Top 10 Behind the Scenes Facts of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour
#10: Janitor Cart
In case you hadn’t heard, Taylor Swift can draw in a pretty massive crowd at her concerts. While the horde of Swifties eagerly await the start of the show, there’s often one little issue: how to get the star backstage without being seen. Or worse, ambushed. Luckily, her team devised a clever and… sanitary method to get her to the stage. Eagle-eyed fans theorized early on in the tour that Swift was traveling backstage via janitor cart. As wild as it sounds, it was in fact proven to be true when one concertgoer caught Swift emerging from the cart one night before the set. Call it what you want, but we think this strategy is pretty iconic.
#9: An “Enchanted” Ballgown
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Ms. Swift is known for her ability to dress for revenge. And her “Eras Tour” wardrobe was no exception. Her “Midnights” bodysuit featured 5,300 hand-embroidered crystals and beads. While the custom Atelier Versace bodysuit embodied the sunset aesthetic of the “Lover” album. We have to give a shout out to the blue gown Swift debuted on the night she announced “1989 (Taylor’s Version)”. But it’s the custom Zuhair Murad Couture gown the popstar wore during her “Speak Now” set that was an instant classic. The romantic pink dress sports over 54 yards of tulle and is adorned with sequins, in typical Swift style. It’s the perfect fit for the bewitching fairytale number it accompanies in the tour.
#8: Friendship Bracelets
Remember the good ol’ days of making friendship bracelets? The Eras Tour brought this nostalgic craft back in early 2023 and since then, it has become a massive trend. Fans were inspired to adopt the jewelry making into their concert outfit preparation after Swift released her 2022 track, “You’re On Your Own, Kid” which referenced the activity. Since then, jewelry-making kits have been flying off the shelves. Popular craft chain Michaels reported a 40% sales increase since April 2023 and a 300% sales lift in tour locations. Bracelet-making is not only a fun way to get excited about the tour, but also a way for Swifties to connect, as trading creations has become popular at the shows.
#7: Stage Dive
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Taylor Swift is a master at many things. But one thing we did not expect her to add to her growing resume was diving. Sure enough, when it came time to pull out a few tricks for the Eras tour, Swift added a shocking stage dive. The disappearing act comes between her acoustic set and the final era, “Midnights”. Swift seemingly swims underneath the stage and emerges on the opposite end in a new outfit. Okay, so maybe she doesn’t actually swim. Instead, it seems that she jumps onto an airbag beneath the stage where she is then transported without the use of fins. Still, it’s incredibly impressive and stands as a great way to introduce her newest era.
#6: “Fearless” Guitar
Glitter and Taylor Swift pretty much go hand in hand. Longtime fans will remember that the “Fearless” era was particularly known for its sparkle, which bedazzled everything from dresses, to makeup, and even instruments. So we wouldn’t expect anything less than a rhinestone guitar to accompany the “Fearless” set in the Eras Tour. The guitar is highly reminiscent of Swift’s original “sparkle” guitar, which featured Swarovski crystals and was often used during the “Fearless” era. What some fans may not know is that the guitar used on the Eras tour is made extra special by the fact that both Swift’s parents super-glued each and every rhinestone by hand. And in typical Swift fashion, there’s a number 13 for good measure.
#5: Bonuses
For a tour as big as the Eras Tour, it’s no surprise that thousands of employees take part in making sure that everything goes perfectly along the way. From setting up the stage to dancing on top of it, these employees are integral in making each night special for concertgoers. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, particularly by Swiftm who gifted team members a Christmas in July bonus during that month in 2023. According to sources, the singer doled out $55 million in bonuses, which included $100,000 checks to drivers, along with personalized messages from Swift. All thanks to these incredible workers, the magic of the tour has been felt across the U.S. and in many parts of the world.
#4: Ticket Sale Mayhem
Picture this: over 3.5 million Swifties pre-register to buy tickets online for the Eras Tour. What could go wrong, right? As it turns out, a lot could go wrong. In November 2022, Ticketmaster opened up the presale for the highly anticipated tour and more than 2 million users purchased tickets — the most ever in 24 hours. The unprecedented demand resulted in extensive waits, ticket shortages, and many disappointed fans. Since the fiasco, many have pointed out the shortfalls of the company, particularly their monopoly over ticket sales in the U.S. Internationally, things weren’t much better. Brazilian lawmakers plan to implement a bill dubbed the “Taylor Swift Law” to combat ticket scalping. From the very start, it was obvious that the Eras Tour was unlike any other.
#3: Earthquake
Did you feel the earth move? Oh, it was probably just a Taylor Swift concert. That’s what residents experienced when the Eras Tour landed at Seattle’s Lumen Field for two shows in July. Seismologists reported that the seismic activity caused by all of the dancing was equal to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake. This isn’t the first time this has happened in the Emerald City. In 2011, the 2.0-magnitude “Beast Quake” occurred after Marshawn Lynch’s famous touchdown. If you were wondering which songs really gets fans grooving, scientists were able to determine that “Bad Blood” and “You Belong with Me” produced the most powerful activity. We have to agree that the Swifties certainly have good taste!
#2: Highest Grossing Tour
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When Swift announced she was taking her eras on the road in 2023, it was anticipated to be a major international event. After the cancellation of her 2020 “Lover Fest” tour due to the global pandemic, coupled with her unparalleled success since then, millions were ready to finally sing along to their favorite songs in concert. But how much has the tour actually made? Turns out, enough to make it the highest-grossing tour of all time by a woman as of fall 2023. Swift is projected to cross the $1 billion threshold with the tour, which is also set to become the highest-grossing tour ever and surpass Elton John’s record. If the domestic leg of her tour is any indication, we’d say Swift is on her way to hitting yet another achievement.
#1: Breaking Records
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Taylor Swift is officially in her record-breaking era. A tour as successful as Swift’s is bound to cause a major shift in the industry. But the impact of the Eras Tour has been colossal. On opening night, Swift reportedly claimed Madonna’s 36-year-old record for the most attended female concert in American history. More than 69,000 loyal fans filled State Farm Stadium to see the now-legendary tour commence. Fans have consistently tried to break records throughout the tour, including the longest standing ovation. In Los Angeles, Swift was honored by 8 whole minutes of applause after “Champagne Problems”. Meanwhile, the concert film has broken records in and of itself. Even over 17 years into her career, Swift continues to raise the bar and achieve incredible success.
Which of these behind the scenes facts made you wish that you had tickets to the Eras Tour? Let us know in the comments!
