Meg’s American Idol Tour 2009 Memphis Re-cap

Meg, yours is one of my favorite reviews, so far. I wish Alexis would try out for Idol again. She just had the misfortune of being in an unusually talented season, and not being quite as beautiful as the less talented Megan.

Michael Sarver did tweet Saturday night, that there would be no time for autographs after Sunday’s show, but clearly the word didn’t get around.

They really were on a plane very soon after they left the venue, because Sarver posted a pic on his twitter page.

Great recap Megan. It sucks that you didn’t get to meet them, they should have arranged the idols’ time better
I am sure it’s management’f fault and not the idols, though.

Thanks for the recap. I’m glad that Lil got a strong reception from her hometown.

There had been a couple of tweets about how they weren’t doing a M&G after the show because they were heading directly to Tampa. I think they did do a before show M&G, didn’t they? It stinks for the fans, but I think they did this so the Idols could enjoy a real day off tomorrow, rather than have to spend it traveling. Memphis was their 4th show in a row, and they are all probably exhausted. They probably should have made some sort of announcement about the no M&G during the concert, though, just to warn the fans.

It sounds like you enjoyed yourself anyway, despite that disappointment.

They couldn’t wait around for a meet and greet because they were in such a hurry to get to Tampa; and they don’t even have a show tomorrow!!! I mean, really??? We were all p.o’d at this point. We didn’t really think it was fair, but there wasn’t anything we could do about it.

No they couldn’t wait around for a meet and greet since they had a plane to catch. This was their 4th show in as many days and I’m sure they were/are exhausted. This wasn’t anyone’s fault. Their schedule is very tight. Fan entitlement really irks me.

I enjoyed your review of the show and found your excitement at seeing and hearing Kris play endearing. However, your ticket entitles you to see the show. That’s it. Not to meet the idols. Not to get their signature. They do the best they can the meet and greet the fans but whether they had to catch a plane or maybe were just wiped out and needed a night off from the crazy screaming fans all wanting a piece of them, you have no right to be p.o.’d because you were not entitled to anything more than what you got.

I also find your anger over Alexis to be unreasonable. Yes, you may have liked her and felt she got voted off too soon. And, yes, you may have entertained the fantasy that you’d get to hear her sing on stage last night. But the show is the same at every venue. And it does not include people that didn’t make the top ten.

The sense of entitlement that leads to all this anger is unreasonable.

Nice review! I was just wondering if any of the idols mentioned Lil since they’re in her hometown, or if she said anything?

Oh and another thing I was alittle mad about was that they didn’t even recognize Alexis Grace. I thought they may have brought her on stage to sing a little number with all of them but no. They didn’t even say her name once

Why would they bother recognizing her? She didn’t make it to the top ten.
She’s not part of the tour. The tour is the reward for making it into the top ten. If they let the 11th, 12th or 13th place people perform than it sort of defeats the purpose of trying to make it to the top ten.

A ticket entitles someone to see a concert…nothing more. This fan stuff at the buses and the sense of entitlement that the fans have is way beyond ridiculous. The idols gave everything they have during the performances and still people think they should get every blasted extra moment of their time.

Personally I think it is an old barbaric tradition that needs to be curtailed. One day over zealous fans are going to “really” hurt one another as they jump and push and grind to get to the front of the line.

As far as idols who didn’t make it to the top ten. I don’t feel like they should be given any recognition….if they weren’t crowd favorites then why should they be now. This is a top 10 idol show and that is where the focus should stay.

Thanks for the recap! I must say I am extremely thrilled (but definitely not surprised) that Matt is winning more and more people over! I knew this guy was gold the minute I heard his audition!

Thank you for your review! I’m a Kris fan so that section in particular made me smile!!

I know that Michael (and I think someone else?) tweeted with a warning that they would not be able to make it outside tonight for the usual M&G. I believe there was one inside for the people with backstage passes as usual but after that there was no time to go outside and still make the flight out – especially considering that most nights they actually make it out half of them don’t have the time to make it all the way down the line even when they’re ONLY signing and not talking or taking pics.

And as for not acknowledging Alexis – Jasmine was at a previous show and they didn’t do anything then, either. The show is incredibly scripted down to what they wear – the only thing that changes is how Adam does his hair. There was no way they would have had time to rehearse bringing Alexis onstage; it just isn’t practical especially when, in this case, they left Arkansas and the very next day they were performing in Memphis. I know everyone assumes that the idols just open up and sing but why do you think they spent so many days rehearsing before the tour started and then do a warm up every day? Adding Alexis is in just doesn’t make any sense.

And as for not acknowledging Alexis – Jasmine was at a previous show and they didn’t do anything then, either. The show is incredibly scripted down to what they wear – the only thing that changes is how Adam does his hair.

so true- but boy do I wish some of the outfits would change.

