Photo op at the Event Center with casino show girls.
It had been while since my dear wife Karen and I had gone to a concert in the Turning Stone Resort and Casino Event Center, but when I heard the word that Carlos Santana was bringing his guitar to the 5,000-seat room just 30 miles east of Syracuse, I knew that would make one heckuva a Birthday Week present.
When I purchased the pair at the box office almost two months before Sunday’s show date — I wanted to put them on the gift card Karen had given me for Christmas, you see — I was aghast when the nice woman rep informed me the show was sold out … but, lucky me, the obstructed-view upper level section next to the stage had been put on sale just that very morning.
And she could give me two seats in row E, five rows from the rail, on the aisle, a few-feet crossing and half-priced from the ones others had bought before the words sold-out had been uttered.
Sold. I felt a bit uncomfortable when she took a red stamp and imprinted obstructed view on the face of the ticket, they being a birthday gift and all, but Karen understood.
On the aisle, last section.
She was eager to see Carlos Santana and to get back to the Event Center for the first time since my layoff from the big daily on Jan. 31, 2013. As part of my duties as music critic, we’d seen dozens of shows since Turning Stone opened this addition to the casino complex a decade ago.
I chuckled in the lobby as people posed for photos with Vegas-style show girls. I did not remember any of that the last time we were at the Event Center. In fact, out of the 100 or so shows I saw at the 680-seat Showroom back in my big daily days, there was nary a showgirl.
When we got to our seats, a couple seated immediately to our right asked if we’d ever seen a concert in the Event Center before.
I threw out Rascal Flatts and Sugarland off the top of my head, and Karen added Mariah Carey, Rob Thomas and Stevie Wonder. We modestly stopped there, and they asked us if we liked the shows.
We said we did, and they said they’d heard that Carlos was in stride for this tour.
Clear view.
We all agreed that we’d gotten a bargain for these seats at $28.50 a pop, and that the view wasn’t really obstructed at all.
When the lights went all the way down, the house was full except for several late arrivers who would be disappointed to discover that there was no opening act and the show started relatively on time, with music beginning at 7:07 p.m.
Santana’s trademark dove on the video screen.
The video screen behind the musicians welcomed Santana with an image so familiar to his fans since he started releasing albums in 1969, and became part of the world’s muscial lexicon with his Woodstock Festival down the New York State Thruway from Verona. The white dove was flying, and Santana’s guitar was soaring.
You can read about the concert in my weekly community blog for Syracuse public media site waer.org by clicking the link below. By the way, if you ever wondered what my concert reviews may have read like those 21 years I covered popular music for the big daily, I very much felt similar to the time I filled that seat while I was writing the waer.org piece about Santana’s show.
http://waer.org/post/carlos-santana-brings-generations-together-his-guitar-turning-stone
Have you ever purchased obstructed-view seats for a concert or sporting event, and if so, what and how much of it was in the way of what you wanted to see? If not yet, would you roll the dice and take the chance at purchasing obstructed-view tickets if they were for somebody you’ve always wanted to see, and what would be your maximum paying price? What would be your must-hear Carlos Santana song, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
Carlos Santana. Best. Concert. Ever. And that’s saying somethin’. We’ve been to tons of good shows.
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My brother introduced me to Santana in 1969. Evil Ways and Treat were two of my favorites on that album. So wonderful that you got to see them live – obstructed view and all. What a ‘treat.’
Even though I worked at rock ‘n’ roll stations, I rarely attended a concert. My only experience with not-so-great seats was at the Carrier Dome – in the nosebleed section – where you needed oxygen tanks because your seats were up so high. Still, I believe that’s the location I was at when I saw a 3 point (half court) basket made within the final seconds of the game. I believe it was Dwayne “The Pearl” Washington who made that shot. That moment was worth the price of admission. 😉
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The shot heard ’round the basketball world. Sweet music that was, Judy.
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I have payed upwards of $400 to see Bon Jovi, but I probably wouldn’t pay more than $100 to see anyone else, and $50 or less is even better. I wouldn’t mind the obstructed view unless I badly wanted to take a ton of photos. Being as I’m only 5’4″, I get a lot of view obstruction when some tall man sits in front of me anyway. I think my favorite Santana song is actually not his, but when he played with Matchbox 20 in “Smooth.” I think your birthday gift was still awesome, despite the red stamp, and I’m glad you and Karen loved the show. 🙂
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Rachel and JBJ sittin’ in a tree …
I love your passion for Bon Jovi shows, my friend.
I do believe ‘Smooth’ was released by both, Rob Thomas and Carlos, after that collaboration, ‘Supernatural’ for Santana, but I don’t feel like Googling this Saturday a.m. Hah! 😉
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LOL! One day I may need to post a photo of my massive collection of everything Bon Jovi. But then the men in white coats might come to take me away. 😉
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Happy belated birthday, dear Karen! Hope you had a wonderful evening and celebration, too! You two have been able to see quite a lot of awesome concerts, Mark. So wise not to brag too much… smiles!
