Back to the Island 2015: Cancun

This is the hardest review I’ve ever written. I sat in front of a blank screen for the last four days, finally wrote a couple of pages that I hated, and sent them to a friend knowing that I would get sincere feedback. Her response? “I think it's hard to write what you know people want vs. what you want to write.” Dead on. I think the problem is I feel like I’m supposed to get out the glitter and paint this postcard fabulous picture of the BEST VACAY EVER!!1!! when really, it wasn’t that level of epic for me. Yeah, it was fun. Worth the money? Always. And I’ll go back until something physically stops me because I love it all even when I hate little pieces of it. But for reasons I can’t quite nail down, it just wasn’t the best of the three BTTI events for me. I keep reading all of these happy, excited comments about how it was the best trip for so many people, and I can’t help but wonder if there's something wrong with me that I don't agree. We saw all of the same songs, had variations of the same experiences. So what has made me so hard to please that someone else’s best day of their life can feel like a 7 on a scale of 1-10 for me?

I can’t blame the music.  Ironically, I was pretty disappointed when I found out about the Christmas set that ultimately turned out to be one of my favorite shows to date out of the 80+ I’ve been to. Top 5 material at least. “In a Little While” blew me away that night and might have been my favorite performance of the trip. The whole feeling of standing

in the gazebo with the insane wind blowing past us, dancing like fools wearing holly and santa hats was a moment memories are made of. When I think back about this trip, I’m not going to daydream about the disappointing empanadas I ate or the fact that I missed getting a picture with a monkey. It’s going to be that moment dancing in the gazebo and belting out Christmas songs on a beach in January with friends.

I definitely can’t blame all the lyric mistakes either because I live for stuff like that. It’s like watching a live gag reel and just feels more genuine and real than something that has been rehearsed into monotony. If you went to the first BTTI in Jamaica (or read the blog), then you’ll remember Isaac accidentally jumped back into the chorus of “Wish that I Was There” when they were supposed to be starting “Deeper.” I laughed so hard and thought it was the best thing ever—until now. Here’s the 2015 scenario: Isaac is doing his solo show. This group of people standing in chairs starts screaming a request in unison, and it’s one of those annoying moments where you hope he won’t play it on principle, because everyone has requests and most of us are polite enough to keep them to ourselves mid-song. But then I realize they’re requesting “Sometimes” from Three Car Garage, and I’m prepared to give them a pass if he plays it because I would LOVE to hear that song. Isaac hears and says that if he can wrap his mind around how to play it, maybe they would get to hear it after the next song.

He makes it through “Someone” and then launches into this story about how they used to play “Sometimes” every show in 1998, and it’s so obvious that it’s a buildup to playing it. Except when he starts playing, the chords don’t sound right. And when he starts singing the lyrics, they’re ones I have never heard before. I’m looking around watching people singing along and feeling terribly confused about why these people all know this non-Sometimes song, and why in the world Isaac hasn’t noticed that he’s singing the wrong song yet. I start getting excited because I know there’s going to be a brilliant “aha!” moment. He HAS to realize it at the chorus. I catch the word “Smile” and vaguely recall it as the title of a Hanson song, even if it’s one I’ve never heard. Not Isaac, though. He just plows right on, singing a fabulous, error-free rendition of not Sometimes. The moment of realization came a verse or so later, but you know it’s bad when I recognized the song before Isaac did and I had never even heard it before.

Later, he forgot the first verse of “Best of Times,” Taylor forgot a verse of “I’ve Been Down,” and Isaac physically choked and started coughing mid-song during the last show (he said "Sorry, I choked!" To which Zac responded "Yeah, you definitely choked"). There were a lot of gag reel moments (emphasis on "gag" for the latter) and some great on-the-spot song writing (“Sand in My Crevice” and the male version of “Madeline”) that kept me laughing at every show. I love getting that kind of glimpse at these events that would never happen on tour.

I’ll admit the extra events fell short of amazing for me this year, partly due to the resort setup. I was so excited that they brought back Isaac’s Mixology from the first BTTI, but it didn’t have the same fun, relaxed atmosphere as before. I think the entertainment staff in Jamaica had a lot to do with how fun that one turned out and made it entertaining to watch even for someone that doesn’t drink. Taylor’s afterparty included some epic surprises this year with guest appearances by Isaac in a wig and unidentifiable animal costume, an anonymous hippo, and Dimitrius in some strange tribal showgirl getup. It was funny to watch, but with the smaller, darker setting, the whole thing felt more like something to watch than something to participate in. It was less of a party and more of a literal zoo. Zac is always such a trooper during his events mingling with different groups and trying to provide that personal interaction everyone wants, and this year was no exception. He sat down at our table and started rambling about Fifty Shades of Grey, always the entertainer with the most random topics, but it still felt off somehow. I also prefer tie dye for the simple fact that it’s easier and the end product is more useful. I guess my blue duck is a conversation piece, but I'm not sure that's a conversation I want to have.

