Finally, I am fully up to date on most of the events I’ve been too in 2015 and now updating you guys on the events I’ve been too so far at the beginning of 2016. For those who don’t know, Gavin Becker is a 17 year old singer-songwriter from Pennsylvania who started uploading covers on youtube. He’s been touring a little bit lately and has opened for Jack and Jack. He’s also been at some cities for Digifest and Digitour and had a few solo shows of his own as well. This was one of his first headlining shows in New York City.

There were three type’s of VIP’s, Platinum, Gold and Silver. Platinum got to have a two hour backstage hang out, soundcheck and a pizza party with Gavin (which was 80 dollars). Gold had the same thing expect for an hour and a half. Silver was only a meet and greet but still got to spend some time with him. I got Platinum which was $80 and it was pretty worth it if you ask me. Most meet and greets are even more than that and you only get five seconds with some artists. We got to be two hours with him!

So VIP started around 11ish and I had gotten there just before that time. Gavin was so sweet and took pictures with fans who were waiting in line before we were let in.  He was so sweet and awkward it was adorable. My Dad was waiting in line with me so he took the picture for me. His younger sister, Lily was outside as well and talking to fans. Her and Gavin took a Polaroid picture together in front of a metal wall in between the Studio and Marlin room, it was adorable.

Then we were let inside and we handed the people at the door our tickets and they gave us VIP laminates saying “Gavin Becker Platinum.” (This concert was at the Studio at Webster Hall by the way.) It was one of the tiniest venues I’ve ever been in but it was comfortable and cosy. The atmosphere was friendly and there were girls with there Moms and some girls alone, like me. Gavin talked to every one of us for a long time and took selfies and regular pictures with everyone. (And obviously the first thing I did was buy merch. I bought a tee shirt and a hoodie and only had five dollars left… whoops.)

A little background, when Gavin was doing a YouNow one night (basically a livestream) he didn’t know how to pronounce my twitter username, which is @alrenjaurnandez for those who don’t know ;). So when I met him, I told him this: “You know Fifth Harmony right?” I asked and he nodded. “So it’s my favorite members of the band, Lauren and Ally. It’s basically both of their names combined.” Then he said “You know, you should put that as your pinned tweet so people don’t ask you that question all the time.” And of course I did as I was told and to this day it is still my pinned tweet haha.

Then Gavin’s Mom, Kari, wanted a picture to take a picture of all of us and said “I want to take a picture of all you girls!” And then she took a picture after a while, it was still pretty chill and we were watching Gavin soundcheck. He sang his original song Bedhead and a cover of Cake By the Ocean by DNCE. His Mom also went around to everyone and talked to them as well. When she came over to me, she said “Have you met Gavin before?” and I replied “No actually. I was going to meet him at Digifest but I was over by the Main Stage while he was performing at another stage and couldn’t get to him on time. It was a mob scene there.” “Yeah, it was pretty crazy. Hey, you heard about this thing about Gavin inviting some girls on stage during the set?”

When she had said that, my eyes lit up and I nodded my head. Gavin had tweeted about and posted it on snapchat a few days before the concert. “Yeah I’ve heard about that!” “Well, during Gavin’s set, you’ll see me and I’ll tell you to come to me so you can come on stage with him.” I thanked her so much for the lovely opportunity and gah I was just so in shock I didn’t think that would actually happen. I don’t remember much after that but I also remember taking another picture with Gavin at some point. 🙂 

Then they told us to move towards the stage so that they could let more people in. It was until 2:30 when the concert finally started. Also, before the concert, Gavin came on stage quickly and told everyone that if they buy merch to go to his Mom so that they might have a chance to go on stage with him. So then everybody ran and it was hilarious. Then Nick Cincoctta (who is a rapper), the opening act for Gavin, finally came on stage. I have to say I was pretty impressed with Nick. His show was full of energy and never stopped even for a single second. He was sweating like crazy and was very energtic. He bought guests on stage who were rappers too and rapped with him.

Also, there were two amps on the stage and whenever they would put their foot on the amp, Nick’s knee would come right in my face and a girl behind me kept poking his knee (cause he had ripped jeans) just to touch him. He had sang all original songs and I have to say he was really talented. At the end of Nick’s set, some people came on stage and started throwing wristbands into the crowd and handed out Nick’s CD. I managed to grab both was really cool.

After Nick came on Artie Babz. I never heard of him before but he did but he did do a few covers and sang a new song as well. My favorite cover that Artie sang was One Call Away by Charlie Puth.

It wasn’t until 3:00ish until Gavin came on stage. The crowd went crazy and he had the biggest smile on his face, it was the cutest thing ever. Gavin sang a lot of covers that he loved as well as what other people had known so the crowd would enjoy it as well. We were all singing a loud quiet loudly which made me happy because Gavin was happy.

A few more covers into the show and then I couldn’t really hear what Gavin was saying since the fans were screaming so loudly behind me but on the left side of the stage, I see Gavin’s Mom pointing at me and some other girls in the crowd and then I point at myself to make sure she is looking at me and she nods. My eyes widened as I realize it’s that time of the show where Gavin is inviting fans on stage to sing to. I start freaking out and was so excited and nervous as I walk my way through the crowd towards Kari’s side (that’s his Mom’s name.) I ask where do I put my stuff (since I have so much with me) and I put it on the stairs by the side of the stage. I almost trip on all the wires that were connected to the microphones and guitars because there were so many and I really didn’t want to trip so I had to lean on the guitarist to keep my balance (it was a little embarrassing but I didn’t want to be to embarrassed.)

I then had my phone out and Gavin started to play one of my favorite songs of his called Falling Slowly and I was so happy that I got it on tape. My legs were shaking from my nerves since I was standing on stage with five other girls and in front of 200 or so people in the crowd but it was so worth it and I was so happy I didn’t make a fool of myself. Then he started singing the song and it was literally the coolest thing to ever happen to me. He even did the cutest thing by singing instead of “Falling slowly for you girl.” He sang, “Falling slowly for you girls” since there was more than one, making everyone laugh.

Then after the song was over, he hugged us all at the end and then I went back to my spot that some girls around me before had saved for me. I was just happy they didn’t take my spot. After that, Gavin sang covers of Sorry and Love Yourself by Justin Bieber as well as his original Bedhead and Until You Were Gone. Even more covers like Cake By the Ocean, Pompeii and Four Five Seconds. He even teased us with a brand new song called Last December, it was fantastic.

One of the last songs Gavin sang, was a song of his called Scars. Before the concert, a girl handed out paper hearts that said “I for sure believe in you.”

He was smiling during the whole song and everyone was singing along. Then he collected all of the hearts and little paper things people were holding up during the concert. Overall, it was an amazing experience and I’ll only probably get VIP for Gavin because it’s so much fun and you get to hang out with him for such a long time. Even though its $80, it is so worth it. Below, is my video of me on stage and Gavin singing Falling Slowly to me and four or five other girls (I’m not really sure I remember how many girls were on stage with me haha.) Also you should definitely look up Gavin on youtube and tell me what you think! I also uploaded most of his concert videos on my youtube channel (Zoe D) so you can check those out as well.

–Zoe 🙂