Your view was great and not really obstructed, Mark! I don’t think seeing some artists straight on are necessary, I am sure you could see him weave his magic on his guitar and hear his band, while he sang very well… I have paid only a little bit for great seats in the past and a huge amount to be in the same building with some fantatic artists. I always liked my times at outdoor theaters, Just standign and grooving in the grass, sometimes getting away with moving closer since crowds thin out as the night goes on…
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One of the best concerts I’ve ever attended was standing in the mud on the lawn at Saratoga Performing Arts Center for a Bruce Springsteen concert, Robin, with tens of thousands getting there hours early just to be there, 1984, ‘Born in the USA’ tour. It was pouring down rain, and Bruce and the E Street Band came out under the pavilion to do the sound check, and they played the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic ‘Who’ll Stop the Rain.’ And, swear to God, Robin, the rain stopped and it didn’t drizzle a drop for the rest of the night. In the concert, when they played an acoustic ballad version of ‘No Surrender,’ everybody on the lawn, strangers who were friends by now, held hands and sang together. It was a classic. And I’m pretty sure the lawn tickets cost under 20 bucks. Thanks for making me think of this one with your comment. ❤
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Haven’t read all the comments – did he play “Smooth”? I do so love that song.
I’d have loved to see Carlos, though I’m not sure I’d ever take a chance with obstructed view tickets. For me it’s the seeing as much as the hearing. 🙂
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He did play ‘Smooth.’ (I saved the song titles for my story on the waer.org site, sorry, Linda G.)
I rolled the dice when the kind sales rep told me she was pretty certain Carlos was not bringing the mega stage setup that would block the view, and that this section was called obstructed view for every show as a precaution. Yes, seeing is important!
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I’ll have to have a look at your other article, Mr. Mark! 😀
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I love it that he can still sell out a 5,000-seat venue. It’s enough to give you hope. There will always be an audience for good musicians. Occasionally on his show, Howard Stern will run down the Billboard top five. Just fragments of the songs, not the songs in their entirety. Do you know what? They’re all crap, crap, crap.
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Not all. On the women’s side, I like Alicia Keys a lot. Rihanna can sing a ballad when she chooses. Adele’s got a great voice. Of the men, upstate New Yorker Gavin DeGraw has won me over the few times I’ve seen him live as an opener so I’ve liked his radio songs, and John Legend is cool, and, yes, I even like the pop of Bruno Mars. Groups, give me Train and The Script and some One Republic … And I’m a country music fan. So although I like my old stuff so much, I still listen to right-now stuff, too.
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Wow, that sounds like a fantastic evening.Mark. Every now and then someone passes through your awareness who does what they do in such an elegant manner that it is impossible to imagine anything less than than perfection (reminds me of your desciption of Karen) . For me Santana is one of those people. On top of it he “collaborates” so well with so many different styles and personalities, that his range of music is unequalled in my mind. I’ve never seen him live, but the smallish venue that where you enjoyed him seems pefect as well. I wouldn’t mind “obstructed” views at all. That price is awesome for the quality of the perfomer. And the view from your seat was totally fine – excellent. Ha! I’d stand outside the stage door and listen for that price – reminds me of “Guitar Hero”.
It is wonderful that you managed to wrangle seats in a “sold out” venue – good seats – for your Honey’s birthday. And the quality of performer – whew.That’s a scoop any way you look at it, Mark.
Great post Mark, it was exciting just reading about the performance – ahhh, can you sing a few numbers for us? ha! Thanks.
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You fixed Santana’s place in our musical universe so well, Paul, as a guitar glue that fastened others’ work together as a collaborator. Indeed that is so true.
Yes, I lucked out that this extra section of seats was deemed fan-worthy — and half-price! — that day I walked up to the box office. The view was perfect and the show rocked our world.
Thanks for being a part of the after-effects. But I’ll take a pass on the singing suggestion for everybody’s sake. 🙂
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I sat in an obstructed view seat once I was younger and just so happy to be there and be able to listen to the live music. The band I saw still knew we were there and put on a great show, sometimes it is the only choice although I wouldn’t prefer it of course! : )
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I also have purchased seats to see my favorite, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, behind the stage, on several occasions, and at all times, at least one of the musicians made sure to be facing in our direction. Of course, the whole arena was full and happy and rocking that way.
Thanks for stopping by and adding to the show here!
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I’m glad you and Dear Wife Karen had such a good time.
I never had the chance to go see concerts growing up, or raising kids, etc….
But I’ve seen a few in the last ten years or so. We got “nose bleed” tickets to see Barry Manilow. Hands down a fantastic performer. I give that man credit for rolling with the jokes all of these years. Anyway, we got bumped! They moved us right down front and center. 🙂 A little ways back for my camera to take pictures, but much closer than we were! It was wonderful.
