Here is my second Saturday Spotlight that I did via e-mail with my wonderful (online) friend and loyal Dan + Shay fan, Meagan! She is a Rhode Island native, now a Connecticut resident. Although I have not met her in person, we have been connected through social media (Facebook, Twitter — now X —, Instagram, and Messenger) since I became a fan of the duo in March of 2014. She has always interacted with my social media posts and said the nicest, sweetest things in the comments as well as in our Messenger chat. I am very grateful that Dan + Shay and their music brought her into my life over 11 years ago. As you will find out in her Saturday Spotlight below, Meagan has been a Dan + Shay fan since September of 2013, six months before I discovered their music!
In this second session, I asked Meagan about her favorite Dan + Shay album and individual songs, what she loves most about the duo, her meet + greet experiences with them, and much more! At the end of the Saturday Spotlight post are some pictures with the duo as well as a video of Dan performing at the award show she attended. All of the information on that experience is below.
Please enjoy reading my second Dan + Shay Fan Spotlight session with Meagan!
Stacy (S): When did you become a fan of Dan + Shay and how did you discover them and their music? What were your first thoughts after you heard their music for the first time?
Meagan (M): I first saw Dan + Shay on September 20, 2013 when I was 19 ("summer of 19 you + me" anybody? Lol). I had gone to the The Big E Fair in Springfield, Massachusetts to see another artist in concert and Dan + Shay happened to be the openers. I remember being very impressed by them, especially when they said they had only known each other for less than a year. They seemed like they had been playing shows together forever. I remember them teaching us the “ayo ayo” part of “Show You Off”. When they introduced their song “Stop, Drop, + Roll”, I remember being intrigued by the title, and then thinking “Aww, that’s clever!” when they played it and I heard the lyrics. Shortly after, I remember "19 You + Me" coming up on the TV music channel while I was hanging out with my family and saying, "Hey! I know THEM! I SAW them!" lol. And the rest is history. I've always said don't skip the openers at a concert. You never know, you might just find your next favorite artist!
(S): How many times have you seen Dan + Shay live, including concerts when they were openers, at festivals, etc.? What were some of the venues? And if you had to pick one, which concert has been your absolute favorite and why? Tell me some details about that event.
(M): I’ve been lucky enough to see Dan + Shay 30+ times, first as openers, then as headliners, and some fairs/festivals, benefit concerts, and other events in between in and around New England/East Coast (when you live in Rhode Island, the smallest state, you have no choice but to travel to see concerts lol. I always say I will forever "Rhode trip" to see them if that's what it takes). I have even traveled to Nashville a few times to see them. It’s very hard to pick just one favorite as they’ve all been amazing and many have been extra special. If I had to pick, I’d probably say my favorite concert was at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Massachusetts. Cape Cod has been a special place, as it was my childhood family vacation spot, so getting to see my favorite duo play at such a cool venue in my favorite place was amazing. The Melody Tent is a small, intimate venue and it made for a great show! As an added bonus, I got to meet them again after the show and even got a selfie with Dan before the show (and got to meet Dan's dogs!). When I saw my meet + greet picture, my first thought was "wow, I don't think I've ever seen myself smile that big!" lol
(S): How many times have you met the duo? What is your favorite meet and greet moment? Does anything Dan + Shay said to you that was memorable or special stick out in your mind? If so, tell me about that memory!
(M): I have met Dan + Shay probably around 10 times, I’d say, and I’ve run into Dan solo before shows a handful of times. I remember the second time I met them in Rhode Island I was so starstruck and told them I was nervous, and Dan said “Don’t be nervous, we’re just a couple of clowns!” That still makes me laugh to this day nearly 12 years later. Another favorite memory was when I had a week full of Dan + Shay. In 2018 they announced their summer tour as openers for Rascal Flatts (another one of my favorites). I was so excited when I saw they were coming to Massachusetts, about an hour from me, so of course I bought tickets. The only problem was I had plans to go to Nashville for a few days the week leading up to the show (which fell the week of Country Music Association Festival). I was lucky enough to time it just right so that I was able to see Dan + Shay perform at the Country Music Television Awards (from the front row) and see them win their first award, as well as go to their fan club listening party for their new album prior to its release (which was SUCH a cool experience. We got to wear special headphones and listen to their album for the first time all together). At the meet + greet after, I told Dan + Shay that I had seen them at the awards last night (and Dan said he saw me in the crowd), and that I was flying home that night to see them that weekend. When I was home a couple days later, I was extra excited when Dan messaged me and told me that he put my name down for the “VIP Experience” for the show that night, which included a pre-show acoustic set and meet + greet. I had brought my sister to the show and she got to see and meet them for the first time and learn what great guys they were. You could say I got to “show them off." haha
(S): What is your take on the fact that Dan + Shay still to this day control all of their social media accounts to interact with their fans? What is your favorite memory when they have interacted with you in the past? Describe it and how it made you feel.
