Franch Toast's December Vegas experience

[Franch Toast 25,900]

1 minute ago, dsc said:

Thank you to both Franch Toast and Nozhoemi for the well written and detailed reports. It is interesting to see the two perspectives.

I would like to know more about the audience interaction at the two shows. I have tickets for the J&P show in May and was thinking if the wife was impressed maybe doing the Enigma show at a later date. I wouldn’t be doing the GA floor but probably balcony seating, same as I currently have for J&P. How much standing is normal for the shows? I know LG is quite encouraging it at Enigma but I thought it would be considerably less at the jazz show. I will be honest in saying we are not in the under 30 crowd anymore. 

I had seating for Enigma, not GA, but I stood and danced the entire time. My sister sat most of the time, but she has health issues that make it painful for her to stand for long periods. During Enigma, LG does encourage the audience to get on their  ******  feet as much as possible. 

For our J&P show, there were people toward the front of the audience who, no joke, stood nearly the entire time, and that's what prompted LG to make a remark about how if they kept on standing for her, she'd keep singing all night. Otherwise, I think most people sat and only stood to give her standing ovations in between songs. I do believe she asked us to get on our feet at one point during J&P, but it's not like Enigma. I think Enigma has much more audience interaction, though there were a couple of times during J&P where she encouraged audience interaction through singing ("Bad Romance"), clapping ("Poker Face"), etc. You'll be fine sitting for both shows if that's what you prefer, though you might want to stand up when she instructs you to do so and to give her ovations as you see fit. 

I am not under 30 either, and I'm recovering from a broken leg, and I was fine, though I'll be honest – wearing heels and a long dress to J&P made my legs and feet quite sore, and I didn't walk very eloquently as a result. (But I sat through most of J&P, other than when I gave her a standing O.) 

[Fresco 1,688]

1 hour ago, dsc said:

 

I would like to know more about the audience interaction at the two shows. I have tickets for the J&P show in May and was thinking if the wife was impressed maybe doing the Enigma show at a later date. I wouldn’t be doing the GA floor but probably balcony seating, same as I currently have for J&P. How much standing is normal for the shows? I know LG is quite encouraging it at Enigma but I thought it would be considerably less at the jazz show. I will be honest in saying we are not in the under 30 crowd anymore. 

I had balcony seats for both of the shows. The balcony viewers sit much more than first floor seats. 

During Enigma, standing during the opening song, Just Dance, for standing ovations, off and on when she encourages, and so on. But you can expect to be able to sit and see the majority of the show, imo. People naturally settle in after the excitement of the open. First row balcony, you can sit the whole show if you want to with no viewing obstruction. She opens Enigma from the rafters near the back of the theatre. The opening song is your 2nd best close-up view of her from the balcony. She comes back up on a wire later in the show. There are closeups of her on the giant screens off to the sides during the entire show though. So, you get to see the entire stage, flanked by closeups of her on the monitors. Enigma is a Big show visually. 

The j&p balcony was seated much more. Standing ovations at the end of songs only for most of it. I stood the last couple of songs because she was going all out and they were danceable. Someone yelled at me to sit down, but I didn't, because I sensed we were near the end of the show. People behind me ended up standing too.   Imo, you should expect to stand for the close, at least. It's Lady Gaga! 

 

 

[nozhoemi 234]

17 hours ago, Franch Toast said:

I hope you have a chance to check out Brian's show! It's a lot of fun. 

I forget – were you with Vanessa in the M&G line? We were just in front of her, and the New Yorker was with us. She'd been strategizing what to say to Gaga while we waited in line and had decided she would bring up their shared Catholic girls' school background, only to be frustrated when she didn't get to say anything to her except basic greetings. I'm surprised no one came after her for screaming and flipping off the M&G area – I'm guessing they didn't see. 

My other sister & brother-in-law went to the pre-show reception for J&P, which is how I know about the swag bags. I like the Enigma ones better because they have useful stuff – water bottle, pins, even the face mask – but the J&P tote bag is cute. The other stuff is just "meh" to me, and the necklace looks like it might turn your neck green (hopefully it won't!). At least there are two different swag bags though! 

Yep! I was with Vanessa in line. I think the New York lady was in front of us. If we are talking about the same person was she in a sparkly dress and thigh high boots?

[nozhoemi 234]

13 hours ago, dsc said:

Thank you to both Franch Toast and Nozhoemi for the well written and detailed reports. It is interesting to see the two perspectives.

