The Concert.....

and some not very exciting, random photos of that night. Our seats were directly in line with the front left corner of the stage, but we were in the stands, just under the private boxes. It is pretty high up to be able to get good photos with a point and shoot, even if it does zoom a little. I took a few short videos (and felt wicked, since it was against the rules) but I can't get them to play here, for some odd reason.   This photo shows Pia and Lauren.

The women...

Nearly everyone but Scotty.....The show started at 7:15 and ran until about 10pm.  They each did solos and also sang in small groups and there were two production numbers with all of them except Scotty. He didn't make an appearance on stage until the show had been going for two hours, and it was clear that everyone thought he should have come out at least once earlier in the evening. For the fist 30 minutes or so, I was thinking they should call it the Pia show, since she sang 3-4 numbers alone and a few duets. I like Pia, but I wouldn't attend a concert of her and no one else.  Finally the others began to come out on stage. A highlight for me was when Casey played his bass viol and then sang with Haley. I love their jazz renditions.

My daughter and her niece (my 14-year-old granddaughter) sat down on the floor-level, but they were as far from the stage as we (my 11 year-old-granddaughter and I) were.   James (the rocker) was the only one who came into the arena through the people on the floor, and my granddaughter was thrilled that she got to touch him on the arm as he passed by. I guess she will remember that for the rest of her life.

I think the contestants this year were the best group ever, and they have all improved since the finale. They are learning showmanship, use of the stage, stage presence and projection - and they are all terrific - with one exception. There was one guy I never cared for and I still don't, but I won't mention who it is, since it would serve no purpose here. He could have been your favorite.  I was very impressed with Stefano this time. He has improved greatly and is a very good singer. Naima Adedapo is as well, and a great dancer too, which was not evident during the season. She did an African dance routine during one of her solos that was very good.  

When Scotty came out, the arena (19,500 people for this event) erupted in thunderous applause and catcalls. He sang four songs (I think), a duet with Lauren,  and then the whole group sang one or two more. It was a very good show. The video screens were kept busy with images from the season, their commercials for autos and messages from judges and Ryan. In case you didn't know, I won two tickets to the show with "Money Mailer". But I already had two tickets that my daughter had purchased for me. That made it possible for she and I to go and to take two of my four granddaughters (and I am sure the other two might have loved to go as well.) I was told that the tickets I won cost $205 each. Considering that they were fairly high up in the stands, I am trying to imagine what the floor tickets cost (the ones close to the stage). I had read that on the day of the concert, tickets were selling for up to $2,200 each. I was advised to sell my tickets - but I thought it would be  very hard to get that much for my tickets even if I listed them online - and I really wanted to go to the concert. I think it was worth it!

Now for the odd coincidence department:  When we were in the car trying to exit the parking lot, the car we were behind was driven by the two strangers we had sat next to in the concert. I know it was them, because they were in a car emblazoned with the logos of the company that I won the tickets from. The owner told me that she had an internal contest also, and the person who sold the most ads that month also won two tickets. Considering that there were 19,500 people trying to get out of the parking lot - what are the odds that we would be right next to the same people we sat beside in the concert???