My name is Doug, and the little girl on stage at the Air Supply show in Niagara Falls, (Mackenzie) is my daughter.  I came home from work tonight, and my wife said to check out your website - so I did, and saw she was mentioned in Sue's review of the Niagara show.
    I thought you might appreciate the following story.  I wrote this upon returning from that incredible show, to tell my friends and family of our incredible experience at the concert.

Event:The January 2006 Niagara shows
Written by: Doug & Tina Pershun -  Mackenzie's & Jesse's parents and fellow Air Heads -

     The most special & incredible story happened to Mackenzie the other day, so I wanted to tell everyone.
     Growing up in the 70's and being a skater, I've always liked the band Air Supply.  They did a ton of Love Songs which we used to "make out" to during the couples skates.  Tina as well was an even bigger fan than I was.  A couple of months ago, Air Supply came back on the music scene stronger than ever with the release of a new CD/DVD combo.  Tina found this around Thanksgiving, and that's all we've been listening too.  Both Jesse & Mackenzie are taking piano lessons, and she even ordered me the Air Supply Anthology sheet music book.  I've been puttsing around with the songs in it.
     Two weeks ago I had a gymnastics competition up at Niagara Falls, in the convention center.  Usually these things take all day so I never see anything from my travels except the hotel room and the competition site.  At this meet however my team was done Friday at about 5:00 pm, and I wasn't scheduled to return until the next day at 3:00.  Right across the street from the Niagara Convention Center was the new Seneca Casino.  With nothing to do, I was going to try some gambling and have a good dinner.  In the casino I did rather well, and after an hour or so found myself with 200.00 more than I started with.  Feeling hungry. I decided to go the the buffet.  On my way there, I saw the ad that Air Supply was coming the next weekend.  As a surprise to Tina, I went to the ticket office to purchase tickets. 
     I was told the tickets were sold out for Saturday's show, and they only had 2 seats together for Friday night- so I took them.  I really wanted Saturday because I didn't want to miss work during season.  Still though this was a special occasion & Tina was ecstatic!!!
     The whole week long Tina was playing the CD. 
      On Friday, we got a babysitter for the kids and headed for the casino.  I insisted on bringing the sheet music in case the piano player got sick, I could fill in and start my long desired career as a Rock Star.  The show was really, really great!  After all these years, they sounded even better than they did when I was a kid.  Their piano player was unbelievable, and we were kind of disappointed that we couldn't bring the kids because we thought they would have been inspired by such an awesome musician. 
      After the show Air Supply invited their fans to get autographs out in the lobby.  Tina wanted her new CD signed, and I thought - I might as well get my music book signed.  As we approached the two lead members (Russell & Graham) noticed my book. I guess because, although they wrote the songs, they had never seen it, they now took a look at it and even argued about a chord progression in one of their songs.  They graciously signed the book, and their "agent" was standing guard at the end and pushing CD & picture sales.  I commented that I had a hard time getting the seats, and yet several of the seats were empty.  She remarked that the casino often bought many of the seats to give out to the big rollers.  Often they were too busy playing to care what band was in town.  Tina asked if it was possible to get those seats for Saturday's show.  She was told that often they release some seats prior to the show.
     Having very few nights that we're out on a date without the children, Tina & I went to gamble a little.  I was hot as hell.  I went to the crap table and couldn't lose.  In a little over an hour I was up 500.00.  Knowing it was nearing the time to leave, we went to the Caribbean Stud Poker table for a few hands.  Tina was losing, however my streak continued.  We left the Casino as winners - mostly due to the fact that our baby sitter was young and we couldn't stay long enough for my luck to change.
     Tina really enjoyed the concert and asked if I cared if she could try to get tickets with our winnings for Saturday.  I said sure, the kids would like to see a concert, and it might inspire them to practice a little harder.
    Sure enough, Tina called the next day and found 4 tickets.  So, back to Niagara we went, this time with the kids.  Again, the show was excellent.  Midway through the show as they did the night before, the 2 lead singers strolled through the audience flirting with their fans.  All the ladies stole a kiss from them as they passed.  Kenzie want to hug the lead singer (Russell) as he passed our aisle.  Kenzie ran up to him, but he was with another women at the time, and she is so small - he walked right past her.  He didn't notice, but the audience did.  She followed him for awhile, however he never took notice - not deliberately, but just she was too shy to jump in front of him - and he was strolling and hugging the ladies.  Halfway down the aisle, Kenzie gave up and ran back over to us.  The whole audience was yelling and trying to get his attention, however he just thought they were cheering and never caught it.  A lady who saw this grabbed Kenzie and ran her down the steps after him, however just as she got there - he jumped back on stage and finished the solo.  The lights cut out and Kenzie ran back up.  The whole audience was now frantically trying to tell him to kiss the little girl, however he just thought they were cheering him.
