go to a political rally

How I did it: One of my friends had mad love for Sarah Palin, so when we heard she was going to be in the next town over, we were ecstatic!  The only problem was that neither of us wanted to call the Republican Headquarters to get the tickets.  So we almost didn't go.

Last minute though, I managed to find someone giving away their Sarah Palin tickets!  I called my friend, hopped in the car, and off we went!  We got there just before it started, realized the stadium was full, but the line was still moving - they were shuffling people onto the outfield!  We were still going to get in!

We had to stand the entire time, and we couldn't see or hear anything happening on stage very well, but for me, it was still an amazing experience.  I was standing in the outfield of Bowman Field, with Sarah Palin a couple hundred yards away.

Lessons & tips:

• Be sure you know what time the rally begins, where it's being held, and how to get there.  As this was a last minute trip for us, we had no directions to the ballpark and had to stop at a gas station and ask.  You don't want to have to do this, especially if you're running late.
• Know whether it's being held outdoors or inside, and dress accordingly.  The one we went to was (obviously) an outdoor rally, and I was barely warm enough in my winter jacket.
• If you're really interested in hearing the speaker, get there early!  The rally we went to started at 7, but we heard people started showing up as early as noon.  If you don't want to be stuck in the standing-room-only crowd at the back, get there with plenty of time to spare.
• Of course, if you go that early, you're going to need something to do.  Take a book!
• ALWAYS be aware that security at events like this can be pretty strict.  Leave anything that might be considered a weapon at home, even if it's just a pair of sewing scissors.
• Be courteous - no one likes an ugly crowd.  There will likely be groups with opposing views protesting nearby, but this does not give you license to be rude to them.  Even if you find the protesters annoying, do your best to ignore them. (There will probably be riot police on standby to remind you of this.)
• For this particular event, the tickets seemed to be merely a formality - we were not checked for tickets at the gate, and there were obviously more people with tickets than seats in the stadium.  Be aware of this when planning your arrival time. (DO NOT, however, assume that you do not need a ticket - some events are more strict than others.)
• Bring something to do in the parking lot.  We were stuck there for over an hour, waiting for traffic to clear up.  If I do this again, I'm going to have fun with this part - put food in the back and have a post-political rally picnic! :D

Nov 13, 2008, 01:39PM PST | 0 comments