I really like all types of music. I’ve never been super picky when it comes to the music I like and don’t like (which doesn’t happen very often). I’ll sing along to anything when I’m in my car alone I’ll belt “Jolene” by Dolly Parton and rap “Blunt Blowin’” by Lil Wayne. I’ve never considered myself a music snob.

What really makes an artist stand out to me has always been their character when the cameras are off and the world is not watching.  An artist immediately gains my respect when they treat their fans well, and a really easy way for them to reach out to their fans is through a fan club party.

Fan club parties are such a great way for fans to spend quality time with their favorite artists and get a personal experience with them that they wouldn’t normally be able to have.

In the past, I have gone to two of Carrie Underwood’s parties, one of The Band Perry’s parties and one of Luke Bryan’s parties.

Each of those events has held a special place in my heart because of the personal feel you get just being in the room with the artist and they are there just for you.

At The Band Perry’s and Bryan’s parties it isn’t out of the norm for them to come straight into the crowd and take pictures with fans and just have one on one conversations with them.

At Underwood’s parties she almost always holds a question and answer session and a raffle. The first year I attended her party, in 2008, I won two tickets to the Nashville, Tenn., show on her upcoming Carnival Ride tour along with two meet and greet passes to hang out with her before the show.

Artists will usually just sit on stage with their microphone and guitar and perform a set of their songs, but with each song they include a story: why they wrote it, what it meant to them, anything that the fans might not already know about that particular song. It adds so much to the experience.

There is nothing more special to a fan than being able to make memories with their favorite artist.

So shout out to the artists who still take the time out of their busy schedules to have these special parties with their fans. You’re the real MVPs.

Column by Breanna Sill, Features Editor