(I posted this in the newbie forum, but wanted to share with everyone without having to type it again, is that ok?)
Hi! I'm new to the Garth board. I was bored tonight waiting for my husband to get home from work and was just looking around on the net and decided to see what Garth has been up too. I've been watching fox news all day and I'm getting kinda war weary myself I think. I'm pleasantly surprised to see that there are still so many loyal Garth fans that post regularly. Let me give you a little background on my Garth experiences!
When I was 18 years old (1993) Garth was coming to Lexington and I just had to go see him. Well, I stood in line with my pregnant sister in law for eight hours for tickets for them to only end up selling out while I was still several hundred people back in line. I was so disappointed. Later that week I heard a local station in my little town was going to give away the chance to buy tickets. So I went everywhere I could that they were signing people up to try to win a chance to buy tickets. (This local station and a car lot had bought a whole section and were selling them to "winners" at face value.) I not only signed myself up but everyone in my family that I could think of their name, address, phone, etc. Well, one of my brothers ended up winning a $100 gift certificate from a local music store. Finally I ended up winning a chance to buy tickets. So I was going to the concert!!!
Ok, as the concert drew near the little (I mean little bitty) station said they were going to give away lower arena tickets. Well of course I had already signed up like a hundred times all over town. But on the final day when they were going to draw for the tickets they allowed five people to call in with the answer to a Garth trivia question, “what is Garth’s mother’s name” I was the only person to call in with the answer and I even had time to look it up! Well, the DJ told me they were going to draw for the tickets within the hour and to stay tuned. Which I did. Within the hour I got a call and the lady said I had won but she wanted me to stay on the line so she could tell me again on air. When she got me on air she told me that I had won two tickets and two backstage passes! I told her “Thank You” like 15 times and after giving her my information, I hung up the phone and my mom and I screamed for like 20 minutes.
Fast forward to the day of the concert. We were so excited (I ended up taking my mom cause she just decided she was going). We were told to meet the DJs beside the stage at like 6:45. We got to the stage and stood there for half an hour. I was nearly in tears because I thought the DJs weren’t going to show up and we weren’t going to get to meet him. But at the last minute they did show up. We were escorted backstage by security and waited a couple of minutes for an other DJ (Coyote Calhoun (sp?)) to come out from talking to him. Coyote only stayed back with him for like five to ten minutes. When we finally got to go in his dressing room he had his back to us and I remember asking the DJ if that was him because he was so thin! At that Garth turned around and said “Hi! Can you hold on just a second I have to put my hat in the bathroom.” We all kinda looked at each other with a “His hat has to go to the bathroom?” look. When he returned he explained that he always turned the shower on hot and put his hat in the bathroom so he could shape it after it soaked up some steam. He then shook each of our hands and said our names back to us as we introduced ourselves.
When the DJs told him that I had won the backstage passes he said, “Really, congratulations! Do you want this?” and he held out his hand with something between his fingers. I had no clue what it was, but when Garth Brooks hands you something you take it! And I held out my hand. He placed the “Stetson” pin from his hat (which I still have) in my hand. He then asked us to come on in and have a seat. There were a few chairs and sofa in one part of the room. For some odd reason the DJs and my mom took the seats on the couch after he had sat down in a chair beside the couch which only left a chair kinda out away from everyone. I didn’t know what to do with myself, I was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a rocking chair factory anyway. So I went to sit in the chair across the room. Garth jumped up and said, “No, no, come over here and sit.” He promptly gave me his seat and pulled an end table like thing up beside the chair so he would be sitting right beside me. That was really nice of him. He was really nice the entire time we were backstage with him. We got to spend like 45 minutes with him, because when we went in there was no one else waiting to see him. But when we came out there was a ton of people waiting. I don’t think he knew there were people waiting outside because we were just jawing about nothing. At one point I did get to tell him that I had wanted to go into the music business myself and he told me to go to school first and foremost. I told him I wanted to go to college but my dad was dead set against it (which at the time he was because he didn’t have the money to send me and he is kinda old fashion and thought I should just get married and let my husband take care of me). I explained my situation to him and Garth asked my mom why she wouldn’t just sign for my student loans. My dad wouldn’t even have to know until I was leaving for school. Which is exactly what we did. When I graduated in 1998 my dad cried. I think it was only the second time in my life I ever saw him cry.
