Okay so here's my pre show experience. My sister and I got to Staples just after two. Went to the area by the buses. There were no more than 20 people there. They had mentioned that Lisa, Paris and Ace had been out there earlier but no one else. Bucky walked out but didn't come near the crowd. About 3:30 Ace came out and signed autographs, took pictures with people and even spoke on one person's cell phone. He was so cool and even better looking in person. We stayed until six o'clock hoping to see anyone else, but no such luck. :( I was totally bummed! We did see Kat (gag) drive up and roll down her window to wave-not that I cared--and a little while later her man...I mean boyfriend showed up and the security was giving him a hard time, I think it was cuz they didn't know who he was. We were laughing and it looked like he was getting upset but we didn't care. The group that was out there were really cool. Here are some of my pictures.

Me and my sister--She loves Taylor

Me and the Poptart truck!

Signing the banner!

Me by the buses.

Me & E-Trainer catielyn--Loved your family--Your sister cracked us up!

More E-Trainers: VotedElliott2hrs, Yoli68 & LekiliLovesElliott

Me & Jessykaw--You are very cool-I'm still bummed about Elliott! Thanks for trying!

Bucky--from afar!

My sister, Connie, Ace and ME!!!! This was the next best thing to meeting Elliott!

Although I didn't get to meet Elliott I was so glad that I got to spend time with my fellow E-Trainers--standing out in the hot sun waiting for hours and just laughing, joking and talking trash about people. It was a lot of fun! I will post another thread about the concert but will say that I did try to see Elliott after the show. We went by the buses and security said they wouldn't be coming out until after 1 am. Liars! Bucky went back to the bus about 10 minutes after they told us that. And then Elliott comes out. I didn't see him from where I was standing but I could hear his name being yelled out. By the time we got closer he was in the bus. But they were going to move Bucky & Elliott to a waiting car. Unfortunately the car was right next to the bus so we only saw Elliott for less than 5 seconds. He went straight into the car and didn't even wave to all of us that were yelling his name. But then came out and waved for half a second and then they were gone. My digital camera wasn't fast enough to get any pictures of that. :no: But like I said, I still had a great time!

Great pictures Yoli! Sorry you didn't get to meet E, but it looks like you had a great time with the other E-Trainers. It's very cool that you guys got to hang out at the Staples Center. Love the picture with Ace! :bunny:

Thanks for posting the pictures...yeah, my sister is completey insane. She's really mad about not being able to meet anyone except Ace and is totally against Elliott and everyone else now. She was devastated that they didn't give us 5 minutes of their time, knowing how long we were outside waiting.

Here is her review from her Myspace:
American Idol concert was freakin' A W E S O M E !

We arrived 5 hours before the start of the show.

My sister Kathy, in charge of getting signatures for a banner that goes around the states, had to be at the show early to get the needed signatures. (pictures will be posted soon)

It was a hot day!

We waited hours for all the AI's to come out. After an hour wait, ACE finally came out, RIGHT TO US. It was so freakin' cool. Even though Ace did not get my vote, I have to say, I wish I would have given him at least one just for his kindness and GOOD LOOKS.

He was super friendly and Blake was the first one to have his shirt autographed by him. (Pictures will be posted) Ace hung around, talking to the crowd of people who were also hoping to get a glimpse of the AI's for at least 1/2 hour. He let us take pictures with him too. Thank you ACE!

Well, we continued to wait, hoping for just one glimpse of Elliott Yamin, but that chance never did come.

As we continued to wait, Kat's boyfriend drove up to the security window and immediately we was escorted off the road and asked to turn around and leave. Talk about embarrassing. But I have to say, the guy is pretty freakin' hot in person. And what a body! They did eventually let him in though...I guess he had to get approval from the "Higher" up or maybe even Kat herself. It was entertainment for us while we waited in the hot lines to get just one glimpse of Elliott.

Then drives up a HUGE SUV and out pops Kat. Yes, everyone, KAT! We were certain that we was going to walk over to us and talk to us and just as our hopes got jumpin,' she gets right back into her car, rolls down her window, waves to us, and rolls it right back up. I never did like her anyway. (But I sure would love to tell her what I think of her hot boyfriend) He's a HOTTIE MONSTER!

