A Night of Country Hits with the DPAC Ambassadors
Blog By: Piper Miller
I went to see Nashville Songwriters for the very first time on February 22nd! It’s the perfect night out to enjoy country music from the perspective of the songwriters. But before I get to the music, I want to share another cool experience – shadowing ticketing!
Many of you have probably been to the box office or at least passed by it during your time at DPAC. Ticketing does 2 big things: Will Call and buying last minute tickets. Will Call exists to pick up seats with obstructed view (very few seats) or are next to the sound booth which can have minor distractions (although that is countered by great views). It’s a very easy process; all you have to do is give the person behind the counter your last name, they give you a waiver to sign consenting to the distractions or obstructed view, and they will grab your tickets.
Buying tickets is another possibility. If you like more spontaneous planning then this is for you. Shows will sometimes have unsold seats that they can sell to people who show up the day of. You don’t even have to secure tickets before the show starts! Although their phones close once the show starts, the physical box office closes after intermission or an hour into the show if there isn’t one.
Depending on the show, ticketing can get hectic when a lot of people want to buy last minute tickets or if there’s a lot of Will Call tickets. I shadowed on a calmer night which I was really glad to experience because I saw firsthand the connection the employees had. When not helping guests, they were having conversations, making jokes and had a lot of fun banter going on. They have a lot of inside jokes, and I had a great time listening to them have fun and laughing along with them.
Once I was released from ticketing (it was quite sad, I really liked them), I met up with my other ambassadors and after picking up a snack we went to our seats! We were in a box – which is a great seat by the way! It was a very comfortably set stage with country themed couches and tables. After a brief introduction, the songwriters performed an opener and then each writer was introduced individually. In the first act they performed songs they wrote for artists, many of which spent time in the Top 10 lists although some were new or unreleased. It was performed round robin style with each artist taking a turn to perform one of their songs. Before performing, they shared anecdotes about what inspired each song. I thought it was super cool to hear the writer’s take on a song that somebody else sings and I could tell every one of them was having a great time. Some of my favorite songs were Hell of a View, Breaking Every Heart in Texas, and She’s Somebody’s Daughter.
Nashville Songwriters is an amazing night that can be enjoyed by anyone! It had the vibes of a country concert, the feel of a theatrical production, and the look of a whole lot of experience. Even if you don’t consider yourself a country fan, this show might just change your mind!