(Sidenote: I’m just going to go ahead and pitch the idea of Karaoke with Isaac for a future BTTI event. We walked into a drunken karaoke session on our extra night, and I immediately thought of the lyrical mishaps and crazy afterparty antics. Maybe combine it with the afterparty somehow? It would provide epic laughs for everyone and would be fun even if you don’t participate.)

I know I'm stepping on a lot of toes here, but I have to say I was also disappointed by the cameras. I mean no disrespect to anyone who brought one or took photos or videos, but as an overall observation, I think the sheer volume and obvious presence of them killed it for me a little bit because there always seemed to be one in my way, and when there wasn't, there were still 87 flashes going off. If you weren’t in the front row, they were going to block your view, end of story. I was sad during Zac’s solo show when someone’s husband/boyfriend shot his arm into the air in the middle of the crowd and held it steady two feet above his head for an entire song. Youtube will have a great view, but I never saw Zac once during that song. Even though I don’t particularly enjoy taking a ton of photos or videos, I can respect the fact that those things might mean more to someone else, and that if you pay $2,000+ to go to the event, by all means, take photos if that’s what you value. Just don’t do it in a way that interferes with or takes away from someone else’s $2,000+ experience. If you can doublefist cameras without blocking my view or bumping me constantly, have at it. BUT THERE IS NO POLITE WAY TO HOLD A SELFIE STICK IN THE FRONT ROW AT A CONCERT. None. No excuse. Don’t. I feel like this person’s friends should have intervened, you know? Friends don’t let friends use selfie sticks at shows. I love you, friends, enough to tell you when your genius idea is actually terrible. Please do the same for me.

I've seen a lot of discussion and judgment about the girls who chose to "camp out" for the shows on this trip. The general consensus seems to be some version of why would you pay that much money just to sit in front of the stage all day and not explore more and do some sightseeing? I didn't wait long for any show, but I can play devil's advocate and totally identify with the girls that did: Let's be honest here. I didn't pay $2,000 to see Mexico. If I wanted to go on a relaxing vacation to Cancun, I would. I would go to a nicer resort, go during a warmer time of year, and pay a lot less money to do it. Maybe you paid $2,000 for a vacation with a little Hanson on the side, but I paid $2,000 to have a little vacation while I see Hanson. It all depends on what you value. Do what makes you happy and don't worry about anyone else. If you value being front row over seeing ancient ruins, I support you. If you value sleep over Hanson and went to bed early and missed three songs, go for it. It's not hurting me. And if what makes you happy is complaining about what makes other people happy, then I guess carry on and we'll all get exactly what we want at the end of the day.

The last thing I have to mention is the surprise excursion. When we got our itineraries just weeks before the trip, my eye immediately caught the phrase "depart resort" before the final show. My brain ran rampant with ideas, and combined with the final setlist being called the "Desert Island Mix," I suspected we were being taken away to an actual island for the last show. My hunch was right, and we found out the day before that we were being escorted by bus and boat to the lovely Isla Mujeres (Hanson missed a golden joke opportunity here. The English translation is "Island of Women.") They loaded all 400ish of us into 7 or so buses, and there was a full-blown mob trying to get on the first bus (full disclosure: yeah, I was in it). Then all of the buses were loaded onto two ferries, aka a "booze cruise." The mob fighting to be first on the bus and first on the boat felt like how I imagine it would have felt to be on the Titanic and knowing that there weren't enough life boats ("Not enough by half!"). Somewhere, someone is asking if the boats will be seated by class, and that's just a whole other tangent I'm not exploring in this post. Like I need further ammunition to tie Titanic to Hanson shows.

This was the return dock. The one we were let out on
was a little wider and full of unexpected turns.

When the boat stopped, we were let out onto the dock of death. It was fairly narrow to accommodate all of us, maybe wide enough for three people to safely cross side by side. It also had no rails and no lights in some areas, and felt like it went on for a mile. Basically it's a miracle no one fell or got shoved off. It felt a little bit like being in a video game only I knew some cute little tortoise shell guy wasn't going to come fish me out if I fell off of the track.

All chaos aside, I love my favorite band for kidnapping me so they can perform an amazing show on a secluded island. The setting was gorgeous like a wedding reception. The barricade was a white picket fence, which I feel is full of some kind of ironic symbolism. Who needs a 2-story house and 2.5 kids when you can have front row at a Hanson show on an island? "White Collar Crimes" was every bit as fantastic the second time as it was back in May at its debut, and I loved all of the Walk Era throwbacks that reminded me of when I first fell into this crazy wonderful mess of traveling for Hanson.

So maybe the whole thing didn't make me squeal or cry or feel the need to text all of my friends the minute I landed back in the United States, but it made me smile. It made me laugh until I cried a few times, and it made me thankful that I'm able to even do things like this time and time again. I'm not walking away disappointed or let down that it wasn't the best week of my life; I'm walking away going man, how lucky am I if this ISN'T the best Hanson show experience I've had so far? I'm thankful for every weird minute.

