What was the very first time like for you

Did you scream, cry, pass out, get turned on.....anyone, anyone

Did he look at you, sing to you....anyone

I had crazy nosebleed seats at Radio City, NYC in 1993. He looked like an ant....

I didn't care; I was just happy to be there.

When I look back on the ridiculous purple outfit I wore that night...

I didn't scream or cry or anything like that (Thank God!)... But I do remember thinking that I would definitely go to see him again, and never again from a distance.

That was 34 shows ago!

My first live experience was Dublin this year. I am so not this person usually but when he first came out & Gold started, a song that means loads to me, my whole body froze up & I started getting a little misty eyed during the first verse (in other words I cried!). Not in a losing my shit teenage girl at a boyband concert but just subtle - totally unexpected & over real quick.

I get crazy at shows if the artist has touched me, and I'm close to 30, we're never too old Gold is also one of my favourites

34 shows, wow!

12-29-10

I screamed my lungs out when he first spoke:

"NEW YORK! The beautiful ones you always seem to lose."

My first time like many other first times wasn't the greatest. Being one "those" die hard fans since '82, I didn't get to see him until about 97 in Atlanta. I was 30 rows back and while the show was decent, I wasn't overwhelmed...I soon learned about the difference of being "in the gaze" as compared to just watching the show on stage. About my 3rd show, I worked my way up to the stage and that's all she wrote...Out of most of my 40 shows, I've been lucky enough to be within three rows of the stage...It is true as my sister says about me, I am a Prince snob. It's great to be at a Prince show but nothing compares to being right there making eye contact with Prince and the band. I've been lucky enough to be on stage and that my friends was incredible!

I know that I'm not the only one who feels this way. I've taken a few friends with me to the front who had seen him before but from further back and they admitted, it was like night and day. Such a feeling. Save your money, wait in line, do whatever it takes but see this man up close at least once in your life...It's addictive.

My first live Prince show was the 1st August 2007, the first of the 21 nites at the o2 in London - I was in the lower tier seats at the pointy end of the stage, quite a way back back still a good view. When he started with Purple Rain I did burst into tears and scream a bit (much to the shock of the person next to me and yes I am a girl), I think it was all that pent up excitement of liking him for years and then finally getting to see him and experience him for just a couple and a bit hours. I did get to see him up close and personal at the Indigo aftershows and on one magical night shook his hand. When he is playing his guitar and looking out at the crowd, you just kinda get the feeling he is looking at you and only you in a room full of people.

Prince and U2 (I know I know a big difference) are the only ones who's singing and playing in certain moments at a live show can reduce me to a goosebumped, tearful (happy), quivering wreck - but those moments are RARE and GOLD - savour them xx

I got chills reading about those, thanks for sharing. I'm like that with Janet, I've seen her perform or in person about 8 times. I had 2 other chances too, but turned them down. But I've gotten emotional too and felt I was the only big fan in the room, so I can relate to the "celebrity snob" thing you're talking about. But then again, clips from LoveSexy got me so hyper awhile back, as well as others I've seen online, so I may get some unexpected sensations though I'm more of a casual fan that thinks he's one of the greatest showmen to be onstage.

I saw another male celeb this year that I was more nuts about as a kid though he's still cool, my friend is into him more, but when he came out, and because of where I was standing close, I just screamed and went crazy and was yelling all kinds of things I did not expect at all. I guess the energy is different for sure depending on where you are. I'd seen him before too live, but it was in the nosebleed section, so though I cheered, it wasn't a big deal. Same with Madonna, loved her my whole life, first childhood hero, but she was the size of an ant at Sticky & Sweet.

But yeah, I got good seats with Janet though the closest I'd had was 9th row for All For You, being a few steps away during Damita Jo promotion while she performed Just a Little While and a few other cuts, being in the studio audience when she was being interviewed in the Velvet Rope era and getting up to shake her hand, and VIP backstage at Rockwitchu where after she turned around to pose for a pic with fans, I told her I Love You and she turned back around to say it, and I was speechless I was so calm when she said it and lost everything I wanted to tell her, but before and after it, I was soooo freaking hyper.