I would like to know more about the audience interaction at the two shows. I have tickets for the J&P show in May and was thinking if the wife was impressed maybe doing the Enigma show at a later date. I wouldn’t be doing the GA floor but probably balcony seating, same as I currently have for J&P. How much standing is normal for the shows? I know LG is quite encouraging it at Enigma but I thought it would be considerably less at the jazz show. I will be honest in saying we are not in the under 30 crowd anymore. 

At the shows Gaga does encourage people to stand but it isn’t compulsory.  If you want to stand I would recommend standing during the opening song (Just Dance) and when she encourages the crowd to stand at Enigma ! At Jazz and Piano there wasn’t much standing except the standing ovations after the songs.

Standing may also depend on your crowd on the night. The first time I ever went Enigma in January 2019, I was the only one standing in my Section (I was seated), but when I went to Enigma for the second time, more people was standing in my section!

[Franch Toast 25,900]

5 hours ago, nozhoemi said:

Yep! I was with Vanessa in line. I think the New York lady was in front of us. If we are talking about the same person was she in a sparkly dress and thigh high boots?

Yes! That’s her. 😉

[Alannah 2,949]

Thank you for such a beautifully done review (and tips for future trips)! 

My trip wasn't the greatest, but my partner and I were having the worst week of our lives in addition to the cancellation. Now that some time has passed, this post made me realize how much I loved being in the general area of the Park MGM. It really did feel like a safe space away from all the craziness of the Strip. I loved the vibe around the Park MGM and hope to make it down there during the extension (and maybe actually see Enigma ); especially now that our personal lives have calmed down quite a bit. 

(I also really liked the little popup Hello Kitty cafe, though I'm not sure if it's there anymore.)

[Franch Toast 25,900]

2 minutes ago, Alannah said:

Thank you for such a beautifully done review (and tips for future trips)! 

My trip wasn't the greatest, but my partner and I were having the worst week of our lives in addition to the cancellation. Now that some time has passed, this post made me realize how much I loved being in the general area of the Park MGM. It really did feel like a safe space away from all the craziness of the Strip. I loved the vibe around the Park MGM and hope to make it down there during the extension (and maybe actually see Enigma ); especially now that our personal lives have calmed down quite a bit. 

(I also really liked the little popup Hello Kitty cafe, though I'm not sure if it's there anymore.)

I so sorry your concert was canceled, and sorry that you and your partner had such a bad week then. I hope things have improved, and I definitely hope you get a redo! 

The Hello Kitty café truck is still there! I didn't order anything from it, but I enjoyed its presence and took some cute photos. It was so chilly while we were there that I didn't stay outside more than I had to. I do feel that the Park is a lot calmer than the other places on the Strip, and a lot smaller. I swear I spent an hour just trying to get out of the Bellagio! I really didn't like the crowds near Bellagio/Caesar's Palace/Mirage etc. 

Sending you good wishes for the New Year! 

 

[Alannah 2,949]

Just now, Franch Toast said:

I so sorry your concert was canceled, and sorry that you and your partner had such a bad week then. I hope things have improved, and I definitely hope you get a redo! 

The Hello Kitty café truck is still there! I didn't order anything from it, but I enjoyed its presence and took some cute photos. It was so chilly while we were there that I didn't stay outside more than I had to. I do feel that the Park is a lot calmer than the other places on the Strip, and a lot smaller. I swear I spent an hour just trying to get out of the Bellagio! I really didn't like the crowds near Bellagio/Caesar's Palace/Mirage etc. 

Sending you good wishes for the New Year! 

 

Thank you so much!  Things have definitely improved; it was one of those weeks where it was like, "Okay, NOW WHAT?" It'll make our show so much more special when we go back again. 

I'm glad to hear it's still there! It's so adorable! I don't think I got anything there, either - it was $4.00 for black coffee and I was already counting my pennies by the end of our time there. But I also spent the concert night getting hammered after alcohol was 50% off at New York, New York - anything could have happened that night. We also tried walking to the Bellagio our first night, but went from a horrible direction and ended up giving up. The crowds can be absolutely bonkers! I was happy to dodge in and out of the quieter casinos just to hear my own thoughts. I'm demanding we make it to that effing fountain next time, though. I need the dancing water in my life. 

Thanks again - for the wonderful sentiments and sharing you and your siblings' story! 

[ChicaSkas 22,264]

I was so looking forward to reading this and I was not disappointed in how awesome it is!! Thank you @Franch Toast for this epic write up!! 

I am half way through and I can’t wait to read the rest with better internet.

I can say one thing: I 100% feel you on the brief brief breifness of the m&g.

I paid $3,000 for a guaranteed 5 seconds with her for JWT. The only reason I got 15 seconds was the two girls with me weren’t that into the experience and agreed to give me their five seconds. Even then it was barely enough to tell her I’d brought her an iPod with 600 of the absolute best remixes of her work from my over 30,000 collection .

