Let’s go back to the fall of 2004. I had just come home from New Orleans and some fan convention. Like everyone else in the Duran universe, I was practically twitching with excitement over Astronaut and the thought of a future tour. I remember calmly telling myself that the best course of action when it came to the tour was to decide what I wanted to do, show wise, and then find people who matched. It seemed reasonable. It was reasonable. Very quickly, when viewing those tour dates in December of 2004, I had decided that I wanted to do at least 3 shows. I remember how CRAZY that seemed. I felt so rebellious at the thought of doing more than one show!!! It seemed to make sense, though, since they were touring my part of the country during my spring break. Yet, it still seemed so unusual, so out of the ordinary. I never went to more than one show of a favorite artist EVER. It wasn’t that I thought anything negative about the idea. It was more like I never even considered it. I remember reading the boards of my favorite online place, at the time, DuranDuranFans.com (sadly no longer around) and feeling my eyes opening at the idea of travel. I couldn’t believe that people were going to really road trip or, shockingly, fly to see shows! Never in all of my life did I even think this was what fans do! I thought fans just go to the shows near them and, obviously, many do attend shows in that way. Nonetheless, reading this, thinking this, opened my mind. I knew that I could do those 3 shows without a problem. If people could fly to shows, I could definitely drive to a few. Soon enough, though, through conversations with friends, those 3 shows became 5. I will never forget that feeling as I drove away from Madison and towards Chicago on that Thursday evening. The level of excitement was overwhelming but so was the fear. I would be driving on my own a lot. I would be meeting up with people-some of whom I had only met at the convention. So many things could go wrong. I could get lost. I could get a flat tire. I could fall asleep at the wheel. You get the idea. The fear came from not ever experiencing something like this before. It was brand new.
Obviously, this first tour and first road trip was a huge success! All of those fears washed away as the fun took over. It was so successful that by the next month, I was ready for more shows as the band announced a small summer tour. This time I would travel further while still driving. I was pushing myself, slowly but surely out of my travel comfort zone. At the same time, those crazy people from the convention that I now call friends decided that we must get together in the fall. It was only natural and where would be a natural location for our get together? Why, Las Vegas, of course! Now, it was getting beyond crazy, I thought! I would travel by plane just to hang out with these new friends?! Really?! Yet, I convinced myself that it was normal. I was just visiting friends, right? It wasn’t about the band or so I tricked myself into believing. By 2006, I was ready to take the next step. I was ready to fly to see a show. A real show. Of course, that turned out to be the Voodoo Festival, which I am not sure really qualifies as a real show since I thought I might die the entire time but…I did get on a plane to see Duran Duran. I had now crossed into a different level. It wasn’t just about going to more than one show. It wasn’t just about driving some to get to see them. Nope, it was about paying more money and giving way more time to do it. I was really pushing my envelope. Despite my nagging anxiety, it always was the right move. Always. Thus, by 2007, I didn’t hesitate to sign up to go to the Fan Only Show in New York City. Then, I went back to New York City for a show on Broadway. Truly, this flying to see shows was becoming normal, common. By 2008, Rhonda and I began plotting to see a set of shows in a “region” of the country. During that time, it was the east coast. In 2009, we hit the region close to her.
By 2011, we were ready to make the next big step. We were ready to go to the UK. Again, I found my anxiety on overload. Yet, it wasn’t the wrong move. It certainly wasn’t the wrong move to go back in December of 2011 for the second time in a year. By 2012, we continued our travels to combine flying and driving in the southeast. As we hear rumblings of summer shows in 2014, Rhonda and I are already having conversations about where we would like to go. It is no longer about going to a show near home. It is no longer about going to a few shows within driving distance. It is about serious travel to get to as many shows as we can. The expectations I had for myself and my fandom started out so small, so safe. Now, the expectations are vast as is my level of excitement. I cannot be more thrilled that I pushed myself. I cannot be more proud that I have expanded my world beyond Madison, beyond the Midwest. I have learned so much about myself, about others, about the rest of the world by exploding my own personal bubble. This isn’t to say that the anxiety doesn’t resurface because it is always there. Yet, my decision to go, to travel has never been wrong. In fact, my decision has always been more than right, if that is even possible. On that note, I hope that this inspires others to push themselves a bit out of their travel and/or fandom safety zone. I hope to see people who have never traveled anywhere before to something like a little event in the fall called a convention. It is where I got started! Now, where should Rhonda and I head next tour????
-A
Can't wait to fly from London to Chicago in October to meet all you US Duranies! Thanks to the gift that keeps on giving, I've been able to afford it 😀
Bryony
Great blog today! I've traveled a lot to see the band too, and am equally looking forward to October and the convention. It feels good to step out of your comfort zone, and once you do it, there's nothing like it:)
We can't wait for you to fly to Chicago from London! Can't wait to see you!!!
-A
Thanks, Lori! It does feel good to step out of one's comfort zone, doesn't it?
-A
I've never been adverse to travel, in fact I enjoy it quite a bit. I grew up a Navy Brat, so traveling is something I just got used to as a kid, so it's no real big deal to me as an adult. So, the only reason that keeps me from traveling on a regular basis now, is funding. Lately I have acquired access to the occasional extra money for things I need, and want, which I how I could afford my convention pass, and how I will be paying for the travel expenses. But truth be told if I'd had access to more money over the years, I would have been traveling a whole lot more, especially to see Duran Duran in concert. And by the way congrats of stepping out of your comfort zone, glad to hear that you've learned to enjoy traveling so much.
You bring up a good point that I should have addressed. Obviously, there are many legitimate reasons why people can't push themselves out of their comfort zones with money being a big one. I was addressing more of the “won't” do something rather than “can't.” That's different.
-A