Swift Protocols - Dominik loves Taylor Swift: 'I have created 50 accounts to get tickets'
I have been a fan of Taylor Swift since 2017, specifically since her album "Reputation". I have been eagerly waiting for tickets to her concert for about one and a half to two years. I was well-prepared, knowing it would be difficult to get tickets. Together with my best friend, we created approximately 50 accounts on the ticketing website to increase our chances of obtaining as many access codes as possible. This strategy worked, and we managed to secure tickets for three different concerts in Gelsenkirchen, Munich, and Vienna.
Exceeded Expectations
I will be seeing Taylor Swift a total of six times on the Eras Tour due to my involvement in merchandise sales in addition to my studies. This is a significant advantage. For the concert in Gelsenkirchen, we arrived as early as 5 am to secure our spot in the crowd and received numbers 18 and 19 in line. We had to wait a few hours before Taylor took the stage at 6:30 pm. However, our early arrival paid off, as we were in the third row. The highlight of the concert for me was the intro. Various music videos from different eras were edited together and displayed. Following the applause from Lady Gaga, which is a standard practice for Swifties, there was a two-minute countdown. This anticipation was thrilling. Overall, the concert exceeded my high expectations. Although Taylor performed nearly 45 songs and for over three hours, the time seemed to fly by. It was an incredible experience.
Taylor Swift's Music Connects Us
Many fans dress up based on a particular era, or one of her albums. My best friend and I had a coordinated costume inspired by her album "Lover". My favorite album is actually "1989", but we wanted a matching look. I had been collecting inspiration for over a year and a half. I value this about Taylor: her music has a unifying quality. Since we both became Swifties and share this interest, our friendship has reached a new level. In general, the concert was an opportunity to meet many wonderful people with whom we shared at least one commonality.
What fascinates me most about Taylor Swift are the lyrics. There are anonymous surveys where people are asked to identify whether certain text passages were written by Taylor Swift or Shakespeare, and often they cannot tell the difference. Taylor writes autobiographically, and upon closer examination, one can discern that there are often real stories behind the songs. This is a part of Swiftie culture, I would say. Swifties are also interested in Taylor's personal life to better understand her songs. My favorite song is "Style", which isn't particularly lyrically noteworthy but always puts me in a good mood. I mainly enjoy listening to pop music, such as from artists like Olivia Rodrigo or Lorde, who are also sometimes friends with Taylor.
What I understand is the criticism regarding her releasing new versions of albums. By this, I do not mean her re-recordings, but rather new acoustic vinyl versions, which she uses to exploit her fans' loyalty by making them buy new albums. However, this does not personally concern me, as I primarily stream music. She remains an artist like no other.
After securing tickets for the Gelsenkirchen concert, we eagerly anticipated meeting other Swifties in our coordinated "Lover" era costumes. Swiftly before the concert began, we found ourselves surrounded by fans, each sharing their love for Taylor Swift's music and its powerful ability to connect people.