I actually got to see Garth again three years later in the Nashville airport and had a chance to tell him how much his talked to my mom had changed my life. He was very nice to me that time as well. I’ll have to tell more about that “meeting” and more about the first one later. I know most people have already given up reading this by now because it is so long. Sorry about that!
Can you post pictures on here? I’m always glad to share some of the pics!
Tired of reading this ? Are you kidding?LOL!!! Thankyou so much for posting your story and can't wait to hear about your other meeting.We LOVE all Garth moments here .
Yes you can post pictures and I know we all would love to see them .If you need help posting them I am sure our Garth goddess Rachael will help you .She can do anything .Thanks again and I am glad you finished school and that Garth kind of had a part in it.
PrincessTracy... first welcome to the Planet!
What a wondeful story. I'm SO glad you shared it with us. I love to hear these personal Garth stories. Maybe it's because I've never had mine but I love living vicariously.
It's so cool that Garth gave you the advice about school and that you acted on it and you as the song goes... "do what you gotta do"... but to be correct I guess I have to say, "did what you had to do!"
I dont think I've EVER heard of anyone ever having a bad Garth visit. I've heard it with other artists. I had a friend that had a bad experience with Clint Black for example. I dont usually hold it against the artists because everyone has a bad day... but I'm just more amazed that I've never heard of Garth having one... or at least that when he did he never let it touch his relationship with his fans. It's "very cool".
Please be sure to stay and post A LOT! We love meeting new family members and that is what you are to us now.
Take care!
Deb
But you've got to be tough when consumed by desire
'Cause it's not enough just to stand outside the fire
Princess Tracy - welcome to the Planet! I loved your story, and I'm especially glad that you got the chance to tell Garth how he touched your life. So many out there never get that chance to let him know the difference he's made, so you were definately doubly blessed.
Yes post pictures and please keep sharing! You'll be right at home here.
Are you still in Kentucky? I'm waving north at ya!
J.
Hi Princess Tracy,
Welcome to PG, what an awesome story to hear about Garth, so many cool experiences out there in so many different ways.
If you need a hand with the photos you can email me at rachael@mira.net or PM here.
Rachael
The song Love Will Always Win is me, it is Trisha and myself, its Us - Garth Brooks
http://www.brooksnyearwood.com
Thank you all!
I never get tired of telling about meeting Garth (although it's a lot easier to tell than type lol). Since meeting Garth I have met tons of other artist and Nashville insiders. I spent a lot of time in Nashville while I was in college and finally figured out that wasn't the life for me. (I had some bad experiences too, Garth was still the best.) I actually ended up working for a ministry and now work for a Business College as a Computer Instructor. I'm now working toward my Master's in Christian Counseling. It all started with a talk with Garth.
There is still tons more to tell about the meetings and even the last time (I think) he came to Kentucky (yep, I'm still here producerJ *waves back*) was just a couple of weeks before I graduated and a DJ I know told him in an interview that someone he had talked into going to college in 1993 was graduating in a couple of weeks and wanted to thank him. He congratulated me and he said he was really happy to be a good influence. (I actually missed the interviewbut EVERYONE who heard it on the radio told me about it).
Ok, I really need to get some sleep. But I'll try to get the rest of it told soon and get some pics posted. You guys are cool! And it's so exciting to reminisce about the experiences!
Welcome and thank you for sharing your meeting with us.
I look forward to the photos.
Jude
GREAT story.
Can't wait to see the pictures!!
Princess Tracy, welcome to PG! How lucky you are and how smart our man is. He has taught me well to make sure all my girls go to college and you can go far.
Nadine
Thanks for sharing your story.
Dawn
Welcome to the Planet, Princess Tracy
Also, ccongratulations on going for your Masters!
CC
Please let me add my welcome and thank you for sharing your story. It's great how someone as famous as Garth can make you feel like an old friend and just sit down to chat.
