The Eras Tour

So, to preface my experience in the Taylor Swift universe.. I am a late-blooming swiftie. I did not truly get into Taylor Swift until the Red (Taylor’s Version) re-record. All things aside though, I am an emo kid at heart. You can find me in local-show mosh pits, crowd surfing and head-banging the night away. However, I got into Swift’s music when I discovered Dan Campbell’s (of The Wonder Years) cover of All Too Well. I loved it, and soon realized what a lyrical genius Taylor Swift is.

When my mom died, and when I was on bereavement leave from work, was around the time that Midnights was released. The Eras Tour announcement shortly followed and took the internet by storm.

It was, in short, my fixation. I obsessed over the Taylor Swift subreddit and have probably watched thousands of TikTok’s about Taylor, her personal life, and her career. I’ve since watched her Miss Americana Netflix documentary, the Reputation Stadium World Tour, and the 1989 World Tour. I have listened to her entire discography at this point and fallen down a Swift-sized rabbit hole. I watched livestreams of people buying tickets and followed the Ticketmaster fiasco closely. I didn’t know about the verified fan nonsense and did not have a Capitol One card so I did not have access to the ticket sale myself, but still watched it closely. Taylor Swift was, in short, my chosen coping mechanism for my mom’s death.

I came to terms with the fact that I wouldn’t be able to attend one of the iconic shows and soon accepted it.

However! However, however, however . . . On one fateful day where my closest friends pulled me out of bed for a quick BreadCo. date, I heard the fateful words, “I have an extra ticket” from my best friend’s little sister.

So, by sheer grace and luck, I was going to attend The Eras Tour in Detroit.

I tried to hide my excitement and play it cool, but I was immediately preparing. The group I was adopted into delegated to pick eras to dress up as. Seeing as Reputation was taken, I delegated for 1989. I ordered a rendition of one of Taylor’s outfits she wore on her 1989 world tour and it came out SWIMMINGLY! I even chopped my hair for the occasion, much like the style she sported at the time.

I purchased a flight to Detroit, watched all the livestreams on TikTok of her concerts prior, and kept track of the Easter eggs. Much to my pleasure, the summer of 2023 turned out to be one of reclaiming femininity. I was unapologetically going to the Eras Tour, screaming and dancing to a female artist dominating the world, and enjoying it with a mostly-feminine audience across all age groups.

The Eras Tour became the exclusive event of the year. Celebrities were sited at every single show, the merchandise lines were often ridiculously long, and every seat was packed with swifties. This was, undoubtedly, the event of the summer. Everyone showed up in costume, ranging from the obvious to the slightest of Taylor references. It was incredible to watch how this woman took over the entire world with her iconic tour.

And so, the weekend finally came. We planned meticulously, learning from the horrors we saw on TikTok about horrendously long lines, bag policies, and everything else. I was prepared. I did all the research I could have. I packed my transparent crossbody bag within stadium guidelines. I had my friendship bracelets ready to trade, a collapsable water bottle, a portable charger, and even ear plugs (a first for me, but came highly recommended by previous Eras concert goers).

I was even more fortuitous that the group I was going with lived in Detroit. So, they were able to go to the merch truck a day early. We all got the exclusive blue crewnecks in all our desired sizes and the concert-exclusive version of the Midnights CD that was the only version of anything to include Taylor’s song: You’re Losing Me. Things could not be going better for us.

The day was magic. We parked at the very front of a parking garage near the stadium around noon, spent the day in downtown Detroit, and went back to the car to get dressed and do our makeup before securing a place in line to get into the stadium. Even in the parking garage, everyone was getting ready. We were already trading friendship bracelets. I signed someone’s Junior Jewels t-shirt (from the You Belong With Me music video, AH!), was asked to be in a couple of people’s TikToks, and we joined the crowd in conducting photo-shoots of our outfits and commemorating our very presence at the exclusive event.

Inside the stadium was more or less of the same. We got Taylor-themed drinks from the bar, took so many pictures, and got to our seats.

Now, for the actual show. It was incredible.

It was a production of 17 years of musical history, era after era, going from genre to genre. There were amazing costume changes, immaculate set design, and I felt that every era got its own moment.

When I say it was a production, I mean that as much as any broadway musical. Every era had a set, costume, and stage design finely attuned to itself. It was beautiful. All of these songs that I, along with thousands of other people sharing a roof, grew up with. The energy was insane. The vibes were immaculate. Coming from someone who has gone to a LOT of concerts, this one is the best one I have ever been to. The hype is deserved, Taylor Swift is a mastermind, and I will forever be a supporter of her’s.

I am even more fortunate to have received a code for the second leg of the US Tour taking place in fall of 2024. I successfully got tickets, and will be taking my best friends to Indianapolis to see her. I cannot wait to experience it again. I also can’t wait to see how she changes and adds to the setlist.

Taylor Swift’s music career, all the easter eggs and surprises, is my favorite hobby. I cannot wait to see her again in 2024. I will be enchanted to meet her . . . again :)