...Was the best week of my life. I was on the FC trip as you may have read in the other Dublin threads and I came away from that trip better than everyone else. A shit-ton of stuff happened but I'll try to condense as much as I can.
Just for background info, I own a Sambora guitar. The same one Richie's holding at the very beginning of this video.
A few days before the trip, my mom suggested that I bring the guitar from Phoenix, AZ all the way to Dublin and make my question to Jon "Will you sign my guitar" and after calling the manager of Runaway Tours, he said that would be fine. HELL YEAH.
On the morning of the first concert, the FC staff were handing out the wristbands to get in (we already got our tickets/VIP passes the previous day) and my mom, my sister, and I were the last people to get the wristbands. He said "Here's your wristband to the golden circle" as he put it on me and I freaked out because the trip, and tickets, said Diamond Circle. I pointed it out to him and he said "Kid, not trying to be an asshole, but don't tell me how to do my job". Then he realized I was right, ran on foot all the way to the RDS and picked up the wristbands and said that I basically saved the whole trip for everyone since there would be a huge fight with security and that he was going to do something "special" to make it up to me.
The first concert came around and the FC Trip was split up into 4 groups. Whether the staff guy was being nice to me or just coincidence, my group got in first and I was FRONT ROW between Richie and Jon and it was a blast. Best concert I had ever seen by the band and I was incredibly pumped for the second night. I also caught Richie's pick, and my mom caught Hugh's.
We also by chance met one of Richie's best and closest friends. He invited her on the FC trip and flew her out to Dublin so she could enjoy the trip. A few years ago, her father died of a brain tumor (same as Richie) and she and Richie happened to both donate large sums of money to a charity. Richie saw her donation and contacted her and they're best of friends now (and yes, this is totally serious). My sister almost caught a guitar pick but security got it and gave it to someone else and she said "Don't worry honey, I'll get you a box of them" and we became good friends with her, so hopefully something good comes from that.
After the show we received our autographed tour programs and the staff guy said he would take me privately BACKSTAGE AND SHOW ME AROUND. Once they picked me up off the floor I was so amazed I just couldn't believe it.
The second day came and the staff was REALLY late taking us to the Q&A and I have absolutely no idea why but we were all really pissed off because we knew it would be kinda rushed to begin with. Then the microphone system was malfunctioning up the ass and it was just a big ordeal. They had a trivia contest and I was 1 of 2 people who got all the answers right and I won Jon's dressing room sign from the Lost Highway tour.
The guy we spoke on the phone with about the guitar (I gave it to them before the first show and they held it backstage for me) said he already ran it by Jon that a kid wants a guitar signed and he was more than happy to, so everything was set up before the Q&A started. So I was one of the few people that actually got to talk to Jon and he smiled and said he'd sign it once the Q&A finished. HOLY SHIT. Pics are below along with my other pics (it's a new camera and it's AMAZING)
So a few things to note about the Q&A, which I've said elsewhere
-He had sunglasses on because he's shy and doesn't like eye contact with people (we found this out from Richie's friend)
-That beer-looking substance Richie has (also from his friend) is always either apple juice with honey, or tea with honey for his voice.
-He forgot what CD Misunderstood was on and needed our help to remember >.>
-He went on a rant about how he hates Hollywood with a passion and offended some people that ended up being from Hollywood, which was funny
-He said he bought that military jacket at some army/navy store in NYC, and that he thought it was so cool he put it on and started taking pictures of himself with his phone
At the end of the Q&A he walked up and signed my guitar right in front of me (some stupid mother****er jumped in front of me to see and I missed him ACTUALLY signing it but there's pics of it) and he gave me a really big, appreciative-seeming smile as he walked out the door. I about died.
The backstage tour was fantastic as well. I got to see their dressing rooms, I walked out onto the stage and took a pic of the crowd, I held Richie's guitar, and got a handful of picks (which brings my grand total to 11) from his guitar tech, who is a super nice guy.
The second show was even better. I got almost all of my bucket-list songs and I still ended up 3rd row Richie's side which was great because I could actually see David this time. Better than last night, and dare I say the best setlist of the tour, which is nice because I've always gotten those shows with setlists that were really short and/or shit.
Fast forward to the morning after. We're checking our bags in at the airport and 2 lanes over from us is DAVID BRYAN checking his bags in. My mom quietly shouted "David!!!" but he put his hand up and turned his head. We couldn't figure out if he waved and turned his head to look at us, or if he shooed us away and shook his head. I'd like to believe it's the first but I don't know. And wouldn't you know it, at the terminal was Richie's best friend again and she was totally surprised that David did that, because she passed him as well and he said hi to her even though they don't know each other. Oh well.
Remember when I said I'd condense this? I did. That's just how eventful this trip was. Jon Bon ****ing Jovi signed my guitar, I got to see 2 fantastic shows, and traveled 5000 miles to make it all worth it.