But you know who I really, really, really wanted to experience up close and it didn't happen though it almost did cause I had tickets to two shows, and considering splurging on a third? I don't think I have to say it, I've said it enough on this board, and it makes me sad. I should be grateful for my experiences, but I was so sure I would get close to michael

[Edited 11/7/11 10:02am]

I ran away from home as a kid, trying to see him live, unaware you needed 'tickets & loadsa cash for transport', i was about 10

2nd attempt & my then, 4 week old daughter got her first fever... I stayed home.

Finally, my husband got me tickets, last year for NJ. I didn't get excited, even driving to NJ I was more nervous than excited, sitting in my seat, waiting. He was about 20 mins late when the girl behind started saying she could smell smoke (I wanted to kill her) I told my husband 'i'm not leaving, i'll burn with the stage'.... then, there he was, right in front of me. 2nd row from the stage & I couldn't sing, dance, not even a smile. Then, I SWEAR he looked at me, several times, even my husband noticed. I was BUZZING. Then, as we leave, i notice the BEAUTIFUL YOUNG SPANISH girl behind me, maybe he wasn't looking at me lol. i still had the moment!

3 weeks later, I got NY tickets, 3 rd row & i had the time of my LIFE!!!! Moments into the show Prince pointed to our section of the floor & said 'all you people, move over here... follow me' he started a little old dance going & I was there, doing as he said'. I didn't stop dancing, i screamed "thank you Prince' ever time he came close, I didn't sleep that night. I'd managed to sneak myself onto the stage, he'd opened it for the VIP tables to get up, i climbed over the rope, onto the chair & over a speaker. BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE.

Due to the sheer pleasure of this show, i got hold of 2 more tickets & took my daughter. Jan NY AMAZING, the first song I ever sang to her was 'Adore' minutes after she was born. He played it live & we danced together. I cried.

I'm going to Toronto 26th. This time I'm taking both my babies children... for me, this will be a dream come true.

I love live music but there is NOONE that can compare to this man. He is a genius & i will love him until the end of time x Thank you Prince x

After 15 years of being a fan, my first time seing him live was this summer in Montreal at the Metropolis on June 24th 2011.

After hours of waiting outside in the rain (and being lucky enough to take a picture with John Blackwell when he came out to greet the fans waiting), when they opened the doors, I ran inside despite the guys telling us not to run, and I saw nodoby was at the front yet. I ran there and grabbed that barrier like if my life depended on it.... Then I uncontrolably started crying. (Yeah... I'm 30... ) I couldn't believe that after all this time, I'd be lucky enough to be in front of him for my 1st ever show (the second one would be the day after, Metropolis again). I was front in the middle just on the right of his mic. I was going to spend the next few hours (which ended up being 4 HOURS!) just in front of Prince.

The stage was very close to the barrier, about 3 feet, could almost touch it, just enough space to let the official photographer take his pics. After I stopped crying like a teenager (lol), he came in and started the show. We live, we live we live we live 2 get funky!

I couldn't move. Not that I didn't have enough space, people were nice and not pushing, just because I was paralysed. I wasn't dancing, I was just... looking at him, I had that huge smile on my face and those over-sparkling eyes. I wanted to remember as much as I could from that 1st experience and barely blinked, I was just in awe. He didn't look at me (I probably looked way too creepy for him!! Hahaha, he did look at me the day after though while singing ''I don't care pretty baby'' in Take Me With U ) but often during the show, during his guitar solos, he would leave the mic and stand right in front of me and start play his guitar. The rest of the world didn't exist then. There was nobody else in that room but me holding that barrier and him playing his guitar. Those images are so vivid in my head. I wish I could burn a DVD out of my brain! After the show, and after every numerous encores, John threw his drumsticks in the crowd. That adorable photographer took the one that fell between the stage and I and gave it to me. I got the one that he used during the whole show, not during one of the encore, so mine is really used, I love it!

That show seemed to last forever, it ended at 3h30 in the morning.

As creepy, crazy-passionnate and stupid as it can sound, all I could think of was ''Now I can die''.

