First Concert Experience

LittleMrMagic · Post by **LittleMrMagic** » February 10, 2006 11:59 am

I am a DJ by trade and I am in the process of starting a new Parrothead night in Utah (land of the Parrothead popsicle this time of year) anyways. . .
I was chatting with the VP of our local Parrothead chapter this morning and wrote her about my first Jimmy Buffett concert experience and man, is it a doozie!!! Please read on . . .
Suspend disbelief and get ready for my first Jimmy Buffet concert story. . . .
"I have a girlfriend that is going to school in New York right now. I had got her into Jimmy Buffett while we were dating and invited her out to join me for my birthday (my birthday was the day before the show).
So I flew her out and we did the Tommy Rockers party the night before (also, we left early to go catch The Blues Traveler at The House Of Blues... her birthday surprise for me).
It was already a "storied" weekend by the time we made it to the concert Saturday night. Because I flew her out, I couldn't afford anything beyond the $100.00 "cheap" seats and if I remember right, our tickets were five rows from the top. We were dressed in full "Parrothead" regalia. . . grass skirts, hula shirt (on me) with a coconut bra over the top, she was wearing a bikini with a shell bra over the top. Over all of this we were both decked out in 10lbs each of Mardi Gras beads and we were sharing the love. We gave Mardi Gras beads to anyone that even looked at us (and we were having the time of our lives doing it). Even the ticket takers got Mardi Gras beads from us!
Anyway, as we headed for the escalators to head to the upper deck, this guy stopped us and asked us where we were sitting. I was like "in the nosebleeds, but it's going to be the most fun anyone has ever had up there!". He asked me, "Well, are you going to be sitting down?" and I responded, "Hell no! There's a good chance they'll kick us out because I'll be damned if I'm going to let anyone else sit either!"
He laughed and said, "Well, we can't let you go up there then, you better come sit with us, if you'll make me the same promise". I was beside myself, he handed me two floor tickets and told us that two of his friends couldn't make it, so they decided before the show that they were going to give these tickets to two deserving "Parrotheads" and for God only knows why, he chose us.
Well, we started following this "Saint" down towards his seats and every time Heather (my gf) and I passed another section we turned to each other in greater looks of shock and awe. As we arrived on ROW 9, center section(!!!!!!) I was grinning like a cheshire cat. I think I probably had a tear in my eye. I was brought back to reality with the clunk of a beach ball off of my head and I think it was just about then that I realized I was still awake.
What followed was an amazing show. . . our combined 20lbs of Mardi Gras beads was reduced to a few beads each as everyone around us was wearing our beads by the end of the show and we had a bunch of "nameless" new friends.
We never got kicked out, but a pair of older gentlemen in back of us did end up leaving. Even after giving them Mardi Gras beads it seems they couldn't be inspired to loosen up. I think they had a GOP convention to attend or something anyways. . .
WOW! What a night, that is all I can say. After the show, we gave these guys that gave us the tickets big hugs, told them how much we appreciated the tickets and continued to pinch each other the whole way out of the arena. It was some kind of fairy tale to me. A fish story to be sure, but I have the tickets to prove it. . . both pairs!!!
Bottom line, that inspiration carries and if I am able to deliver 1/10th that experience through my Parrothead Night to others, then I can begin to repay that debt. Honestly, I don't think that night could have been more magical if I'd paid for front row tickets myself.
That is what I hope to give people through this show, a front row experience to Jimmy Buffett magic!"
I really owed it to this nameless stranger to write this sooner, but after re-remembering this story this morning, I had to post this story here as soon as possible. And if anyone is out there, from Phoenix, that is reading this thinking. . . I think this guy is talking about me! Thank you sooo much, you couldn't have made us happier! That was the nicest thing a complete stranger has ever done for me and your generousity will be passed on. That is about the only way I can think to honor you, besides this posting.
Only one question remains to this day, "Why us"?
Anyway, if you can beat this story, or have a similar one to share. . . please add to this thread.

jackiesic · Post by **jackiesic** » February 10, 2006 12:11 pm

Maybe I missed it but where was the concert? What year? Which tour?
Awesome story!!!!

z-man · Post by **z-man** » February 10, 2006 12:18 pm

great story, thanx for sharing!