(M): I think that it is truly amazing that Dan + Shay control their own social media to interact with fans. I feel like that is so rare these days, especially now that there are apps where you have to pay to receive a video or message from a celebrity. Whether it’s a personalized video, a tweet, a reply to an Instagram story/message or just a simple “like”, they really go out of their way to make the fans feel special and to form a real connection with them. I've been lucky to have had so many special interactions on social media over the years, but my favorite honestly has to be this past year when I went to Nashville for the "Wags and Walks" Benefit show. It happened to fall two days before my birthday, so I took it as a sign that I needed to go lol. During the show, Dan waved to my mom and I in the crowd (I wasn’t even right in the front, and honestly didn’t think I could possibly be seen as I’m pretty short lol), and then the next morning he replied to my Instagram story and said that it was so good to look out and see me. As a shy/reserved person who usually blends in with the crowd in everyday life, it blows my mind that they recognize and still “know” me, especially since it’s been nearly 6 years since the last time I met them in person.
(S): In this moment if you had to pick one of the six albums Dan + Shay have released so far including the Christmas album, which one all the way through is your favorite and why?
(M): This is a tough question; each album is unique and holds such special memories. I’d say it’s a tie between their debut album and their most current album. Where It All Began has a such a nostalgic feel to it and brings me back to when I first discovered them. I vividly remember sitting in my college dorm doing homework and listening to their debut album (the week before it came out as part of a promo from Spotify, if I remember correctly) and thinking, "These guys are GOOD." It was around this time that I first started going to concerts as well, so they were one of the artists that got me to fall in love with live music. I also love Bigger Houses because its got such a variety of songs and truly shows how far they’ve come as artists. I really love that it has such a country feel to it and I like all of the instrumentation. It includes songs that make you just want to sit and listen to the lyrics and songs that make you want to get up and dance.
(S): In this moment if you had to pick your top three favorite songs from Dan + Shay (radio singles or not), what would they be? Tell me why each one is your favorite.
(M): First, I’d have to say “Nothin Like You”. This is one of the songs I remember listening to in my college dorm, as mentioned above, and really enjoying. I remember being so pumped when they chose it as the next single, which would then become their first number one single. Next, I’d say a tie between “Keeping Score” and “Bigger Houses” because they both have such positive messages of not comparing yourself to others and being appreciative of what you have. “One Direction” also fits in this category as well since it’s about not taking anything for granted. I feel like that song is highly underrated. Finally, “What Took You So Long” was my immediate favorite on the new album. I thought it was such a nice story and painted such a perfect image of patience, and that even if it takes forever, the right person will be worth the wait. I also think the melody is beautiful.
(S): What are the top two things you love most about Dan + Shay and why?
(M): They are so talented at singing, songwriting, producing, entertaining, etc. Shay has one of the best voices I’ve heard (and somehow is even better live). Their stage presence is unmatched. Even in their early days when they played simple sets with no special effects, videos etc. or even just acoustic with their guitar, they put on such a great show. Along those same lines, I just love how their music is “family-friendly". At their shows ,you see adults, teens, and kids alike just there to see two awesome guys put on an amazing show. I’d say they make the epitome of “feel-good music”. :)
They are also the kindest artists I’ve met. Like I said above, they make you feel special and more like a friend than just a fan. Whether it’s personal interactions from stage or at meet and greets or simply expressing their gratitude for the crowd on stage, you can tell they truly appreciate all the support from the fans.
(S): Is there anything else you would like to add that I did not mention in the questions above? Please feel free to tell me.
(M): I just want to thank you Stacy for asking me to share my stories and memories about being a Dan + Shay fan. It was fun to reminisce and reflect on all the "good things" that have happened to me because of them. You are probably the biggest supporter of Dan + Shay that I've "met" (online) over the years and I was honored to be asked. Your blog is amazing and the perfect place for Dan + Shay fans.
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Top photo: Dan + Meagan Selfie - Cape Cody Melody Tent, Hyannis, MA - September 2, 2016 Bottom photo: Meagan and Mom, Robin selfie with Shay - Yankee Candle Village, Deerfield, MA - May 3, 2015, Selfie taken by Shay |
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| Top Photo: Hershey Park Stadium, Hershey, PA, August 17, 2019, Photographer - Catherine Powell Bottom Photo: Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis, MA, September 2, 2016, Photographer - Rob Norris |
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| Dan + Shay Instagram DM October 4, 2024 |
Dan performing on CMT Awards -
Bridgestone Arena - June 6, 2018,
Video taken by Meagan
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