Roadshow - the first, Anastacia in Hamburg
by Tatjana, August 17th 2006
Unfortunately I cannot report about Anastacia´s arrival with the bus or the 30-minute-interview on stade cuz I was already standing in the waiting zone for the meet & greet and I couldn't see much of all that. We were attended by a s.Oliver - "manager" in that waiting zone and he told us how we should behave during the meet & greet. He also depicted the exact order of events

Arrival with the bus, ca. 15 minutes interview on stade (its been longer), picture with the employees, admission of the meet & greet winners, official launching in the store, meet & greet, interviews with the press. Okay, that was the order of events!
We got VIP ID cards then and a DIN A4 photo for the autograph. In advance we had to pen our names on a post it so that Ana could fastly write them later.
At this point I could not deny myself of giving a comment on the retouched-mistakes. In addition all winners got a t-shirt with the overprint 17.A.06 and a credit note for shopping - value € 40,-. I can tell ya, it wasn´t easy to take all that cuz I had presents of some fans with me to give them to Anastacia later. But it had not worked out. All presents had to be given up with the assurance that Ana would get them. So it said waiting and I trying to catch a view of this cute lady. During the waiting Patrice came with his camera team and tried to do an interview with us.
And who was the first immolation?! Right - it was me. I dont even know his first question anymore cuz I was busy with stacking all the presents. And as Patrice hold the microphone under my nose I was just like : "umm,aaw,...".
GOOD JOB! Then his second question : "What are u going to say to Anastacia at first?" And I did again that GREAT JOB and answered : "umm,aaw,..." - all people were laughing, so did Patrice. Embarrassing! Now I should say what I like on Ana in 3 seconds. I couldn´t answer to that cuz the idea rushed into my head that HE would be the best one to know an answer to that question! But I couldn´t say something like this. He asked another one then but her expressions were almost the same as mine.
Finally Patrice and I made a lil deal. If my first words to Ana would really be "umm,aaw,..." I would get a t-shirt. We sealed that deal with a handshake. And we had to keep on waiting then. In the meantime the presents of the fans were collected and brought into the store. Also the bunch of flowers - that some fans bought before. Melanie was the lucky winner of the audience who won a meet & greet. Now the time had come. The interview on stage was finished and Ana went into the s.Oliver store. A few minutes later we were allowed to go in too. In the middle of the store, in front of the Anastacia World, was a little barrier and the red ligament for the launching between two coat-trees. The girls posed themselves around the Anastacia World.
The reporter and camera teams went into the right position. Then Anastacia came to the front of the store and the cameras began to flash! First of all Ana got a huge bunch of flowers and then she cut off the red ligament. The reporters shouted that she should cut the ligament slowly. What a fuss!
After the official launching the reporters requested to restrain a bit. A little praise by the way! The s.Oliver crew always watched for the reporters to stand on the left side so that the fans on the right had a unconfined view on Ana! THANKS!
Now the meet & greet began. At first the winner of the first prize. She got a credit note of € 200,-. Handed by Anastacia. One by one we were allowed to go to her. Now it was me. She already greeted me on the short way. And then she hugged me - very unexpected. WOW - she asked me how I was doing etc..
Then I gave her the photo for the autograph. While she was signing I talked to her a bit and tried to tell her that I brought some present of her Fans and also a big bunch of flowers would be waiting for her in the store. Oh man, I couldn´t find the word for BUNCH OF FLOWERS. So I tried to explain it while gesticulating. She smiled at me and I knew that she understood. So she raised her arm and asked for the retention of the presents. Then she finished my autograph. I wanted to put myself into the right position for the photographer but Anastacia hugged me and I got a kiss - left and right.
That woman really is unpredictable - WOHOOOO - I was flabbergasted. It was hard. My pulse went up very high. I cant describe it. After that I wanted to go back like a good girl but Anastacia said : "Hey stay here". Gosh, I forgot the photo. Thanks Ana for reminding. Embarrassing but who can think in such a situation? I guess that the photo is gonna look like totally silly. Yup, and that was MY time close to Anastacia.
To be honest I was standing there a bit longer that the others did. Back behind the barrier I took my cam and made a few pictures. I had to turn off the flash, thats why all of my pictures are very blurred now. As all winners were ready, the way was free for the press. She was interviewed by all big tv-channels and radioteams. Then it was ZDF's turn and Ana saw the letters beside the camera. She posed herself right away into the right position and said : "Mit dem zweiten sieht man besser". LOL!!! I couldn´t contain myself and started jubilating. Ana had to laugh too and said that she had to learn that sentence in only 12 hours and was amazed that she can still pronounce it that good.
AMAZING! You couldn´t understand what she was saying in the interviews cuz Ana was speaking a bit quiet and it was also very loud in the store. So the time went off too fast and at 1:15 p.m. we had to leave the store. I asked someone of the crew if Ana would leave at the main entrance or back entrance
- but I didn´t get a precise answer. It was obvious that she would leave the store at the back. It was an awesome experience to be offstage to see how a working-journey of Ana looks like. The meet & greet is/will be the best thing!
