I waited 9 long months to see Stray Kids. IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT.
Honestly, I found Stray Kids in 2021 during my first visit to Dallas at BBQ Chicken. I was overwhelmed by the K-pop videos playing, the soju, and how good the chicken was (it was my first time eating Korean fried chicken.) Then I saw this video that was loud af playing in the corner or there was A LOT going on and it was God’s Menu. My cousin was like ‘Oh that’s Stray Kids. They’re the loud K-pop group.’ Fast forward, I replayed God’s Menu on my laptop all night watching it and the performance.
Then a year later I fought for tickets with Ticketmaster. Then the concert got postponed and later I bought floor tickets for the second date. I only attended Day 2 since I sold my original ticket in the 100s. I didn’t feel like driving all the way to Fort Worth two nights in a row and was on a budget.
ANYWAY ENOUGH ABOUT ME. OMG, this was the least nerve-wracking, or overwhelming (for like 20 minutes it was, but I’ll explain later) and the fandom was so nice. The boys’ performance was a 10/10. The stage was so cool. Also, the little interactive game they had was so interesting.
Usually for my concert posts, I usually travel and have day 1, before the concert, etc. But I didn’t really have that since it was kinda local to me.
THE DAY BEFORE DAY 1/MERCH DAY
I don’t have much to say about it. I just spent a half day driving to the venue trying to make it to buy a light stick. I showed up 2 hours after the lines opened and took talking to other Stays for about 20-30 minutes until we learned lightsticks were sold out. I heard a rumor that only 200-250 lightsticks were being sold each day, but I can’t confirm it. All I know was that I walked out with only a T-shirt. I was content. I just didn’t want to wait in line before the concert.
After leaving the venue, I searched for a bathroom and headed to Carrollton to find some kind of Stray Kids merch. I think I talked to a YouTuber who used to react to K-pop videos and his girlfriend while in line. (Dude’s voice was so familiar but I was too focused on finding merch to think it through. I also had to attend a 1D night to attend like 2 hours later so I was rushing.)
Also, a tip for when you to go K-pop stores and you are visiting and in town for a K-pop concert, be prepared for every single one to have a line. I don’t go to them often, but they are never that busy unless it’s a cup-sleeve event. Be prepared to wait and have wiggle room in your schedule. Also, local stores will likely not have lightsticks for your concert due to the demand.
But if you ever want a Stray Kids nightstick make sure, you buy it whenever they are not on tour. You’re like, Ariel, what do you mean? I saw so many Stray Kids lightsticks before they even announced their tour way back in spring 2022. Then, the week tickets went on sale, they were gone out of every single K-pop store near me.
I mean, it’s also my fault for not buying one from the official website in the fall, but…I thought I could buy one from the merch line.
After that, I just hung out with friends from out of town and went to a 1D night. Yes, the One Direction to K-pop pipeline is real.
Day 2/My Concert Day:
I woke up later than I wanted. I also had to pick up a leather jacket because it was going to rain around concert time. Kohl’s had the cheapest jacket I could find last minute. I stopped around in Carrollton to find sunscreen and hoped I could find a black clear bag in one of the K-pop stores. (Yes, last minute, and I was just THERE the day before.) I talked to some Stays who went to the Day 1 concert. Again, the lines were long but not as long as the weekend.
After getting the very last large clear bag, I rushed to my car and prepared myself for the commute to Fort Worth. I wasn’t a fan of it from Dallas a few days before, but it was slightly better. Once I got to Fort Worth, I stopped at a restaurant called Cava to use the bathroom and grab something to eat because I didn’t know how long we were going to be standing or if they were going to allow people in early. I also didn’t have an appetite then so I took a few bites.
So, I finally arrived at the Dickies Arena. I’ve been there before, but I simply followed the signs to the parking, paid, looked for the closest spot to the arena, sat in my car and fixed my outfit, and prepared my bag.
NGL, I was nervous because it was my first big concert by myself without friends. I didn’t know anyone and at first, I wandered around until I saw a line of girls who looked friendly. Stays are HONESTLY the nicest fandom I met so far in person. I wasn’t even a cold shoulder or ignored by cliques like some concerts I’ve been to. Everyone was nice and we bonded over why we liked his group so much, our biases, and how we found them and exchanged numbers and Instagrams. We also stood underneath my umbrella when it started drizzling.
Also while speaking to each other, as usual for a K-pop concert, freebies were passed around, then, signs for the fan project.
So once inside, I headed straight for my seat so I could eventually go to the bathroom and get a snack. I had floor seats with an amazing view. I was an aisle seat which I didn’t mind. I had floor and that’s what matter. The staff was kind and pointed me in the direction of my floor’s section.
HOWEVER, MY SEAT DIDN’T EXIST. YES, MY SEAT DID NOT EXIST.
I waited nine months to learn that my seat didn’t exist. I just stood there for a minute or two and took in my view. I was also near the stairs that lead down to the floor. So, I quickly asked the staff member where was my seat. Were they going to bring it closer to the show….or….?
