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My artRAVE: The ARTPOP Ball Experience and Review


EarnYourLeather

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EarnYourLeather

My experience started out with going to Fort Lauderdale the night before and renting a room. I suggest this if you're going to line up the next morning.

 

My partner and I ended up being at the BB&T arena at 10 AM sharp. There were about fifty monsters in the GA line and about twenty or so in the early admission line. It was rather breezy and quite comfortable. Everyone there was super nice, and my partner of five years (who isn't a monster) was impressed by the sense of community the monsters showed. There were people expressing themselves through clothing, people handing out free supplies to monsters like water and sun tan lotion, and people just enjoying being in a nonjudgmental environment. The BB&T employees were having fun with us, too!

 

At about two or three, there were easily a 200 monsters behind us and about 75 monsters in the early admission line. When four came around, the BB&T arena staff told us we had to put our chairs and umbrellas in the car. By the time the gate opened for the early admission people at five, that fun nonjudgemental environment turned into complete hell.

 

There were no barriers or queues developed by the arena staff. It was pure chaos. People who showed up at 5 PM easily scooted into the non-existant because there was no organization at the front gate! When they decided to let the GA people in, it literally was every man for himself. People were shoving like mad men and at one point, the crowd was pushing so hard that the whole crowd itself was about to tip over! Push and shove! Push and shove! It was absolutely terrifying. It was really poor management on the arena's part, and I truly hope your arena handles the situation better. This was by no means reflective of Gaga's concert itself. 

 

Once we got to the arena, all of the monsters who pushed their way through to the front of the "line" outside, rushed to the front stage. When we got there, half of the pit area was full. We ended up in the main pit right in front of the center cat walk. It was perfect! Gaga used the catwalks more than the front stage. I would suggest being near that center cat walk for optimal view. Either side of it would be fine. 

 

There were the typical people pushing to reach "their friends"in the pit. It was quite irritating to see people who just got there just barge their way through, but I guess every concert has inconsiderate people...

 

I thought the cat walks were gorgeous. It was very modern and quite nice to look at. However, the "castle" itself was cheap looking.

 

Starlight came on at about 8PM and played until almost 9PM. It was painfully long. I assume that most of the other dates with actual openers will not have to deal with the cringe-fest that is Starlight for more than thirty minutes. I definitely preferred her MB opening, but that's not saying much. 

 

When Gaga came on, it was all better. She was absolutely gorgeous in her Angel-esque Koons outfit. Her stage presence and vocal were, of course, on point. She really utilizes the whole set up, but I think she ended up favoring the cat walks more. My personal favorites were: ARTPOP, Fashioin! (surprisingly), and Born This Way. The acoustic Born This Way did not kill the vibe at all. The vocals gave me chills. It was outstanding! I was not impressed by the Swine performance. I was looking for CrazyGa (i.e. throw up, squealing, etc.), but I just got NormalGa. 

 

The setlist was kind of bazaar. Aura and Venus were in odd spots, and it didn't flow. She ended with Swine (a song no one knows other than monsters). She should have ended with Applause. Also, there was no concept or plot. She did mention that she was trying to find "light" at some points, and I thought it would tie in somehow, but it didn't. Furthermore, I left the concert feeling like I didn't get a true "Gaga" moment. There was no interaction with the crowd, no "living dress"moment, no "hybrid motorcycle" moment, no "fire cone-bra" moment, no "blood" moment. It was rather just a normal pop star show, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I expect more from Gaga. Perhaps, she's her own demon in that sense. 

 

On another side of things, the outfits were interesting! I loved every single one! The wigs were on point too! I was happy she did one on-stage change. Only Gaga would let her boobs hang loose in front of thousands upon thousands of people...

 

Overall, the concert will be great for any Gaga fan, and you will have a blast. You can tell Gaga really had a blast, too! She clearly missed being on stage. But I left the arena longing for a bit more. Hopefully she fine tunes the concert, like she does with all of her world tours. 

 

Some pics:

 

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VforVendetta

Very well-written and from what I saw I agree with you. The Setlist needs major changes and she also needs a bit more props. The tour is definitely on the right track though.

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Pierre

You were so close to Gags. :giveup:

Glad you had fun :party:

❝Is not blue, not turquoise, not lapis. It's actually cerulean❞.
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HausOfGuy

I agree with the "It was rather just a normal pop star show" part... but oh well, the concert looked beautiful from the vids I've seen and i loved it. And it doesn't require so much of her like the BTWB did, so its good for her health

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TimisaMonster

 

The setlist was kind of bazaar. Aura and Venus were in odd spots, and it didn't flow. She ended with Swine (a song no one knows other than monsters). She should have ended with Applause. Also, there was no concept or plot. She did mention that she was trying to find "light" at some points, and I thought it would tie in somehow, but it didn't. Furthermore, I left the concert feeling like I didn't get a true "Gaga" moment. There was no interaction with the crowd, no "living dress"moment, no "hybrid motorcycle" moment, no "fire cone-bra" moment, no "blood" moment. It was rather just a normal pop star show, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I expect more from Gaga. Perhaps, she's her own demon in that sense.

 

I agree with everything you mentioned including the above quote...it's the first show and I gaurantee that she'll be making MAJOR changes to lighting, fashion, songs, and props...

 

give it time...sometimes the simplest move is right...the melody that she chooses...can rescue you...:derpga:

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PatrickMonster

amazing review, its like you put my thoughts into an article!

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EarnYourLeather

I also was sad I didn't get to see MTN, Judas, and (especially) The Edge of Glory. The GP would have loved it.

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NewYorkCity

You were so close to her!! :omg:

 

I'm also happy that you had a good time :party:

And I agree about what you said, the tour looks amazing to me but I miss some "wow" performance. She could have done Aura like in the iTunes fest, same goes to swine. Those are the only two things that I would add. The rest is amazing.

 

Is the lighting as amazing as it looks on videos when you are there??? :flutter:

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2007

Interesting reading, thanks for the review :)

I'm still wondering when She'll use volantis, fiber-optic wig, bubble dress and lots of other amazing crazy **** on the tour that studio xo/HAUS of gaga make?!?!

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EarnYourLeather

You were so close to her!! :omg:

 

I'm also happy that you had a good time :party:

And I agree about what you said, the tour looks amazing to me but I miss some "wow" performance. She could have done Aura like in the iTunes fest, same goes to swine. Those are the only two things that I would add. The rest is amazing.

 

Is the lighting as amazing as it looks on videos when you are there??? :flutter:

The lighting was like a rave. Very fast. Very crazy. Totally appropriate

She is looking directly at you :eek:

I know! I was screaming like a maniac so that's probably why lol

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Gagz

The lighting was like a rave. Very fast. Very crazy. Totally appropriate

I know! I was screaming like a maniac so that's probably why lol

Did she give any speeches?

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EarnYourLeather

Did she give any speeches?

Somewhat during the BTW performance. It was about how during the fame people thought she was self consumed, during the fame monster people thought she was too dark, during BTW she was too gay and during ARTPOP she was too artsy. But I wouldn't call it much of a speech.

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Gagz

Somewhat during the BTW performance. It was about how during the fame people thought she was self consumed, during the fame monster people thought she was too dark, during BTW she was too gay and during ARTPOP she was too artsy. But I wouldn't call it much of a speech.

Was there much audience interaction at all?

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