Well, I kind of figured that would happen when I saw the dunkin save acts.

I had picked all of the acts moving forward except I had swiped out the comic for voices of hope.

Well, I am very proud of all of the kids....they did a great job and will have wonderful memories. Jet, hope you got to say hi to your nieces after the show.  They can be proud of their accomplishments and now can relax and just be kids again. Lol

Well done voices of hope...you made this years agt something special and a great chatting topic....lol

I am now all for Zurcaroh to win. LOL  However, Courtney is favored on the "net" and has been since this thing started.....I don't care for her, but oh well....lol  She will be on next week.

Sheer jubilation as kids from competing groups join together to celebrate achievement.  I was late to the camera angle but both groups just ran to see each other!

This photo was sort’ve a collective bow to honor everyone.

The “final bow”, if you will....so much joy and a lovely farewell....hopefully just for now.


Good luck ot Zucharo who set the example for what sportsmanship should be all about!  Truly a class act!

Last edited by JetmamaDiDi (9/05/2018 11:40 pm)

JetmamaDiDi wrote:

Well, Sisters.....Voices of Hope went home tonite, but they have every reason to hold their heads high! It was a wonderful experience for all of them....and it was really fun (as well as a little stressful!) to be there in person...in the 4th row from the stage!!!

My SIL and I were first in line for tickets this morning!!! . We were so shocked there wasn’t anyone else standing at the “start” place outside the theater. There were 2 other groups of people who were hanging out nearby....and who obviously were waiting for tickets but weren’t sure where to go, so when they noticed the 2 of us holding up the wall (!), a family of 3 got in front of us (!), and the others stood behind us. We started talking to the family in front of us (from Seattle) who had been there since 9:30 (it was about 10:30 when we arrived—shocked there wasn’t already a line!). They opened the ticket exchange table a bit later than usual today—maybe due to the small line. Our tickets were for 12:00 (when you can exchange them for a ticket with a seat number on it); our new friends from Seattle’s time was for 3PM!! As we chatted and enjoyed the company, discussed that they would have to wait until 2:15 to exchange the tix for 3PM, etc., my SIL offered them her 1PM voucher in hopes they would get better seats! No one today went down the line to check the times before they opened the line, so the folks from Seattle were given ORCHESTRA tickets as the first people in line...for which they expressed much gratitude. We were next and we ended up getting the 4 tickets next to them in the 4th row of the orchestra section!!! We were really excited to be that close to the stage!!!

We had loads of time to schlep thru shops, eat lunch at the crepes place, which was really good and not real pricey...schlep around some more, and then make our way to the theater before 4:30 for the show to begin at 5PM. It was nice not to have to stand up and sit down 30 times!!! Dunno if the camera found us at all, but will look tomorrow morning when I get up (hubby is watching his Western channel!).

We had “hoped” that Voices of Hope would get thru to the finals, but it was not to be...and that is ok. Looking at it realistically, they didn’t have a chance of winning the final, so it is really better that they didn’t have to spend the next 2 weeks rehearsing for another show that wouldn’t change the outcome. I believe it came out as it should have because the trapeze couple truly was worthy of the finals and the kids here only began school on Aug. 28, so most of them haven’t really had a chance to get into their school routine as they have been out of school for AGT since last Thursday. But all’s well that ends well...and while the kids were disappointed, I have to tell you....not sure I can describe it well enough....what most people did not see ‘back stage”, if you will, on the 4th floor. is “the rest of the story” and this is what will be for me the lasting memory I will take away from this experience. I hope that it will also be what the kids remember for a lifetime.

Many of them including my li’l nieces were crying as everyone was exiting the theater. They do allow parents and family of the choir to go up to their 4th floor “holding tank” after the show for a few minutes. My SIL and I went up to see and congratulate the kids...and as we came out of the balcony seating area, the entire cast of Zucharo (sp?) lined both sides of the path the children took and clapped for them until everyone had exited the seating area!! It was so very touching and so heartwarming to see this display of pure generosity—and to see the choir kids faces go from tears to big smiles as they came out! I had tears in my eyes and choked back lots of emotions. I have always contended that it is as important to be a humble winner as it is to be a gracious loser...which is what I think all kids (and adults who act like kids!) should gain from sports and other competitions they take part in.