I know... I'm a passionate fan

So that was my first reaction to Prince live.

It. Will. Never. Be. Better. Than. This.

[Edited 11/8/11 10:21am]

Thank you all for sharing, your comments feel so alive. Can't wait to tell my first impressions as well, I've been a fan for so long (nearly 25 years) that I was not expecting anymore my dream to come true one day !!!

Speechless. I couldnt speak, I was about 14 or 15. I had never seen any one like Prince before , it was amazing

[Edited 11/9/11 3:27am]

alphastreet said:

What was the very first time like for you

Did you scream, cry, pass out, get turned on.....anyone, anyone

Did he look at you, sing to you....anyone

He sure did look at me!!!!!

J/k, but really.. all I could think of was, "That is the finest, refinest man I have ever seen walking!!"

May I ask a question?

Why do people just scream at concerts?

I can understand letting out an occasional high-pitched sound, but the entire show?

chocolate1 said:

May I ask a question?

Why do people just scream at concerts?

I can understand letting out an occasional high-pitched sound, but the entire show?

I don't! I didn't pay all that money to hear myself scream hahaha, but between songs or when something nice happens.. like during Kiss when he fakes to take his shirt off, that deserves a little voicing

carinemjj said:

chocolate1 said:

May I ask a question?

Why do people just scream at concerts?

I can understand letting out an occasional high-pitched sound, but the entire show?

I don't! I didn't pay all that money to hear myself scream hahaha, but between songs or when something nice happens.. like during Kiss when he fakes to take his shirt off, that deserves a little voicing

And I didn't pay all that money to hear someone else scream, either.

I once stood next to (luckily it wasn't at my seat) a woman who JUST screamed. I don't think she could tell you what Prince was even singing.

I got the feeling she was going for "effect".

chocolate1 said:

May I ask a question?

Why do people just scream at concerts?

I can understand letting out an occasional high-pitched sound, but the entire show?

The excitement from being star struck and the amazing moments in the concert.

I believe concerts were made for fans to scream.

[Edited 11/8/11 14:30pm]

NeonCraxx said:

chocolate1 said:

May I ask a question?

Why do people just scream at concerts?

I can understand letting out an occasional high-pitched sound, but the entire show?

The excitement from being star struck and the amazing moments in the concert.

I believe concerts were made for fans to scream.

[Edited 11/8/11 14:30pm]

I believe concerts were made to listen to the artists.

chocolate1 said:

I believe concerts were made to listen to the artists.

AND being excited and pumped up while listening. Double wink!

NeonCraxx said:

chocolate1 said:

I believe concerts were made to listen to the artists.

AND being excited and pumped up while listening. Double wink!

...without screaming.

chocolate1 said:

...without screaming.

Fuck that! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

NeonCraxx said:

chocolate1 said:

...without screaming.

Fuck that! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Let's agree to NEVER sit near each other...

Seriously...

I just don't get the whole screaming, crying thing- that's why I asked.

To each his own, I guess, but I just think that being excited and screaming like you're in a vat of spiders are two different things.

**Okay, maybe when you see a show for the first time, for the first song or two... but after that,

[Edited 11/8/11 14:42pm]

chocolate1 said:

Let's agree to NEVER sit near each other...

Seriously...

I just don't get the whole screaming, crying thing- that's why I asked.

To each his own, I guess, but I just think that being excited and screaming like you're in a vat of spiders are two different things.

**Okay, maybe when you see a show for the first time, for the first song or two... but after that,

[Edited 11/8/11 14:42pm]

Fine fine... Agree to disagree.

Edit: I'm actually not mad about this. I know we're playing around here.

[Edited 11/8/11 15:29pm]

[Edited 11/8/11 18:15pm]

The first time I saw Prince, I had a BALL. I danced the whole night...to the point that this guy who was sitting in the adjacent section came over to where I was (I had an aisle seat) and we danced the second half of the show together. It was a blast. I will say that the first time I saw him play Purple Rain live, I did have tears in my eyes. He just played his heart out that night, and it was really moving.

