Soundcheck in Mexico

 Have any of you seen Paul's tour in Mexico?   How is it?  (Why do I ask -- I know that if you were there, it was amazing!) 

Orlando soundcheck

 

Checking the sound

A Beatle fanatic at a Paul McCartney Soundcheck for the first time

A Beatle fanatic at a Paul McCartney soundcheck for the first time

By Sara Schmidt

For Meet the Beatle for Real

May 2013

When you pay half of a month’s paycheck for something, you expect amazing things.   I have to admit that I was not disappointed with the Paul McCartney “Hot Sounds” VIP package but I still feel like it was way too expensive and I most likely will never get to do such a thing again. 

I decided to write up what happened as a VIP Paul McCartney concert goer because there seems to be some unwritten rule that you aren’t supposed to talk about it with those who don’t go.   Actually there seems to be a lot of secrets that go on among the Beatle community.    As far as I am concerned, this isn’t a secret!   I wanted to know what to expect and couldn’t find any information anywhere.   So this is written with the fans who are considering shelling out the big bucks for the once in a lifetime opportunity to see Paul McCartney on a more personal level.

The biggest myth with this whole thing is that only the extremely wealthy can do the VIP package.   And yes, you do have to have some money to afford this luxury.   However, I found that the majority of people that I met there had never done this before and acknowledge that they will never be able to do it again.   Most of them were like me, and middle-class working Americans who decided to treat themselves.   Some of them gave up vacations, are making payments on their credit cards, cut back on eating out, etc etc to pay for the VIP package.   As for me, I just don’t buy a whole lot of extra things.   I don’t spend my money on clothes, make-up, shoes, or things like that.   Plus I am single and have no children, so I really do not have extra expenses.    So I had enough money tucked away in my savings account to pay for this.   It isn’t anything I could afford to do again, but one time was alright.   I know there are people who do the VIP thing for Paul’s concerts 5+ times a year.   They must be the rich people.  

So here is what happens with the VIP package:

A little under a week before the concert, I got a special email that told me where I was to enter and what I needed to bring with me.   I needed an ID and my ticket.   I was told that I was allowed to bring a “point and shoot camera,” but no memorabilia because Paul would not be signing anything.   Right before they let us in, they told us that we couldn’t bring in any food or drink, and that we weren’t allowed to leave once we allowed inside the auditorium. They also informed us that if you had flowers or a gift for Paul, you had to hand it over to the security guards right then and they will get it to Paul (yeah right).   

We all lined up and waited to have our bags checked and our tickets scanned.   Then we were ushered over to a table where they checked our IDs and we had to sign in.     Then we were told that we had to stay inside of the lobby area until told otherwise.   In the lobby was a merchandise table that we could buy from, which was nice because you could actually look at the shirts and items without a huge crowd.  There were also jugs of water with cucumbers in it to drink.  I thought it tasted a little strange.    We waited there for well over an hour because “the artist was running late.”   It made me laugh that they never once said, “Paul McCartney,” but kept referring to him as “the artist.”  It was like they thought a riot would break out if they said his name.   I was fortunate to  make a friend with a fellow Beatle fan named Pam, and chatting with her made the time go by a lot faster than if I was all alone.

I took this photo to show how far back from the stage we had to sit.  Look at all the empty seats near the stage!

Finally after a long wait they told us to make two lines (which no one really did) and follow the guards down to the arena.    Here is a little known fact (at least I didn’t know it):  if you get to go to a sound check, you are not allowed to sit in the front section.   You have to sit a whole section back.    Yeah, that was disappointing to me.   I thought we would be right up front, but instead we were back a little ways.   We were still on the floor, but still it wasn’t as close as I had thought.  You do not have assigned seats for the soundcheck.  It is just first come first seated.    Some people stood up, and other sat while we waited some more.   Wix (the keyboard player) was the only person out there and he plunked around on the keyboards for about 10 minutes while we sat and waited some more.    Finally the rest of the band came out and then the big moment:  Paul!!!      He started by hugging each of the band members and then they all stood around in a circle and talked and goofed around with some Elvis sunglasses.   

