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Ron Onesti: Thankful to help fulfill 'bucket lists'

No, my friends, Thank YOU!

Like so many other columnists, writers and reporters, Thanksgiving is the week of the year that I truly take a few steps back and reflect on my blessings. Professionally, I can honestly say things have never been better! The Arcada Theatre is flourishing, and as the No. 1 live music venue in the Midwest, no other place features more classic acts from the '60s, '70s and '80s than us! And we have featured more Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famers on our historic stage than almost any other venue in the country! Pretty impressive, if I do say so myself!

I have a unique opportunity to, in my own little way, affect the lives of hundreds of people each week. Think about it … in every 950-guest audience, at least one person had lost a loved one recently, lost a job, fought at home or just had a bad day. We at The Arcada feel that we have a responsibility to take those people away from it all, even if it is for just a couple of hours.

The other day, I received an email from a caretaker of a young man with a horribly debilitating disease who uses a wheelchair. This young music lover cannot readily communicate, can't really change his facial expressions and can hardly move in his chair. Yet, he loves coming by us. His caretaker says he can feel the music, and he loves our place. "He looks forward to your hug when he comes by you," the caretaker said. "His face truly lights up when he sees you."

His letter said that they attempted to go to a concert at a large venue downtown. They went on to describe a horribly difficult time they had at this show. "It was a cold experience and they treated us terribly. It wasn't like being at The Arcada," he said. "What a wonderful trophy to have," I thought.

One of my favorite things to see at the shows is an adult with a young child, exposing the kid to the classic music of the '60s, '70s and '80s. To see a dad with his 12-year-old son sporting a Led Zeppelin T-shirt, or a mom and her two young daughters enjoying Pat Benatar together … it really warms my heart!

Here's another one: When someone brings their parent to a show that they wouldn't normally attend, but are there just to share an experience with their parent or other senior loved one. When we do our Sinatra shows, our Glenn Miller Orchestra dances or our '50s Sock Hops, it is always really fun when a customer of ours introduces us to his or her 75-year-old parent while they dance together. Talk about a warm feeling!

Of course, we get quite a few people at our place on a romantic date night, sometimes a first date, sometimes celebrating a 20th anniversary. The music really becomes the catalyst for a fabulous night, something that greatly contributes to the health of a good relationship. Pretty powerful stuff, when you think about it!

Recently, just before a show was to start, I was making my usual rounds welcoming guests throughout the audience when I happened upon a young man sitting in the front row with his dad. He was 12 years old, and he was at a Neil Sedaka concert!

"What are you doing here?" I asked. The father told me that the boy was really good at the piano, but needed a push to stick with it. Neil Sedaka is a world-class player, and a legendary singer/songwriter. He thought a close-up experience watching someone of the caliber of Sedaka may inspire his son to give the piano the attention it deserves. Sedaka was incredible, and his performance was enough to reignite the excitement into the young player, just as his dad had hoped. He went on to say that his son's piano teacher was really great, but had no place to hold his school recital. "Have it by me," I yelped.

"Really?" his father asked. "Absolutely!" I answered. Two weeks later, I had a 100 kids in my place, showing off their skills and exhibiting a certain pride in their craft on a big stage in front of their families. How cool was that? I do have a slight ulterior motive here. These 12-year-olds will be ticket-buyers someday!

At the risk of putting myself in a tough position, I also have occasionally been able to bring a few guests into our dressing rooms to meet the band of their dreams. Most of my contemporaries in the industry really try to shy away from the meet-and-greet initiative because it is usually difficult, time-consuming and something the artist is rarely happy about.

But I do it as much as possible because I feel that I have some responsibility to help keep this music alive. The best way to do that is to engage with the audience. But when I am down in the dressing rooms with the act and my security force brings down some meet-and-greet guests I previously approved, I really get a kick out of seeing how excited that person gets over meeting his or her childhood hero. I have seen people cry, some get tongue-tied - definitely a bucket-list activity. I always felt that I was lucky to be able to help people with their "bucket lists!" Really, how many people get that kind of an opportunity?

And when the artists are fan-friendly, that just makes it more of an amazing experience. The Monkees' Davy Jones had proclaimed to the audience after his encore how much he loved The Arcada and its audience … so much that he would love to hug each and every one of them! Well, after the show, NOBODY left! I told him that we had 900 people waiting for their hugs! He spent over three hours hugging every one of them! Class act, he was.

Or when I had a local all-girl band open for their absolute hero, Pat Benatar. Pat heard about this, and brought them into her dressing room and gave advice to the 15-year-old budding rockers. Life changing!

How about the time when a girl with a brain tumor contacted me as her "life dream" of meeting Bret Michaels of Poison? I asked him for this favor and he said, "Absolutely, no question!" He came off the bus, and really spent some quality time with her. We parked her wheelchair right in front of the stage and she had the time of her life. He even invited her to his next show! I recently heard from her: Her tumor has left her, she is feeling better and she said that it was that day that she decided she was going to get better!

Country music superstar Vince Gill is a great friend and one of the nicest people I have ever met in music. I told him that a family drove in from Alabama to see him. He asked, "Where are they now?" I told him that they were at dinner across the street. He said, "Come on, let's go." So we walked across the street into the restaurant, filled with preconcert diners. He went table to table, posing for pictures and talking with fans. Then, as he walked out, someone in front of the bar next door said, "Hey Vince!" So he went in there and said hello to all the people! Amazing.

I could go on and on about our little way of touching people. So many people thank me and my staff for these great experiences. Little do they know that deep inside, WE are thanking them! We get the opportunity to help people, using music and a little bit of heart. Really, I am the lucky one!

• Ron Onesti is president and CEO of The Onesti Entertainment Corp. and The Historic Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. Celebrity questions and comments? Email ron@oshows.com.

Gramy Award-winning singer and songwriter Pat Benatar gave career advice in her dressing room with her opening act, a local all-girl band that opened for her at the Arcada Theatre. Photo courtesy of Pat Benatar
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