      When the lights came back up, I saw the bass player who caught on to what the audience was upset about whisper something in his ear.
      The show went on as it had the night before, and the last half of the show was all of their classic hits - one after the other.  The audience completely got captured by their music and forgot all about the little kid who didn't get a kiss.  The band played on for an hour and finished with "Making Love out of Nothing At All".  The band received a standing ovation, and were called out for an encore.  They did  "All Out of Love" for the encore at which everyone was standing, swaying, & singing.  After that, they introduced all the band members who bowed and left the stage.  As was the night before, they have a little song called "Good Night" which is a really appropriate ending song.  They do it without the band, just Graham playing the piano and Russell singing.  Essentially its a love song that basically says we're not saying goodbye, only goodnight.
     At that point, Russell, the lead singer, pointed in my general direction.  There were hundreds of people there, so I just assumed that he was coaxing a little more applause.  So I applauded some more, however as I did, he more deliberately seemed to be signaling me.  Perplexed, I started looking behind me to see who he was pointing to.  After kind of seeing no one really behind me getting the hint, I pointed at myself.  He nodded his head.  I got the cue he didn't mean me, so I pointed at Tina.  Tina was dressed to kill, so I though maybe for some reason he wanted her.  He shook his head no, and signaled with his hand that he meant smaller - so I pointed at Kenzie who was all caught up at this time with the dancing that she was swaying and singing and off in her own little world.  He shook his head yes to Kenzie and called her down to the stage.
     Kenzie has no fear of anything, so she ran down the steps to the edge of the steps, and he pulled her up on stage with him.  He said over the mic - Hi, what's your name?  He held the mic to her and she answered loud & clear - Mackenzie!  He smile and the audience cooed.  He asked her how old she was - she said 7.  He asked her if she was nervous, and she answered NO - at which the audience an he laughed.  He said, "Well, I am".  He then asked her if "Air Supply" was her favorite band at which she put her finger to her chin and thought long and hard.  The audience again laughed.  He whispered into her ear something at which she then said, "YES".  At this point, he knelt down and dedicated the song to her.  Graham started on the piano and he with the song.  Kenzie having listed to this CD for the past 8 weeks kind of knew the words, so she started singing with him - at which he seemed really impressed - especially because this wasn't one of their biggest hits.  The last line of the song says "we are not saying goodby, only _____" at which he held the mic in front of Kenzie - and just as if they had practiced it - sang out, "Good Night".  At that point - he wiped a tear from his eye, and the audience broke out into a standing ovation. And she and Russell waved goodbye to the crowd.  It couldn't have been more touching if she rehearsed it with them. 
    At this point, Kenzie & Russell took their last bow and walked off back stage.  The house lights came up and the audience began to file out.  We thought Kenzie would get escorted back out to us from one of the crew.  We waited a bit, and Tina started to wonder if we were to go back there to get her.  I joked a bit saying she was probably back there doing shots with the band and partying.  Jesse started to whine about wanting a Pepsi, so I told Tina that they are probably waiting until the crowd files out and then they'll bring her out.  I said I was going out in front to get Jesse a drink.
   Tina went down and sat in the front row waiting for Kenzie.  I went out in front, and 3 casino security guards came up to me and asked me to follow them.  Seeing Kenzie went out the backstage, and I was out the front entrance, the first thought that came to mind was they were mad I won $500 from the casino.  They took me down a hall and said that the band requested us to come meet them back stage.  Kenzie came out an elevator in front of me a minute later which really blew my mind.  Essentially they have an underground tunnel under the theater - I guess so the bands can get to the stage without having to go through the crowd.  I was sort of stunned, so I just kind of stood there for a moment, and they told me I didn't have to if I didn't want to . . . at which I came to my senses and thought Tina will kill me if I pass up this opportunity.  I told Jesse to run back to the theater and get Tina - Quick!
     Tina came back and security led us through a number of elevators and halls to the "Greeting Room".   There was another couple who came from Florida to see the concert.  They were invited because unfortunately his wife was dying of something and she loved the band.  There were a couple of happy groupies who also were invited.  A few minutes later Graham & Russell came in and were really gracious.  The casino had a professional photographer there to take photos and the casino, and they assured us they would send us complimentary photos.  We chatted for a few minutes with them, and he said that it had never really been like that before, and that she touched him emotionally and he had cried as he sang the song.
    We posed for a few photos, and they shook my hand, and Tina snuck a few kisses. Then they were off to sign autographs for the fans.
     One picture was from someone's cell phone camera who tracked us down to send to us.  Another couple there said they took some photos of her and would send them to me - although I didn't get them yet.
     Anyway, It was really kind of cool story and really gracious of Air Supply to do that.  I really think that is why their fans are so loyal. 
Doug