Music, Lights, Crowd, Action

Music, Lights, Crowd, Action

It starts with everyone lining up outside. Everyone is talking to people they've never met before and will probably never see again. They all share a common bond, though. There is music, laughter, and excitement. Once the gates open, the excitement level sky rockets. Some scream and jump up and down; others smile as if they won the lottery. Some are in awe, looking around trying to determine if this is real life or just a dream. Other strut inside like they own the place. They act as if this is home. After an employee scans your ticket and security pats me down, you finally allowed inside.

At first it just looks like a giant circular strip mall. There are tables set up where one can buy overpriced t-shirts, hats, CD's, and more. You end up buying one of the t-shirts that lists a bunch of cities on the back, with a picture of the main act on the front. As you continue my way to your designated section, you also pass food, beverage, and alcohol booths. After asking several employees where you are supposed to go, you finally find your seat. You paid a reasonable price for this seat. The view is amazing and you are relatively close to the stage. As you wait for the show to start, you look around the now crowded arena and take it all in. It took you almost forty-five minutes just to find your seat and buy a shirt. The show should start in about twenty minutes. Good thing you came early or else you would've missed the start of the show.

The lights dim. You are drawn into the excitement and anticipation. The lights go out completely and the arena is black. You hear the first strum of a guitar. Everyone arounds you begins to scream. All of a sudden laser beam like lights of different colors begin a light show while the music abruptly starts and an incredibly loud volume. You can now see the band. The singer is front and center. There's two guitarists slightly behind him and to the right, a keyboardist to his left, and the drum set and overly enthusiastic drummer directly behind him. At first you are overwhelmed. The loud music, the screaming and dancing people, it is sensory overload. By the end of the second song, you have become so entranced by this experience that you begin to jump and dance along. A set list of songs later, the lights go out and the normal lights come back on. You start to collect your belonging, thinking the show is over, but stop when you realize that no one is getting up. You ask your neighbor is the show is over. They look at you with a humored expression, "Nope that was just the first act." There's more than one act?

After another twenty to thirty minutes, the lights go out again. This time you are prepared for the craziness. This one starts out differently. When the lights come up, only the band is on the stage. You hear a guitar being played, but it isn't one of the band members. Out of nowhere, the singer appears center stage and the song starts. This performer has much more energy along with a completely different set list. After a few songs, the first performer joins this one on stage. They play a mash-up of some songs together, before the one leaves again. After what seems like twenty minutes, the show ends. This time you stay, just in case it isn't over. Some people begin to leave, while most stay. The crowd begins to chant "Encore, Encore, Encore" You aren't positive of what it means, but you join in. A minute or two later, the second performer comes back out on to the stage. He starts talking about how great of a crowd we were and asks if it's okay if he does one more song. This sends the arena into a chorus of screams and "yeses". This song isn't anything like the others. There is so much energy and hope and talent pulled into one song that it makes you a little emotional. There is so much poured into this song, as if to signify the end of the show, but not the end of the story.

Once you make it through the mass exodus and back to your car, you sit there and take a minute to absorb what just happened. You feel as if you just witnessed a community of its own, celebrating the wonders of life. All of those people come together and just enjoy the present. You realize that there is a sense of belonging. Once you step foot onto the property of the arena, the outside world doesn't seem to matter. Everyone here is a part of this group. It's like a safe haven to these people. You begin to understand that this is more than just loud music, bright lights, and a large crowd.

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Like I said in the description, this is a school paper so it's just a 2-3 page essay I had to write.  Maybe one day I'll write something longer that's similar to this!