Third concert dressed (and great conversation)

[JayBird]

This year I have dressed up for a concert 3 times. First was a progressive jazz artist whom I saw dressed up in Virginia (I live in NC). The second was a prog rock piano player (Rick Wakeman) whom I saw in my hometown on Halloween (I was not in costume, but dressed up). This past week I was in Las Vegas and saw the 80s iteration of King Crimson. Side note: I had already seen King Crimson in Durham, NC with my daughter last month (dressed with androg top and skinny jeans, so not really dressed up).

I had a blast at this Vegas show. Before the show, I signed up for my new player card and spent the hour before the show playing the slots (which was another bucket list for me). I know that I am not fooling anyone, but I felt good (cocktail waitress called me hun and she was quick with the vodka/cranberry). :)

This show was great, but I know the guy sitting next to me was not comfortable with me as he was talking up a storm with the other guy and never gave me a look. Nothing problematic though, so no complaints.

However, during the intermission on my way back from the ladies room, a random guy just started up a conversation with me. He just said "Hey you think they are going to start playing stuff from the first album?" We just started chatting like two people who love prog rock. We start talking about Robert Fripp, Brian Eno, Bill Bruford, Chris Squires, ELP, Asia, UK, Yes, etc. It was a great 10 minutes. He made me feel so comfortable, and it was a nice conversation that was 100% platonic. I really felt good after the show (and of course the band killed it!).

[bridget thronton]

Great post thanks for sharing

[kimdl93]

Sounds like some great concert experiences, made even better by dressing for these occasions! By some strange coincedence Rick Wakemann popped up in my YouTube feed playing Eleanor Rigby. He is a great pianist!

[JayBird]

Kim... google is always watching you ;o) He loves the Beatles, and has been performing Eleanor Rigby in the style of Prokofiev. He played it the night I saw him.

[Debbie Denier]

I know from experience that prog rock audiences are predominantly male. Your experience was wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Not many prog rock bands still around today . Did see Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash recently if that counts. Still going strong at the age of 76.

[Helen_Highwater]

A concert/show/theatre is on my bucket list and having seen Rick Wakeman live 3 times I'll vouch for just what a great virtuoso performer he is. Good sense of humour too.

Your experience of having the guy next to you feeling uncomfortable with you I must admit is one of the concerns I have about being in a theatre. While the same as being in a cinema, which I've done several times, most cinema showings aren't packed out so you get to have space around you. Being sat next to someone watching a show just has me perhaps over thinking things as in truth it's little different than travelling by train were you're sat not only next to someone but if on a table seat with two or three others directly facing you. Again something I've done many times without issue.

[JayBird]

Helen, I guess the feeling of some low lighting and 2 of the 3 times being in a different city made me more at ease. The Wakeman show had me looking around, but I know no one from my work will be there. Some of my poker friends, though could have been there.

Debbie, it is interesting about the male-to-female ratio. At the King Crimson show it was probably 90/10 male, so the line at the men's room actually made me late for the 2nd act at Durham show. There was no bathroom line for me in Vegas. However, the Wakeman show was more mixed (70/30), and there were actually two different women in my section also there solo.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Jay :hugs:, Sounds like you had a great time,

[Natalie5004]

What fun. Me next please.