I took my brother to see Britney Spears perform at the Sacramento Valley Amphitheatre, some 20-odd miles north of downtown Sacramento. It was a hot day in the valley and we had lawn tickets so we had to get there early to stand in line for good seats. The SVA is a relatively new facility, but amphitheatres are built more or less the same. There is a stage in front, regular seats in front of the stage, then the lawn behind the seating area. The lawn is on an artificial hill that slopes towards the stage. At the front of the lawn are a couple of suspended big screens where the main action is projected because the people on the stage are these tiny figures that you can barely make out. Behind the stage are the concession stands and other facilities.

We arrived a little before 17:00. Abundant free parking in some dirt fields next to the amphitheatre, attendants routing cars to form makeshift parking lanes. The concert was sold out so there wouldn't be enough parking if people didn't carpool heavily. Parking outside the SVA property is along the rural road that feeds the SVA. Local police set up emergency cones to direct traffic. Lots of people already there and forming a long line a half-dozen people wide. It took us a few minutes to walk to the end of the line, which ran up the hill and behind the lawn seating area. Here the line was only one or two people wide with a plastic fence on one side and the rather steep side of the hill on the other side. Luckily nobody tumbled down the hill.

The sun beats down on us as we wait for the gates to open at 17:30. On stage we can see through the fence that some people are rehearsing. Can't tell who it is by sight, but it's Britney, since they have the sound on. She goes through a couple of partial songs and cracks jokes with the other people. At least we know that this is not lip-synced. Lots of little kids. Actually, lots of little girls and their parents. Half the audience must be pre-teen girls, most of the rest are parents and teenaged girls. Some guys, but not many. A passing girl asks her mom why there are teenaged guys in line. Now is not the time for "The Talk".

17:30 and the gates are opened. Eventually our section of the line starts moving forward. We plod down the hill, where the line widens up. People try to cut in and some do successfully. The attendants are telling the bystanders to wait until the line reaches them before joining, don't be impolite and cut in. Not extremely effective, but it sort of works. We walk a bit slowly so people pass us. Some dad accuses us of cutting in, we point out that we used to be in front of those people up there in the line. Tempers are flaring as people keep cutting in and upsetting the people who stood in line for a half hour or longer.

Big crowd at the entrance as the ticket takers are swamped. Our ticket taker is polite and cheerful, occassionally yelling out for people to prebend the tickets so that she can tear out the stubs faster. Outside the entrance there is a van from 105.1 FM, the local country station. It's playing music and the DJ's are interviewing people. We walk inside to the concession area. Very crowded. Food stands compete with makeshift bars and clubs that sell alcohol. You have to get tagged to be able to buy alcohol, and there is a three-drink limit. I decline the option.

We make our way up to the lawn, walking slowly along with a stream of people. You can rent lawn chairs for $5. I surmise correctly that they won't be all that useful once the concert starts and everyone stands up. The lawn is quite big and well grassed. Already lots of people have taken the front of the lawn area closest to the stage. We make our way around to the far side where there are currently less people and we find an ok seat. Lay down our blankets and sit down to read and wait for the concert to start.

Chris decides to wander a bit and comes back a half hour later with some over- priced snacks. Vendors wander through the lawn crowd, selling glow sticks, photos, binoculars, cotton candy and drinks. Kids running around, people talking, sun still beating down but starting to set. Looks like it'll set down behind the hill -- a good spot because it lights the stage while it's up. Better than trying to see the stage with the sun setting down behind it.

(Continued in next entry...)