Sessions with Sydney is a weekly column by features editor Sydney Ray. For more installments of Sydney’s ideas, opinions and ramblings, check out the opinions page, and check back every Friday for a new issue.

On Friday, April 9, I received some exciting news. My boyfriend’s father, a DJ at a radio station in town, had two extra tickets to the Taylor Swift concert for the next evening.

I felt like my heart stopped as I imagined myself in the crowd, dancing and singing along to Swift’s many hits. I invited my sister Lauren, 14, to attend the event with me.

As Saturday night approached, I was filled with anticipation. I headed to work and quickly finished my tasks before picking up my sister.

The concert began at seven with two opening acts, but due to commitments at my work, my sister and I did not arrive until around 7:30, adding to the suspense. As we walked up the staircase to our seats, the sweet sound of Kellie Pickler‘s voice filled the arena.

Pickler sang several more songs as my sister and I talked. We discussed Pickler’s melodic singing and took pictures.

Our seats were located near the very top of the Save Mart Center stadium seating. Although we did not have the best view of the stage, the acoustics sounded superb and we were thankful for receiving seats to the sold-out concert.

Several minutes passed as the stage crew set up for Swift’s performance. My sister and I were happily chatting when an usher approached us. To our astonishment, he asked if we would like to watch the show from the pit, or the standing section near the stage.

Both our jaws dropped. He explained that he had been given a limited amount of tickets for pit seats; he choose us because our seats were near the back. We delightedly accepted his offer and followed him down to the pit where he gave us wristbands.

The concert began as soon as we were settled into the pit, located on the left side of the H-shaped stage. Swift appeared on stage as the curtain lifted; she wore what looked like a more stylish take on a marching band outfit.

Throughout the show, Swift made about six costume changes. Each outfit seemed to sparkle more than the last. She also pranced around the stage, dancing and shaking her head.

Several songs in, she busted out her famous glittering guitar, which she played with ease. But nothing could outshine Swift’s breathtaking vocals.

For the entire show, I noticed not only the superstar, but the crowd. In comparison with other concerts I attended, the Swift fans were pretty tame.

When I watched another concert several years back, the smell of alcohol and illegal substances filled the air,