It's never without a drama

February 10, 2025

While waiting for concerts, you may come across different types of people—some listen to music, some jump the queue, some push constantly (don't push!), and some take it upon themselves to organize the uncoordinated crowd. Since 3 AM. One of these people is Francesco. Take a look at how he managed the monstrous queue in Düsseldorf and his peak Gaga moments.

Oh my god, I honestly don’t even know where to start because I have such mixed feelings about queuing for concerts these days, especially with early entry tickets—it’s a really tricky topic.

In general, I don’t think queuing or camping should be necessary for concerts. It can ruin the experience for fans who can’t camp or don’t want to, as it puts them at a disadvantage. That said, I knew people would camp regardless, so for the Chromatica Ball in Düsseldorf, my goal was to secure a front-row spot. It was the first tour I could attend since artRAVE in Zurich, as Gaga had to cancel the Joanne World Tour for my dates in Zurich and Cologne.

For Düsseldorf, my friends and I camped for three whole days—it was my first time ever doing that! We had the best time bonding with fellow Little Monsters, singing, chatting about Gaga, and even hearing the rehearsals through the ventilation system (if you know, you know). But it wasn’t without drama. Some fans didn’t like that we were camping and even threatened to call the police to have us removed, which I found really disheartening.

On the morning of the show, around 7 or 8 AM, the venue staff suddenly moved the early entry queue to a new location without much warning. This caused chaos because people who had just arrived managed to jump ahead, leaving the rest of us scrambling to figure it out. I tried to mediate and find a fair solution since we had been camping for days, but not everyone was willing to compromise. In the end, it kinda worked out—I still made it to the front row, though not at the center. I was on the right runway, where Gaga stopped for Free Woman. I was just grateful to be so close to her and even be at the Chromatica Ball to begin with.

There are so many profound moments that have shaped my life as a fan. From listening to The Fame CD for the first time in Italy in 2008, to the excitement (and chaos) when Applause leaked, to watching the Super Bowl performance live at 4am and feeling like that moment was truly for us. I’ll never forget the anticipation of waiting months for LG6 to finally be announced.

One of the most surreal moments was in Vegas during Jazz & Piano, when she came out in the car after the show, said hi to us, and put her paws up. I haven’t had the chance to meet her, get something signed, or take a picture with her, but that moment was still incredible. And of course, I’ll always treasure that night she liked my TikTok while i was having dinner with my parents and my boyfriend at a Restaurant —it was the first time she ever interacted with me, and it meant everything.

The most important show for me was probably the Born This Way Ball, because that was the day I realized I was gay. Later, at the artRAVE, I took a huge step and came out. Another unforgettable moment was during Jazz & Piano in 2024, when she performed La Vie en Rose. I’ve always dreamed of singing that song with her, and hearing her sing it that day hit me so deeply that I couldn’t stop crying. It was one of the most emotional experiences of my life.

I’ve never had the chance to meet her, talk to her, take a picture, or get something signed. In 2024, during one of her Vegas shows, I finally thought I had my moment. She stopped to greet fans for the first time in months, and I was sure I’d get something signed that day. Unfortunately, not all fans respected boundaries—they started pushing and screaming, which led to chaos. One girl even hit her head on Gaga’s car, and that’s when her team decided to leave. It was heartbreaking to lose that opportunity, and it was definitely one of the worst moments I’ve experienced as a fan.

But on the flip side, I also met some of the kindest and most incredible Little Monsters while waiting for Gaga in Vegas after a show. I made so many new friends who share the same love and passion for Gaga, and those connections made the experience truly special. That’s why, despite the challenges, it still stands out as one of the best moments for me.

I’ve been to two Enigma shows and one Jazz & Piano show in 2019, and I flew back to Vegas in 2024 for another Jazz & Piano show. Honestly, these trips were the best experiences of my entire life, and I’ll cherish those moments forever. That said, they’re definitely a challenge—mainly because it’s so expensive to get there!

But being there is truly special—not just because you get to see Gaga, but because you feel like you’re in a whole Gaga world for an entire week. It’s incredible to spend all that time talking and chatting about her 24/7, listening to her nonstop, visiting the Haus of Gaga to see all the iconic outfits, and waiting with fans to catch a glimpse of her. It’s such a unique and magical experience.

Despite all the traveling, queuing, and waiting over the past 17 years, I sadly have never had the chance to talk to her, take a picture with her, or have any real interaction—aside from her liking and commenting my TikToks. I have experienced many years with stan culture, and I partially love Stan Twitter—I’ve been part of it for years. My first experience was back in 2013, and I’ve had many wonderful moments. It made every era feel really special to me, and I even met some great friends through it. On the other hand, it can also be extremely toxic, especially with the fan wars between pop stars, particularly women. Fans often pit women against each other, and the growing obsession with charts has become a huge part of Stan Twitter. Unfortunately, it can take away from the enjoyment of the art itself.

I’ve also made so many friends online thanks to Gaga. It all started in WhatsApp fan groups back in 2015, where I met Martine, one of my best friends. She lives in Holland, and we’ve shared some amazing experiences together—like going to Vegas and the Chromatica Ball, as well as traveling on holidays to Italy and Spain.

Francesco lives in Berlin, Germany; you can follow him on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter).