Going to see your favorite artist in concert is an amazing experience, but going backstage and possibly meeting her is a dream come true, especially when that artist is Taylor Swift. 

The question is… How does one get backstage? 

Taylor Swift’s camp provided The Californian with free tickets to the Friday night concert.

I attempted to go backstage at Swift’s Reputation concert at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara earlier this month.

It can be hard to get backstage without knowing someone affiliated with the artist or winning your way back through a radio station. 

After experiencing a lot of success and failure in attempting to meet celebrities, I have learned the ins and outs to meeting your favorite celebrity and giving yourself the highest chance of success. 

My plan was: Make a big sign that read, “Can we make eye contact?”

First off, I was wearing my sweet new Taylor Swift T-shirt. I wore my Californian newspaper press pass that shows my mugshot and name.

 It wasn’t shiny and at no point did it look like any official V.I.P pass. If I was seen backstage, it didn’t look like I belonged there. 

Usually near the stage at any concert is a bunch of yellow vested security guards. This is the first entrance you must go through to get backstage. 

My heart was beating out of my chest as I knew I was within the proximity of the legendary Taylor Swift. I walked through the entrance, realizing that it actually worked. Now comes the fun part, the uncharted territory.  

I was nervous as I had no idea where I was, and people were likely to sniff out suspicious behavior. Alas, I kept walking as if I belonged there with my sign.

I passed dressing rooms, trying not to show my excitement. Most people back there are working and aren’t walking around with a sign asking to make eye contact with their celebrity crush. 

After rounding a corner, I saw a group of six yellow vested security guards surrounding a water cooler. (They were probably on their break). My heart beat a little bit faster. One of them began to stare me down, and I could feel it. 

I took a deep breath and made the bold approach to look up and give him a nod, establishing a more valid backstage presence. Not only did we make eye contact, but I received a wave. 

But this wave was him  signaling me to stop. I realized I made a HUGE mistake by ever making eye contact with this security guard. 

The group of guards approached me, attempting to intimidate me, and quickly asked for identification. I calmly showed them my press pass only moments later to witness “anger” in this man’s eyes. The  yellow vested security guard was angry. 

He immediately grabbed my cardboard “Can we make eye contact?” sign, stared at it for a brief moment before ripping it in half. He hit me with that end game verse. The remaining guards behind him were in sudden awe as he was ripping my sign. 

The guards gave back my sign and I was told to leave the venue immediately. Not only was I escorted by six yellow vested security guards, but two Santa Clara police officers, and a man in a suit leading the way to exit. 

No words were exchanged between anybody during the walk back to the entrance. All that could be heard were fans screaming for Taylor.

When we arrived at the entrance, I was given back my Californian newspaper press pass and specifically told, “Don’t come back.” I had some select choice words for them as well. 

I told the security guards I came to take a photo and I would not leave until I got my photo. The security guards hesitated, but eventually posed for a photo with my ripped sign. 

The lesson here is to never bring a sign saying “Can we make eye contact?” to any type of concert as this can potentially anger security. 

By the way, for those of you who were wondering, I LOVED the concert!