And then it was over.

Just like you, as I was being tugged by my elbow out of there at the Haus Labs Event last month, I completely blanked out for almost 20 mins and could not to save my life remember what I’d said to her or what she’d said to me.  The recorder , had it been on, was being held in my fanny pack by Bobby and was too far away even if it had been on, to pick up the words she said. 

It took hours for me to remember clearly everything she’d said to me over the course of less than 30 seconds. 

I was so effing angry at myself that such a special moment was almost erased from the harddrive of my brain. Eventually it came back in peices , but the stress of being around so many people and paying so much and having such a packed 24-48 hours (I did not sleep for 2 days) really takes a toll. 

I applaud you on your story so far and I can’t wait to dive back in later tonight.

xoxoxoxox 

— Chica

[Franch Toast 25,900]

9 minutes ago, ChicaSkas said:

I was so looking forward to reading this and I was not disappointed in how awesome it is!! Thank you @Franch Toast for this epic write up!! 

I am half way through and I can’t wait to read the rest with better internet.

I can say one thing: I 100% feel you on the brief brief breifness of the m&g.

I paid $3,000 for a guaranteed 5 seconds with her for JWT. The only reason I got 15 seconds was the two girls with me weren’t that into the experience and agreed to give me their five seconds. Even then it was barely enough to tell her I’d brought her an iPod with 600 of the absolute best remixes of her work from my over 30,000 collection .

And then it was over.

Just like you, as I was being tugged by my elbow out of there at the Haus Labs Event last month, I completely blanked out for almost 20 mins and could not to save my life remember what I’d said to her or what she’d said to me.  The recorder , had it been on, was being held in my fanny pack by Bobby and was too far away even if it had been on, to pick up the words she said. 

It took hours for me to remember clearly everything she’d said to me over the course of less than 30 seconds. 

I was so effing angry at myself that such a special moment was almost erased from the harddrive of my brain. Eventually it came back in peices , but the stress of being around so many people and paying so much and having such a packed 24-48 hours (I did not sleep for 2 days) really takes a toll. 

I applaud you on your story so far and I can’t wait to dive back in later tonight.

xoxoxoxox 

— Chica

OMG, JWT M&Gs were $3000!?  Wow!  I'm glad you at least got 15 then!

The blanking out part...It was so weird, because I purposely didn't drink during the concert precisely so that I would remember everything (plus I didn't want to miss any of the concert), and I normally have an eerily good memory, and yet, those few seconds with her are such a mystery. I remember what I said because I was very focused on that, and I remember *some* of what she said, but not everything. It's odd because I didn't feel starstruck and felt like I was taking to a regular friend, but there must've been some adrenaline pumping or something to obscure my thoughts. I know I was smiling and laughing the whole time, as the smirk in my M&G photo shows.  I'm glad I was cracking myself up. Either that, or Gaga is a comedian. 

And don't even get me started on the photo where I'm not even facing the camera...Seriously, the photographer couldn't have waited *one more* second to snap a picture? 

Yes, the stress and intensity really does take its toll! 

How sweet of you to bring her that iPod! 

[ChicaSkas 22,264]

30 minutes ago, Franch Toast said:

OMG, JWT M&Gs were $3000!?  Wow!  I'm glad you at least got 15 then!

The blanking out part...It was so weird, because I purposely didn't drink during the concert precisely so that I would remember everything (plus I didn't want to miss any of the concert), and I normally have an eerily good memory, and yet, those few seconds with her are such a mystery. I remember what I said because I was very focused on that, and I remember *some* of what she said, but not everything. It's odd because I didn't feel starstruck and felt like I was taking to a regular friend, but there must've been some adrenaline pumping or something to obscure my thoughts. I know I was smiling and laughing the whole time, as the smirk in my M&G photo shows.  I'm glad I was cracking myself up. Either that, or Gaga is a comedian. 

And don't even get me started on the photo where I'm not even facing the camera...Seriously, the photographer couldn't have waited *one more* second to snap a picture? 

Yes, the stress and intensity really does take its toll! 

How sweet of you to bring her that iPod! 

Well, it’s because when all the m&g tix were put on sale, snipers got them first at $1,500.

I only found it after for $3,000. 

[NT78 1,230]

Oh come on, you gotta post the photo. Cover your own face up, if you must, but I wanna see "the worst photo of Gaga ever." 

Thanks for sharing your experience.  We are going back to see J&P again and hopefully Enigma too when the next batch of shows goes on sale. Think we will definitely stay at the Park MGM/Nomad this time.