 

Paul greets Abe.  Photo copyright:  Sara Schmidt

Finally Paul got to the microphone and welcomed us to the soundcheck.   To look at us, he had to put his hand up above his eyes.   Why were we sitting so far from him….I kept wondering.   He called us the “soundcheckers.”    He explained how he was going to run through a few songs with the band.   He talked a bit about Memphis and Carl Perkins and started by singing “Matchbox.”    Of course I associate that song with Ringo and it was pretty neat hearing Paul perform it.    The he moved onto “Blue Suede Shoes” and everyone started dancing.   The soundcheck was sort of a blur in a way.   I was trying my best to take it all in, but it was hard to really do.    At one point he noticed a girl who had a sign about how it was her birthday and then they played “Birthday.”    I held up the “soundcheck” sign I made that said “1K PPL WANT ME 2 MEET U 4 REAL.”   I think he saw it, but I don’t think he understood what it meant.   He did thank everyone for making signs.  

Paul McCartney at the Memphis Soundcheck  Photo copyright:  Sara Schmidt

He played some on the piano and it was really nice.   Then he got out his ukulele and played “Ram on,” which was fun to hear.   And next he played, “Big Barn Bed.”    The  Wings album, Red Rose Speedway has always been one of my favorites and I had actually been listening to it in the car the past week, so hearing this song was awesome!  It was sounded amazing on the uke!     It wasn’t until long after the soundcheck that I learned that Paul has NEVER performed that song live before.   I hadn’t looked at the soundcheck set list on purpose, so I didn’t know that he hadn’t been playing that one all along.   After playing “Things we Said today,” he then played one of my top favorite McCartney solo songs:  Bluebird.   Oh I was in heaven!!!     The “magic” piano was rolled out and Paul played my mom’s favorite Beatles song, “Lady Madonna.”  And that was it!   The soundcheck was over.   Paul thanked us for coming and told us to enjoy the show.    He played many songs, but I just can’t remember them all.   Paul looked really good.  He was wearing a blue suit jacket that looked similar to the one from the Abbey Road cover.    To me he looked a bit younger in person than he has looked in recent photographs.   All during the soundcheck he was drinking something that sort of looked like Gatorade.    I am not sure what it was, but he was chugging that stuff.   It is interesting because he never takes a drink at all during the concerts I have been to.  

Paul playing "Big Barn Bed" on the uke during the Memphis soundcheck

 Photo:  Sara Schmidt

 

The soundcheck was over.  Boo!   Photo:  Sara Schmidt

They ushered us out of the stage area, but I didn’t want to go.  Paul was still up on the stage!  There were people just filing  out and there I was still mesmerized by the fact that I was in the same room as Paul McCartney!   How could I walk out with Paul still right there?    A small group of us decided to yell out to Paul before we left, so we screamed out, “We love you Paul!!!”  And he turned around and waved at us.   I was still craning my neck to see him as I was forced to leave.  

We were next moved upstairs for our meal.  It was held in a room that was located above the stage.  There were glass windows that faced the auditorium and you could see everyone taking their seats while you were eating.    We were given our souvenir gift while we were in line for the food.   We received a Paul McCartney “Out there” backpack.   It is a hiking backpack made out of very heavy material and it has reflective parts as well.   We also got a Paul McCartney “Out There” bag that is just like the ones I typically use for my grocery shopping.     

This was the backpack that the VIP package people received.  It is really nice!

I was told that the food was going to just be hors d'oeuvres, but that simply was not true.  We had a full meal and one drink.   It was vegetarian and mainly was pasta.   There was cheesy alfrado, a macaroni dish, mashed potatoes and a variety of cheeses and veggies.   For dessert there was ice cream with all sorts of toppings and a chocolate cake.   We were given a ticket for one drink from the bar, and there was a variety of beverages to choose from (just don’t ask for a blush wine because the people sure didn’t know what that meant).

After the meal we had to find our way to our floor seats.  By this time the pre-show photo were beginning to be shown.   The usher who was to help me find my seat could not tell me how to get to it and I was running back and forth trying to find it.   But I finally located where I was supposed to be and was able to get ready to see Paul!

Was going to the soundcheck worth it?   That is a hard question to ask, because it sure was a lot of money.  I had an amazing time and it is something that was worth experiencing.   I am glad that I decided to go ahead and do it, because I would regret it if I didn’t.   Most likely I wouldn’t do it again unless they add that you actually get to meet Paul and get his autograph or something to the package deal.   

Wings over Arhus

Some awesome color photos of that groovy Wings bus.   

Meeting Macca on Stage: Cincinnati 2011

The second installment of "Meeting Macca on stage" comes from Sarah Mourad who traveled from Egypt to Cincinnati, Ohio in order to see Paul in concert on her 23rd birthday. Well Sarah got more than just a Paul McCartney concert. She was able to come up on the stage during the soundcheck and give him a book she had been working on for him! What an unbelievable moment! Here is Sarah's story in her own words.

