Make your Idol concert more memorable. Go to the ‘un-guaranteed’ and ‘unannounced’ meet and greet prior to the live show.

Location: Comcast Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts
Date: July 18th 2010
Time: 1pm

Yes, we know hanging out for 7 or so hours to maybe meet some if not all of the idols sounds obsessive if not crazy to most of us but don’t be too quick to judge! If you see the pictures and videos, you might change your minds! We have more photos to share– Lots!!

The SHORT VERSION, just watch this video:

The LONG STORY….

Special Note: CHECK MORE PHOTOS on FLICKR. Please respect our copyright on all our photos. Do NOT remove the watermark and give credit to the fansite if you’re placing it somewhere else.

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You may have heard it from friends who went the previous years, for us we’ve read about it online. We were on a mission after all. Our ONE chance to meet Didi Benami while she was in town! I would have camped out overnight if I had to!!

As it happens, I am the ‘crazy’ one in our small group willing to sit out in the 90 degree F weather.

ARRIVAL

12.45pm. As we approached Comcast Center, the entrance to the empty parking areas had signs that says “CLOSED.” There was room to drive past the signs so we continued on with some hesitation. Soon after a guy driving a ‘golf cart’ was trailing behind us. We stopped and he says: “the venue is closed” (me thinking: yeah, no kidding!). “It’s not open to the public until 5pm” (me thinking: don’t you think we know that?!) Us: “well, we’re here for the public meet and greet before the show.” Him: “Oh no, that’s NOT happening. They don’t come out until 5pm and you have to have a pass” (meaning you have to have had win it from a radio show or got it somewhere else or paid over a thousand dollars for it or something!). “I just spoke to the organizers, they’re not coming out. blah, blah, blah.”

I cut in: “but there are people outside the building now, right?” He didn’t want to answer that until finally he says, “yes, but you can’t park or you will be towed. You have to drop her off.” Ok. ok.

Bottomline: Security will always TRY to discourage and dissuade you from hanging out to sweat for hours and hours outside the arena and act like they know some inside information about the event. Don’t listen to them, they don’t know anymore than you do because every event has their own thing. They may not even be aware that American Idol do have the pre meet and greet because this is sort of an undiscovered hidden-open secret.

Decision time

So we’re in. We circled the area three times second guessing ourselves whether I should in fact stay or go back later. We saw a small group of 15 people standing in line formation holding gifts and placards. I reminded myself that I was on a mission to meet Didi.

Then came the sign! Three huge unmarked tour buses pulled in passing us! The Idols have arrived! Ok, I’m staying.

1:00-2:26pm According to my camera! That’s when Tim Urban in all his cuteness appeared.

I am making a special post on Tim Urban later just because we weren’t too fond of him while he was still on the show and meeting him changed all that!

UPDATE, here’s our post on Tim: Oh my Urban! American Idol Season 9′s resident boy next door– Tim Urban! (PHOTOS/VIDEO)

2:37pm Tim leaves the scene. Mr and Mrs Stevens appear! Katie’s parents chatted with us and they have become quite a celebrity themselves and his dad joked that since Katie’s appearance on Idol, he didn’t have his name anymore but became “Katie’s dad”. Someone asked him if he could ask Katie to come out. He quips, “she’ll probably yell at me” or something to that effect. Then Katie’s mom made the call!! They were both so friendly and approachable. They talked with everyone.

2:45pm Lee DeWyze and Katie Stevens were walking towards us. Katie in a denim shorts and sleeveless shirt while Lee was wearing a 3/4 sleeved shirt under his leather jacket, in jeans and a baseball cap! Someone did finally call him on it! Lee insists that the leather jacket isn’t as heavy as it looks and it isn’t warm. He took it off and had one lucky fan try them on to prove it wasn’t heavy! He said he almost gave away the jacket in the last show because it got ripped on the left sleeves… They left at 2:58pm

UPDATE, READ OUR FULL STORY HERE: 7/18 American Idol Lee DeWyze and finalist Katie Stevens Stevens meet fans prior to show in Mansfield, MA (PHOTOS/VIDEO)

3:05 Look who’s coming out from the other side? Andrew Garcia and Big Mike Lynche! Andrew was so soft spoken in contrast to Big Mike’s huge voice. You don’t call Big Mike big for nothing! Huge guy! The two guys stayed until 3:21pm according to my last photo of them!