I hope I didn´t forget anything.
Anastacia - " You are my bird in the sky "
A big thank you to s.Oliver and Anastacia

Roadshow - second one, Anastacia in Cologne by Carmen, August 17th 2006
At 9:00 a.m. we went out of our beds and got some coffee and a lil breakfast from the bakery opposite the house. Jogi and Tani rolled along and at 11:00 a.m. we took Carmens and Jogis car to head out for Cologne. Before that we collected Tanja. We arrived at 2:30 p.m. - much later than we had expected but there was a redirection on our way and in addition we had a lil problem with the gas. The tank was empty and the next petrol station didn´t want to come.
Sandra, Marion, Ronald and the other Dutchies were already waiting for us. As they finished building up the stage, we got into the fanzone that was located next to it. Babs and Carmen were searching for the fanbox, cuz they already won a meet & greet and had to assemble there.
At 4:45 p.m. they disappeared and I just thought: Oh, you lucky girls! - but suddenly the presenter shouted my name. Before I realized that I won another meet & greet with her, I stood on stage and the presenter asked me what I wanna ask Ana when I gotta see her. To tell the truth I dont even know what I said anymore, cuz I just thought about meeting her in some minutes. I got my VIP ID card and a very nice employe of s.Oliver took my hand and brought me to Babs and the others who were waiting in front of the entrance. Then I got a photo that should be signed of Ana later. I was so excited but not excited enough to sing "Left outside alone" for the radio in Cologne with Babs. Thereupon the black bus with the A arrived and the models came out. We couldn´t see much of all that but we didn´t care about it at that moment. Then Ana came out - she looked gorgeous.
I like best when she wears jeans and a top with bundled hair. She took her time out for giving autographs and among other things Corxy got the FREAK on her forearm to let it be tattooed afterwards. After a short interview on stage and a lil serenade of "I'm outta love", she left the stage and was guided into the store. We gotta put ourselves in one row in the first floor.
After that Ana approached and I was the second one who were pushed by a security man to get to her. Anastacia realized my red shirt and asked if I would be new in the fanclub. I answered with "no, already a year" and then she said that I should account myself lucky to be a part of such a great group! (and thats what I am!) She signed my picture, gave me a hug and a little kiss on the cheek. Babs consigned some letters to Ana and she was very pleased. However there wasn’t enough time for babs to talk to Ana because she pushed her to a Lady from the management to compare information. After everything had been signed, I didn’t see Ana again and I thought: "That’s it now" …but who knew. She’d only went away for a short time-out to drink something but was right back to give more interviews. We stood very close to her for the whole time and made photos or camcorded. It was so awesome to be so close to her for such a long time like this was. After round about 45 minutes all of the "press people" had been gone and Ana asked her management if there’s still something left to do and she answered: "Right now we’re going to make a video just for the fans" I refused to believe it, and I was so surprised that Babs asked for it!!! And then Ana who didn’t know what she did there, stood directly in front of Babs cam. But then she devoted some wonderful words to all of her fans followed by a "group hug" that she gave to Babs, Carmen and me so lovely. Still muzzy from Ana we left the store and right away we were asked about every little detail by some little girls who stood outside. After that we all went to the "Hard Rock Café" which was a colourful meeting of some countries. Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and we, the Austrians all congregated on one table. Still cool how many new connections you can find.
We hadn’t eaten anything the whole day until that point. I’ve never loved my chicken wings like I did on this day. Later we said goodbye, ready to leave the area. Too silly that Carmen lost the ticket in the park garage and we caused a traffic jam. But when she’d found the ticket it didn’t work and so we tried to get out with tickets of the cars behind us. At the end we had to call the watchman who helped us to get out of this garage whose turns were too strait. Then we drove back to Frankfurt in Jogis car and Carmen brought Tanja back home.
As we arrived in Frankfurt, Babs and Carmen uploaded the videomessage and we had time to get online a bit. But then it was time to leave. At 2 a.m. Babs, me, Sabrina and Fede head out for Vienna. While saying goodbye Carmen gave us some "Guarana-keep-awake-pills" - cuz we still had a long way to go.

Roadshow - the fourth, Anastacia in Vienna - by Carmen, August 18th 2006
Huge compliment to Babs!!! Except for a little stopover at her place in Dorf, where we got breakfast from her mum, she drove non-stop all the way to Vienna! Surely also because she took 9 pills, whereat a little later I read on the top of the box that one can't take more than 5 a day.
Earlier than expected we arrived in Vienna in the forenoon tired but excited. Dagi, who came by train, came almost at the same time. We looked around in front of the s.Oliver store at the Mariahilferstraße. The built up only just began and so we went for lunch where also Susi, Angi and Corxy with a friend joined us.