And I didn't get that amazing perfect picture with a Hanson like I did last year, but I still came home with one pretty epic shot:

ETA: How could I forget to mention one of my favorite moments? "Two Tears" during Isaac's solo show was awesome. I loved being part of the crowd of baby Taylor voices. A+++

My Anti-Bucket List: 2014 Edition

We're all familiar with the concept of new year's resolutions, the practice of identifying things you want to accomplish in the next 365 days. On a larger scale, you have the bucket list of everything you want to do before you "kick the bucket." It can be a great motivational tool, but it always leaves room for disappointment.

I've never been satisfied with that kind of goal setting, so a few years ago I came up with an alternative: The Anti-Bucket List. Instead of a giant list of things you haven't done yet, the Anti-Bucket List is a list of things you've already accomplished. I do one every year, but the time frame is entirely up to you. What things have you already accomplished in 2014? Ever? Create your own, and take a moment to be proud of what you've done so far.

More examples:

The original Anti-Bucket List.
Anti Bucket List 2013

If you want to create your own, try my current photo editing website obsession: www.canva.com.

Lost Stories: American Idol

In 2013 I made the trek to Los Angeles. If you read my post from that show, then you know that I camped out. What I failed to include was the fact that we had to park in a parking garage a number of blocks away from the venue. The scenario goes like this: four of us arrive in L.A. We drop two of us off at the venue with our stuff, and the other two park the car. I'm with three California residents, yet somehow I'm in the half that gets to help navigate and park in a dark city I know nothing about. We check parking prices and finally settle for the 2nd or 3rd closest garage because it only requires approximately one month's pay vs. an entire year's salary.

The next morning, we go in pairs to return our sleeping bags to the car and put on normal clothes. Since only two of us parked the car and know where it is, I have the pleasure of trying to escort my friend back to wherever in the world we left it, and again, the navigation is on me. Everything looks different in daylight, but I'm finally proud to recognize the hill and slope of the garage that I'm positive we parked in. I'm also really proud to remember that we parked on level P2 because those are the little details I always forget to notice. We end up at the elevator at the same time as a man with a really nice car, and he's kind enough to hold the door for us.

In case you need the visual, we're in yoga pants, hoodies with the hoods up (bed head!), sunglasses we can't take off because our hands are full, and arms overladen with sleeping bags and pillows. We look like some undiscovered SNL sketch characters, but we smile and step on the elevator with the professional looking guy and hope he's not judging us too harshly. He presses a button and I'm about to ask him to press P2 when I realize there IS no P2. I assume I imagined the P and it was just level 2, so we ride to the 2nd floor with him.

At the second floor, two trendy musician looking guys get on. Behind them we can see what looks like an upscale office lobby, and a doorman reaches in to swipe a card and make a floor selection for them. Definitely not the level we parked on. It seems a little strange, but aside from verifying we're not in the right place, I don't think much of it. The guys are friendly and manage to start a polite conversation that feels like genuine interest rather than probing what kind of lunatics in hoods and sunglasses were let into their office building. We talk a little about Hanson and admit we camped out to see them, and the guys say they admire that kind of dedication. We tell them they should check out the show that night, and they leave us with a smile at the next floor and tell us to have fun.

They step off and are replaced with a few guys in business suits that thankfully select the ground floor, but not before we get a glimpse into the room they just left and the big shiny "American Idol" sign within. My friend and I exchange a silent glance and continue trying and failing to let our sleeping bag bundles blend in with the polished steel of the elevator as we realize we're standing in American Idol Headquarters in our pajamas.

The whole thing is pretty anti-climactic. We make it back down to the ground floor, get out, and finally find the correct elevator around a corner, wondering what American Idol contestants we just accidentally street teamed to. In my defense, it turns out we did, in fact, park on P2.

Why I Follow a Band: The Moment that Makes it all Worth it

If I only ever write one good thing, I want it to be the description of how it feels to be in my favorite place in the world. I’m already disappointed, because no matter what I tell you, it won’t be good enough. I’ve always loved words and the infinite things you can say with them just by arranging them differently or choosing the perfect synonym and putting it in exactly the right place. They’re my favorite tools to work with, but you can’t build an ocean with a hammer and nails. Trying to tell you what I feel when I see a Hanson show is like trying to describe the taste of a hot dog to someone who has never eaten one. I could choose all the right words and make you see it in your head. You might be hungry and decide you want to try it, but there’s nothing I could ever say to make you taste it.

Even with all of the right words, there’s the issue of where to start, what angle to take. I could give you some fluffy adjectives like “unifying” and “transcendent” and “happy” and make it sound like a big kumbaya campfire sing-a-long where everybody loves each other because of a shared passion. I could go the scholarly route with a thesis and a specific end goal and start using examples to support my claims to lead you to the conclusion I want you to reach --> “Hanson shows are ________!” Doing any of those things would offer you a deceptively limited perspective of what it’s really like. It would never fit in any blank.

So forget the outlines and the angles. This is what it feels like to me.