3:27 Didi Benami in the flesh. Oh my Didi! Indeedy Didi!! She came out- looking FOR ME!! As you would expect, I will create a separate post on my meeting with her.

3:30pm Didi pulled me to the side and we chatted just the two of us, away from the crowd! I checked my photo it was a good 10 minutes! It felt longer than that, could have been 20 but I would have been happy with a minute glimpse of her… She is just too sweet. She arranged for us to meet again after the show!! More later…

UPDATE, READ OUR SECOND MEETING WITH DIDI BENAMI: Dreaming with Eyes Wide Open: On Meeting Didi Benami the second time [7/18 Backstage of Comcast Center in Mansfield, MA]

4:01pm Just when we thought it was over, Aaron Kelly with his mom Mrs. Kelly Kelly (yes Kelly is her name!) showed up to the delight of the younger crowd. Mrs Kelly had her share of photo ops too. She was very friendly with everybody and chatted with us. While talking with her at one point, Aaron called for her:”Mommy?” handing her some gift bags from fans. Someone said, “oh the mom is now the ‘bag lady’ too.” Smile. They left at 4:12pm.

Around 6:00pm What do you know, Siobhan’s family came walking towards the box office to get their passes. A few came up to them for photos. I met a very cool nice young man who initially thought of by some is Siobhan’s boyfriend. He turns out to be Joseph “Joe” Magnus, Siobhan’s older brother. Mrs. Magnus said that it was Joseph who introduced Siobhan to Hanson’s music. To this day, Siobhan still has the old scratchy cassette tape of the Hanson’s.

All in all the atmosphere was very relaxed and casual. Way too informal! A crowd of less than 20 shows up- there’s a lot of room for everyone to mingle and chat with the idols. There were moments when the fans and the idols are just standing there, with nothing else to do because everyone has had their turns for photos and autographs. No competition unlike the meet and greet post show- hundreds of people show up! Only half gets the chance to have autographs and very few gets to have photos taken with them. PLUS it is night time! Chances are, you have no more battery on your cameras or your photos turn out too dark or crappy to brag to friends.

Side note: Time flies. I brought a book I didn’t even read a page! Seven hours is nothing when you’re among people sharing the same interest. Be friendly to other fans. You don’t know what pleasant surprise they will bring into your life! Special mention to Bill and Mary! Mary had an extra FLOOR SEAT ticket and she gave it to me!! My ticket sucked because we weren’t too keen on spending too much on concert tickets. We are watching four concerts this Summer!

If we may add, don’t forget to bring lots of food/snacks and water to tide you over the 7-10 hour wait especially the weather is HOT! You could get dehydrated! Reminder: You can not bring any food or drink inside the arena (coz they want you to buy their PRICEY FOOD/DRINKS!) so bring something you can consume or willing to throw later if needed.

Everyone has been so great and easy to talk with, don’t worry about the initial awkward moments.’ Get past that and before you know it you’re among friends.

Where else would you get this meet and greet experience FOR FREE?!! How much is your time worth? How much do you value meeting the idols? Get on it and just do it! You have a chance now, take it!

More From DBFANSITE

• 7/18 American Idol Lee DeWyze and finalist Katie Stevens meet fans prior to show in Mansfield, MA (PHOTOS/VIDEO)
• 7/18 Comcast Center in Mansfield, MA Tour Review: Ten Reasons You Should Watch American Idol Live 2010! | The Definitive Didi Benami Fansite
• Who is going to the American Idol 9 Live Tour? We need contributors! Please help.

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