Hey everyone, based off of the great response to my account of the day in line, I got to thinking. It seems to me that there are A LOT of great stories to tell about that day. The kind of stories that would make for a great book.


"A sample page from the book"


So, here's where I would love some help. If you have any stories about 07.07.07 that you would like to share with me, please paste them in this thread. Don't feel like you have to write a long essay (but you can if you want to!). Ideally I would love to compile a number of 1 or 2 paragraph anecdotes about the day. Be it an experience, a feeling you got, a great memory, whatever. If you feel that you already posted something like that, please paste it here. If you want to put in something new, the post it here!

Also, if you would like to include a photo(s) with your story, PM me and I'll send you my email. (Note photos should be at the highest resolution that you can possibly send me, but don't worry, just send me what you have)

The book would be available for purchase/preview at a great site called Blurb. Check it out at http://www.blurb.com/home/1/. There you can check out sample books and then preview this one when I finish it.

Hopefully I get some great responses and then we can have a great book!

Thanks!

Well, this was a separate thread but I wouldn't mind having it in the book:

My 30 Hour Prince Experience

Apparently I am a little bit insane because I knew that I needed to go to the First Ave show even if it was going to take standing in line forever to do so. I'll be 43 next week and should be too old for this but sometimes you've gotta do crazy stuff to really live. So I had a backpack filled with supplies, water, food, sunscreen etc. and a lawn chair all ready to go. I lay down at 10:00 or so to take a little nap and await a call from my friend who was going down to the Prince Dance Party at First Ave Friday night. I was going to then decide whether to sleep at home and go down around six in the morning or head down right away. He called about 11:00 and estimated there were maybe 100 people in line so I headed right down. I hopped a bus and got there about midnight. I got a spot right outside the Pantages Theater which was very fortunate as on Saturday we had shade and protection from the bright sun. I felt bad for those who got baked! My friends met me ad until three we took turns going into First Ave where the dance party was going on and holding our place in line. It was wild watching the Hennepin Avenue nightlife go by. Crazy drunk people and such. A lot of people asked what we were waiting for and someone started telling them Harry Potter. So people were going "they are waiting all this time for Harry potter?" Others saw the Marquee for the Pantages that sad grease was starting on July 12 and were saying "I can't believe they are waiting until the 12th for Grease." Those who knew what we were there for thought they were so clever singing us Prince songs. Across the street the Barfly nightclub pumped out bad techno music until 2:00. On song had a techno beat and a dude repeating over and over "I want to fuck, I want to fuck, I really want to fuck..." At the end of the night they threw us a bone and played Pussy Control and Black Sweat. After the nightlife died down we tried to get a little sleep. Others had some success but I couldn't sleep much. In the morning around 6:30 AM Ian fro the cable show "Drinking with Ian" came with a cameraman and handed out free coffee and donuts while he interviewed folks for the show so I got in on that. Thanks Ian! Other friends and family brought us more coffee and muffins and stuff. We met lots of cool people and chatted with them. Bellanote came by with a cart selling breakfast for $5, others sold Icees and waters and pop. Somehow the time seemed to flay by and it did not seem like we were there for 15 hours. At one point a dude from the Pantages came and very grumpily said "I need access to my door. You have to move!" But later even he chatted friendly with us. It was a good vibe.

Eventually three rolled around and we all stood up and moved towards the door. I was a bit worried when First Ave was late in starting to sell the tickets as I needd to get to the Macy's show which started at 4:00. Luckily they did start around 3:30 and the line moved quickly. They had 5 or 6 so cashiers in 7th Street Entry selling tix. I got mine and eaded to the first event!

I got to Macy's right at 4:00 and found that they were holding the show for a bit so that more people in line at First Ave. could make it. We were sent to the 5th floor where we were lined up all through the beds and couches sold there. Some folks took advantage of those comfy couches to take a load off. It was nicely air conditioned. Eventually we were herded up the escalators to the 8th floor. The auditoreum was decked out real nice like a big club. Price's DJ Rasheeda was spinning disc. I found a decent spot and waited. The performance started at 5:00 and was hot! He played 3121, Girls & Boys, Guitar, Take me With U, Glamorous Life and A love Bizarre with Sheila E, Crazy (Gnarls Barkley cover sung by Shelby J), Get on the Boat and Let's Go Crazy. Prince's drummer Cora's drums were not set up, presumably so they would not have to be ripped down and set up again at Target Center. Sheila E's more portable set was used during this show. A great Appetizer!

