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Luther students meet *NSYNC, no strings attached

Date 12/7/2000 12:00 AM | Topic: Features

Security guards stuffed three Luther students into a conference room with over a hundred young women and men. Tears streamed down some cheeks while others shook in excitement. All waited for Lance Bass, Justin Timberlake, J.C. Chasez, Joey Fatone Jr. and Chris Kirkpatrick, the men that make up the band *NSYNC, to occupy the chairs at the front of the room.

For Jennifer Gulsvig ('02), Audra Burk ('02) and Dan Johnson ('01), the Nov. 18 event came over a month after they first heard of the possibility of going to the *NSYNC show at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wis.

A connection between Gulsvig and singer Bass made the free concert tickets and backstage passes possible for the Luther students and friends Matt Parker and Chris Margello, who joined them for the show.

Gulsvig's connection to *NSYNC began at Show Choir Camps of America in Decatur, Ill., where she became friends with Darren Dale, singer Lance Bass' friend from Clinton, Miss. In September, Dale proposed arranging to get tickets through Bass for Gulsvig, who has kept in touch with Dale for three years.

With the concert only days away, Gulsvig did not receive the finalization until Nov. 14, Johnson's 22nd birthday.

"I had just said a little prayer and as soon as I laid my hands in my lap, the phone rang," Johnson said. According to Johnson, he answered the phone singing *NSYNC's "Bye, Bye, Bye" and after Gulsvig told him Dale had gotten hold of Bass for their tickets, Johnson "ran around the house screaming."

With no tangible tickets in their hands, Gulsvig, Burk and Johnson left campus, arriving in Milwaukee by 2:30 p.m. At that time, *NSYNC had not yet arrived, therefore neither had their tickets.

"It turned out that the guys in the band didn't put the tickets out until one hour before the show," Burk said. "It would have been too late for the Meet and Greet."

According to Burk, Gulsvig approached a guard and "laid it down. The guard was so nice. He checked things out and then got us in."

Gulsvig said, "When we got into the room, a lady came out and gave us the rules like, no flashes, you can give them gifts, but you can't touch them and you can only give them one thing to sign."

"And they push you through that line," Johnson added.

Burk took the autograph opportunity to get a Christmas present for her 10-year-old brother Aaron.

"Aaron wants to be J.C.," said Burk. "He only knows that I went to the concert. When he asked if I met them, I told him we were close enough it seemed like we met them. I guess I kind of lied to him."

Gulsvig said they were able to stay after the Meet and Greet to meet the band because Bass knew who they were and because of Parker's ingenuity.

"Matt said it was his dream to meet *NSYNC," Gulsvig said. "He asked to get a group photo so we waited until everyone left. Then it was just us and *NSYNC."

When waiting for the Meet and Greet to end, Gulsvig said there was a girl in a wheelchair who couldn't speak. Gulsvig said all five band members went over to the girl and communicated with her by using the small computer she had with her.

"Watching them interact with her was my favorite moment of the night," Gulsvig said. "All the guys in the group made it a point to point to her during the concert. Chris even gave her his towel."

The encounter marked an opportunity for Johnson to meet his idol, singer Justin Timberlake.

"Meeting Justin was the culmination of all my hopes and dreams. I had built up this whole thing about meeting my idol and he turned out to be excess crabby that night."

According to Johnson, "Justin redeemed himself in concert. There was a moment on stage when Justin recognized us, pointed to me and sang a scream into the microphone. Everyone turned to stare at me."

Burk thinks *NSYNC's on-stage energy is worth noting.

"They do a really good job of putting on a fun show," Burk said. "The performance aspect is something you have to appreciate whether or not you necessarily like the music."

The performance was Gulsvig's fifth show, and she said she appreciates the generosity of Bass in particular.

"It is the fifth time Lance has gotten me tickets. He never forgets and even in the confusion I believed in Lance the whole time."

Gulsvig added, "Lance is the most down-to-earth. He still gets nervous before concerts."

Johnson said the night resulted in some prioritizing.

"I've had to rethink all my life goals. Honestly, it was one of my dreams to meet them. This gives me a whole new perspective because I realize the human level of fame."

When asked if Burk would enjoy seeing the band in concert again, she said, "I would go again. I can get into the dancing and have a lot of fun, but no screaming for me."

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Amy Domaszek
Chips News Co-Editor

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