Megan, your recap had so much energy in it! Loved it.

So many here are Kris or Adam fans. Or is it Adam and Kris fans? It was so nice reading the great praise for Anoop! You didn’t mention his clouds or his black glasses. :cool_wp:

I also feel Alexis should have been on the tour. I agree with what you said about her. Such a talented young woman; what a shame. There weren’t enough talented girls on the tour, IMO.

MJ, haven’t there been times when AI did get #11 and #12 involved in the tour? Matthew Rogers took over MC duties on some of Season 3 tour dates.

So many here are Kris or Adam fans. Or is it Adam and Kris fans?

I’m a Kris AND Adam fan! Um, if you wanted to know But I am so used to reading about Adam that I love when someone talks about Kris a lot as well!

Why jump on Meg for being upset that they didn’t get to do a meet & greet after the show? I’d be upset too if the “manager” lied.

Well, their ‘manager’  comes out to tell us they are not doing a meet and greet and are already gone.

Really… just be honest and say they can’t do it tonight and leave it at that. No need to lie.

But, overall I do agree that they shouldn’t do them at all anywhere. It just sets up unrealistic expectations.

Thanks for the recap!

Thanks for taking the time to write up a review.

I don’t feel the need to throw you under the bus because you expressed some dissatisfaction with certain elements of how the night played out. You are entitled to your feelings and opinions and you shared them in your recap.

I guess some fans feel an emotional ownership over the idols and feel it’s their job to defend them against your disappointment even tho you are clearly a huge fan of many of them if not TCO.

Thanks for the recap, Meg. It was wrong of the “manager” to lie, although he may have just been misinformed. But, I do agree with others that the Idols themselves should be cut some slack. This was their fourth show in a row and I’m sure they were exhausted. They don’t schedule the transportation–tour management does. And they did try to get the word out through twitter that there would be no M&G after the show.

I don’t blame you for being upset at missing out on what other venues got, though. I agree with others that the ticket doesn’t ENTITLE fans to meet the performers in person, but I would certainly be disappointed if random scheduling issues deprived me of experiences that other fans got at other concerts.

Nice recap, thanks Meg!!! I love Kris too!

I understand your disappointment in not meeting the idols after the show, esp. since this has been their M.O. throughout most of the tour thus far. Unfortunately this is going to happen from time to time. It sounds like it was the management’s decision, not the idols.

It seems you had a great time in spite of it! I’m glad.

Oh and another thing I was alittle mad about was that they didn’t even recognize Alexis Grace. I thought they may have brought her on stage to sing a little number with all of them but no. They didn’t even say her name once.. I think the girl got screwed on the show and the least they could have done was let the girl perform or give recognition to her in her hometown. At least, that’s my opinion!

There have been Idol contestants at a few of the shows, especially the LA ones. Mishovanna has been there, Jasmine, I’m sure others too. The tour is a well oiled production, like a touring Broadway play. There is no way they could or should bring anyone up on stage for an impromtu performance.
Glad you enjoyed the show though.

Thanks for the recap, Meg. I thought it was great (and I was there, so I can check it for accuracy. lol j/k)

Unless things have changed around here, I think we have to blame our city/airport for the Idols’ schedule. We may be a larger Southern town, but I don’t believe we have flights around the clock (due to noise restrictions, I believe.) Anyone who does a lot of business travel knows that travel can be exhausting. So getting out last night to have a full day off — without travel — today was definitely the way to go. With that goal, the Idols had no choice. Frankly, given the time the concert ends, plus the inside meet and greets, I’m surprised they got out at all.

Anyway, much ado. I totally get that you were hoping to meet them and were very disappointed. That’s natural to me. Sorry if that put a damper on your evening. That’s too bad.

I too would love to have seen Alexis, but it never occurred to me that I would. Not discounting your feelings, just didn’t think about it. *shrug*

Thank you for your review. I don’t see why they would allow someone that didn’t make Top Ten perform on the Idol tour. Where would they draw the line?
And I’d just like to clarify…Gokey’s voice didn’t make ALL the girls cry; at least not in excitement.

Really enjoyed your review Meg. I adore Adam, but get tired of many reviewers all but ignoring the talents of the other contestants.

Secretly chuckled at your comments about the Gokester. I am not so sure AI did the best they could by him, promoting him to be their Christian ‘dish of the day’.

It appears to me that they purposely set out to place a dozen or so contestants into specific boxes for purposes of promoting them on the tour. Just look what has happened with their latest crop. Don’t we all have preconceived notions of who they are personally?

Funny thing is, that they may not be these people at all. This recent interview has DG professing to be a Metallica and Family Force Five Fan?!? Doesn’t match up with the image they’ve been pushing, does it?

