The best day of my life, happened just a short while ago…five days ago do be exact. On December 3, 2000, my best friend Kimber, her step-mom Kim, her step-brother Kyle, and myself all woke up at 5:00am in the brisk of the morning, before the sun even rose. We got ourselves ready and were out the door by 5:30am and on our way to Hollywood, California with our blood circulating like crazy, we were extremely excited.
We arrived at around 6:00am at the Palace on Hollywood Blvd. and Vine Ave. We were prepared to stand in line, outside in the cool, winter morning, to save a place in line for the BBMak concert that evening. We already had our tickets bought, but it was on a first come, first serve basis, and we definitely wanted front row. No one had arrived there that early and there was a night club still going out that would not be finished until 9:00am, so we were a little bummed, but we went to breakfast instead. As soon as we were finished we rushed over to the Palace to see if there was already a line, to our surprise approximately fifteen people already waiting impatiently in line. One little fact, the concert did not start until 7:00pm that night so we had a long day ahead of us, but we are such devoted fans that it did not matter.
So, we got dropped off and "set up camp" you could say. We got out our chairs, c.d. player, and jackets, and listened to BBMak's music as we waited. We met these remarkably nice girls there who we would spend, most likely, the rest of the day in anticipation with.
Well, from what I heard before the concert from those with experience was to make friends with the people that worked there and then maybe they could get you into backstage or other certain privileges. So every person that worked there were very delightful, and Kimber and I made friends with all of them. Regardless, we asked the manager of the club, Eddy, if there was any way he could get us into the sound check before the concert, and he said when it is time, ask to "go to the bathroom" and he will let us in, and then we could nonchalantly watch them do their sound check. We were greatly enthused to hear that we may be able to meet them. Then we get back in line and we were listening to BBMak songs on the c.d. player and we were getting exceptionally bored.
Then we decided that we would go and find out where BBMak's hotel was, which someone had previously told us, and see if we could somehow find them inside. It took about fifteen minutes to walk there, but we were full of anticipation so the time went by surprisingly fast. Well, we get to the hotel and we choose to look around for them on the different floors, so, we go up to a couple of the floors and walked around saying their names. No luck. We were a little depressed at first. On that account, we went down to the lobby and figure if they are going to be anywhere; they would probably go down to the lobby sooner or later. At any rate, we are there waiting patiently and out of no where we saw Jingles, their bass player and Mike, another friend of theirs. Then we went up to talk to them and ask them if BBMak was staying there and Mike said that they were not because there was so much press in the hotel that they had to put them somewhere else. Then a few moments later, we saw Bob, their manager, at the front desk checking out! We were jumping for joy! We waited for him to finish and it seemed like an eternity, but finally he came up and talked to us, and we asked him for sound check passes but he said he could not give that away because the radio station, KIIS FM, was in charge of the whole thing. We were a little dispirited but decided to walk back to the line anyway.
So, we arrived back at the line and we saw that people were starting to line up along the side of the Palace, so being as curious as we were, we went over there. Turns out people were lining up to get in for the sound check party, previous to the concert. Still unhappy that we could not go in, JoJo, a D.J. from KIIS Fm comes up and started talking to us, it happens that we is very admirable, but even he could not give us tickets to go to the sound check. Something that did lift our spirits though, was while we were over there, we were interviewed by a Swedish camera crew and an English one also. In addition to this, a man from the television station VH1 taped us for a show they were going to show. Nevertheless we were in awaiting to see if anything astonishing would happen.
Then, out of no where, a limousine pulls up and guess who it happens to be? That is right, none other than the British Pop Hits, BBMak! By this time my heart was racing, I have never seen them in person before, I could not stand it any longer, I was finally going to meet BBMak! They turned the limousine around, and the door flings open and out comes, Christian, Mark, and then Ste. Let me just tell you, my camera was going off so much, I did not want to miss a moment of this. Mark, my personal favorite, shook my hand and I about fainted. Then they walked into that gated area where everyone was waiting outside of. Then Ste came back out and, at the time, I was the only one over there, so he said "Hi" in his beautiful British accent and shook my hand. Then, evidently clusters of people ran over and were snapping shots also. Soon afterward Mark came out and he was in conversation with us for awhile and at that moment I yelled his name, he saw me, then he came over and shook my hand, and a few other girls hands also. Not long after that, Christian came out and he mingled with us awhile, and he too shook our hands.