To post pictures, use the attach file field below the "your reply" box when you are posting a message on the forum, but don't make it too big.
Awesome story! Thanks so much for sharing your Garth moments with us, They are Always a Pleasure to read-no matter How long-actually can they EVER Be Too Long?! Sounds like you not only had a great experience but an altering one as well...congratulations on that! I can't wait to hear more details from your meetins with the Garthman! And pics, I Really hope you post some pics, I LOVE Pics!
Princess Tracy - Welcome! You are a very fortunate young lady. I am very much looking forward to hearing more of your stories and also seeing your pics!
Bethany
great story, btw! I love hearing about GB moments..they're a lot of fun to "experience"I can't wait for pics
god and peace,
Vanessa
Ok, here are a few pics from the 1993 meeting. I'm so glad to be past the ackward teen years. I look like such a dork in these pics. lol
This is me and garth
Is that the only way to post a pic? Or can you type it in and see the picture within your post?
Garth sitting by me
This is Garth saying my name while shaking my hand
me, Garth, Dj lady, and Mom
Hey Tracy,
Very very cool pictures, thanks for sharing.
And about the pictures this is the only way you can post them at PG as an attachment.
Rachael
The song Love Will Always Win is me, it is Trisha and myself, its Us - Garth Brooks
http://www.brooksnyearwood.com
Garth fixing the Djs camera, what a nice guy!
Hi Princess Tracy, I'm a little late in welcoming you. I enjoyed your story of meeting Garth. We never get tired of hearing about Garthmoments.
That's a great picture. The pictures don't show up in the posts...just as an attachment. So post as many as you are comfortable with.
Paula
While I was in the middle of posting, you added a few more pictures...very cool. Garth is pretty much of an expert on cameras.
Listen not to the critics
Who put their own dreams on the shelf
~ How You Ever Gonna Know ~
Kent Blazy/Garth Brooks
Last but not least a good pic of Garth laughing at something I told him. No telling what I said. My mom told him she liked his song
"Life's a Dance" and he said, "You mean John Michael's song?". I was like, "Mom, you mean 'The Dance'!" How embarassing!
We really like "The Dance" because it came on about an hour after my grandfather died that same year and our whole family gathered around the TV crying. When Garth sang "The Dance" that night, he pointed at us in the crowd and waved at us. The lady beside me started screaming, "OMG, Garth Brooks waved at you!!!!!" hehe it was a lot of fun!
Oh and did anyone notice he is wearing one of his "Standing outside the fire" shirts? It's the same shirt he was wearing when he was sitting in the stands on the video!
Those are wonderful pictures, Thanks for sharing them
Welcome to the planet!
allison.
We took three rolls of film while we were backstage. I have a whole book of pics. But I'll stop at this point hehe. Or I'll be doing this all night.
When I met him again in the Nashville airport in June of 1996, I didn't get to get any pictures. I didn't even ask for an autograph. I just told him what a difference his advice had made in my life. He was very nice and was willing to stand there and talk to me but I didn't want to keep him because I knew he had been at FanFair for a whole day straight the day before. I just walked up behind him and said, "Excuse me?" and these two airport security guards on each side of him just walked away and he stopped and talked to me. He held his hat case up to the side of his face so no one else could tell who he was. I told him I had met him two years ago. And he said, "Where was that again?" and I said, "In Lexington, KY" and he said, "I hate to make you feel old honey, but it's been three years." He was really nice and funny.
When I had met him in Lexington, I had him sign a picture from a magazine that had a little message at the top about his first father's day and it talked about him retiring or something. Later that year he mentioned the article in an interview with Country America (an article brought backstage by a fan in Lexington, KY). The picture and interview article is at my other house (we are still in the process of moving). I'll have to scan those sometimes too.
Thanks so much for sharing your pix Tracy. I had forgotten how tight his stage jeans were.
Great pictures - thanks for sharing.
Jude
Ahhhh I think i am still the only person on earth who hasn't met Garth yet!
<3 ber
Very cool pictures Tracy! Who was that skinny guy with all that hair?
I bet your meeting at the airport was so meaningful to him, you did good!
J.
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