organized.  They brought everyone back for photos in small groups based on the type of pass you had.  The photo interaction was private which I loved although a bit fast however still not a photo assembly line.  You could enter the room and Keith gives you a huge hug, asks your name etc.  I hope the photos will be posted quickly.  . Hu5LHP6q

After the photos Keith came in and sang one song by request and answered a little over a handful of questions.  What I loved about that is it was intimate and everyone was told and everyone respected the no cell phones, cameras or recording and it was great.  It was a nice intimate and engaged interaction.  After that we were taken down to the pit.   cu0VTKzn

 

 

The show was absolutely fantastic.  Maren Morris, Brett Eldredge opened and they both were absolutely wonderful!  Keith and his band hit the stage with such energy!  The show was absolutely awesome, I love how Keith will spotlight members of his band during the show and allow them to sing individually as well.  Keith is such an engaging performer, he sang many of his hits, songs off the new album and if we had been inside he would have blown the roof off the venue!  Every time I have seen him perform he brings 200%, if you have never seen him perform…GO buy your tickets now!

gSHwZY6zI love how Keith uses social media.  After every show he will tweet photos and does a short video on IG or Twitter thanking the fans from that city, sharing his thoughts from the evening etc.  It’s just a special thing he makes a point of doing and that 1-2 minutes is appreciated by fans.

Nathan1

 

 

The venue:  Coastal Credit Music Park in Raleigh was good, the security and staff are all very nice.  Last summer I would have given them 5 stars for the ease in getting out after the show.  Last night I would give them a fail on that.  It took over 45 minutes to get out after the show vs the 15 minutes max it took last year for all the events I attended.

20160825_201346_8264_940922

Concert Wear!

I love wearing my J Crew tee’s to shows!  They are lightweight and come in fun colors!  https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/Tshirtsandtanktops/shortsleevetshirts/PRDOVR~A6166/A6166.jsp

IMG_4829 (2)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.

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