Fan Experiences During 2016

smartcasualchicunique wrote:
Meeting Darren Criss STORY TIME! Part 1.

I finally have a moment to write down my encounters over the past weekend/week with Darren Criss. 

First off, I’m writing this as a recount for myself to read back and smile and remember for as long as I can.

September 4th 2016. Elsie Fest Rehearsal & Meet and Greet at Complete Music Studios, Brooklyn.

.  . . We were escorted inside the studio to where the band was set up and Darren Criss in his beautiful talented glory welcomed us into the space . . . Darren asked if we have any requests and I put it out there if he knew any Walk The Moon tunes . . . Darren asked if anybody wants to come up and sing with him. I was hesitant at first but i honestly knew i’d never get an opportunity to ever again. So, up i went. I was so overwhelmed and nervous that I FOR SURE SOUNDED SO TERRIBLE! but it didn’t matter. I was singing with Darren Criss. I live for experiences. I wanted my new friends to share the same experience so i encouraged two more lovely girls to come join us in our little intimate sing-a-long and I’m so glad i did! It was a great sense of community and appreciation!

After our little sing-a-long it was time for photos and receiving our Guitars (yes, we got gifted Fender guitars)
Now, some of you may or may not know but my profession, what i do for a living is work year round festivals, travelling the world running arts festivals doing every job i can possibly apply myself to. So Elsie Fest, not only is it a festival i’ve wanted to attend since its birth last year. BUT its also similar to a festival i had in mind to want to start up back in Australia.

[ . . .]

Darren: Marina, We finally get to meet properly, Bring it in. (hugs) Hello Darling.
(pulls away from hug) Oh gosh, You’re gorgeous. Those eyes are stunning!
Me: Why Thank you! pff geez. Can i just say, You stole my idea!
Darren: Oh? and what idea was that?
Me: For a festival! Or at least we’re on the same page! I’ve been wanting to create something similar to Elsie Fest as I work festivals. I in fact just came from London and Scotland working the circuit there! I’ve been working festivals non-stop for the past 8 months! Its been a looooong run. 
Darren: Well, I’m so glad to know we share the same passion! If you’re a festival gal, have you met ricky? He’s the guy you’ve gotta talk to! (yells at ricky) HAY RICKY, did ya hear!? This chick works festivals! She knows her stuff! 
Me: I actually just had a great chat with Ricky and how there is interest on touring Elsie to Australia! Which if there is any opportunity i would LOVE to join in on the fun! 
Darren: Well, I am so so happy you’re here with us today.
Me: I have to say, I’m thankful to have the opportunity to be here right now with you. Your passion and hard work is inspiring and if it wasn’t for your influence i wouldn’t have taken the risks i have to be here right now standing in front of you. So thank you, Darren
Darren: (touched expression on his face) Thank you, you’re very kind. Im so happy to have met you, Marina. Let me write a little something on this guitar of yours. (writes a thing, we have our photos, we have another quick hug goodbye and see you tomorrow (at elsie fest) and then i return back to chatting with Ricky)

-smartcasualchicunique

smartcasualchicunique wrote:

Joe's Pub.  Part 3

Thursday September 8th 2016, Joe’s Pub, Manhattan, New York.
I was lucky enough to get to attend Justin Vivian Bond’s show at Joe’s Pub where Darren did a spot with Molly Ringwald. Now this encounter with Darren after the show for me is by far the most special and honest and true conversation i was lucky enough to have. On the train ride home I wrote out our conversation word for word to keep for me and myself on the days I need total and utter motivation and happiness
I shan’t share my special conversation with Darren after the show at Joe’s pub because a) it was a quite long conversation and will take AGES to write. b) it was shared between me and Darren and thats what made it special, i got the chance to express more things I wished I shared with him on the weekend and got to be more eloquent in more of a relaxed setting. All I wanted was a moment of his time for conversaton and he was happy to give me that time. a good 15 minutes of it… Discussions of appreciation of education, passion and enthusiasm, Working between 3 different countries, our crazy vagabond lifestyles..ect.

I didn’t ask for a photo, however Darren insisted on one after our chat which in the end i really was happy and thankful for the opportunity. 
P.s Note the photo of Alan Cumming in the background, Whom i just finished a festival run in Scotland and got to also meet that fabulous man!



-smartcasualchicunique
September 09 2016   (Source)
(via dailydarrennews)

khal-blaine wrote:“I saw you up there in the front! … Hello, darling. What a cute little dress; look at you!” - *tell him I flew in this morning and am gonna fly out tonight and go to work at 8 AM* “good for you! You’re after my own heart. I do that all the time. You can sleep on the plane; if you’re small you can do that! I sleep on the plane all the time.”
Me: “thank you, Darren.” *suddenly overwhelmed with love and feels, can’t help but initiate hug* “It was just- such an honor to see you again. I just love your Hedwig so much.”
Stopped recording prematurely but after that we had a real sweet moment– when he said “I know that can’t be cheap” I replied “you’re worth it.” And he’s like “well, I dunno about /that/.” And I put my hand on his shoulder hAH (bc we already hugged so the physical ice was broken?) and v serious said something like: “You are to me.” He thanked me again in that genuine, pure way he does and wished me safe travels back.
This is literally the Darren encounter I’ve always dreamed of. Thanks to the sunglasses I couldn’t see his Magic Hypnotizing Eyes and I managed coherency for 45 solid seconds.
He is the sweetest (except for Mia who I also was blessed enough to meet today. She gives him a real run for his money in the sweet department; they are such pure kind souls.)
I can’t be any more satisfied with the way today turned out.

Thanks for the PHENOMENAL show AND for taking time to meet every single person at the door!! @DarrenCriss https://t.co/MXRq7NssDB

— Clarice (@clariceapple), October 4, 2016

Thank you @DarrenCriss for being amazing and for taking your time to talk to everyone! Thank your for the hug. Life made!

— Darewig  (@_queenamell), October 4, 2016

Hedwig stage door 10/4. Thanks for taking time to talk to everyone! #DarrenIsHedwig #HedwigSHN pic.twitter.com/nXKb48BznZ

— Marie (@kirakiramarie) , October 4, 2016

@DarrenCriss @HedwigOnBway @shnsf He even took pictures and talked to all of is like a true real celebrity! I'll always be a fan! pic.twitter.com/sHNsyYeDm3

— MusicAddict661  (@MuSiCaDDiCt661), October 7, 2016

Poppy wrote:Yes, I hope you do meet him some day, Jeremy.    Cross our fingers that he makes it to Europe sometime soon.  

I'm sort of weird, I think (in more ways than one).    Because I never felt a need to meet Darren.   Don't get me wrong.  It was really wonderful to see him in person the special times that I attended his events.  And I was curious to see how he interacted with fans at the stage door on the day of the Hedwig show I attended on Broadway (so I watched for a few minutes), but I did not feel a need to chat with him, or get a pic taken.  I'm not sure why.  I'm guessing that is probably not the norm.     I'm a mystery to myself.  

@DarrenCriss takes so much time with everyone evn tho pretty sure he must be exhausted. IRL he  is RIDICULOUSLY handsome too! pic.twitter.com/n97ZmpsSjY

— luoli  (@LuoliK), October 9, 2016

When your dad says " I liked @DarrenCriss. He honestly seems like a nice young man" So he now has the Pat Stafford seal of approval.

— K-Staff  (@kathrynloudon), October 8, 2016