Check out the HUGE arms Meg mentioned too. Oh my. You know you want to look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqgXuCKR1RY

Funny thing is, that they may not be these people at all. This recent interview has DG professing to be a Metallica and Family Force Five Fan?!? Doesn’t match up with the image they’ve been pushing, does it?

Check out the HUGE arms Meg mentioned too. Oh my. You know you want to look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqgXuCKR1RY

I think that this is a good interview with Danny. I am not surprised that he likes Family Force Five, one big reason because they are a Christian group. But I am surprised that he likes Metallica. I think that’s interesting, and cool.

nice recap….yeah, must have been frustrating that there was no meet and greet, considering every city has had them yes, ticket entitles you to the show only, but your fangirl heart wants more! LOL

I don’t blame you for being disappointed at meeting any of the Idols, Meg. No, it is NOT the price of the ticket, I think we all understand that, but when so many of the fans talk about how excited they were at a chance to say hi, even for just a minute, then if you don’t get too you’re kind of bummed out. I have to work–I can’t get to my concert date early–so if they don’t come out after the show, that’s it. (I highly doubt I’ll snag a back stage pass.) But I guess I will go in without expectations. I have the feeling I wouldn’t get anywhere near Kradam, but I’d actually like to say hello to Michael and Matt (and even Danny!).

As as for the interviews…whenever Danny talks about Sophia, I feel so badly, and then when he talks about his forthcoming album and music, I shake my head, but what do I know? I also love what his has on his iPod.

Well it’s great to have some recaps with different faves. I’m ALL for it. And sounds like you had a great time and your fave had a set you really enjoyed!

And not to pile on here, but the contestants did a pre-show audience signing and Sarver warned people about their non-ability to sign afterwards due to them having to catch a flight. And this was coming after 4 straight days of performing in four different states/cities, so tons of travel time which can be tiring in and of itself, much less performing every night. Yes I get being personally disappointed and the timing sucks for people in Memphis, but on the other hand not only don’t they owe any fan anything other than as good a show as they can give. But also I would like to say that it’s best for the fans at other shows for the contestants to be as rested as they can be. These guys need to rest their vocals and selves and re-charge for the other parts of the tour so the fans there can enjoy good performances as well.

Matthew Rogers took over MC duties on some of Season 3 tour dates.

There was no MC for the Season 3 show. The only time a contestant beyond the Top 10 toured was when they were filling in for a Top 10 contestant who could not tour.

Specifically, in Season 2. Charles Grigsby, who was eliminated at 11, took the place of Corey Clark who was disqualified during week 9.

Even that year, they only toured with 9. The Marines wouldn’t release Josh Gracin for the summer tour.

Well, my friends and I find where the buses are supposed to be and we shoved our way to the front (we were all set on meeting them and getting autographs).

And you’re admitting this publicly?

Meg,

It was a lovely report and you went out of your way to say positive things about each and every Idol. That is very appreciated and I wish more would take the time. It’s hard to put yourself out there as they do each night. A little positive feedback goes a long way.

I’m sorry for your disappointment in not getting to meet any of them. It came off as anger, and I’m sure you’ve calmed down by now. Thank you for putting YOURSELF out for us.

Hi all, I am the one the wrote this review!

“The sense of entitlement that leads to all this anger is unreasonable.”

First off, let me explain myself on this one. I in no way felt “entitled” to meet them. I am not the type of person that feels entitled to anything. But can you imagine getting your hopes up to meet the Idols and then get told that this is the ONLY show they will not be doing this for? I do not Twitter so I did not know Michael had twitted (I think that’s what it’s called?) they weren’t going to be able to do the meet n greet. If I had known that then I wouldn’t have gotten my hopes up (I don’t remember anyone else last night saying they read Michael’s twitter either. If we had, then I definitely wouldn’t have even waited around! So please, do not feel like I felt entitled to meeting them. It was more of a disappointed “p.o.’d” then anything. I know it was not the Idols fault; but their “manager” that had lied to us (and yes, he did lie to us because he knew they were back there still…He was in the car with one of the groups).

Oh and to those that have a problem with my comment about Alexis…This was the first year they did a Top 13 instead of 12. Why couldn’t they have let the Top 11 go on tour???? It just didn’t seem fair to me and many other people that even though they added one more to the top group they couldn’t add one more to the tour?? Just my opinion…

And I DEFINITELY would’ve tried to get tickets for the meet n greet before the show (especially if I would have known before hand that they weren’t doing a meet n greet afterwards) but I’m a nurse and they don’t let you off early for things like an American Idol concert

And to whoever left me this comment:
“Well, my friends and I find where the buses are supposed to be and we shoved our way to the front (we were all set on meeting them and getting autographs).”

