I promise the revelation that The Amazing Tour Is Not on Fire is indeed amazing is the only spoiler I will reveal. But honestly, how could it not be? Anything involving YouTube sensations Dan Howell (danisnotonfire) and Phil Lester (AmazingPhil) is guaranteed to be good.
As is pretty clear from my article about YouTuber books, Dan and Phil are two of my favorite YouTubers. When they announced that they had written a book, “The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire,” I preordered it so that I would also receive a special bookmark and stickers. Additionally mentioned in the article are book tours, which are a wonderful event to exist as they allow fans to see the people who bring them happiness. When Dan and Phil announced that they were bringing The Amazing Tour Is Not on Fire (TATINOF for short) to the United States, I was ecstatic. But this was not just any book tour. Dan and Phil took the concept of a book tour and turned it into an entire theatrical production. No pre-signed books and a photo opportunity for them.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me set the scene. Imagine walking along a crowd of mostly teenage girls (with a few boys and some parents) wearing Dan and Phil t-shirts, flower crowns, or drawn on cat whiskers. Some are wearing a combination of all three, while others have opted for a lion or dinosaur onesie. I decided to wear a sunburn on my legs because some of us are pale like Phil and turn pink after only a few hours in the sun. I joke. But I did buy a TATINOF USA t-shirt to wear later, along with a matching poster. As I waited for the doors to open, my excitement grew. After four years of watching Dan and Phil on my computer screen, I would be seeing them in person in their tall, British glory. I couldn’t wait.
The doors finally opened, and as I found my seat I was delighted to see how close to the stage I was. I knew I had bought good seats, but only 20 feet separated me from two of my favorite people on the planet. The stage setup was fantastic, and the music playlist Dan and Phil had created themselves was perfect.
I would now like to take a moment to appreciate Dan and Phil fans everywhere. Only at a Dan and Phil event would someone yell “What team?” and receive a response of “Wildcats!” immediately. Among my people I felt comfortable enough to scream in excitement and start singing along to the playlist. “YOUTH” by Troye Sivan, “Victorious” by Panic! At the Disco, “The Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance, “Breaking Free” from High School Musical, and “Toxic” by Britney Spears had me and everyone else dancing in our seats and singing along. I felt a sense of oneness with the audience as we all celebrated our love for Dan and Phil. No playlist could represent their, and our, interests better, except if there was a Muse song perhaps. And yes, of course “All Star” by Smash Mouth was played. It would be a crime if it wasn’t.
And then it happened. The event we all were waiting for. The show started, and I did not stop screaming, cheering, and laughing for almost two hours as Dan and Phil brought their book and videos to life. I must emphasize how different that is from my usual behavior. I am quiet, and can only scream if people I fangirl over are in front of me. The only time I freely sing among others is in my house. I am too shy to sing otherwise. I get nervous talking to people, and I prefer to not have the attention on me. Sitting among my fellow Dan and Phil fans, all of that changed. The Amazing Tour Is Not on Fire was not only an incredible show to watch, but a place I felt comfortable showing a side of me that is usually hidden. My throat is still sore from all the screaming.
Dan and Phil have taught me that it is okay to be myself, even if I’m awkward sometimes. It is okay to be passionate about something others might not understand or might even find lame. And even better, I am not alone. There is a whole community who will sing and laugh along with me. We may struggle sometimes, but ultimately being ourselves is the best we can be. Now concludes my Dan-like motivational speech at the end of my article.
In all seriousness though, The Amazing Tour Is Not on Fire is more than just a show. It is an outpouring of genuineness, of excitement, and of community. I could not have asked for a better experience. I feel lucky to have gone, and not only because I found 12 pennies as I walked up the stairs to exit.
As the show I went to was the last of the U.S. tour, I would like to congratulate Dan and Phil on their accomplishments. They have inspired, entertained, and brought happiness to so many. Thank you, Dan and Phil.
