PJ Meet and Greet Story...

Just noticed the discussion earlier was closed, so figured I'd start this one after typing this up (didn't want it to go to waste!).  Apologies, Sea if this story is against the Community rules!

Have I got a little story for you...the entire band actually did a meet and greet after the Robinhood benefit show at Beacon Theatre in NYC on July 1, 2008.  Here's how I know:

After the show let out, my friend Jack and I were hoping to maybe get a signature and we saw Ed and his crew run across the street (from the 75th street side exit of Beacon close to where all of us were pouring out and for those that remember, collecting a free promo CD of Ten).  Ed was sort of ushered across the street and went into an unmarked door to the building across the street.  Instinctively, I said to my friend Jack, "We need to get into that bar".  So, heart pumping - we got on line at the front entrance to the [now closed] place called Citrus Bar and Grill (currently called Playa Betty's).  I cased the line, saw that a young girl, probably in her 20's, was asking for names.  I had to think quickly, so I told her we were "Dennis and Jack" (my real name is Dan...).  Here's the kicker: I did know before the show that a colleague of mine (at a former job) and his wife (Dennis and Jackie) would be in attendance - I originally found out about the show because they were both involved in the nonprofit (and my old boss sent me the promo flyer because he knew I was obsessed with PJ).  I had zero knowledge of any after party, and certainly didn't know of a meet-and-greet because it was not advertised (and I still had to pay for the tickets like the rest of us), but this small piece of information re "Dennis and Jackie" was vital.

The host scanned the invite list and said, "I have a Dennis and Jackie, but not a Dennis and a Jack", so I said, oh, that must be a typo (because clearly my friend Jack was not a "Jackie").  After a brief pause that felt like an eternity, WE WERE WAIVED IN!  Finally after 15+ years of being a fan, a chance to meet the band!  We scanned the room and it was oddly empty...what gives?  So, we grabbed a drink, kept looking for any sign of PJ for about 20 minutes until I had to use the bathroom, which was downstairs...  As I came out of the bathroom (solo at this point while by buddy waited upstairs, at the ready to text me if there was any action), something made me look to my side.  I noticed another door with a larger gentleman "guarding it" and said to myself, "this is it". I summoned up the moxy and just cruised in past the bouncer like I owned the place...IT WORKED.  There was a freaking VIP section within the VIP event...insane.  Adrenaline overloaded, I immediately saw Stone, Jeff, and Boom, scanned the room some more (there were probably like 20-30 people there) and then saw Mike, but no Ed!  I nodded to a couple of the band members, approached them and got signatures from Jeff and Stone on my "sent from the heavens" CD copy of Ten 30 minutes earlier.  It really did feel like a weird dream!

My phone started to blow up - it was Jack texting me that Ed and Mike had just left.  How could I be upset?  I missed them this time (side note: actually met Ed in 2016 at a book signing in NYC) but still, this had to be one of the most thrilling nights of my life.  I hung out for a little while with my heroes (coolest guys in the world) and learned from another attendee that this was the post-party and "meet the band" for the millionaires who paid $15k a ticket!!  It's silly what people will pay for 15 minutes with the band (at least it was for a great cause!), but for me $150 for the show + some quick thinking = clearly the bargain of a lifetime!
9/8/98 (NJ), 9/10/98 (NY), 8/23/00 (NY), 8/24/00 (NY), 8/25/00 (NY), 4/30/03 (NY), 7/8/03 (NY), 7/9/03 (NY), 5/12/06 (NY), 6/1/06 (NJ), 6/3/06 (NJ), 8/5/07 (IL), 6/22/08 (DC), 6/24/08 (NY), 6/25/08 (NY), 7/1/08 (NY), 10/4/09 (TX ), 10/30/09 (PA), 5/20/10 (NY), 5/21/10 (NY), 9/3/11 (WI), 9/4/11 (WI), 7/19/13 (IL), 10/18/13 (NY), 10/19/13 (NY), 10/3/14 (MO), 9/23/15 (NY), 9/26/15 (NY), 5/1/16 (NY), 5/2/16 (NY), 8/5/16 (MA), 8/22/16 (IL), 4/7/17 (NY), 6/18/18 (UK), 8/20/18 (IL), 9/2/18 (MA), 9/4/18 (MA), 9/18/21 (NJ), 9/26/21 (CA), 10/1/21 (CA), 10/2/21 (CA), 9/10/22 (NY), 9/11/22 (NY), 9/14/22 (NJ), 9/16/22 (TN), 9/22/22 (CO), 8/31/23 (MN), 9/2/23 (MN), 9/5/23 (IL), 9/7/23 (IL)

Comments

  • PB11041PB11041 Earth Posts: 2,759
    That is cool for you.  That is bad for security.   =)
    His eminence has yet to show. 
    http://www.hi5sports.org/ (Sports Program for Kids with Disabilities)
    http://www.livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=3652

  • gvn2fly1421gvn2fly1421 Posts: 935
    edited March 2018
    Somewhere, Dennis and Jackie are still pissed someone stole their identity and they couldn't get in the aftershow... B)
    Post edited by gvn2fly1421 on
  • danlee1095danlee1095 Posts: 982
    Somewhere, Dennis and Jackie are still pissed someone stole their identity and they couldn't get in the aftershow... B)
    I actually thought the same thing as it was happening but thankfully, Dennis/Jackie didn't go to the post-show party (I told him about my shenanigans that week at work and he thought it was hilarious - also admitted he didn't even like Pearl Jam and left the concert early...).
    9/8/98 (NJ), 9/10/98 (NY), 8/23/00 (NY), 8/24/00 (NY), 8/25/00 (NY), 4/30/03 (NY), 7/8/03 (NY), 7/9/03 (NY), 5/12/06 (NY), 6/1/06 (NJ), 6/3/06 (NJ), 8/5/07 (IL), 6/22/08 (DC), 6/24/08 (NY), 6/25/08 (NY), 7/1/08 (NY), 10/4/09 (TX ), 10/30/09 (PA), 5/20/10 (NY), 5/21/10 (NY), 9/3/11 (WI), 9/4/11 (WI), 7/19/13 (IL), 10/18/13 (NY), 10/19/13 (NY), 10/3/14 (MO), 9/23/15 (NY), 9/26/15 (NY), 5/1/16 (NY), 5/2/16 (NY), 8/5/16 (MA), 8/22/16 (IL), 4/7/17 (NY), 6/18/18 (UK), 8/20/18 (IL), 9/2/18 (MA), 9/4/18 (MA), 9/18/21 (NJ), 9/26/21 (CA), 10/1/21 (CA), 10/2/21 (CA), 9/10/22 (NY), 9/11/22 (NY), 9/14/22 (NJ), 9/16/22 (TN), 9/22/22 (CO), 8/31/23 (MN), 9/2/23 (MN), 9/5/23 (IL), 9/7/23 (IL)
  • cp3iversoncp3iverson Posts: 8,632
    Thats incredible
  • Thats incredible
    I know. Who leave a Pearl Jam concert early?!
    Settings > Signature Settings > Hide Signatures Always
Sign In or Register to comment.