There’s something intoxicating about being front row center, and all you can see is the band a few feet in front of you. There are a thousand people behind you and there’s an elbow in your ribs, and somewhere in your personal bubble, someone is singing really loud and off-key. Thanks to the general admission lottery, the girl pressed against your back is the same one you yelled at an hour ago for trying to cut you in line, and you’ll spend the next two hours blocking her from stealing your spot for the second time that day. You’re hot; you’re sweaty; you slept in a car or on a sidewalk or in a cheap hotel bed with three other girls—IF you slept at all—and right about now you’re seriously questioning why you put yourself in this situation over and over again. Maybe this is it, your last trip. Maybe you’ll grow up before the next tour.

And then the lights dim, and there they are. You feel the rush of adrenaline that comes with the opening chords, and it’s so familiar that it’s almost a part of the song; any song. Every song. It’s not a religious experience. Your feet still hurt and you’ll never be able to dedicate your full attention to the masterpiece in front of you because if you let your guard down, you’ll find yourself three rows back with an intimate view of some girl’s head. People will spill beer on you or scream obscenities during the quiet parts. You’ll have to yell at some girl to stop resting her camera above your head unless she wants to see it fly across the stage when you jump.

But the band will also play your favorite song, and you’ll dance and clap and forget to notice the other things. You’ll jump on cue and you’ll laugh with your friends when someone forgets the lyrics. During the guitar solo, you’ll grin and clap, and maybe you’ll get a quick smile back in your direction. You understand that all it says is “thank you for having a good time.” You feed off of the band’s energy, and they feed off of yours. It’s this crazy symbiotic relationship that has nothing to do with how hot somebody looks in a suit or how suggestive the lyrics might be. It’s about a type of love, but not lust; it's an attraction to music and to a feeling and a moment bigger than any one person.

An adrenaline-induced high powers you through the show, and when it’s over, you crash hard. It was fantastic, it’s over, and now all that’s left to do is get in the car and drive to the next one because every single show could be your last, and no matter how many times you do it, you never know what’s going to happen next. Every show you go to has the potential to be the best performance of their career, and by that logic, so does every show you miss.

But it’s not a fear of missing out that drives you. It’s the excitement of knowing that every time will be completely different and yet somehow exactly the same as the last. Each show is an opportunity to relive your best memories while forging new ones all at once. It's this strange fusion of past and present all wrapped up in a single timeless moment where nothing else matters. That's what keeps you coming back. And when you say "I follow a band," what you really mean is "I'm chasing this feeling that I can’t get anywhere else.”

10 Reasons You Should Follow TSA on Instagram

If you're a frequent traveler, odds are TSA is synonymous with "I have room for my shaving cream or my liquid foundation, but not both." You know the struggle of the 3-1-1 rule. You know not to pack large scissors in your carry-on or to bring the water bottle you brought from home through security, but overall, TSA rules are not that hard. If you're like me, you've probably seen the detailed prohibited items list at some point and laughed to yourself thinking "why would anyone try to pack an ax anyway?", and you've probably rolled your eyes at the guy ahead of you in line that didn't take off his shoes and tried to bring a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi in his carry-on bag. Amateur.

But for every Pepsi-carrying travel newbie, there's some guy that thought it was okay to pack that ax, or a bag full of fireworks, or some medieval torture device you didn't even know existed, and TSA has seen it all. Here are 10 reasons you should follow them on Instagram.

1. The bomb and drug dogs are super cute when you're not the one they're chasing.

2. Batarangs. Who actually knew these were called "batarangs?"

3. Man, I don't have room for my knife AND my gun. What should I do?

4.This not-so-smart phone.

5. Lipstick tazer.

6. Lipstick knife. Don't mix these up with your real lipstick.

7. I'm not even mad; I'm impressed.

8. Ruh-roh.

9. "I just needed a haircut, I swear!"

10. And my personal favorite, the crazy cat-lady weapon of choice: Cat Knuckles.

Thanks, TSA, for keeping me safe, keeping me entertained, and keeping me suspicious of the human race and everyday objects.

Seven Things I'd Like to See at a Future Hanson Day Event

Every year, Hanson adds something new to their Hanson Day event schedule. There has already been a block party, after party, listening party, beer festival, art gallery, bowling, movie screenings, dinners, lectures, group photos, acoustic shows, electric shows, and so much more. It’s hard to imagine what they might think of next, but they’re always asking for feedback and thinking up new things to try.  I’m full of opinions (wanted or unwanted, but hey! I have a blog), so sticking to the topic of fun ideas and not veering into logistical changes, here are some events I’d love to see at a future Hanson Day celebration.

1. A museum-style gallery.

This is the number one thing I want to see that hasn’t been done yet. I loved seeing the piano from the "Lost Without Each Other" video the first year we went inside 3CG for the I Heart Hanson store.  Hanson must have some pretty cool artifacts from the last two decades stored away, and I’d love to see any they’re willing to show.  Awards, music video props, Zac’s first drumkit, etc. We’re all collectors of something, and I think showing the collectors Hanson’s own collection would be total nerd fun. This could work in conjunction with the art gallery to add extra content or be completely separate.

