But Would You Pay My Rent?

Barclays Center, Brooklyn, June 2nd, 2016. From the the Empire State Building, to milkshakes at Shake Shack, to playing HORSE on the Brooklyn Nets practice court, it's always truly an experience. You know me, can't pass up an opportunity to DNCE. That's why when Z100 was doing an exclusive acoustic set with DNCE the morning of their Brooklyn show on the Revival Tour with Selena Gomez, I had to go even though that would mean I would have barely any time in between. Of course my hair didn't come out right so now I had even less time since I would have to go to my mom's salon for the second time that day. During their set, DNCE and Z100 kept tweeting subliminal messages about something you wouldn't want to miss after the performance. DNCE themselves would be handing out milkshakes at Shake Shack in Madison Square Park at 2pm. I had to be at the Barclays center at 5:30pm, but how could I pass up a milkshake from Joe?

We jetted straight to Madison Square Park after the performance with time on our side since anyone at Z100 would get their before the general public since it was such short notice. Sure enough we were 10-15 people into the line, but things didn't exactly kick off at 2pm. It came to the point that if they took any longer I was gonna have to bounce to make my paid meet & greet. Finally, DNCE walked right up to the express line and they already had 100 milkshakes ready to give out as promised. I was prepared to get a picture and a milkshake, but when Joe complimented my boyfriend's Steve Carell "I ❤️ Lamp" shirt, my photographer failed to remember to take a picture 😡 Thankfully I had a planned photo op later that day or I would not have been a happy camper. Once the crowd broke up we raced to the subway, only for my friend to call and say they were taking pictures with people in front of Charles Schwab while the N train doors were opening. I thought about it, but I knew if I missed this train I was screwed.

We took the train straight to my mom's salon and once I was satisfied with my ‘do, we walked to the nearest car service depot thinking it would be the quickest way to get home since I didn't have my car. Tell me why at 4pm on a beautiful Spring Wednesday three different car services had no cars available? That doesn't happen, why is this happening?! Thankfully I was able to take my mother's car since my aunt also works at the salon and she wouldn't be stranded (though I know my mother would have given me the car anyway because she's the best). We were cutting the time so close I didn't know if we should drive or take the train to the Barclays Center (and I still had to do my makeup and change in between!) because Atlantic Avenue is always a God awful nightmare. We decided the train was the best thing to do as we power walked to the 18th Avenue D train. I got there late, the latest I ever had for a meet & greet and I was so freaked out. As the story goes, God bless meet & greets for never starting on time.

Waiting on line I made a friend who I am grateful for until today. You start to see the same people over and over again at these things, it just makes sense to connect, obviously you have common interests. We got separated when I got pulled to the back of the line since I had an upgraded VIP package and they wanted to make sure people wouldn't try to sneak in (they tried, and they failed). I'll have you know the original VIP package I had was supposed to be a cardboard cutout of me on stage in honor of DNCE always having them of Harry Styles, Edward Cullin & the likes. I was totally jazzed about that until they changed it due to the venues not being too thrilled about the logistics of that. You had the option to pull out if you weren't happy with playing "life size games", but I'm always down for an experience with DNCE. I anticipated playing life size Jenga since that's what was being advertised on Instagram, but since this was the first basketball arena they were playing they decided to switch things up.

I thought we were bowling when I saw the inflatable bowling set, but the pin you picked had your partner's name on the bottom. Three of us would be paired up with Joe, Jack & Cole, and JinJoo would keep our score of HORSE, or as known for today's game, DNCE. I got Jack who wanted me to go first but I explained I'm not very good at sports (no hand-eye coordination). He humored me and went first, but it turns out basketball isn't either of our thing. We were out first and got to talk about life, sports, New York & it's gaudier alter-ego New Jersey. Cole would insert himself every now and then fawning over my arm party (he has a thing for watches & big gold bling). Joe was busy keeping his eye on the prize because of course he won the game. The band then signed us life size "rent" checks (I'm talking Mega Millions winners size) in honor of their song "Pay My Rent" and we took selfies with it. They said to make sure to hold it up during "Pay My Rent", which I surely waved it around until an angry mom didn't humor me for even a second (I was deflated - of course I wouldn't have done it for more than a chorus, I mean come on I'm not that inconsiderate! Aside from the fact that they sat during DNCE and weren't sining, they were just there for Selena). Needless to say, another one for the books for sure...HOST VIP never lets me down!