...and then 2 minutes become eternity!
by Catie, August 18th 2006
The whole day the excitement about the upcoming event increased. I got up in the morning, thinking I'd have a lot to do - turned out to be a little misapprehension. When you know Babs and the Fanclub members, you know that it's absolutely indispensable to be very early at the venue. So - after I prepared everything for the fanclub members' accommodation in my flat I headed for Mariahilferstraße in Vienna .
Today Ana will present her fashion line by s.Oliver here. I already see some red T-shirts. When I say hi to Babs, Dagmar and the others I had a big smile on my face. I'm happy and don't think about anything else. At this point of time I didn't know that a really incomparable day had begun. I'm so excited, I even can't eat. I already had breakfast, so why eat more? But I didn't take enough to drink with me. So we wait in front of the s.Oliver store.
Babs looks really done, because she is on tour with the others since 2:00 am. From about 3:00 pm on it gets more crowded and it's hard for the crew to put up the barriers - the typical problem with "making the city more green" in Vienna (trees that grow exactly where no one needs them). The especially built fanzone is not that big but the fanclub gets in first.
I await things kinda relaxed again and stay with Babs behind the others. It gets cramped more and more. From all this waiting my feet start to hurt and for a short moment I ask myself if this is really worth it. I don't HAVE to be in the front row, as long as I can take a look at my idol. Somehow I'm tired of waiting. Next to me a young man starts to dodder, obviously he has a circulation breakdown. But we can handle that and the boy can be guided to the ambulance. In the meantime it got so crowded that the traffic is about to collapse. Some hours ago I joked that they should lock up the Mariahilferstraße. Well, that's what they finally had to do!
The people who wanted to pass the store had only the chance to either take the other side of the street or try their luck on the street. A lot of impressions that came over me. A Benni Hoertnagel who's getting more and more problems with presenting because he can no longer think of anything meaningful to say to shorten the waiting time for the crowd. So I didn't realize right away that Babs is calling me right before Ana is coming.
Since she actually has another meet & greet she is standing in the VIP area waving me to come to her. I look at her astonished and she tells me as cool as always: "You have a meet & greet today"! "No! I don't believe that!" And then Babs has a big grin on her face. Suddenly I feel my knees getting weak and my pulse starts to speed. It's running through my head that I will meet her face to face today - not only from a 2 meter distance like at the concert in Salzburg, but so close that I can shake her hand, hug her and tell her how happy I am to have met her. That I'm also a survivor-chick myself because I also had breast cancer and her music had helped me to get through a very hard time.
4 more fans get an introduction with us about what the management admits and what not. We get a big autograph card, a VIP pass and a voucher from s.Oliver. I still have the feeling I'm dreaming. When someone pinches me now, I wake up and everything's over!! But, no! I'm with the other fans waiting for her arrival. And finally a huge black bus arrives and one by one the Bodyguards, the Models and Ana get out of it. The mood is so full of suspense - it literally crackles!!! The crowd blusters when she greets the fans.
Down the entire Mariahilferstraße screaming and waving fans. Even the stores on the other side of the street are full of onlookers. And I - I stand here and have the feeling to be something special today. Although I don't look like that at all. I wear no make up, my hairstyle is none and I'm almost ashamed to stand between all those slim women and people and wait to get a personal autograph from Anastacia and to talk to her. Do I really deserve it??? But then there's no more time to think about it. We walk into the store and wait till all the journalists made their interviews and took their pics. Then, one by one, we are guided to Ana. The winner of the Ö3 game is first. She also got a voucher over 250 € from s.Oliver. Then it's our turn. The excitement rises enormously as there is only one person before me. Then I can go to her.
I give her my autograph card with a post-it on it on which my nickname is written. And she smiles at me "Hi Catie! How are you?" "Fine thanks!" my almost shy response, and then "I have to say - I'm also a survivor. I had breast cancer too and your music was an inspiration and helped me through a very hard time! Thank you for it!" "Oh, really? And how long are you healthy now?" "For (and there came my fatal mistake because of the excitement and Anastacia's overwhelming personality) five years!" "Congratulations!" Then the photo and "Bye, bye!" That was it - seconds that seem like eternity.
Still impressed by this experience, but the mood is absolutely euphoric. I've seen her!!! And I'm gonna get a photo of her and me - what could be more personal? And in all this excitement I didn't even give Babs a hug and say "Thank you!" But she saw it in my eyes - they beamed, like everyone's eyes who had the great fortune to meet her.
Since this was so great, unique and wonderful for me, I wanna finish my report at this point. Because I can't write about how the others felt. I also don't know how the Italians, Carmen, Dagmar and Babs liked it at my place - cause they stayed over at my place.
But I wanted everyone to be part of all the impressions, which I connected to one of the most wonderful days in the past 4 years in which I went through a lot of highs and lows.