My first reaction was when I went to NYC for the Lovesexy tour while in High School. I was 25-30 rows back on the floor, couldnt see much as I'm short. I remember that Levi Seacer (?) waved back at me. I was on such a high, couldnt sleep that night.

In my 20's for the Symbol tour, I snuck in to the 10th row aisle of what looked like a HS aud for a venue. I was jumping up&down nonstop, I must've looked so goofy. An attractive woman came in during the 2nd half of the show & stood right next to me, she looked a lot like a toned-down Vanity. I was so nervous I'd be kicked out for taking that spot. I remember Prince saying "there's a girl over.. there, she's real sweet" just as I looked up to see him pointing in the opposite direction. He told anyone who wanted to, to "come on up" to dance on the stage & I regretted not having enough balls to go up & join others.

OK, skip to last yr. I was more mature and had the best 3 concert experiences ever! One, on the floor 5th row right at the bottom of the symbol I sang along where he was for many of the songs incl Purple Rain. It felt like I was dancing along with him during one of his dance breaks during U got the Look. He has that way of making u feel like u are the only one out there. Another concert, I had the chance to look directly into his eyes with the lights on when he gave his bow but I blew it- just too much in shock he was standing 5-10 rows in front of me & I couldnt look up. I tried to take a pic but he was gone. Then the last concert, swaying back & forth on the loge side while he was dancing on top of the piano singing IIWYG to my section was a blast!

I know this question was only about the 1st Prince concert we've seen so I got a little carried away. I enjoyed reading about everyone else's experiences & can relate.

I had the glow, my mom was all boring and I had a kool aid smile for months. I kept singing thunder at school waiting to get out of my classes and then I left my keys in my car from the excitement, could have gotten jacked! then when we got there, I did not know they were giving VIP seats away for like 10 bucks, wth... anyway I was duped, but I was so excited at the tip of my toes. I was waiting for Cassandra Wilson to finish up, because Prince introduce himself through the mic, but you couldn't see him. I was so excited then when he came out during her last song, I was just shocked.. this was my first real concert and I was so stunned not by him, but by the fact that I got to see a legend in person and I actually stuck to my promise of going. Anyway, when he sang, he sounded even better than the cds, I kept laughing swore never to wear heels at his concert again. I cheered him on, danced, cheered some more, dance! lol... anyway no other concert compared to the energy I felt that night, because it was my first time seeing Prince and no other feeling after that compared. I was so tired, but when I got home I didn't even turn on his music, I was in a haze not even kidding... I fell asleep and dreamed of the entire concert, relived it in my dream. Woke up in the best mood ever, couldn't help but to call up a friend and go the next day. It was a 2 hour drive, but well worth it.. man.. I wish his concerts.. but last concert I waved and then covered my mouth because I felt stupid but he laughed and wave back! that was pretty funny. Only got nosebleeds once, but other than that had some really good seats. Man I miss that.. can't wait until I get in my career, I'll prob be trying to go to every concert

Surprisingly, I've been close enough to make him laugh at me and my crew, over here hitting spirit fingers or when we made eye contact because I was right there, I was looking somewhere else then just happen to look back at him and he is singing and looking at me and I'm laughing and trying to play it cool.

[Edited 11/17/11 20:53pm]

My first Prince concert was Cork 1990, my best friend and I ran up the pitch and got into the pit area in front of the stage, which had so much space for us to move around, I've never seen the like of it since. Two 19 year olds, right up the front, so mesmorised seeing Prince for the first time (we'd been fans since first discovering Prince in 1984). I remember just being totally awestruck, we probably did a fair bit of screaming, but I dont recall tears. When a group of went to see him again this summer in Dublin, I think we were more emotional this time round seeing him, then again that could be due to our age and our hormones,

All I can say is that I may have only seen in 8 times over the past 25 years, but each time has been amazing and special, and I always come away wanting more, and soon! His concerts are definitely like a drug and we need our fix regularly!!!

alphastreet said:

What was the very first time like for you

Did you scream, cry, pass out, get turned on.....anyone, anyone

Did he look at you, sing to you....anyone

and

(oh no, that was one year later at the Lovesexy tour)