She told me that she didn’t want me to get too excited, but the people the night before had moved up. She asked if was I okay with moving up…OF COURSE. So I went to the bathroom and spoke to a few people, while she searched for the main ticketing lady (IDK her position she just had tickets and looked important).
I returned and the ticketing lady came and asked again if I was okay with moving, and I was like “Yes, of course,” and she handed me a ticket for the 4TH ROW. I went from Row 18 to 4. I almost ran, but I realized I had no idea where my floor section was so I asked another staff member where to go.
I found my seat and freaked out. I was not mentally prepared to be that close to the stage. Being that close to the stage is honestly entering a new tax bracket—most of the people there had money or were older. I also met with some ladies who had the same situation as me. A mom I spoke to in line outside also said she and her daughter moved up.
I went back to the concession stands and bathroom. This time I spoke with a mother who was with her daughter. I also spoke to another 20-something-year-old. This was the most social interaction I had with people at a concert. Everyone was just so nice and open to speaking.
Anyway, I kinda ran back to my seat because I had 5 minutes before the show started. I talked to another girl in my row until the show started.
Then, everyone stopped everything and turned to the stage as the opening video began. NOW, you maybe like OMG, it’s finally happening. HOWEVER, two women came at the moment the boys came out, so during the first 2 songs, our row was shifting and shuffling to get them into their seats while security is pushing me around. Someone was sitting in the wrong seat and it was chaotic.
I understand that I had to stay within my chair’s space, but if there are people trying to get into their seats while someone else is in the wrong seat, then an exception can’t be hard. Security could have waited until after the first few songs to do all of that. They had earplugs on anyhow so IDK how are they even hearing people.
BACK TO THE SHOW. It was so much fun. They started with “Maniac,” “Venom,” and Red Lights. During Vemon, you could see the spider blow-up thing and the boys performed so well. Other than the security being so aggressive about standing within my chair’s space, it was fine. After the opening, the boys introduced themselves.
The concert’s volume was beyond loud. I missed the Live where Chan was like “It’s loud, bring earplugs.” I would have listened. I was texting my friend that the bass is so loud that I’m moving. After a few minutes into the opening, I think I lost my hearing.
The boys were so interactive with the audience, especially Han. I noticed that Chan really reacts to signs (I would have brought one if I knew I was going to be that close to the stage). Changbin and Felix were always coming over to my side. I know that the extended stage is where they interacted a lot with fans.
(Honestly, I was too happy, I kinda forgot most of the concert similar to BTS’ concert.)
Some of my favorite moments of the show were:
Bang Chan was waving to my side of the stage (left side) and looking so nice and cute and in the background, Han was screaming during “Side Effects.” It’s one of my favorite videos to rewatch. It’s kinda like the epitome of Stray Kids.
Just hearing Seungmin’s voice—it’s so nice, clear, pure, ethereal. I love his voice so much.
The “God’s Menu” and “Thunderous” transition. I blanked out. Too happy. All I remember is Hyunjin doing this thing and Changbin’s rap in the beginning. The stage transition was also so epic.
Bang Chan and Lee Know performing “Drive.” One of my favorite songs from Stray Kids. Bang Chan mentioned how open it is here; I guess they were surprised by how wide and vast the plains are.
“Waiting for Us” solo stage beating “Muddy Water.” Both were amazing. It was cute how Team Muddy Water was hiding after losing.
Bang Chan’s corniness in real life. (Yes, he is my bias.) He asked us to give a “Yee-Haw” since it’s Texas, I guess. He also was humble when we chanted “best leader” and he was like it’s “best Seungmin, best Lee Know…”
Lee Know’s dancing was so immaculate. No fan cam can capture how great he is.
Felix’s voice is so soothing. Like you have to hear him speak in real life. His voice is so nice to hear. He also said he wouldn’t mind living out here in Texas, which I didn’t expect at all.
We also had a fan project. The video was so touching and it aligned perfectly with their 5th anniversary.
Also, I.N. and Changbin completed my heart. I.N. bent down a bit to catch my attention and it was so cute. Changbin was quick and I had to ask my friends if I was really an interaction because it was so quick.
Confetti was everywhere. Lee Know and Hyunjin were on my side with the confetti machine. I didn’t even need to catch any confetti because so much landed on me during the encore. At one point, I couldn’t see anything because of how thick the confetti was.
And before the encore, there was an interactive game, where audience members had to match a member’s photo pose and dance along. It was so funny when people’s dads were picked and just winged it. The camera also pointed out some kids who were just laughing. The game was so fun and different from other concerts.
Overall, my concert started off odd, this was my first concert where I genuinely felt good all throughout. I don’t know why. Stays were nice. It didn’t feel competitive or standoffish at all. They were kind and everyone spoke to each other. It also was worth the wait and rescheduling from last year.
Whenever Stray Kids tour again, I WILL BE THERE. I will try for VIP.
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