2. Laser Tag.

I don’t participate in the bowling, but I would be all over a “sport” that doesn’t require used shoes and lets me run around and shoot people for fun.

3. New material during the movie screening.

Whether it’s a brand new documentary or a bonus 10-minute behind the scenes clip made exclusively for fan club members at the event, showing me something I’ve never seen before is the key to squeezing ten extra dollars out of me. Bonus tip: Gag reels are the way to my heart.

4. A photo gallery based around past tours and events.

Crowd shots. Walk shots. Action shots during shows.  Hi, we’re vain. We like to find ourselves in pictures and see pictures from shows we were at. You don’t have to sell them to us, but many of us would buy them too if given the opportunity.

5. More lectures behind the scenes of songs.

 Show us earlier versions of songs with different arrangements like Isaac’s “Underneath: Naked” lecture this year.  Tell us about lyrics that changed before the final version, like “tragic symphony,” which was ultimately a genius lyrical fluke, or the cat-killing joke that turned into “Misery.” It will never happen, but my inner English teacher would love a lyrical analysis lecture where we find out the meaning of songs.  Take a vague song or two, put the lyrics up on a screen, and line by line tell me what they mean and how they came to be. Lyrical Analysis 101, please! (Or give Taylor a lecture called “Behind the Veil of Vague.”)

6. A “Stories Will Be Told” lecture.

Dig into the Hanson vault of infinite recorded footage we’ll never see. Pull out 5-10 memorable moments that were captured on camera, and do a Buzzfeed-style countdown where you show them to us and tell us about them. On-stage pranks, great collaborations with guest performers, inspiring moments on walks, etc. I’ve seen some amazing things happen at Hanson shows; I’ve seen professional cameras around, and I’m sure there’s plenty more that I haven’t seen. Or turn it into a “Hanson Does Stupid Stuff on Video,” America’s Funniest Home Videos style compilation. (I realize this entire bullet is asking for a LOT of extra editing work and falls into the category of things that will never happen but are fun to think about).

7. A cheesy photo-op backdrop at the afterparty.

 If the afterparty is going to feel like prom, can we have a cheap cheesy backdrop where we can take pictures with our friends? I don't mean prom-style photos with Hanson or supplying us with a professional photographer to take the photos, but just some silly little designated space where fans can take group pictures with friends. The awkward prom pose opportunities are endless.

And I won’t say I want to see it, but I’m afraid the Zac equivalent of Taylor’s photo lecture would be projecting a video game onto a massive screen and having fans come up and play against him.

What events and lecture topics would you like to see happen at a future Hanson Day celebration?

Travel Tips: How to Use Priceline for Hotels

This post marks the beginning of a new series here on travelingfan.net that I’m calling “Travel Tips.” Each post will focus on one aspect of travel—how to save money on various travel needs, gear reviews, useful items to take, etc. Keep an eye out for future installments and feel free to offer topic suggestions (and start thinking about tips of your own for a future “Travel Tips from Other Traveling Fans” post).

A few months back, I wrote a blog called Spend Less; Travel More: Six Tips for Saving Money on the Road. Tip #4 was “Don’t pay full price for hotel rooms” and talked a little about how to use discount sites to save on hotels.  I’m a big fan of Priceline and have had people ask me how to use it effectively, so I think a more in-depth guide is a great way to begin this series. Here are a few things to keep in mind when using Priceline:

1. Simply searching for hotels by date and city will most likely NOT save you money.

This seems to be a common misconception for first-time Priceline users. I’m guilty of treating Priceline like a travel search engine, a place I can input my trip details and generate a list of results from all over the internet in one stop. This is essentially all you’re doing by using the search options offered on Priceline’s homepage. Yes, it’s quicker and easier than going to every hotel chain’s website individually, but the majority of the time if you see a room being offered for $89/night on Priceline, you can then go to the hotel’s own website and find the same room for $89/night.  Once in a while you'll find a real deal in Priceline's listings, but if you’re not saving any money, always book directly through the hotel or airline. If issues arise, it’s easier to deal with the company directly than having to go through a third-party site first. Original hotel sites often have more generous cancellation policies, too.

2. Read the fine print.

Priceline’s offers and policies will not always match those offered directly by the hotel, and they won’t always match other offers on Priceline, either. Some Priceline rooms are refundable, and some are not. Sometimes freebies on amenities like parking and wi-fi are offered, and sometimes they aren’t—even if you got them in the past at the same exact location through Priceline.  Details change, so just read it all before you pay and make sure you know what you’re buying.

3. Priceline deals work best when you have your own transportation.

Both Express Deals and Name Your Own Price require you to book a non-refundable hotel before learning the exact address. If you’re driving or flying in and renting a car, this won’t be an issue. If you’re planning to use public transportation you don’t want to find out that the hotel is actually located 10 minutes beyond the last subway stop, or wind up having to pay for a longer than expected taxi ride that cancels out any savings you got on the hotel room.

