That Time I Got Booed by 10,000 People - And What It Taught Me | Tipsy Tours TN
From Belfast Boos to Tennessee Tours: A Lesson in Confidence
I got booed by 10,000 people.
And I 100% deserved it.
Yes, that's me in the picture on the left and the Legendary Kenny Rogers on the right. I used to play music for a living and on this night, we were in Birmingham, England at the Utilita Arena Birmingham (formerly known as NIA).
I had a smile from ear-to-ear because, well, we were opening for Kenny freakin' Rogers.
I did NOT have a smile a couple of nights earlier though.
Our band was supporting Kenny on a 17-city, 21-day tour across Ireland and the UK. Prior to Birmingham, we were at the Odyssey in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The energy from the crowd was crazy. I was pumped.
Right before our next song, I stopped our lead singer and stepped to the mic to express my excitement and show appreciation.
I said:
“This is the best crowd we’ve played for so far in England!”
And then... confused clapping.
Followed by thunderous boos.
Even though I knew we weren't in England and I briefly forgot how to use my brain, turns out, calling Northern Ireland England…
is not something you want to do.
Especially in front of 10,000 Irish fans.
I wanted to disappear.
Melt into the floor.
Blame the drummer (except we were acoustic on this particular tour).
But I laughed, owned it, apologized — and we played on.
That moment could’ve crushed me.
Instead, it became one of the most important lessons of my life:
🔊 Put yourself out there anyway.
😬 Even if you might mess up.
🎤 Especially if people might boo.
These days, I run Tipsy Tours TN.
I still grab a mic. I still entertain.
I still get things wrong sometimes.
But I show up anyway.
Because confidence isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about being willing.
Ever embarrass yourself in front of a group of people — or just felt like it?
Tell me how you bounced back. Let’s swap “Oops” stories.
