I've been wanting to go for this since I've heard it being advertised on Class95... but here's what I found out: I have little/no friends to go with and I'm too stingy to pay $125 (let alone $225 for VIP tix). And then the best thing happened (or so I thought... but let's leave that to the climatic end) - the cousin texted and said the event organizer was looking for volunteers to help at the event, and in return, all volunteers get a VIP tix in return! You cannot imagine my excitement; I was totally looking forward to it, and then came the boo-boo that my name wasn't on the volunteer list a week leading up to the concert. You see, all volunteers received an SMS with details on time/place for the briefing, but no, not I. And so I started bugging the cousin every other hour (ok, I'm exaggerating) until she must have so regretted telling me about the call for volunteers (I know you still love me, Y.)
4 days to the concert. The phone beeped. FINALLY. (And with any story worth reading, there's always a "but"...) The cousin texted and said she wasn't feeling well - my first dampener. But she was kinda sure she'll get better by the weekend. So there was hope.
1 day before the concert. The cousin's little girl was down with fever - my second dampener. But she said she'll monitor her. If the fever subsides, she'll still go for the concert. The husband was cool about her going by the way. It was more like she felt bad about leaving the baby at home while she was out partying. My POV? Little O wasn't gonna feel any better with one more person by her side. I literally told her that and assured her I wasn't saying it to be mean (yes, she has verified that she still loves me! yes, I am shameless like that). At this point, I was pretty sure the cousin would not be attending the concert afterall. I was half-prepared to go solo.
6 October 2012:
"Oi. bad news." The phone rang. Little O's to be admitted to hospital. Apparently down with some viral infection. "Just great," I thought to myself. I wasn't gonna let that ruin it for me though. So as much as I was pissed (with the world), I decided to go anyway. Afterall, it wasn't a nice thing to volunteer and then pull out last minute.
I arrived at Fort Canning Park 3:30PM for the briefing. Everyone's a strawberry. I was given an oversized t-shirt and a crew pass. ̶N̶i̶c̶e̶.̶ 10min later. I've made a new friend. She was also alone! The friend played her out. We were kinda glad we ended up in the same group; she was to play usher while I took on the role of a "wrist-tagger". Sweet. I couldn't wait for "work" to end so I could go all wild and gyrate to the 80s hits. I was so wrong. My new friend had to burst my bubble and tell me volunteers don't actually get to see the concert. WHAAAAAAT! Volunteers had to work, so their friends get the free VIP tix instead! Double whaaaaaaaaaat! I couldn't have been more pissed at this point. This was also where I realised gee, I really didn't have that many friends to invite.
I texted D whom I remembered was touching down that same day, and told her she could bring a friend. I figured W wouldn't be interested since she did say "it wasn't her thing". D didn't manage to get anyone so my pair of VIP tix went totally to waste.
The crowd started pouring in about 6ish, 7. I was one hell of a tagger, I tell you. The strawberries were impressed. I also made sure I didn't litter the ground with the sticker butts (is that what they call it!?)... unlike *ahem* the rest of the kiddos in the other lanes.
I was paired with a strawberried ticket-tripper. That's what the ticket-tearers are called. I like her. She wasn't whiney... although she kinda stressed out when the crowd came storming through. I had to half-yell at them to STOP and get their tickets checked/torn before coming over to me to get their right wrists tagged. And even then, I get people telling me to tag their left wrist instead, because they're left-handers. I was like, "Honey, it's SOP. I only check right wrists for re-entries. You don't get to come back in if you're tagged on the left wrist." The lesson to be learnt here: never argue with the door bitch. I felt empowered. Ha ha ha ha!
I was also expecting to see lots of familiar faces, especially since I was right at the main entrance. I couldn't have been more wrong. I saw more hands/wrists more than faces I swear. Sweaty ones too! The expected turn out rate was 5,000 people. (According to the papers a day after, there were at least 6,500 people!) I would have tagged at least 1/4 of that number. I was totally free labour, did I say?
Oh yes, I haven't griped about how I could only hear the muffled sounds of Wang Chung playing "Let's Go!" where I was standing... my feet were a-tapping and my hands were trying so hard not to go up in the air!!! The strawberries could not understand my pain because they had absolutely no effing idea who the artistes were and what songs they were known for. Pffft. I was in pain. Tiffany came on like an hour later and again, I could only wish I was in there... I didn't feel that deeply for Howard Jones.
The conert was supposed to end at 11PM but Alphaville hadn't even come on then. There was a glimpse of hope. I asked if they were gonna dismiss us anyway (because we were told it'll end at 11PM). By this time, I've been moved inside, to bid the party-goers "bye bye", "goodnight" and "see you again next year!". My only consolation being I could actually see the side of the stage from where I stood. I could actually move my feet and danced to the beat! I was half-elated. It was like the icing on a carrot cake (I don't eat carrot cakes. Go figure)
The event ICs decided to dismiss us but hoped for 2 volunteers to stay on. No way was I gonna volunteer. But I told the new girlfriend, let's stay for Alphaville! I was glad she obliged. We also hung out with another guy friend who's brought along his girlfriend (but had to leave her with his friends because he also didn't realise he wouldn't be going for the concert! Such suckers we are!)
I ran to change outta the ill-fitting t-shirt (the temp toilet was so effing wet and dirty!!!!)... grabbed the new-found girlfriend, and scurried back to where the guy friend and his friends were. Alphaville just about started playing when we got into positions. AWESOME. FINALLY.
I could have sworn I moved every bone in my body. I was transported back to my Mambo Jumbo days! (if only my friends were here!) I went wild when "Big In Japan" came on. Even wilder with "Sounds like a Melody" and finally with "Forever Young"!
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| "Big In Japan" |
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| the lights were giving me a headache but i went wild anyway |
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| closing song: "forever young" |
I am totally paying for the tickets next year. Then again, You owe me one, Y :)
And just so you know, I'm never volunteering ever.
(According to most of the strawberries I spoke with, they volunteered in the hope of getting called back to help at a K Pop concert that's happening.) The new friend I've made will continue to volunteer I've been told. She reckons she's got nothing (better) to do on weekends anyway. Amazing.
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