But the story doesn’t end there: I guess the two groups have had a “dance party” or 2 together along the way since both groups promote children and both have kids in their groups. After VOH kids had gathered up their things, before they began to leave the theater, Zucharo called the VOH kids to the other end of the lobby area where they started “crowning” them with gold crowns that had a short while veil at the back (I think they use them in their act sometimes)—and then they all took pictures together and sang happy birthday to one of the little Zucharo girls!! It was such an AWESOME gesture....such graciousness and sportsmanship. This is what I will take from the entire experience because I think this is the most important lesson....to open your hearts to others and show appreciation for who they are...and in that everyone is a winner and a champion!

As they finished their photo session, the head guy in Zucharo announced that they plan to have VOH join them in Las Vegas (I got the impression they are either performing there or will be...not necessarily related to AGT). He and Sara, the choir director, shared a hug and they either exchanged contact info or seemed to be checking calendars. This last bit is what I observed so may be full of disinformation, but let’s just say that there has been some level of bonding that may lead somewhere in the future.

I will attach a few photos....all these kids have been on TV so I’m sure it is ok!

Tonite was in fact the most enjoyable of the 3 nites I attended the show. It was the finale for VOH, but only for this particular event. There will be others down the road, I’m certain. Like Luv, I’m now in Zucharo’s camp...I think they are the best act of the ones I”ve seen...they have the staging and the professionalism to go far!

I loved reading this SO MUCH.  I think the "backstage" stuff is really what all of this is about.  People coming together to support one another.  I am going to be like April......I am going to Ship the two directors. LOL !!!!!!!!  Seriously, I am very glad that Zucharo was there for the kids and could turn their tears into smiles.  You are right, Jet, it is how you "win" and conduct yourself that really matters.  To me, there were no losers last night.  Yes, some went home, but I have no doubt that the experience and exposure will help all of those leaving the competition in life, no matter if it is their career or in general.  I will say, that I would have put the VOH over the comic. LOL !!!!   However, he does have a lot of fans.  I will also say, that having "someone" I "knew" in the competition has made this years AGT so much fun. It has been a blast hearing about your adventures Jet.....can't wait to see who wins this whole thing.........umm.....GO ZURCAROH.....LOL 
 

LuvSeason18 wrote:

JetmamaDiDi wrote:

Well, Sisters.....Voices of Hope went home tonite, but they have every reason to hold their heads high! It was a wonderful experience for all of them....and it was really fun (as well as a little stressful!) to be there in person...in the 4th row from the stage!!!

My SIL and I were first in line for tickets this morning!!! . We were so shocked there wasn’t anyone else standing at the “start” place outside the theater. There were 2 other groups of people who were hanging out nearby....and who obviously were waiting for tickets but weren’t sure where to go, so when they noticed the 2 of us holding up the wall (!), a family of 3 got in front of us (!), and the others stood behind us. We started talking to the family in front of us (from Seattle) who had been there since 9:30 (it was about 10:30 when we arrived—shocked there wasn’t already a line!). They opened the ticket exchange table a bit later than usual today—maybe due to the small line. Our tickets were for 12:00 (when you can exchange them for a ticket with a seat number on it); our new friends from Seattle’s time was for 3PM!! As we chatted and enjoyed the company, discussed that they would have to wait until 2:15 to exchange the tix for 3PM, etc., my SIL offered them her 1PM voucher in hopes they would get better seats! No one today went down the line to check the times before they opened the line, so the folks from Seattle were given ORCHESTRA tickets as the first people in line...for which they expressed much gratitude. We were next and we ended up getting the 4 tickets next to them in the 4th row of the orchestra section!!! We were really excited to be that close to the stage!!!

We had loads of time to schlep thru shops, eat lunch at the crepes place, which was really good and not real pricey...schlep around some more, and then make our way to the theater before 4:30 for the show to begin at 5PM. It was nice not to have to stand up and sit down 30 times!!! Dunno if the camera found us at all, but will look tomorrow morning when I get up (hubby is watching his Western channel!).

We had “hoped” that Voices of Hope would get thru to the finals, but it was not to be...and that is ok. Looking at it realistically, they didn’t have a chance of winning the final, so it is really better that they didn’t have to spend the next 2 weeks rehearsing for another show that wouldn’t change the outcome. I believe it came out as it should have because the trapeze couple truly was worthy of the finals and the kids here only began school on Aug. 28, so most of them haven’t really had a chance to get into their school routine as they have been out of school for AGT since last Thursday. But all’s well that ends well...and while the kids were disappointed, I have to tell you....not sure I can describe it well enough....what most people did not see ‘back stage”, if you will, on the 4th floor. is “the rest of the story” and this is what will be for me the lasting memory I will take away from this experience. I hope that it will also be what the kids remember for a lifetime.

