Joe Sugg's Q&A at #BathKidsLitFest

I booked a ticket to see Joe Sugg in Bath long ago and today was finally the day. I went to pick up my tickets an hour before the show started at the venue and already by then hundreds of people seemed to swamp the place.

I managed to get in and pick up my preordered ticket and then I made myself sparse. A lot of teenage girls were lining up outside even though the doors didn't open for another half an hour. I went around in shops, killing time. 

I returned around the time the doors opened but now, it was an even bigger crowd. Unfortunately,  I hate big crowds so I opted to ask one of the staff when she thought it would die down. She said to come back 20 minutes later, so I did. I was happy with my decision because then I actually got in almost straight away. 

Once inside I went down to pick up my signed copy of Username:Evie and was very chuffed that Joe had actually signed these on the title page and not on the blank grey page in the front like the signed one I got from Amazon when the book first came out. 

I was very happy to have an isle seat and even though it was quite far from the stage I didn't mind, I was honestly just happy that I wasn't stuck in between a bunch of enthusiastic people. I even sat next to a mum, which also ensured that I didn't get screamed right into my ear.

It's funny because I've seen crowds react to YouTubers in vlogs but seeing it myself first hand was surreal. Sure, I was excited too but I never once raised my voice. Excluding parents that had been dragged along, I'm sure I was an age veteran being 20. 

When Joe entered the stage, I actually thought I might get hearing damage but it was nice to feel the excitement in the air too. Also, it was lovely to see a boy, whose videos I've watched regularly for almost two years. He seemed so small but maybe it was just because he was so far away. They had blown the image up on a screen behind him but I preferred to look at the real deal, after all I was used to seeing him through a screen. It was extremely difficult to take photos at the distance from my seat and with the lighting but I did my best.

Firstly, the interviewer asked Joe his own questions before moving on the the Twitter subjected questions and finally taking questions from the audience. Keeping in mind that we were about 1500 people and probably a third had questions. 

After an hour, it was all over and time had flown by. It was essentially just Joe doing a really long live Q&A but it was nice and especially to see what would probably have been cut out of it if it had been a video, whether that be when he pondered over a question for too long or forgot to listen to the question because his eyes were searching to locate the person who was asking. He was adorable and so attentive to the crowd.

I managed to take a little video of Joe's goodbye just before he got off stage. He seemed like such a genuinely kind guy but as I talked about one of the staff about; he's just a regular guy. A funny and kind regular guy who got lucky and can make a living of doing something he loves. And as to why he created so much commotion, I can't say for sure but I know he's a friend to his viewers even if we'll never meet him. And maybe because he's just a guy that could be our friend, we support him like one.  He can bring a smile on our faces with his videos and that's actually priceless. 

Fifty people got randomly chosen to meet Joe afterwards and unfortunately, I wasn't one of them. I would have liked to have been chosen and actually get to meet him but at the same time, I hope some ultra super mega "fans" got to see him instead. That's how I like to think about it.