I once used Express Deals to book a hotel “Downtown” in a city where “Downtown” usually means everything is within walking distance. We got a great deal on a hotel about a 5 minute drive from downtown—but on a freeway. Thankfully we DID have a car, but our trip would have been a nightmare if we had to walk everywhere or call a taxi every time we left the room. The loophole here is if the only transportation you will need is to and from the airport, you can select an unnamed hotel with a guaranteed airport shuttle.

TL;DR: Don’t use Express Deals or Name Your Own Price unless you have a car, or choose a listing in Express Deals that guarantees an airport shuttle in the amenities.

4. Name Your Own Price.

This is the tool that made Priceline a household name (and taught today's generation of kids to recognize William Shatner). The bidding page can look a little intimidating at first, but it’s pretty straightforward once you understand how it works. After you’ve put in the dates of your stay and the city, you’ll be presented with a page with three steps.

Step 1: Choose where you want to stay.

Each city on Priceline is broken up into smaller regions like “airport” and “downtown.” The regions will be in a numbered list next to a corresponding map. You can click each area on the map for a close-up view of that region’s boundaries. If you select a specific region, your hotel is guaranteed to be somewhere within that area on the map.

Step 2: Choose the star level for your hotel.

You can choose between 1 and 4 stars as your MINIMUM star rating. Sometimes you’ll get bumped up to the next star rating automatically if one fits your price and selected region, but you’ll never be downgraded. (ex. I put in a bid for a 3-star hotel and was given a 3.5 star hotel, but you’ll never bid for a 3-star and get stuck with a 2-star.).

Step 3: Name Your Price.

You can name any price you want. To have some hope of being accepted, you’ll want to shop around and see what the advertised prices for hotels in that area look like. Priceline advertises NYOP deals as being “UP to 60% off,” so calculating 60% off of an average priced hotel in the area is a good place to begin.

Bidding Tips:

You can only bid the same set of details once per 24 hour period, so aim for what you want most first, then branch out to what you're willing to accept. Pick the highest hotel rating you think you can afford (I usually start with 3.5 or 4), pick one area you want most, and make a low bid. If your bid is rejected, you will be prompted to change at least one detail in the first two categories for the chance to bid again. This means if you want to make another bid without waiting 24 hours, you'll need to either 1) add in a second region in step 1, or 2) choose a lower star rating (this is why you start high). You'll probably also want to raise your bid by at least a few dollars to increase your odds. Repeat these steps until either your bid is accepted or you exhaust the details you're willing to accept, and then try again tomorrow.

Obviously the earlier you begin bidding, the more chances you'll have to work up to a bid that will be accepted. If you don't have days or weeks to bid, tag team the bidding with anyone splitting the room with you. Keep track of your bid details and if one person fails, the next person can bid on the same day and avoid using the same details you used that were rejected.

(Shoutout to the one time we managed to put in a successful bid literally five seconds before the 11 PM same-day deadline. Double shoutout to Hanson for canceling a show with no notice and putting us in that situation with no place to stay. We survived; there was a free breakfast bar with bacon; all is forgiven.)

5. Express Deals.

Express Deals are Priceline's version of Hotwire's Hot Rates. You still don’t get to see the name of the hotel, but you don’t have to bid and it's not so intimidating. You choose dates and a location, and Express Deals will offer you a list of hotels available on those dates and show you the star rating, guaranteed amenities, and price. You can further narrow results by selecting a certain region or amenity. (This is my go-to deal for when I'm flying in somewhere and won't have a car, but will need airport transportation. I choose the "airport" region and "airport shuttle" under amenities). The discounts aren't always as cheap as bidding, but it's much easier to use, and if you're like me and occasionally find yourself on the way to a destination with no place to stay that night, Express Deals on the Priceline App are a quick and easy Godsend.

If you want to become a real Priceline guru, you can also look into sites like betterbidding.com that offer data compiled from consumers into lists of likely results for bidding. Be aware that it's not 100% accurate and consider it an educated guess from bigger travel nerds than myself.

There are plenty of ways to mess up and get stuck with a room you don't want with any discount hotel service, but if you're a relatively flexible, easy-going traveler, there are some great deals to be had.

MUSIC MADE FOR HUMANS (with songs reviewed by a fan)

Odds are if you’re reading this, you’re aware that Hanson has an official fan club. If not, congratulations, you’re one sentence in and you’ve already learned something new today. It’s $40/year ($50 international) and includes a “membership kit” (EP + fan club card), access to exclusive forums on hanson.net, and a slew of other potential perks provided they happen within your year of membership. For someone like me that frequents the forums to connect with other fans, travels to plenty of Members Only Events, and can't imagine not having on a ton of extra EP songs, the price is worth it year after year. Dear 16 year old me who would have mercilessly taunted someone in a Hanson fan club, get over yourself. The joke's on you in 10 years anyway.