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » February 10, 2006 12:26 pm

jackiesic wrote:Maybe I missed it but where was the concert? What year? Which tour?
Awesome story!!!!

The Tommy Rocker's part makes me think Vegas, but not sure about the other parts.

LIPH · Post by **LIPH** » February 10, 2006 12:30 pm

$100 cheap seats sounds like Vegas

pbans · Post by **pbans** » February 10, 2006 12:31 pm

Great story.....be sure to post something when you get your parrothead night put together.....there are a few of us here in Zion ready for a good night out!!

My first concert was Park West 1986 (those of you who have heard the story 900 times, feel free to nod off)....I had just met a new guy and thought he was 'the one'. He liked me AND he liked my best friend....he was on the fence, I think about which one of us he really wanted to date. I told him about the upcoming Buffett concert (GREAT outdoor mountain setting) and asked him to take Shari and I. He gave me the money for the tickets and said, "Let's Go".
On that magical night, we loaded up in his fabulous 1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass and headed up to Park City. Once we got there, I asked him to buy me a concert t-shirt, and being a good prospective boyfriend...he did. I stripped my shirt off and put it on right there at the t-shirt stand. That, my parrothead friends, is how I won the guy! Twenty years later, we're still together....still happy....and I still have the t-shirt and the ticket stub!!
It was a magical night in many, many ways!!
AGAIN.....be sure to post something when you get the PH night put together!

OPHarbor · Post by **OPHarbor** » February 10, 2006 1:24 pm

That's a great story!!
I'm almost embarrassed since my first concert was very recently(2001).
Although Mrs. Harbor and I have been long time fans originally from the gulf coast, I guess kid's and all kind of shifted priorities. But now the kids are gone and I......I digress (different thread). Well, I was looking for tickets to a Sting concert and stumbled onto Bubba in Orlando, so we decided to blow off the Sting thing and take in a Buffett show. What a Weekend, we stayed at the brand new Hard rock in Orlando, having just opened, they were selling rooms on the cheap! It was our Valentines day present. The day before we left, I suprised Mrs Harbor with a brand new Bimmer, so we were styling! The weather was great, we went to Universal and Margaritaville the day prior, and found out that they were having a party and party bus to the show. This solved our problem of getting there, as we reaallly didn't want to drive the new car down to the TDW center. Now we were free to live it up. I never really knew what type of tailgating went on but when we got there and saw that.....whoa!! After walking around for about a minute we saw a vibrator race, gas powered blender and a lot of people in various stages of undress. Well, that was enough for us, now we go to every show (within reason) even Hawaii last year. As sick as it sounds, going to that first show changed my life, I've learned to take everything easier, don't sweat the little things, and I think my blood pressure has gone down too!!! I don't know how well my liver is doing though

OPHarbor · Post by **OPHarbor** » February 10, 2006 1:28 pm

By the way MRMAGIC, welcome to BN!!!! Enjoy the ride

LittleMrMagic · Post by **LittleMrMagic** » February 10, 2006 2:08 pm

This was in Vegas. October 29th, last year! Thanks for replys and loving the stories. Keep 'em coming!!!

LIPH · Post by **LIPH** » February 10, 2006 2:14 pm

All I remember about my first Buffett concert was that it was at Jones Beach in I think 1987. Maybe 1988, whatever year the Hot Water CD was released.

LittleMrMagic · Post by **LittleMrMagic** » February 10, 2006 2:14 pm

As soon as I can tell everyone the name of the bar, I will be sure to post it on this thread, so check back. Right now, I have to keep it under wraps but by later this month I can tell everyone. It will be a Wednesday night starting either March 15th or 22nd.

