03.19.11 Bon Jovi @ MGM Grand Garden Arena - Las Vegas, NV

Bon Jovi

The day starts off with a barrage of emails. Luckily, not too early, around 10ish. Nothing out of the ordinary. I manage to fend off the wolves with my CrackBerry so I can take some time to Tweet. That's become my normal pre-event routine. I usually spend out an hour surfing looking for articles or tweets about the upcoming concert to retweet. It's fun, like a scavenger hunt.

I get to work around 1.00p. That's a little later than normal. But as soon as I get there it's non-stop. The Bon Jovi tour has a ridiculous amount of moving parts aside from the actual production. In a normal arena it wouldn't be an issue but ours is small, relatively. We don't have the space that an NBA arena would have so today is particularly challenging. But we get creative and get thru it. The Bon Jovi production people I deal with are true pros and get it. And in the end that's all that matters. They're in the building for 20 hours of which I interact with them only about 10 so you just keep telling yourself, I can handle most anything for 10 hours. 

We do the security briefing with the tour at 3.00p. By then I've got my inner team there along with the head of MGM Security. They go thru the same rig-a-marole they have for the past couple of years. They've been in our building countless times so it's a familiar meeting.

4.30p rolls around and I'm regurgitating the event details with my expanded supervisory team. We've got a Fan Club and VIP early entry so we blow thru the briefing so they can get in place to handle the 300+ people. 

At around 5.00p we start running the early entry groups thru the metal detectors and scan their tics. The Fan Club does a meet & greet with Jon Bon Jovi on the floor of the arena. Not sure how they get that privilege, if they pay for it or if they win it. Either way, if you're a fan it's cool that you have that opportunity. (Of course if you're a Chris Botti fan you get that chance at the end of every show - for free. Sorry, just had to rub that in.) They run them thru quickly. Lots of bands have fan club m&gs but what made this cool is Jon did this in the arena. Made for a cool backdrop. I once saw James Taylor and Carole King do this but they literally went person to person greeting the fan in their seats, not vice versa. That was a new one. And really, it is the artist that should be appreciative of the fan, not the other way around. About 75 minutes later they were done and Jon was escorted back to his dressing room and we got the arena prepped for doors. 

Crowd waiting for 6.30p doors

6.30p there's a crowd of a couple hundred people waiting to get in. From there it's a steady stream until about 7.00p when we typically get crushed. Vegas has a notoriously late arriving crowd. 25% don't even show up until just before the main act hits the stage. This is mostly due to the fact that we're a casino. Lots of people are still eating, gambling, getting ready in their rooms, whatever. They know that the arena is only a short walk from the restaurant or a 10 minute cab ride from their hotel or they are a high roller and get escorted by us thru a back door 5 minutes before the artist hits the stage. This is Vegas. If you're important to the casino, you become important to us and get treated accordingly. Rich people get special treatment. That's life. But what I try to do to even out the score is to do something cool for a regular joe. Upgrade their seat, give them a couple drink tics, maybe give them some free swag. Make them feel like they're someone special too because to someone, they are.

8.00p hits and I can hear Ryan Starr on the stage. I want to catch him but I've got to go pick up the 8 casino guests from the Mlife Lounge for the m&g with Jon. I go in and immediately I know this is going to be a good group. The first group of 4 are two young, beautiful couples from Mexico. Like movie star beautiful. And so sweet! The second group is an amazing group of 4 women about my age. They looked like what my friends and I would look like when we're out on the town. Dressed classy, not trashy. Age appropriate. I snake them thru the public areas backstage to a holding area by my office. There's another group of about 15 people already waiting. It's Drew Carey and a harem of women. He's almost unrecognizable he's lost so much weight. Good for him. I hope to one day be unrecognizable. 

The Grand Garden Arena pre doors.
Photo courtesy of Darrin Harrje.

We've got about a half an hour before the actual m&g so I chat with the groups. I remember the first time I got to meet Botti and how nervous I was so I tried to calm the group of ladies down, take their mind off of it. "Where are you from?" I ask. "Chicago," they say. "Chicago?! I Love Chicago!" I exclaim. It is one of my favorite cities on earth. They prove to be just like their first impression. Cool, laid back, real gals. Then I mingled with the 2 couples. They are from Mexico and were absolutely adorable. So fun. They clearly came from a family of money (otherwise they wouldn't have gotten this m&g) but they were extremely down to earth. Not bratty or uptight. I wanted to hang out with them all night! Liz, one of the girls, and I were joking around like BFFs with in minutes. I'm good at being social. It's always been my strong point. I think it's a survival mechanism more than an intentional skill. 

After Drew Carey's group went into the locker room hallway, we were next - or so we thought. Anthony, from the Tour called out to a couple quietly leaning against the wall. I didn't even really notice them until he motioned to them. One of the ladies said, "Isn't that Debbie Gibson?" I casually looked and yep, sure enough it was. I ended up talking to her for a little about girl stuff. She's quite lovely. At one point after the m&g Doc and I were sitting in chairs outside my office when the Notre Dame coach, Brian Kelly, was there and walked up to Debbie Gibson to introduce himself. Doc and I both just kinda looked at each other and smiled as of to say, "Only in Vegas." 

My 2 groups were up next and go in to meet Jon. We're standing there on the other side of the curtain, the ladies peeking thru to catch a glimpse of him. "Oh my God! There he is! I'm totally sweating." I recognize the flushed faces, the racing heart, the nerves. "Breathe ladies. You don't want to get all cramped up and have a droopy eye for your picture," I advise. I've been thru this a time or 2 and know what can happen, both from watching people and from being one of those people. No matter how cool you think you are there's still something explosive about meeting a celebrity you admire.

