Conan Rocks, but Cutters Suck

11 Jun

People lined up outside of Third Man Records

If you follow me on Twitter then you know that I tried to get into the free Conan show today but failed. When I say “tried” I mean I got someone to cover my shift at work and got there at 3:30 and waited to see some Conan + Jack White awesomeness. When I say “tried” I also mean I failed.

When I got to Third Man Records I was probably about 150-200 people back. People of course saved spots for their friends, who came later, and by 4:30-5 a guy came by, counting people, and told me that I was in the early 200s, and though he couldn’t promise anything the chance of me getting in seemed high.

This was before people started crowding around in the parking lot that people in line were wrapped around. It seemed innocent enough, but it did make me nervous. What could I say, though? They were just chilling out, drinking beer out of the back of an SUV and I wasn’t even sure that they weren’t there before me.

Then, at about 7pm the line made a mad, sudden shift, and in the confusion I was apparently cut by about 100 people who just crammed themselves into the fattening line. You know, people who I watched park their car across the street where they stood just looking at the line before rushing in (I’m talking to you, dude in ugly dark green polo). I was still hopeful, but nervous.

In the end, the place filled up about 50 people in front of me. I wasn’t exactly mad, but my friends and I were heartbroken. Here we had taken off work to come down five hours early, and we didn’t get in, mostly because of cutters. Though I did get to see Jack White walk right past me, which was pretty cool.

With heavy hearts we headed home, but after about 40 minutes we decided to go back, thinking he might do a meet and greet. Apparently we had just missed the official one, but we got in line to pre-order a live recording of the show and we got to see and talk to Andy Richter and La Bamba, and eventually Conan came out. He shook my hand and purred/growled at my friend and I, and he signed my roommate’s arm with specific instructions that she not get a tattoo of it.

After everything I’m glad I went, but I do have a few suggestions for Third Man Records if they decide to do something of this magnitude again in the future. Actually, just one:

Wristbands or numbered tickets. After they had counted 300 people in line they should have given wristbands or something so that the show could truly be first come first serve, not first come and biggest d-bags. Wristbands are great because they can’t be sold and transfered, and if given out as people arrived, or at least an hour or so before the show, would insure that people didn’t get cheated out of an experience they earned and waited for ALL DAY.

So there you go. Like I said, I’m not bitter. I got to meet Conan, will have a recording of the show, and met some cool people. Congrats to everyone who got in because they got there early, and SCREW YOU to the people who jumped the line.

Check back soon for a report from a few of my friends who were lucky enough to make it into the show. And, if you were at the show, leave a comment with some of your reactions.

-Emily

PS

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the Conan show:

@tuneinlucas: Can’t quite tell if it’s Conan or if Willie Nelson got another haircut…and de-aged about 30 years. http://yfrog.com/mhbxoj

@nashdoublj: Totally just met Conan O’Brien! I am now cooler than all of you.

@changingmyplea: Conan set list: fucking amazing http://tweetphoto.com/26591907

@deoncole: Why was I at Jack white house then watched him and conan rock live and cut a single? I’m still here at jacks compound in Nashville ,wow

@stacyimwithcoco: Met @conanobrien!!! Shook his hand, told him my name, and got an autograph, on my Times mag. CONAN THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! I’M A HUGE FAN

@verbalintent: Matt just got Conan‘s autograph on his Rita’s Cool Card. #teamcoco #bestwatericeever

@brianthemorris: Conan O’Brien is now officially my first emergency contact. http://yfrog.com/mwzgjj

@maryisawesome: conan obrien just gave me tickets to bonaroo.#iloveconanobrien

Wait, he what???

@chasepattison: Well, didn’t make it in to see Coco and Jack White. Not sure how the venue underestimated that line by 200 people though. STILL LOVE CONAN!

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    • Capt4Chris

      I’m sorry it worked out that way Emily…

    • Emily

      I mean, I’m not particularly bitter or even angry about it, I just think that people who cut in line cheated me and a lot of other people out of an experience we earned. I was happy just meeting Conan and getting a pre-order of the live recording they did.

      I’m just glad I wasn’t the person who got the door slammed in his or her face.

    • http://letshaveaballandbiscuit.blogspot.com/ KT

      I couldn’t agree more with your post. I also got there around 3:30 and was pretty certain I would get in until all the freeloaders showed up. Hopefully they’ll hand out wrist bands the next time they do a show like that.

    • Jeff

      I was inside! I got there at 12:30 and waited for a loooong time out in the sun. Jack White at around 3:30 came out on the roof and started throwing waters down on the crowd. Hillarious/Awesome. (capitalized) We thought the sun was going to go away after a while in the alleyway, but it set directly in line with the buildings sending a nice 5pm heat-beam at us testing our dedication. What the Raiders of the Lost Ark?!?

      Conan was very entertaining and offered some funny banter in between his rockabilly covers (which proved to be surprisingly good). The definite highlight when Conan called Jack up to the stage and the two played a song togehter. It was like watching two friends hanging out in their garage just jamming. Two, extremely famous and talented friends. Also, by the end of the show, it looked like Conan had jumped into a pool.

      So true about the cutters! We were pissed too because the 40-50 people in front of me at around 12:30 turned into about 80-100 by the time 8pm rolled around. Even some sort of number/Deli card would have been smart. BUT, all in all, worth every hour of sitting on the concrete and my, now, deep shade of red sunburn. Team CoCo!