Disney’s “The Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience” opens tonight at midnight, and the pressure to attend the very first showing is hanging around our home like a cold that just won’t go away.
The Jonas Brothers virus hit our home about two years ago and has not lifted its tight grip off my 13-year-old daughter since then. The cost of the treatment for OJD, Obsessive Jonas Disorder, is up there with the cost of a routine out-patient procedure: Twelve concert tickets, hotels, gasoline, attire, and arts and crafts materials for the obligatory sign any true Jonas fan must have at all the Bros events, must be hovering around $1,000 (probably more, but I don’t want to face the music!).
Why and how would a parent support such an obsession, and how do you raise a kid and remain grounded? Simple, at least for me, and I consider myself a pretty strict parent. I don’t mind fulfilling my child’s Jonas fix because out of all the misguided personalities show business throws at us, the Jonas family seems to live and follow similar morals and values we observe and instill in our own family. You don’t see a Jonas Brother’s crazy antics, midnight escapades to clubs or typical teen celeb misbehavior reported in the gossip dailies.
Don’t get me wrong: It’s not a one-way street at the Valle household, either. We have very clear requirements and demands of our Jonas-Head kid before I log on to Ticketmaster and start the hunt for those coveted PIT seats:
1. Nothing less than a 4.0 GPA in school.
2. Enrolled in one sport year-round
3. Must do community service
4. Do your chores
For our Jonas superfan, keeping this end of the bargain was a cinch compared to what I, the parent, have had to go through to fill the prescription: Sat outside our local radio station at 4 a.m. to see the Jonas Brothers; sat in the parking lot at Universal studios over night to buy tickets to their first ever concert tour — at least the band showed up and surprised the fans — and I can’t forget the two-day marathon at the Honda Center when my daughter was actually cast to be an extra in their upcoming movie. (At least we got food for that one.)
Over the last two years, I entered every possible on-line and radio contest, I would crawl the internet for opportunities to meet and greet the boys (which finally materialized courtesy of Team Jonas, the fan club), and doing this became an essential part of our daily routing of keeping up with the Jonases.
I can’t forget to mention the miles I’ve put on my car driving to Los Angeles from San Diego, and back, for their constantly-sold-out performances; they surpassed the allowed lease-contracted mileage too. Ouch!
For my daughter, all these shenanigans paid off when she was selected to attend the red carpet premiere of the long-awaited Jonas Brothers 3D movie opening this week-end. But getting the kiss of approval on the cheek from Mrs. Jonas herself that night was the crowning glory of this "Jonasfied" adventure.
I know what you’re thinking, and yup! That was another contest entered, another five and half hours of standing around, a new outfit and 120 miles added to the tab.
Report cards are due in two weeks … I’d better see that 4.0, or else!
