TSO: Ticket Snafu Omnipresent

I'm cursed, I tell you.

CURSED.

There's no other explanation for this, really.

See, there's a certain band called Trans-Siberian Orchestra…perhaps you've heard of them? An "orchestra" in the loosest sense, playing classical music with a hard rock edge to it. Then throwing in some amazing laser lights, flames and smoke - all resulting in a mind-blowing performance good for all ages.

A lot of folks will call them "TSO" for short - but I've discovered that TSO does NOT stand for "Trans-Siberian Orchestra"…but "Ticket Snafu Omnipresent". This is because we've had not one…not two…but THREE ticket snafus with this group over the last ten years…which is not only weird, but downright frustrating. Gah.

Seriously, I do NOT know what is going on…as I have never, ever had these ticket issues with anything - or anyone - else. We have tickets to all sorts of plays, theater, concerts, etc - and have NEVER been cursed like we are with TSO. Very weird.

We started seeing TSO way, way back in 2002 or so…they would come to Kansas City and appear at a little venue called Memorial Hall, which had a grand capacity of 3,500. We'd pay a few dollars and sit practically on top of the stage - a very intimate experience, for sure, and one we tremendously enjoyed. No one had really ever heard of this group at that time, so we pretty much had them to ourselves, which was pretty cool. Snafu #1 occurred at this venue…our second year of attending…when we dined at a restaurant pre-show, and then went off and left the tickets sitting on the restaurant table afterwards. Didn't discover it until we'd arrived at the concert hall and discovered we HAD NO TICKETS. Yeah, imagine how happy Hubby was to turn around, drive all the way back to the restaurant, retrieve the tickets (which our waiter had fortunately stowed in a safe place for us), and then get back in time for the show. Not.



The band got bigger, their popularity grew, and it wasn't too long before they were appearing at a much bigger venue in Kansas City, Kemper Arena. Ticket prices went up along with their popularity, and although we still enjoyed attending their annual concert, we didn't quit have the intimate experience that we'd had before. Still, though, it was a family favorite, and we would often invite other family members to attend with us - grandparents, cousins, foreign exchange students - strangers off the street. We're friendly like that.



Snafu #2 occurred one year at Kemper…when the day of the concert, I couldn't find our tickets…anywhere. ANYWHERE. I turned our house upside down, searching for those gosh-darned tickets - EIGHT of them, by the way - to no avail. Those tickets had VANISHED into thin air. I accused everyone - even the dog - of perhaps accidentally throwing those tickets away, because TICKETS JUST DON'T WALK AWAY!!! In a panic, we drove to Kemper Arena that night, and fortunately, after working with the wonderful folks at Will Call, we were able to prove our purchase and were admitted to the show.(By the way - the eight missing tickets turned up four years later, when we moved out of that house and into our current house. They had fallen down behind a bureau, and were quite hidden. Oops. My bad.)

It was at Kemper one year when the band got so loud, and so raucous, that some ceiling tiles file down on some guests in the section next to us. They weren't hurt, fortunately…but that was exciting, especially for my kids. Things falling from ceilings always get their attention…and they still talk about that to this day.



Kemper is now closed for concerts, as Kansas City built a new and improved concert venue, Sprint Center, which is where TSO now appears. We're doing good if we're within 500 miles of the stage in this new venue, but it's all good. It's been pretty cool to see the legions of fans grow and appreciate the band; we feel sorta' like proud parents.



We had tickets for the 3:00 pm show today, and it was then that Snafu #3 occurred. I'd ordered the tickets months ago, and had stashed the envelope in a safe place, so they wouldn't fall back behind a bureau. When I went to go retrieve them today, I came up with four tickets…and yet, there are five of us. Hmmm…four tickets? But…we have five people? Houston, we have a problem. Why would I buy a ticket short??!! This made no sense, and I was kicking myself all morning…"What an idiot," I thought…."Do I really not know how many people are in my family??!! I can't believe I only bought four tickets??!! GAH!!!!!"



Upon further investigation, I discovered that I had, indeed, purchased the correct amount of tickets…but I had only received four in the mail. My order showed five. I received four. Did I ever bother to check the envelope when I first received these tickets months ago??! No. GAH.

So, off to Will Call we went this afternoon, and once again, they were gracious and fixed it. They're pretty much getting used to me by now, I think. I'm becoming a regular. Derp.



As far as the show - it was awesome, as usual. My daughter has loved, loved, LOVED the violinist since she can remember, and she's always inspired to continue her violin lessons after these shows. My boys love the lighting effects and the pianists, and Hubby and I just love the music. (Actually, I love Angus, the long-haired guitar player, but we won't go there. Shhhhhh…..)



A great family trip today…and here's hoping no more Ticket Snafus in the future. I'm getting too old for these.

Peace.