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » February 10, 2006 2:23 pm

LittleMrMagic wrote:As soon as I can tell everyone the name of the bar, I will be sure to post it on this thread, so check back. Right now, I have to keep it under wraps but by later this month I can tell everyone. It will be a Wednesday night starting either March 15th or 22nd.

??

MrBill64 · Post by **MrBill64** » February 10, 2006 3:11 pm

LittleMrMagic wrote:This was in Vegas. October 29th, last year! Thanks for replys and loving the stories. Keep 'em coming!!!

I was at that concert and if you didn't get those floor seats you would have been 4 rows in front of us in the upper deck as we had the last row. We had a great time that night as we too were dressed in grass skirts, parrothead hats and mardi gras beads.......ahhhhh, the memories of the pre party at Margaritaville as we had such a good time. I have to ask, were you the couple that had Utah license plates dangling around your neck? If so we might have had a beer with you at the street party before the concert.

Bill

LittleMrMagic · Post by **LittleMrMagic** » February 10, 2006 3:31 pm

Ringling. . . check out the gist of what I just said, "BAR", "UTAH" these two words mix like oil and water. There are some details that have to be worked out before I can legally name the bar. But believe me, I'm dying to tell you all.

BTW, just to tease you guys along, we may be having a VERY BIG opening night band. . . (which I also cannot name at this time).

Mr. Bill64, believe it or not we never made it to the alley party. My girlfriend is YOUNG (24) and she had never been to Vegas before, so she had me show her the town that day (I begrudgingly played tour guide).
Next time

(Maybe those seats were my karmic reward for missing the pre-party).

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » February 10, 2006 3:42 pm

LittleMrMagic wrote:Ringling. . . check out the gist of what I just said, "BAR", "UTAH" these two words mix like oil and water. There are some details that have to be worked out before I can legally name the bar. But believe me, I'm dying to tell you all.

yeah, I know about Utah and bars, and bottle clubs, and why you never go hunting solo with a Mormon, etc. From a jaded point of view, the coyness about the bar, and the band almost comes off as a spamming post.

Which is not to say that the middle part of the concert story post wasn't good.

BilltheLizard · Post by **BilltheLizard** » February 10, 2006 3:44 pm

Mr. Magic I am sorry to hear you live in Utah..... just kidding. I still remember going to the yellow buildings to get my booze and some of the best powder skiing in my life.

BTW what part of Utah?

LittleMrMagic · Post by **LittleMrMagic** » February 10, 2006 3:49 pm

The powder is what makes living here all worthwhile, ahhhh. . . .

(and Lizard, I'm in Salt Lake City)

BilltheLizard · Post by **BilltheLizard** » February 10, 2006 4:01 pm

LittleMrMagic wrote:The powder is what makes living here all worthwhile, ahhhh. . . .

(and Lizard, I'm in Salt Lake City)

I lived in Ogden for a year. Loved skiing SnowBasin, but my favorite was Alta.

Anyway, back to topic.

First Buffett experience was me at age 14 with my sister and all of her college friends in 1982 at Glen Helen Regional park for the US Festival. Although I don't remember all the details, I do remember having a great time, getting into the beer garden (remember I am only 14), killer buds, seeing naked fun bags all over the place and enjoying this with 140,000+ of my closest phriends. I am much more of a devoted parrothead now in my older years, but I did get to see Jimmy do 'I Don't Know (Spicoli's Theme)' live.

LastWomanStanding · Post by **LastWomanStanding** » February 10, 2006 4:43 pm

That was an awesome story!

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » February 10, 2006 8:30 pm

LittleMrMagic wrote:The powder is what makes living here all worthwhile, ahhhh. . . .

(and Lizard, I'm in Salt Lake City)

so you live close to the Kremlin??????

BuffettNews.com

First Concert Experience

First Concert Experience

Oops!!! Forgot to post the where

Hey PBans....and any other Utah parrotheads

Re: Hey PBans....and any other Utah parrotheads

Re: Oops!!! Forgot to post the where