If you told eight-year-old me she would be going to a Big Time Rush (BTR) concert, she would be on the floor, squealing and begging to ask if Logan chose her. Yes, I was and still am a Logan girl. At a grown 21 years of age, I called my mom in February. The minute I heard they were releasing tickets in my hometown, and told her that I needed her to buy tickets while I was in class. I asked for two: one for me and my best friend, Mikayla. We have been best friends since 5th grade, going on our 11th year of friendship. She has been my rock and has seen me at my lowest. She is the person who knows my growth and my soul. We also used to fangirl about Big Time Rush together, and well, since we are now grown folks we haven’t had much time to hang out on our own. We have both been too busy. She has a baby and is going to school to become a nurse, and I am at Virginia Tech studying rocks. Big Time Rush was a relaxation we needed. I got the call after class that my mom secured the tickets, number one Mom for the win! Anyway, fast forward to July and it’s the big day. I spent the day and night before hot gluing leaves onto a ball cap for each of us, based on how when the BTR boys in the show would spy on people they would wear the leaf hats. Well, mine were more chopped than the ones from the show, but they were made with lots of love, time, and tears. I was a bit worried about showing it to Mikayla, but when she picked me up and saw them, she lit up. I was worried about my best friend hating them… I forgot the fact she’s MY best friend, she was just going to love it cause I made it. However, even with confusing road instructions, we got to the Veterans Loan Amphitheater.
It was packed, and the lines were convoluted. We realized the line we were closest to wasn’t even the regular ticket line; the super long line next to it was the regular one. One look at each other and we took off to find a spot in the normal line. We got our spot after being passive and letting people go until we found a little spot. Once we got in the line and moved up closer and closer, we finally got in. We went to the merchandise first, I got a cute shirt while she got a tote, which was perfect cause I just threw the shirt in there. Then I smelled the food and was like woah, I instantly got funnel fries. We noticed it was the opener, Jo, playing. Jo was Kendall’s girlfriend in the show and the main cause for the banger of a song called Worldwide. I felt bad, but I was frothing at the mouth. I wanted to see the boys, not hear originals I didn’t know. It did give us time to get slushies, which were severely gas. Finally, we got to the seats and met the mother and daughter duo next to us. They were very kind, and it was either the second or third time the daughter had seen them, but she’s never been this close. She gave us friendship bracelets with the members’ names and gave us one based on our favorite member. Mikaylas is Kendall, mine is Logan, hers is Carlos. It was giving girlhood. So Mikayla and I mentally made notes that we would help this girl get super close to Carlos. Once we chugged down our slushies, we went to throw away the cups and wash our hands. In the bathroom after washing our hands, we decided to take a mirror selfie and got this random girl who had peak vibes, and it’s actually a banger picture. We didn’t know each other, but we were all three excited. Finally, we got back and it was time for the main act, the BOYS. The lights changed, the music started, and the vibes were ready. We sang along and jumped, and had a hooting and hollering of the time. It was very interactive, they danced, they moved, it was a boyband experience! When they were changing, they had mini videos playing. You could tell the concert had a lot of time and care put into this.
This was the experience I always wanted from a concert. I was with a person I loved, listening to music we loved, and having a good time in an environment that was made clearly with love. The atmosphere felt curated perfectly. I was pumped with adrenaline I didn’t know I even had! Anyway, it was a known fact that BTR went into the audience during the song, “Halfway There” to stage two, which is in the middle of the audience. They made it to stage two from the other side and started their singing. People got out of their seats and started moving closer, the staff wasn’t fighting anyone as they all crowded. Me and Mikayla stayed in our seating area because hey, fair is fair, I didn’t pay for that area so I wasn’t going to move. I enjoyed it from my seat, even though I could barely see I watched the screen being broadcast. I squealed when the surprise song was Count On You, my favorite Big Time Rush song. It was a perfect moment. Then they started coming down and picking people for the song Worldwide, which they picked from the crowd closest, aka a mix of people who had seats there and people who had moved to get closer. It was a bit upsetting noticing the girl in the row in front of me had joined the crowd of people and got picked, even though I was glad she had the experience, I was still feeling green-eyed with jealousy. I shouldn’t have been thinking of upsetting people and should have hustled because I could have been a Worldwide girl, but hey, maybe one day. Moving on, they picked their people and started coming down and making their way to the stage on my side. We had aisle seats, and they would be walking right past us. The minute I saw Carlos, I took the Daughter’s hand and moved her to the aisle a bit with us. It was a tight squeeze to keep in the bounds, but she NEEDED this moment. Squealing, jumping, I couldn’t even hold the camera straight as they came by. I took her hand for her to reach out for Carlos, and yes, there was contact. She got so excited, falling back onto her mom and thanking us. I didn’t mind though everyone deserves a good time.
Then Kendall came through, and Mikayla and I reached out, and yes he does have muscles at his grown age. I didn’t really get to reach out for Logan because he was more focused on the other side, but the interaction with Kendall was worth at least it, but seeing Logan that close? Peak experience. They made it to the stage with the girls and continued singing. Beachballs came from the ceiling near the end, and we all were touching them. It was coming to me and I reached out but saw a girl moving swiftly for it so I stepped back and my leg felt on fire. It hurt insanely, I thought I pulled something, which I probably did with all this movement, but I did get to touch another beach ball, but it was wet…..why? Probably sweat. Either way, I was disgusted and refused to touch the beach ball again. Then, near the end, the big finale, confetti erupted from the ceiling, we looked around and the whole audience was covered. It was beautiful and a great way to end the night off my leg still hurt but Mikayla helped collect confetti for my mementos. True friendship at its finest, take notes.
After an exciting night like that, we left around 11pm from the concert and started making our way to McDonald’s. I had a hankering for the golden arches, but they were packed. Everyone from the concert must have had the same thought process. They put up cones behind the cars in the drive-thru signaling the end. We went inside to order in person since the place closed at midnight but they told us no and to go to the drive-thru….which was cut off. Anyway, we decided to end the night. I had work in the morning and she had clinicals. We were tired, drained, but happy. It was perfect. A night out to let loose and relax, she drove me home, and that was that.
Overall, I had an amazing time at the concert. The night was spent making memories, enjoying friendship, and going back to the girls we used to be. The girls who had to grow up. It was a fantastic night that I will never forget.