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That is so great that you got bumped up close, Colleen. It couldn’t happen to a better person. Very deserved after all those years of not being able to go to concerts at all. I was fortunate enought to go see
Barry M in concert, on the top section, and I loved it. At the Copa, Copacabana … one of my favorite songs, ever!
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There aren’t too many Barry songs I don’t like. He wrote the music you know, and I have ridden many hundreds of miles with him in my ear singing away. And thanks. 🙂
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Jingo!!! Carlos Santana is amazing. As ling as the music isn’t hindered I don’t mind having a bad seat. Happy Birthday, Karen. 🙂
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Isn’t ‘Jingo’ a soul-cleanser, Aud? I will pass along your wishes, again, to Karen!
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I do enjoy that one, any really. 🙂
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As you know, I LOVE Santana! Only 5000 people? Even at the far end you would be close. What a great birthday week present!
Diana xo
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Yes, it’s a small and simple arena, Diana. My dentist yesterday when I asked him if he’d gone — he’s a huge music fan — he derisively called it “The Gym.” Yes, the floor is flat but as you said, every seat is close to the stage. 🙂 And our generation so much loves Santana because we are smart!
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Yes. We. Are. Smart. 😉
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Carlos Santana for $28.50–wow. Beth makes good points–stuff just works out. And aren’t you the sweetest to spend money given to you by DWKaren on a bday gift for DWKaren. You’ve been married how long? What a wonderful couple you make! So glad you can celebrate together.
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I know, Carlos for $28.50 is a bargain basement Filene’s Costco Outlet Center type deal, especially since the view was not obstructed at all! Hooooo-hah!
I really thought one day this summer I was going to use the big bulk of my gift card to play one of Turning Stone’s outlandishly expensive resort PGA qualifty golf courses and have lunch with my best friend, but that day turned out stormy, so instead we limited to the lunch buffet and a round on the nine-hole course instead, $20 each instead of $150 each. Summer winding down and conflicting schedules made another trip to the resort course for us out. The $150 fee was the cut rate, weekdays, after 2 p.m. Weekends it’s $250! So spending it on DWKaren, who gave it to me in the first place, is an excellent alternative, I think.
Our sixth anniversary is Oct. 27. We got married on the fifth anniversary of our first date, eloping to Niagara Falls. Yeah, it’s a great thing.
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oh wow, you’re totally newlyweds! No wonder the great romance 🙂 Sounds like it was a whirlwind. Nice!
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How long for you and Larry? Between 15 and 20, I’d guess? I don’t consider Karen and I newlyweds any longer, what with six years official and 11 years total soon. But nice it is. 🙂
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We celebrated 20 in Bardstown! Funny how different couples have different stories.
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Ah, yes, 20 in Bardstown. Two decades with bourbonalicious. That is a great story for you and Larry, my friend. 🙂
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sounds like that all worked out well, where there’s a will, there’s a way – seats and pricing and performance all good, and showgirls to boot! ) i’ve gone to obstructed view sports events and been very happy too )
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Yes, Beth, the will is the most important part. I actually cracked up laughing at the sight of the showgirls with the peacock hats. It struck me as funny at a Carlos Santana concert. MIchael Buble or Wayne Newton, more likely. In baseball and football, obstructed view can only take away part of the big fied. (Better not be the pitcher’s mound or home plate, though.) Hockey or basketball could be more problematic!
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Black Magic Woman! 🙂 Then “Oy Ye Como Va” (or however it is spelled!).
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He played them back-to-back, just like on the “Abraxas” album, Jeanette. You would have been in Carlos heaven!
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I wouldn’t dare buy an obstructed view seat, but we have established my love of seat choice. I would love to hear Carlos do anything, but especially Maria, Maria. Im so glad Karen has had a great birthday week!
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I remember your up-front seating preference, Apple Pie! ‘Maria, Maria,’ thus you share good tastes with Kerbey.
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I have to go with my middle name: Maria, Maria. At first, I was about to admit how “current” that song is, but LOL it’s from the dang 90s. $28.50 is a steal. I don’t go to concerts any more but I do remember seeing Prince in 1984 when I was a wee one, and there was a pole in front of our seats. So if we wanted to see him, we’d lean left. If we wanted to see Sheila E playing drums, we’d lean right. I didn’t complain since I didn’t pay for the tickets. A showing starting at 7:07 would be right up my alley!
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He played ‘Maria, Maria,’ Kerbey, and I too feel like it’s a relative new one in his repertoire. We are getting kind of up there musically. 🙂 I saw Prince on that 1984 tour, and leaned to the right to watch Sheila E on drums. A lot. I was just a young single cat infatuated with the beat. Ha!
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