Proceeding directly afterwards, they started letting people in the sound check and we were despondent because we thought we could not go in there. However, we had recalled what Eddy the manager had told us early on that day, that if we "had to go to the bathroom" he would let us in. So we lackadaisically walked into the area were they were holding the sound check party, and sat down to watch them sing. At that point we got a picture taken of Kimber and I for the KIIS Fm website with a sign we had made. Then, to our astonishment we saw Ron Lester, Sugar Daddy, from the television show Popular. He was one of the most pleasant people I have met. Therewith we left the sound check at the conclusion and it was time to get back in line for the concert.
Meanwhile, the whole time that was going on, the people we had met in line earlier that day, were saving our spots so we could still get close up. By this time I was so ecstatic that I could not wait to see them any longer! They finally let us all in, and Kimber and I ran up to the front row and were not going to move even if we did get pushed around. We deserved front row and that is what we got. It was very crowded though and really hard to breath because everyone was so close. Jessica riddle soon came on, their opening act, and she was pretty good, but I still could not keep my mind off of BBMak. At that point, their music started playing and out came Mark, Christian, and Ste. They played fourteen of their songs and performed excellently. The whole time I was just so amazed and still could not believe I was actually watching, listening, and at times touching BBMak. Further into the concert, I asked Ste for his guitar pick and he replied, "You want my guitar pick?" but by the end of the concert, I had bent down to pick something up, and he had given it to the girl next to me thinking it was me. I was a little disappointed, but nonetheless, I still got to meet them all. The end of the concert was drawing near and they all threw out a cup of guitar picks with all their names on them. I ended up with four of Mark's picks, 3 of Christian's picks, and a yellow pick, but I do not know whom it belonged too. I ended up giving away one of Mark's and one of Christian's picks away to a girl who did not get any. Ste did not throw any out with his name on it, so I had not got any of his, but it was still very amusing!
By that time, the concert had come to a close, and I really did not what that time to come, but it had to sooner or later. We went back to our hotel room, and knew that that had been the best day that our lives have ever had. We had such an immense time and were displeased it was over. I will never forget that day, ever!
Not only did she meet BBmak once, but twice (lucky girl):) And here's her second story:
March 23, 2001 was the second time I met BBMak and it was well worth it!! I spent the night at my best friend, Kimber's mom's house the night before because we were going to get up really early the next day, so we could be first in line. We had been trying to win tickets on the radio for the past 48 hours prior, and a lot more before that too. anyways, we got soooo lucky that night, because we called into Kiis and we got through, and got to talk to BBMak!! We asked them if they could do an american accent, and they all did. Ste did a New York accent, and said, "forget about it," Mark did an LA accent, and said something like, "woah, dude that's rad" hehe and christian did a texas accent, which sounded nothing like one! :) but it was still cute. Well, here comes the part about the next day. What happened was, we got up at around 6:00 and left about 6:30, arrived at the park at 7:00 and was in line by 7:15ish. We had signed up with seatfillers.com, and that's how we got tickets into the park. So, Kimber's friend sara had been the first in line, so we were able to go up with her, even though there were only like 5 other people in line at that time. so, we were finally able to go into the park at about 8:30. They put us in this "resting" area to wait for them. The Kiis winners were in front of us, which people told us, were 500, but it didn't look like that many, then we had to be behind them. So, we were pretty far back and kind of bummed. However, this guy was going around picking people from our group (around 40 from about 500 people) and me, kimber, kimber's sister kenna and kobe, her mom debi, and her friend sara were all picked!! We were so happy!! What we were picked for was to be part of a pre-taping segment and we would also get front row, or at least close! Anyways, they took us over there and we stood in a line, and screamed, etc. for the cameras. Which was way awesome, but before that even, BBMak was up doing a soundcheck!! And we were all screaming for them! They were beautiful! Well, they came down and I shook Ste's hand, and just touched Mark and Christian. So, we did our little taping