The Lucky One: My Bejeweled Eras Tour Concert Experience

Remember this Moment

I’ve been a Swiftie since 2007 when I was 11 years old, home sick from school, flipping through TV channels, and stumbled upon the “Teardrops on My Guitar” music video on CMT’s Hot Country Countdown. Something about the song, Taylor’s voice, and her storytelling struck a chord with me. If you had told that 11-year-old girl that 18 years later, she’d still be a devoted fan and experience Taylor Swift live from the front row in concert, I wouldn’t have believed it.

“Remember This Moment,” or something like that, is probably what I would have whispered to my younger self.

Begin Again

Yes, you read that right—I saw Taylor Swift live, front row. FRONT. ROW. This is now a permanent highlight of my life, a resume-worthy achievement, and a topic I’ll be slipping into every conversation.

As a full-time teacher, I never imagined I’d be able to afford tickets to her concert, let alone seats that close to the stage. But the universe had other plans for me, and it all started when “the planets, and the fates, and all the stars aligned”.

The Great War

While dog-sitting one evening, I randomly decided to sign up for the Ticketmaster Verified Fan presale for the new Eras Tour dates added in 2024. I wasn’t expecting much—getting Taylor Swift tickets felt like winning the lottery at this point. But when I received the email confirming my access code, I realized The Great War was just beginning.

Like any true Swiftie, I prepared (Dr. Taylor Allison Swift did say “when you fail to plan, you plan to fail”) for the worst: connection issues, getting stuck in an hours-long queue, or missing out on tickets entirely. Stories of fans waiting 14 hours in virtual lines were enough to set my expectations low.

I invited my friend and former coworker Clarissa to join me, and as fellow teachers we were both ballin on a budget, so we agreed that if we got tickets, we’d aim for the cheaper nosebleed seats.

The day of the presale, I logged in with my code, bracing myself for a long day in the Ticketmaster queue. To my shock, I was number 20-something in line. Within seconds, I was in. Feeling bold, I clicked on two front-row seats, expecting the price to be astronomical. But when I saw they were $400 each, I froze. It was still more than we had budgeted, but the opportunity was too good to pass up.

The budget we’d talked about earlier? Out the window. When I told Clarissa, she agreed—it was 100% worth it. With my hotel points covering our stay, we were set. Indianapolis, Night 2, here we come! All we had to do now was stay (patient) and wait 14 months.

Are you Ready for it?

The anticipation was unreal. For over a year, I thought about how amazing it would be to see Taylor up close. I decided to dress for the Reputation era, hoping (okay, clowning) for a Reputation (Taylor’s Version) announcement.

I ordered a few statement pieces online and tried them on at home, but none of them felt quite right. So, in true last-minute fashion, I placed a Target drive up order for more outfit options on my way to the airport. Sometimes, you just have to trust the process!

Clarissa flew in from Denver, and I flew from MSP. We met in Indianapolis with a whole 24 hours to spare before the show. That night, we explored Mass Ave, stopping by a bar (on the East side of Indy) for drinks and grabbing pizza and cannolis to-go on our way back to the hotel. It was a low-key but perfect way to kick off the weekend.

Let the Games Begin

The next morning, we had big plans: brunch and merch. We tried to get a table at a popular brunch spot but couldn’t, so we added our names to the waitlist and headed to the convention center for merchandise.

We arrived 15 minutes before the merch tables opened, thinking we were ahead of the game. Spoiler alert: we were not. The line snaked through one convention room, then another, taking nearly two hours before we reached the front. People were so committed that concessions were being sold to those waiting in line.

By the time we reached the merch table, the adrenaline was real. I grabbed a few key items—because when will I ever have this chance again? Then, we headed back to the brunch place to fuel up. The wait had been worth it; the food was amazing, and we soaked in every bite before heading off for more exploring.

Walking Fast through the Traffic Lights

After brunch, we wandered through downtown Indy, checking out Taylor-themed pop-up events near Circle Street. The crowds were huge, with lines wrapping around blocks, so we decided to take it easy and head back to the hotel for a quick rest before the concert. As we got ready for the concert, the excitement was building. I put together my Reputation-inspired outfit, and we headed to the venue. Our parking spot was conveniently close to the entrance for floor seats, but even then, it took us about 40 minutes to get inside. Gracie Abrams was already performing, and we made it to our seats just in time to catch her final few songs.

I was Enchanted to meet you

Finally, the moment we’d been waiting for: the clock counted down, and Taylor Swift took the stage. She was right in front of us, and it felt like a dream.

The energy was electric. We danced, sang every lyric, and took it all in—the lights, the dancers, the set changes–the whole concert. was truly an experience. Every detail was flawless. During the surprise song set, Taylor was so close we could practically feel her energy. Being near the 22 hat giveaway was another surreal highlight. The Tortured Poets Department set had us screaming, and dancer Kam’s perfectly Midwest “ope” had us cracking up. It was everything we’d hoped for and more.

Is it Over Now?

When the show ended, it was after 11 p.m.-you could even say almost Midnight— but there was no way we could sleep. We found a pizza place, ordered Swiftie-inspired drinks, and spent hours reliving every detail of the night.

One sweet moment came when I met a fellow fan in the bathroom who gave me a friendship bracelet that said “Taco.” It was such a small gesture but made me think of my puppy, Taco (Tacoma), waiting for me back home.

End of an Era (Tour)

The next morning, Clarissa headed to the airport while I spent a few hours at a cozy cafe, sipping a Taylor-themed latte and scrolling through the hundreds of photos and videos from the night before. Later, I explored Mass Ave, picking up some Taylor-inspired dog treats for Waffles and Tacoma.

As I boarded my flight home, I couldn’t help but reflect on how magical the experience had been. This wasn’t just a concert—it was a memory of a lifetime.