I was paid to see Billy Joel

Last Thursday, my friend Shannon emailed me and a few of her other friends. Subject: BIG Score. She's a teacher and the parents of one of her students gave her two 100 level tickets to the next night's Billy Joel concert at the Verizon Center. The question posed to the group... "Why should I take you?" She added that a donation* might sway the vote.

*She's a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training and has pledged to raise $4,000. In July, she'll be participating in a 100-mile bike race, "America's Most Beautiful Ride" in Lake Tahoe. http://www.active.com/donate/tntnca04/goshannond

I don't consider myself a Billy Joel fan, per se, but to not react at a chance to see him for free... well that would just be dumb. I wrote back immediately. I joked that I would be happy to go with her at no cost to her. I added that I did have my donation for her, but that was coincidence. Not Billy Joel related. I finished with, "Drinks on me at Fado." which I guess was really my only true offering. Whatever it was, I won.

We headed to Fado before the show and, at the door, were greeted by a Mix 107.3 employee. He gave us raffle tickets to fill out... a chance to win Billy Joel tickets. We each filled out two and moved on to get beer and food.

After we ate, we decided to walk around, take a lap, check the scene. We should have stayed put. As soon as we stopped, Captain Dork zoomed in. Brace yourselves for the opening. "Hi. So my friend (points to Wonder Dweeb) and I came in to find a couple of friends." Now mind you, Shannon and I were in a discussion... not just standing there, looking around. He busted right it on that, no "excuse me", nothing. We later discussed and even if he'd been someone we wanted to talk to... still rude. He continues, "Do you ladies come here often?" Holy shit, are you kidding me? Did I just hear that? My mind raced. We needed an exit strategy. W, call me, I've got it. Captain Dork continued on, Shannon was responding, and I was plotting. Nothing they were saying registered. I had to get out.

I reached in to my pocket and pulled out my cell phone. "Hi. -pause- Oh, you are? -pause- How did we miss you? -pause- OK, we'll be right over." Click. Shannon had heard me and looked at me with the 'who was that?' look. "Ian's here, he's on the other side." She replied, "Oh, OK." We were out! A 'nice to meet you' and 'have a good night' and we were FREE! We never looked back.

We had a couple of more drinks, saw people win tickets. Checked out the winnings... 400 level. Ours were better. I've had some luck at winning small stuff like this, ya know, not the lottery or anything. Shannon asked what would we do if we won. Sell them, of course. Then she said the money we made could go to her fundraising. Fine by me, our tickets were free anyway. Well, they had called the last name and it wasn't either of ours.

We planned to finish up our current beer and then head to Clyde's for one before the show. The 107.3 guy gets back on the mic and announced that they have three more pair of tickets. Winners from earlier in the day hadn't picked them up. He announced the first name, not ours again. We had finished our beer, so Shannon suggested we go. I said to wait, just in case. Second name called, "Donna Russell'. I freakin' won. WOO HOO.

I grabbed the tickets and we headed to Clyde's. I was trying to sell the new tickets, and met a guy who knew people who would love them. The guy... just the GM of the place. Good to know! He took the tickets and returned with a 100 dollar bill. I gave it to Shannon, we finished out beer, and off to Billy.

The pre-show was entertaining and Billy is truly "The Entertainer". Great show, great night.