You Gotta Keep Your Head Up
Hello all!
I’ve been meaning to blog about this for a few weeks and now I’m finally doing it! I don’t know if I mentioned this in a previous post, but three weeks ago I was given the opportunity to work on Andy Grammer’s tour crew when he visited and performed in Minneapolis! If you are unfamiliar with Andy Grammer, he is a singer gaining popularity quickly with a hit called “Gotta Keep Your Head Up.” You can hear him on Cities 97 or Ks95, for all you locals out there!
I had met Andy Grammer for the first time in September when I went to Colbie Caillat’s concert at First Avenue (see September blog posts) and this was the first time I heard Andy Grammer perform. He was incredibly talented and I immediately fell in love with his music and, let’s be honest, him. Meeting him was amazing, he told us about how he got started as a performer and my friends and I got to ask him loads of questions! Leaving Colbie’s concert, I was hoping that Andy would be able to come back to Minnesota and perform as a headliner.
About a month after seeing him live and subscribing to all things Andy Grammer on the internet, I received an email asking for volunteers to help with promotion when Andy was touring, including in Minneapolis! Two of my close friends and I immediately sent in our application and we found out days later that we had been chosen to be a part of Andy’s Minneapolis tour crew!!!!!! When we found out we’d be seeing him live again AND hanging out with him…….let’s just say there was a lot of squealing like little girls and dancing around the room.
The day of Andy’s concert finally came, it was the first night back at school and we were totally jazzed to be starting up the second semester with a bang. We were put behind the merchandise table and sold T-shirts, CDs, and wristbands to the hundreds of adoring fans crowding the Varsity Theater. I never thought I’d work behind one of the concert merchandise booths, but it was an adrenaline-rushing thrill that wiped me out of all my energy. What an experience! It was pretty amazing and I had a blast getting to see a behind-the-scenes look at a real, professional concert and the work it takes to put on a performance.
Behind the merchandise table!
With Andy's Band! Such cool guys!
As an additional perk to volunteering, I got a free t-shirt, pictures with Andy and his band, and I even got to make an appearance in his webisode!
I wanted to blog about this experience because it is a great example of something new and exciting that St. Thomas students can do off-campus. There are SO many more opportunities, events, and venues similar to this that UST kids have access to, and that’s one of the big reasons why I love this school. The world is at our feet!
Best picture of the night...ME AND ANDY!!!