Many of them including my li’l nieces were crying as everyone was exiting the theater. They do allow parents and family of the choir to go up to their 4th floor “holding tank” after the show for a few minutes. My SIL and I went up to see and congratulate the kids...and as we came out of the balcony seating area, the entire cast of Zucharo (sp?) lined both sides of the path the children took and clapped for them until everyone had exited the seating area!! It was so very touching and so heartwarming to see this display of pure generosity—and to see the choir kids faces go from tears to big smiles as they came out! I had tears in my eyes and choked back lots of emotions. I have always contended that it is as important to be a humble winner as it is to be a gracious loser...which is what I think all kids (and adults who act like kids!) should gain from sports and other competitions they take part in.

But the story doesn’t end there: I guess the two groups have had a “dance party” or 2 together along the way since both groups promote children and both have kids in their groups. After VOH kids had gathered up their things, before they began to leave the theater, Zucharo called the VOH kids to the other end of the lobby area where they started “crowning” them with gold crowns that had a short while veil at the back (I think they use them in their act sometimes)—and then they all took pictures together and sang happy birthday to one of the little Zucharo girls!! It was such an AWESOME gesture....such graciousness and sportsmanship. This is what I will take from the entire experience because I think this is the most important lesson....to open your hearts to others and show appreciation for who they are...and in that everyone is a winner and a champion!

As they finished their photo session, the head guy in Zucharo announced that they plan to have VOH join them in Las Vegas (I got the impression they are either performing there or will be...not necessarily related to AGT). He and Sara, the choir director, shared a hug and they either exchanged contact info or seemed to be checking calendars. This last bit is what I observed so may be full of disinformation, but let’s just say that there has been some level of bonding that may lead somewhere in the future.

I will attach a few photos....all these kids have been on TV so I’m sure it is ok!

Tonite was in fact the most enjoyable of the 3 nites I attended the show. It was the finale for VOH, but only for this particular event. There will be others down the road, I’m certain. Like Luv, I’m now in Zucharo’s camp...I think they are the best act of the ones I”ve seen...they have the staging and the professionalism to go far!

I loved reading this SO MUCH.  I think the "backstage" stuff is really what all of this is about.  People coming together to support one another.  I am going to be like April......I am going to Ship the two directors. LOL !!!!!!!!  Seriously, I am very glad that Zucharo was there for the kids and could turn their tears into smiles.  You are right, Jet, it is how you "win" and conduct yourself that really matters.  To me, there were no losers last night.  Yes, some went home, but I have no doubt that the experience and exposure will help all of those leaving the competition in life, no matter if it is their career or in general.  I will say, that I would have put the VOH over the comic. LOL !!!!   However, he does have a lot of fans.  I will also say, that having "someone" I "knew" in the competition has made this years AGT so much fun. It has been a blast hearing about your adventures Jet.....can't wait to see who wins this whole thing.........umm.....GO ZURCAROH.....LOL 
 

 
Thanks, Luv....I’m glad that you enjoyed the adventure with us....although in retrospect!

I totally agree that everyone was a winner last nite and they all acted like champions despite any disappointment.  Long ago, when my kids were in HS, I read an article about music competitions (son was in band; daughter not).  The article outlined and stressed the values that kids specifically but people in general should emphasize and derive from competitions, team sports, etc.  It made a huge impression on me because it is so very true.  The values of hard work, meeting deadlines, striving for excellence, giving your best, meeting other people, working as a team, being a humble winner should you be so fortunate, and a gracious loser...congratulating your competition, etc....basically the expeirence as a whole is what is important and what you will remember.   I realized that this is really what sports and competitions are about. It is the experience rather than the wins that matter in life.   With only a few exceptions, ball teams (especially the kids’!) don’t remember the score of their games or even how many they won in a season.  Sure...you may remember a few here and there for some weird thing that happens....maybe a big come from behind win only to lose in the championship (!!!).....in the case of my son in baseball, he turned a triple play almost by accident (!!!) when he was about 10,..there was another incredibly formative event when he was drum major of the HS band (it is both funny and embarrassing but a long story!!!  LOL)....but the things we all remember are how much fun we had, how hard we worked, a pursuit of excellence, the friends we made, just generally how it molded how we grew up and what is really important in life. 

I am going to mail both of my li’l nieces a card (they love to get mail!) to tell them how proud we are of them and what uplifting music they made with VOH...to let them know that the experience impacted me in a very meaningful way by reminding me that there is always a rainbow if you just look for it!