This year's EP, MUSIC MADE FOR HUMANS (WITH ROBOTS TRAINED BY MONKEYS), made its debut in Tulsa last month for Hanson Day. Now that most fan club members have had a chance to receive it and give it a listen, here's my review.

1. ON THE ROAD

Take Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again," put it in a minor key, wipe some of the audible smiles out of it and you get this song. It's less a celebration of life on the road and more a cautionary tale. It warns "You'll pay the toll, if you have a pretentious soul," among other sage advice for anyone choosing music and the traveling lifestyle it demands. You can practically hear the desert and dust in the guitar.

It also has one of my favorite lyrics on the EP:
"And there is no destination but the journey you are on."

2. SHOW ME THE WAY

Take the last line "I may not be a dancer, but I just can't wait to try" and substitute "Michael Jackson" in place of "dancer." I won't be the first or last to make the comparison, and I think Taylor did a pretty decent job of bringing out some MJ vibes in this song.

3. WHAT'S YOUR NAME

It's neat getting to hear Isaac branch out and showcase his falsetto, something we don't hear often if ever. I want to love this song but the truth is, at no fault of Isaac's vocals, it's just not my favorite (today, anyway. Hi, I'm fickle). The picture it paints is a little too close to other Hanson songs for me. Something about the line "dressed so fine you could make me blind" was bothering me, and I finally realized it's because if you rewind back to another Isaac lead on another EP, you'll hear the lyric "You know that skirt's so short your eyes could bleed." It's an occasional skip song for me on the CD, but I did enjoy it more live.

4. PANIC IN THE STREETS

This is the earworm track, the one you can love or hate but you're going to be singing it regardless. Luckily, I happen to like it. My only complaint is I wish I had a better understanding of what this song is actually about. The past is catching up to somebody, but who and in what context? I do think it's interesting that the song is written in the perspective of the people that are carrying out the apparent justice being served. "We know your secrets." "We're gonna take what's left of your soul." "Tonight we ride." They're a united front against something and a force to be reckoned with if you're the guilty party. Pray it's not you.

5. WHITE COLLAR CRIME(S)*? 

"White Collar Crime" is my personal favorite from this year's EP. It's satirical and pokes fun at anyone with a get-rich-quick scheme way of thinking as Zac tackles the persona of that guy forever stuck on the verge of the next big thing. Props to Zac for being able to sing the line "I got my M&P and I.P.O. in R&D. Ain't no competition, I'm the whole entire industry" without getting tongue tied. They nailed this song live and it was a great way to end the set of new EP songs with a bang.

*The "S" gets an asterisk/question mark because the title is written as "White Collar Crime" on the back of the CD case and in iTunes, but "White Collar Crimes" in the lyric booklet.

Thirteen Quotes that "Get" Music & Travel

I’m a lover of words, music, and travel; it’s the trifecta that led to this blog in the first place. I’m also constantly on the lookout for that perfect sentence someone else has already constructed, whether it’s a great lyric, a quote from a book, or even just a really ingenious tweet (major props if you can actually find the perfect words in 140 characters or less).

A few years ago I hit the road for an entire month of tour and needed to pack a notebook to write down addresses and expenses. I wanted something cheap that could get ruined in a trunk or on a wet sidewalk without being a big deal, so I skipped the ornate, overpriced Barnes and Noble travel journals and went straight for a replaceable 88 ¢ composition notebook at Wal-Mart with the intent to make it my own. With a little internet research, construction paper, and glue, I had the perfect unique travel journal for under $5. It’s cheesy and lame and covered in handwritten quotes about travel and music that I absolutely love.

So if you love music and travel like I do, here are 13 quotes where someone else already nailed that perfect description:

1. “Half the fun of travel is the aesthetic of lostness.”
   –Ray Bradbury
   
   
2. “I have found that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” 
   –Mark Twain
   
   
3. “Little by little, one travels far.”
   –J.R.R. Tolkien
   
   
4. “Do you think I’ve gone ‘round the bend?”
   “I’m afraid so. You’re mad, bonkers, completely off your head. But I’ll tell you a secret—all the best people are.”
   –Lewis Carroll, from Alice in Wonderland
   
   
5. “Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.”
   –Benjamin Disraeli
   
   
6. From The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien:
   
   The Road goes ever on and on
   Down from the door where it began
   Now far ahead the road has gone,
   And I must follow, if I can.
   Pursuing it with eager feet,
   Until it joins some larger way
   Where many paths and errands meet.
   And whither then? I cannot say.
   
   
7. “I was born with music inside me. Music was one of my parts, like my ribs, my kidneys, my liver, my heart.  Like my blood. It was a force already within me when I arrived on the scene…a necessity for me—like food or water.”
   –Ray Charles
   
   
8. “It’s not down on any map; true places never are.”
   –Herman Melville
   
   
9. “Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here.”
   –Albus Dumbledore
   
   
10. From “The Vagabond” by Robert Louis Stevenson:
    
    Give to me the life I love,
    Let the lave go by me,
    Give the jolly heaven above
    And the byway nigh me.
    Bed in the bush with stars to see,
    Bread I dip in the river—
    There’s the life of a man like me,
    There’s the life forever.
    
