The directions on my invitation told me that ticket distribution would start around 12:00pm and the actual seating at 3:30pm. Thus, I arrived at the Orpheum Theater around 12:30pm, confident that I was probably one of the earliest fans to show up. Little did I know, all of Bay Area turned out for the show and the line for tickets ended somewhere three and a half blocks away. At this point a little voice in my head started saying, “You ain’t gonna see the show, ho!”
But I was persistent, and as this was a once-in-a-life-time opportunity, I made my way to the end of the line and kept my fingers crossed. Luckily, about an hour later the “ticketeers” brought us our beautiful, blue stubs. And although I wanted to fall to my knees and cry tears of glory, instead I read the fine print on the ticket and learned that all tickets were sold in excess…The little voice returned.
Now came the hard part: waiting in line for three hours, hearing rumors that the last 1/3 portion of the line (which I was in) would not get to see the show, and surviving the deadly swoops of San Francisco pigeons. Finally, at 3:45pm, the line began to move; bag checks and security scans were made, and the voice in my head disappeared. As I breathed in the Orpheum Theater air, I could almost smell Conan O’Brien in the vicinity.
Once I was seated, Max Weinberg and his band were introduced, and began playing amidst the roaring audience. It was a surreal experience. The curtains lifted and revealed a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge on stage. The announcer at the beginning of the show came out and did his game-show-host-voice bit and introduced our redheaded idol. Conan O’Brien emerged from behind the curtains and the entire theater erupted! He did his string dance routine, and then struggled to quiet the audience down. Once we all settled down the show went on as usual.
It was interesting to see that in between breaks the stage crew comes out and moves around pieces of the stage, sets up Conan’s chatting area, and brings out equipment for the musical performance. During breaks, Conan walks around the stage talking to the crew, watching the audience, singling audience members out and waving at them. He seems relaxed and genuinely enjoying the excited chatter of the theater. As the show wraps up, Conan comes to edge of the stage shakes hands, and signs autographs. He is DEFINITELY as charismatic as he seems on TV.
I would say this was a worthwhile experience, something I would tell my grandchildren about. And given the opportunity I would do it all over again. Next time, I’d be the first one out there!
**To catch Conan's last show in SF, tune in Friday night on NBC!**
Jon Stewart
jimmy kimmel
Stephen Colbert
David Letterman
Subscribe to our RSS Feed