We continued to wait in the hot, hot sun. The huge majority of those waiting in line were fans of Elliott Yamin. I still think the show was rigged. (there was one Kat fan)

3:00 rolled around. 4:00 rolled around. I refused to leave my line because I was not going to miss seeing Elliott. One girl flew in from out of state and another woman came all the way from New York. The one from New York is the same lady that yelled at Blake and told him to move out of the way because he was making her sweat. Don't worry, Desiree took care of her.

The doors opened at 6:00. When 5:00 rolled around and there was still no sign of any other idols and when we began to smell the barbecue cookin,' I knew there was no more hope for us to see them. They were not going to come back out. I just my cellphone clock and it was 5:35. I fought with the bar I was holding on to. I did not want to leave my spot in line (I was front) because I was too afraid I would miss one of them coming out. Well, the bar did win and I had no choice but to let go and get ready to walk through the Staple Center doors (I thought Staples Center was in Orange County) to see the show I have waited 2 dreadful months to see.

It was worth the wait everyone! It was freakin' awesome!

The Idols were better in person than on T.V, way better!


I was there to see Elliott Yamin. I think Mandisa did the best, far better than anyone else there. Kelli and Lisa came in second. What a show they put on. (Lisa is so beautiful) It was good! Bucky and Ace did a pretty good show too. As much as I liked Parris on the show, she did a horrible job at the concert. Chris got the most cheers and the fans went wild. By the noise he got, you would have thought that he came in first place. I was a little disappointed about that. I am not a Chris fan but I also want to be honest. Kat did her boring Somewhere over the rainbow. As much as I hate this girl and as much as I hate her boring song, I have to say that she did a WONDERFUL job singing it and it sounded better in person than on T.V. She did not get a lot of cheering and she did not have a lot of fan support, which I found rather surprising. I almost hate to say this but good job Kat on your Somewhere Over the Rainbow song.

Elliott Yamin~I don't even want to talk about it. You deserve better Yamin and I sure hope you get the break you DESERVE. You sing better than anyone there and you still have my VOTE.

Taylor. Ugg! It was pretty bad, honestly. It was so bad that we got up and went to the bathroom during his performance. He is worse in person. He was my second vote on the list so I am not saying this because I am a Taylor hater. He was pretty bad.

As always, I want to thank my kids for going with me. My favorite part about these things is that I can take my kids with me. My daughter and Blake had the time of their life.

Awesome...it was sooooo good.

Anyway, she felt that Elliott didn't get enough showcasing, since he was 2nd runner up. She told me she would take me to Anaheim today to see if we could meet them, but this morning she was so mad about them not coming out that she doesn't want to go down there so......kinda sad about that, but what can I do?

I know how you feel. I went last night and was thinking of going again today but my dad would have to drive me to the train station. Just gonna have to see Elliott when he tours solo! :D

Ladies i know how very disappointing it is to wait and wait and not get to see your Idol, just know that they are all getting used to this and probably tired and maybe even get cranky. I would not take it personally at all. The great news is you went to the show and had such a GREAT TIME!

And i gotta admit, the more i hear about Ace the more i feel REALLY bad for giving him such a hard time during the show. I allowed myself to stereotype the "pretty boy" and called him a snob before i even knew who or how he was. I learned a pretty valuable lesson for future.

Yoli, you are adorable as always! So glad you got to meet some Etrainers as well!

Ace is a sweetheart. He has the most beautiful eyes. HE is so sensere. And .. I'm most definately a fan now. =)

Hey Yoli it's me Petra :) Thanks again for sharing your pictures. Sounds like you had a blast! I can't wait to see pictures of the guys wearing Lakers jerseys :cheerleader:

:allaboard:

okay one really funny thing. the kat fans tried to hand us ornage glow sticks. i didnt take it. IT WAS FOR KAT! they didnt mention that though. the other etrainers didnt take them either. =)

I totally agree Doxie. That was my take on Ace too, until we met him in Richmond. I feel also feel bad for my earlier thoughts on him.

lol V. I read somewhere on another board that the Kat fans collected 10000 (seems exaggerated) orange glowsticks to pass out at the show and most of them were confiscated before they could even make it in the door. How sad if that's true. Is this just a Staples Center thing, or are they doing this at other venues, because I know that a group of Mandisa fans are planning to pass out purple ones at the Sacramento show.

They better not try to take away my green one. :poke: :lol: I'm not too worried though because I was just at Arco for another concert and they barely looked in our purses.

Sorry you didn't get to see Elliott, but it sounds like you had a fun time anyway. :)