I don’t remember exact details of what had happened, unfortunately… It’s almost all a blur, like when you’re in a dream; exactly like a dream… you remember bits of pieces of what you were dreaming of, certain moments shine very brightly, but other moments –which are also as important- are totally forgotten… and most importantly, you almost can’t ‘touch’ it, even though it was real…

That’s when you’re in awe… when one’s extremely happy, and overwhelmed… they lose track of time and space, of the senses… in a good way…

I’ve dreamt of meeting Sir Paul for so long… well, dreamt of ‘seeing’ him, to tell the truth… never imagined I was going to ‘meet’ him… no matter how positively I thought, or optimistically I felt about it; I never imagined this would eventually really happen one day… Life isn’t that perfect…but apparently for one day, it decided to be so.

Sir Paul never performed in Egypt before, and I never heard a rumor of this happening… which made me think, if I want something I just had to let it be… it will take some time, energy, effort, money… but eventually, it can happen if you believe it will.

To cut it short, this year I made lots of preparations to see Paul McCartney Live somewhere; it wasn’t easy, yet I worked hard for it.. because I’ve been hoping for this, for almost 2 years. I made a vow that this year it will come true.

I was basically aiming for London or anywhere in UK since I’ve been wanting to visit it, but God obviously had other plans for me…

The day new tour dates were announced, and I found out there was going to be a concert on my birthday! It just hit me!… it struck me like lightning and I decided that whatever it takes, I’ll do this… the concert was in Cincinnati Ohio, USA.

I’ve never traveled to the US before, and I traveled just for this… I couldn’t let that chance pass…and had this inner feeling and faith that I should follow this. and I did follow my instincts. In less than 48 hours, tickets were out and I had to buy mine since I know they sell out the day they come out!… I brought my ticket, before I even knew for sure if I could travel… don’t know how I did this, but I brought front row package in presale, with all just believed God would make it happen, and that I shouldn’t worry much.

The day of the concert I was very excited and nervous, but I didn’t know what was to come for me… that it was about to be the most exciting day of my life and best birthday ever… I couldn’t imagine that I was the only one he picked to go on stage with him in sound check! And talk to him, and give him my book!

I’ve been making that book since last year. It’s a book of fan messages from all over the world. I asked fans worldwide to send me their messages to Sir Paul. Messages of how much Sir Paul have influenced their lives throughout the years… I was sent over 400 messages from people of 43 countries. And I managed to put them all together and print it in a book from, and give it to him that day… Also, the portrait on the book’s cover was drawn by my Irish artist friend Georgina Flood.

I never thought I’d be able to give it to him. In my wildest dreams, I did of course… but still, was just a dream that didn’t dare to tell because probably no one would have believed me.

A star like him. Who isn’t just a famous musician, but an icon who was one of 4 people that changed music forever, back in the 1960s. The greatest band of all time, The Beatles.

I always knew that he probably receives hundreds of gifts and letters everyday… so if I send him my book, no matter how special it might be, it might get lost in the middle all other fans; gifts.

I’m glad I took it with me and handed it to him, myself. Was such a great moment for me… I held up a sign that said I was from Egypt, it’s my birthday, and I have a gift for you from 400 fans of 43 countries around the world’; he read it out loud in front of everyone! And after a while, security guard came to me, and asked me to come with him since I’ll go on stage to Paul NOW I was shaking and extremely nervous… I couldn’t believe that finally this is happening. I think, writing those words now, I am still in shock and cannot believe any of it… if not for those pictures and people that were there with me, I might have still failed to realize I wasn’t dreaming… Anyway, when I went on stage, he was extremely unbelievably nice and humble. He broke the ice from the very first moment, he was joking around, and he even tried speaking Arabic! And he was so amazed with the book I made. Was the first time somebody makes a book as such for him, and that was something that got me so excited making it, and got him to be so moved and excited about it. That at the end of sound check, he thanked me after thanking the audience! In front of everyone!… I’m still overwhelmed and in awe, did I already mention that?

When I got off stage, it was euphoric… seriously, the feelings are indescribable… I stayed that way, until the concert started… and that was even more euphoric… he rocked for 3 hours without taking not even a one minute break!… and he rocked like no other… seeing a rock legend perform Live is something, and meeting him was another thing… yet both, were highlights of my life… a day that I’ll forever cherish and never forget… Thank you, Paul.