My Dublin Experience
 

...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.

Some pics, as promised:
First show:
Jon saw me from front row with my camera pointed at him and he did this pose, and held it until I took the pic and then smiled at me.
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN0311-1.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN0320-1.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN0392-1.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN0750-1.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN0870-1.jpg
Second show:
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN1111-1.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN1179-1.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN1215-1.jpg

Second show continued:


http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN1248-1.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN1345-1.jpg
My new dressing room sign:
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN1519-1.jpg
Q&A
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN0991-1.jpg
MY SIGNED GUITAR:
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN1515-1.jpg
Backstage tour (wouldn’t you know it, my camera died as soon as this started so I didn’t get any other pics. I had someone else take some and they said they would email them to me):
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSCN1049-1.jpg

What a fantastic story and fantastic pics! Selfishly, the best thing you've written is about what Richie was drinking for me! :D

What an amazing trip and awesome photos too. Thanks for sharing.

What an experience for you. You will remember that for a long time. And I'm just pleased to see some young people enjoying this music. Most people your age think Bon Jovi sucks LOL

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

And yes, they do. I've got a few friends that love them but all in all I have to deal with Lady Gaga fans and the like every day at school. It's sad that a computer-generated song is more regarded than These Days is.

ALSO I forgot one detail. At the Q&A Jon said he thinks Dublin night 1 was in his top 20 concerts of all time. To be honest he was probably just buttering up to us in some way or another but if not, then that's really cool.

Wow, that is an amazing story. I'm so jealous, but also so glad for you. The guitar part is especially cool.

HaHa, I remember those days in high school.

Aloha !

I'm glad you enjoyed it and I'll probably be a party pooper or whatever, but I still stand by my original point:

For the amount of money you pay for this you oughta get something more than a spot in the Diamond Circle and a Q & A that gets cut short without any explanation given by a Jon Bon Jovi who apparantly refuses to take of his glasses because...he's shy? It's just downright rude, and him keeping up his glasses is just saying "I can do this, because I am more important than you." Seriously, what would it be like if someone would just stand up with sunglasses on and ask him a question? How would Jon feel about not being able to look them all in the eye?

Like others who are going around Europe with me have told you, for the same amount of money you could have done at least 5 shows in the Golden Circle, see 5 big European cities and have some spending money left. It'd also mean you'd be here for at least 1,5 week instead of the 4 days or whatever they gave you. I honestly don't get why people think meeting Jon Bon Jovi is worth that much money when Jon Bon Jovi himself can't be arsed to actually have the decency to honour their requests and present himself as a decent man. And before anyone starts to say that I'm jealous; I'm not. Last year I had to opportunity to buy me a package for London but I didn't, I spend the money on a road trip through Canada, which made me able to see 5 shows and spend 10 days there. In my opinion Jon Bon Jovi is not the kind of man who's just as important or influential as 10 days in a foreign country.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan