The Night I Almost Missed Pitbull
When I turned eighteen, I started watching Colorado concert line ups. He had to come to the Mile High city at some point and when he did, I would be ready. When the 2021 I Feel Good tour dates got released, my heart jumped and I rushed to get tickets. Cuban artist Pitbull has been on my concert buckle list for over 5 years. Not only is he Cuban just like me but I fell hard for his music back in 2009 and never looked back. Dates in my calendar and outfit hanging in anticipation, I was ready. The day finally arrived and it left me in an hourly count down glow. I rush home from work and switch into my concert attire. With rush-hour traffic, I arrive at the venue one hour and 15 minutes before the show. My smile growing in anticipation as I slide into the ticket line, I open my phone and my heart jumps. I have gotten logged out of Ticketmaster and after a quick status check, I realize that my phone is out of data. I step out of line, panicked as it dawns on me that I cannot open my ticket until I find a Wi-Fi signal. I do a quick time check and I have just under an hour until the shows starts. I first waste 25 minutes trying to connect to the Wi-Fi of a near by restaurant. But I cannot get a signal that is strong enough to pull up the ticket app. With no luck, I quickly make a plan on what to do. Using the little Wi-Fi I can gather, I do a quick search and find a nearby fast-food chain 10 minutes away. When I get to the fast-food joint time is still slipping by. I sit there, heart slowing going from a smooth rhythm to a rushing in my ears. My phone won’t connect, the app keeps crashing, the clock keeps ticking. Finally, my phone connects and I decide to re-install the ticket app since it won’t stop crashing. Slowing the app reloads, slowly it finally accepts my login and I am in. At this point the show has already started, and as I drive back to the venue I miss the turn to my favorite free parking stop and end up in a line for paid concert parking. As I speed walk to the front, I am grateful for the concert waiting game. Those few extra minutes sparing me in this moment, as I step into the long line of late concert goes still waiting to get into the venue. My shoes on the concrete in sync with the clock as I slowly move forward in the line. My mind racing as we get closer and I can hear the distant echo of Iggy Azalea playing her set. Finally, I am in, all my breath releasing as my ticket is scanned and seat secured. I quickly head to my seat as I hear one last cheer rise from the crowd. I find my seat as the between show lights turn on, solidifying the fact that I having missed the whole pre-act show. Saved by fast food Wi-Fi and the concert waiting game so common at arena shows, I go on to have the night of my life at this amazing concert.