There’s a story behind this one.. We were actually in the front, and we were behind wherever we were supposed to be. This whole group of about 15-25 girls walks in front of us thinking that they can stand in front of us, even though we have been there for an hour or so! We all told them that we had been waiting here for an hour and that if they could please get behind us since we had been waiting… The whole group there said it reallllly nicely… These girls just gave us a death stare like “are you serious?” and didn’t budge… The WHOLE group of us who had been standing out in the Memphis heat and humidity for an hour kind of all pulled together and shoved together…Should’ve made that a little clearer, my bad!

Thank you all for the nice comments about the recap. I DO really appreciate it!!

Oh and to those that have a problem with my comment about Alexis’ ¦This was the first year they did a Top 13 instead of 12. Why couldn’t they have let the Top 11 go on tour???? It just didn’t seem fair to me and many other people that even though they added one more to the top group they couldn’t add one more to the tour?? Just my opinion’ ¦

Megan, there were many of us throughout the season that have said, “I hope AI adds Alexis to the tour.” She was one of my favorites when the TOP 36 were selected. I feel as you do. Why not add one more?

MJ, thank you for clarifying that point. I thought there were several shows that Matt Rogers was on the stage introducing the Idols? I know AI has utilized him in other roles for the show.

Great job, Meg!

It may not have happened for a few seasons, but I do remember some semi-finalists getting a callout in a few of the shows in earlier seasons. I read the message boards way too much back then, but I remember reading about such stories. I think it was more of so and so semi-finalist is in the house tonight, how about a round of applause kind of deal, not like they were on stage.

However, I think there was one show where Vanessa got to be on the show during the final group sing (encore) for season 2. I remember this because the pic was my screensaver for many months because I thought it was so wrong that Vanessa was not asked to join the tour that season when Josh could not make it. Vanessa had a mike in her hand and was singing along with the rest of the group on stage. (So I can relate to Alexis)

I remember hearing too that Matt did play the role of MC for a few shows in season 3. So, if that did not happen, it must have been a popular rumor on the message boards. I am thinking it was fake rumor, but I honestly don’t remember anymore.

Sorry, about being off topic, on to the Memphis show. I seriously considered going to this particular show and the next thing I realized was that it was this week. How times flies.

Speaking for myself, I’ve been reading about these meet & greets since they started the tour, and of course, last year as well. This bein so, I truly expected an opportunity to meet them. I even had a really cool card for Adam. Now, last year, they didn’t come anywhere near Memphis, and it was impossible for me to go, much to my disappointment, as I was really into both David Archuleta and David Cook. I’m not much of a TV viewer at all, so prior to season 7, I really had no idea what the big deal was, and I did not care. But, once I finally watched a few minutes of it, I was totally, completely hooked, and I have been ever since. Ever since the tour schedule’s been posted, I’ve thought that they would probably spend some time in Memphis, cause I knew they had off the next day, so I was really surprised when I found out they were leaving straight out and would not meet & greet. I knew they had went to Graceland, so I thought they would probably be a while before they got back to the venue, but by the time I made it there (and I did make it there pretty early) they had already came out, and apparently, it was just a few of them. I think Michael, Matt, Danny, and Meg (I think). They must not have spent much time with the fans, either. I ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, thinking that it would be the most logical place for them to eat (and 107.5 said on air “you never know who might show up”, since it’s practically right around the corner, but NO. Lil’s husband brought them Popeye’s. So, going into the concert, I knew I had most likely missed any chance of meeting any of them. It really zapped some of the excitement. I’ll be 40 on my next birthday, and this concert and the idea of the possibility of getting to meet them were the most exciting things that had happened to me in a long time, and I am so deflated that it didn’t happen. And, no, it’s not a sense of entitlement. It has seemed to be something of a routine for them to be so gracious as to sign for their fans. It does kinda feel like they are not caring much at all for the Memphis fans, cause last yr there was no opportunity to go (unless you were to travel for hours), and this yr, we really weren’t worth their time. But, yes, this is pure disappointment speaking, and I do understand the human element of this, but somehow, it doesn’t seem to matter to me as much in this instance, but I’m very unhappy about it. I think just because it simply meant so much to me. But, oh well. Now I think I’ll probably never have another opportunity like this, and back to my ho-hum life. But, life does go on, ho-hum or not. And I will continue to enjoy the show & the idols, especially my favorite – ADAM!

I in no way felt ‘entitled’  to meet them. [snip] It was more of a disappointed ‘p.o.’d’  then anything.

Meg, thank you for clarifying this. I’m glad to hear you aren’t on your way to turning into Crazy Stalker Fan (which is where that sense of entitlement can end up). And I apologize for jumping down your throat about it. It’s completely understandable and expected that you’d be disappointed. Take heart though, I think it’s safe to say you’ll have other opportunities to meet Kris over the next couple of years.