    Let the blow fall soon or late,
    Let what will be o’er me;
    Give the face of earth around
    And the road before me.
    Wealth I seek not, hope nor love
    Nor a friend to know me;
    All I seek, the heaven above
    And the road below me.
    
    
11. From “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost:
    
    I shall be telling this with a sigh,
    Somewhere ages and ages hence
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference.
    
    
12. “The first music you really fall in love with is more than just music. It’s something that clicks in you beyond the song; it’s a message or image that causes you to jump in and not let go.”
    –Taylor Hanson
    
    And lastly, the unsourced tweet. I have no idea where it originated, but I couldn't leave it behind:
    
    
13. A fan isn’t someone who has been there since the beginning; it’s someone who will be there until the end. ❤
    

Hanson Day 2014

Hanson Day/Hop Jam 2014 was by far the busiest experience I’ve ever had in Tulsa. Over the course of the weekend, we were treated to:

I took approximately negative four pictures this trip. Here's one of
the Hop Jam area filling up hours before the show.

-Individual lectures by Isaac, Zac, and Taylor
-Group photos
-“State of the Band” talk by all three brothers
-Full-length fan club exclusive show
-Afterparty DJed by Taylor
-Free public show at the Hop Jam festival
-Beer tasting & food trucks
-I ♥ Hanson pop-up store
-Are You Listening art gallery
-Underneath Acoustic Live movie screening
-Fan Club & Street Team dinners
-Bowling (I passed on this one because I’m cheap and I can’t bowl)
-Blue Dome Arts festival
-Mayfest (I passed on this one because there are neither two of me, nor more than 24 hours in a day)

The lectures provided a rare glimpse behind the normal Hanson curtain. Isaac showed us alternative arrangements to several songs from Underneath punctuated by a really goofy sense of humor and lots of chicken jokes (yes, chicken humor). Zac had the guts to use pre-selected audience suggestions to record a brand-new song right in front of us that he wrote in like an hour. (You try telling a room of 1,000+ girls to “Shhh!” while you’re recording!) And Taylor’s photography lesson wasn’t really a behind the scenes look at their music process, but it was neat to watch this really talented musician do something else he loves for once.

I found this great typewriter key necklace at the
Blue Dome Arts Festival. I also found that if your
name begins with an "H" and you're a Hanson fan,
people will assume you got it for the band.

As expected, the fan club show was my favorite part of the weekend. It’s always a little weird to stand front row and rock out to a song you’ve never heard before when you’re so used to knowing every little inflection of every word in every verse. My initial reaction to the new EP songs was that “White Collar Crime” should be played as often as possible, and maybe back to back with “You Can’t Stop Us” some time if Zac’s lungs and arms can handle it. My door is always open for “Down,” “Stories,” and “Sunny Day.” And perhaps the biggest surprise of the night for me was just how much I got into “Waiting for This,” which I’ve heard about a million times in a million places, but it just felt so familiar and fun and right in that moment. It belonged on that setlist. The afterparty felt a lot like a bad prom in a good way—complete with the awkward wallflowers and a crowd sitting idly in the bleachers, but with the added bonus (for some) of alcohol actually being allowed. It was an event about us and not the band.

I don't think anyone knew what to expect for Hanson's first attempt at hosting a beer and music festival, but based on the thousands of people that showed up and the fact that ALL of the craft beer from all vendors sold out, I'd say the first annual Hop Jam was a major success. The 21+ area was packed full the entire time it was open, just wall to wall people filling the street wearing cheesy beer glass lanyards (I'm looking at you, Isaac) and hoping to discover a great new taste. I'm sure many of them found it in MMMhops.

My weekend was packed with Hanson, friends I didn't get to see enough of, and some really good macaroni & cheese (Joe Momma's FTW!). I will never, ever (EVER) complain of having too little to do in Tulsa again. All jokes and fake whining aside, it was a great time and I’d do it all again. Let’s be honest—I will do it all again.

You can check out some other perspectives about the weekend by Miranda from The Good Groupie here and here, and one from Melanie Kristy here.

At the risk of sounding sappy, I’m incredibly proud to call myself a fan of a band that works so hard at what they do. I don’t mean to be a suck-up, Hanson-can-do-no-wrong kind of fan because let’s face it, something will always go wrong (and sometimes “Hanson Time” feels like it has its own daylight savings time to push even “soon” yet another hour behind). Despite any potential negativity, it comes down to this: my favorite band rocks. I love their willingness to try new things, and their risk to branch out from what’s safe, known, and expected to put together something bigger and better every time. They throw themselves into everything they try full-force with undeniable enthusiasm and passion, and it's a formula that hasn't failed them yet. They’re some of the most hard-working people I know, and I haven’t even touched the topic of music yet. Say what you will about them or about me for that matter, but I couldn’t have picked a better group of guys to support.