of things, yelling and screaming for the camera, then just hung around a little bit, we also talked to JoJo from Kiis fm for a little while also. He's so awesome! Later we got interviewed by a British T.V. station which is totally awesome and about Hollywood fans! :) So, we were waiting around, (still just the 40) and they told us to go by the stage, so then they could fill in everyone else. So, we got on the side of the stage, right were they would go up. OMG! We were so close. Then, they came in and everyone was yelling! It was so awesome!! And they were talking a little bit, then played their songs Unpredictable and Ghost of you and Me twice each. And we talked to them so much! Here's somethings that were said throughout the "concert." (it was actually a taping of Disney's Summer Jam which will air in June on ABC) anyways, on Ste's microphone pack in his pants, the tape on it said "Steve" so i'm all, "ste, why does it say Steve on it?" and he's all, "stupid people" and he took it off and was gonna give it to me, but the girl next to me jumped up and grabbed it. :( Also, Ste was drinking his water bottle which was right in front of me, and I asked him for that too, but he was giving it to me, and the girl on my left took it from me. :( just my luck, right? Anyways, Ste was turned around and I yelled, "Nice butt!!" and he's touched his butt, turned around, and said, "thanks!" hehe, they were way cute. they I asked ste for his guitar pic but he said he already told another girl that she could have it. later i asked christian for his pic too, but he's all, "well, i have to use it for the rest of the thing, sorry." but no worries right...well, i had a beatles shirt on, and i yelled, beatles rock! and me and kimber started singing, "help" and then ste's was smiling at us, and said, "who hear has heard of the beatles" and we just kept yelling! Then me and kimber kept saying..."sing more than words, sing more than words, etc." and so, ste started playing it and then mark was singing it really quite. it was way cute! there were a bunch of little comments exchanged between us throughout the whole thing, we were so lucky to be so close. another thing was, we yelled, "play mary's prayer!" and ste's all "have you heard it?" and we're all, "Ya!! It's soo great!" and then he gave us a thumbs up. it was so cute. and we would yell, take it off! and mark and ste both pretended to take it off! :) let's get to their dress attire. Christian has cute army pants, and a long sleeve button up cream colored shirt. Mark had way cute jeans with a rip on one of the knees and a see through reddish shirt. Ste had on jeans too i think, and a beigeish tank top on and a cute little hat. They all looked soo hot! Well, then after that we were told that we were picked out of the 40, only 10 of us, to hang out with them in the park that day and do tapings. so we were way stoked!! YAY! anyways, they left off the stage and we all went our ways. We ran got lunch and met back a little later. After a little bit of waiting, they came out and did a photo shoot. They had a green screen behind them and were gonna crop them onto grizzly peaks. they had changed, and christian was now wearing a white shirt w/ blue trim with something on it but i forgot what it said, and army pants, and a jean jacket. Mark had on a cute beige ( i think was the color) tank top with the same jeans. Ste had on a Blue shirt, and same pants. Well, in that photo shoot, Christian took off his shirt!! AHH, and I got a picture of that! yay. also, i blew mark a kiss, and i didn't think he saw but a little bit afterwards, he caught it and put it on his lips! :) he's so sweet! Then we went to do the taping things. But it turned out that the girls who were in the first taping, ended up being in all of them, so we kind of got screwed, until the end, we were able to go on California Screamin' with them. I sat on the back of the ride the first time, and they were on the front, and they were sitting on the rail and i was sitting on mine, and i waved and they waved back and were smiling and stuff. then i went over to them and said hi, and they said hi, but then i had to go back in my place, because of the whole taping thing. Then i motioned mark to come over to where i was, but he felt really bad, because he had to stay over there too. :( Then the second time we rode it, I was right behind MARK!!! and i was kind of talking to them a little bit, but i can't remember what was said. And all 3 of them were right next to me, and they were swinging themselves on the bars (the ones in line), it was so cute. And after the ride we got off, and I was right by ste, and i smiled, and he's all, "hello" and i'm like, "hi" and he's like, "that was a great ride" and i'm like "ya" hehe...then they told us we all had to go, so we left. Anyways, that was my day, and a wonderful day that was!! :) I can't believe how lucky we were!! it was awesome!