Bon Jovi, Sambora & me
Photo courtesy of Ron Koch

8.45p and I wrangle up the Brain Trust: me, DQ, Trubes & Jay (or Zippy as I call him). I've arranged for a venue pic with the band. We stand at the end of the locker room hallway and as the band walks to the stage they stop and take a pic with us. They were very sweet to do that that for us. It's fun for us, yes, of course. But it's also an opportunity for us to submit the pic to trade publications. Kind of like a "My wanker is bigger than yours" display. We all do it. It's part of the entertainment beast. But who am I to complain. I just met Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi. Membership has it's privileges. 

Crowd never sat down

9.00p and we're all starving. Mitch with Arizona Catering has keep catering open for a full hour later just for us. He's so good to the arena. We go in and gorge on fish, prime rib and desert. Yum. It's the first time we've had to actually sit down and relax for a bit.

Sambora: Lay Your Hands On Me

Around 10.05p I decide I should probably go out and see some of the show. I forget sometimes there's a show going on. I know, sounds stupid but when you do this for a living it becomes 'everyday.' I walk in and the entire crowd is on its feet. I knew they would be. Bon Jovi is one of the all time great live bands of their generation.

2011 & 2010 souvenir chairs

They're exactly half way thru their set: Lay Your Hands On Me with Richie Sambora. I go stage left to take in a bit of the show. Bon Jovi's got a cool stage. They've got an arch with a pit in the middle. The pit is filled with high-priced seats that get access to a VIP pre-party - like $1200-$1400 pricey. That's a lot of cash. But hey, for the $1400 you get to take your souvenir chair home with you. 

Bon Jovi singing Memory

Next up is Memory. I have already admitted I'm not a real Bon Jovi fan. I don't have any of their songs on my iShuffle but it's surprising how many songs I know. Jon is on the outer edge of the arch now singing to the center of the arena. His back is mostly to me but I don't mind - for obvious reasons. 

Bon Jovi kneeling to a fan

Jim Fassel coach of the Las Vegas Locomotives (UFL) is standing behind me. I was gonna say something but I couldn't remember if it was Fassel or Tressel. Good thing I didn't because I was gonna say Tressel (as in The Ohio State coach). Major faux pas. 

I'll Be There For You

Richie comes out to the edge of the arc to sing I'll Be There For You with Jon. I get up and head to the center isle of the arena to get a head on shot of the 2 of them. Have I mentioned membership has it's privileges? I actually know the words to this chorus, kinda. After I get the shot I head back to the 5/7 vommy where most of us stand and watch the shows because it's right outside of our offices and the public isn't allowed thru it. 

Bon Jovi & Sambora on the arc

I've had enough for a while so I head back to my office to try and get some work done for Lady Gaga coming up next weekend. 

A little while later I head back to the arena. Bon Jovi is playing Sleep When I'm Dead. I've never heard this song in my life but the crowd is singing every word. Same with Blood On Blood. I look to my right and some woman is lying against her husband, totally passed out. She had to have been. The bass alone is enough to keep a corpse alive. 

Bon Jovi's got this amazing LED panel wall. It separates into segments and moves all around. At one point he actually steps on them I think. To be honest, I've never actually seen it but that's what people tell me. The moving parts are so cool. He finishes up Have A Nice Day and I decided to head back stage left. 

Crowd loves this band

By the time they play Faith the place is so full of energy you think it the walls are moving. Our arena is small (tonight around 14.9k) so it feels much more intimate than a pro-sports arena. We don't have suites so even in the upper deck, it's a decent seat. 

Mandatory butt shot

Jon says his thank you's and the band walks off stage before the encore. Lights go black and the place starts cheering and stomping the bleachers. It's cool to feel 14,900 people but not actually see them. Bon Jovi appears and they start their 4 song encore. 

Wanted

Dry County is first. Then their anthem Wanted Dead Or Alive. Ever hear almost 15,000 people sing in unison? It's gives you the chills. To see grown men singing their hearts out, thrashing, sweating, fists in the air is quite a site. And I'm talking about the audience, not the band. By the time I Love This Town starts I know that's my cue to head to safe ground. Stage left is not a good place to get caught at show break so I head to the 5/7 vommy for the last song Always.

Normally that's the end of the night but because it's Vegas we've got a couple of artist post-party-m&g's going on. My team handles them all like pros so I go back to the office to see what DQ, Trubes & Zippy are doing. We end up shootin' the shit for about an hour until we get the final numbers back from Aramark. 

I head back to my office around 1.30a to finish up billing and clean up my email in box before I leave so I can actually receive messages over the next day or 2. I love this time of night. Event is over, only a couple of us left in the office. I'm pooped but mamma-bear proud we've done another successful event. It's all thanks to my amazing team. I crank Chris Botti with Sting singing If I Ever Lose My Faith In You. I love this song. I play it often at the end of my event nights. It's like my own little encore for myself reminding me that I've got people depending on me and people I depend on to never lose faith. Thanks guys. 

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Set List 

Livin' On A Prayer

You Give Love A Bad Name

Born To Be My Baby

We Weren't Born To Follow

Lost Highway

Blaze Of Glory

It's My Life

Runaway

The More Things Change

We Got It Going On

Bad Medicine

Lay Your Hands On Me

(You Want To) Make A Memory

Bed Of Roses

I'll Be There For You

Love For Sale

Someday I'll Be Saturday Night

Who Says You Can't Go Home

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

Blood On Blood

Have A Nice Day

Keep The Faith

Encore

Dry County

Wanted Dead Or Alive

I Love This Town

Always