Speaking of appetizers, as I left I was handed a postcard advertising a "Prince Party" with a buffet and drink tickets at Solera at 9th and Hennepin. I went over and on the third floor they had a great spread. Peppers stuffed with goat cheese and vegetables and cheeses. I stuffed myself and used my drink tickets to get a couple of St. Pauli Girl non-alcoholic beers as I don't drink. They were cold and hit the spot. I then headed for the Target Center into the basement where i have a membership to the Lifetime fitness club there. I sat in the sauna, the steam room and the whirlpool and took a shower.

Feeling refreshed I headed to Hennepin to meet my wife and son at the bus stop. They were there for the Target Center show. We headed over there and were told that the doors would be delayed. A Nice Target Center dude explained that the opening band had cancelled (anyone know the scoop? What happened to the rumored Time gig?) and Prince was still scheduled to play at 9:15 but was doing some more soundchecks. We went over to the second floor of block E where it was air conditioned and got Icee's and looked around the Borders bookstore until we saw they were letting people in. We went across the skyway and into the Target center and then split up to find our seats (mine were separate form my wife and son's since I got mine with the Macy's package.) We kept calling each other across the arena on our cell phones. My wife called me one time and said "are you going to buy a T shirt?" I said I liked the one with the guitar on it and she said that is the one our son wants and we don't have a bunch of money to spend on shirts and stuff so I agreed we would not buy shirts. Then i thought about it and remembered how much my son loves the Rob Zombie shirt I bought him at that show and I thought "he does not have any Prince shirts. He loves Prince. The boy needs a shirt!" So I called her back and said that I would not get one if she bought one for him. So he got a shirt, yea! It was his second Prince show as I took him to one of the Xcel shows in 2004 when he was six. The show started late at 10:00. (perhaps here is the reason: http://www.startribune.co...91371.html ) The concert was excellent! There have been plenty of setlists and reviews elsewhere. Sound was OK where I was even though the Target Center is notorious for bad sound. One thing I should say is that some of the ladies (I'm sure there were guys too but it was ladies where I was) need to lay off the drink a bit! You missed half the show with the in and out/back and forth to the bathroom, stumbling across me... Besides that it was great. As I was heading out the phone rang and it was my wife. They had to leave about two songs early to catch the bus home but had an excellent time.

I on the other hand still had another show to see! I took my free sample of 3121 perfume on the way out of Target Center and headed over and got in line at First Ave. Got in and found a good spot. The screen was up so we got to watch the gear being set up which seemed to take forever but was interesting. First Ave staff had special purple First Ave T shirts on with 7-07-07 printed on the sleeve. The show finally started around 2:45. It was a whole different vibe than at Target Center. He was dressed real funky in a black doo-rag and black shades, a black jacket and pants. He tore the place up. Started out with 3121 which was performed totally different than at Macy's, longer and funkier. He was loose, having fun, joking. Great to hear Controversy! It was surreal to see him and Wendy and Sheila E. and Larry Graham up on the First Ave. stage together. I thought the show ended at 3:55 because First Ave had to close at 4:00. I had no idea they were supposed to close at 3:00 and the cops shut it down, Too bad because he was cooking! I would have loved to have heard: The Dance, Anotherloverholeinyourhead, Peach, The Question of U and some of the others that were on his set list but he didn't get to play. What he did play was incredible and it was the icing on the cake of a fantastic day of Prince!!

I met a young woman in line who had NEVER been to a Prince show. She is a local, we talked alot, then when one of us needed to sit down, the other would keep her spot in line.

She ended up going back to the hotel with me to have a relax and get ready for the Target center show.

Then we went to the aftershow together.

Its like surviving a natural disaster together, all those hours in the sun, we both have red hair, it was alot of covering up all exposed body parts and drinking water.

We went to Macys after we got our tickets, a security guard took one look at me and gave me his bottle of water.

I think that's a great idea. Send me an org note with your e-mail, and I will e-mail you my wife's review and a couple of our best pics.

I loved your idea of using the satellite image charting your experience with the line...I posted my version on the photo sticky forum.