Bachelor Happy Hour - Behind the Scenes with 'The Bachelor Live on Stage'

Episode Date: April 3, 2020

Rachel joined Becca and Ben Higgins on one of the "Bachelor Live on Stage" tour buses a few weeks ago to get an inside look at Ben and Becca's roadie lifestyle. Although the tour is currently postponed, Becca and Ben still wanted to give fans a preview of the tour and share what it’s been like traveling around the country on a tour bus.Check out www.bachelorliveonstage.com for the latest updates and future show dates.Be sure to rate and subscribe so you never miss an episode.See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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And we want to welcome all of you to another episode of Bachelor Happy Hour. But before we get in to today's episode, we wanted to share a little bit more context and background with you all. Yeah. So we filmed this episode a few weeks ago when I had the honor, not the chance, the honor, to come out and support my girl. Becca and Ben in Bachelor Live on stage. Now, I had been itching, itching to see you guys do this. I had heard both of you talk about it just briefly before, but seeing you guys do your thing and connect with Bachelor Nation on stage was an experience that I'll never forget. And I'm so glad that I had the privilege to be a part of it. But, you know, since then, obviously things have changed in the world and they've taken a bit of a turn. Yes, Rach, unfortunately, we are now, you know, in this

social distancing time and quarantine, which is a scary thing for everyone. So when we did actually film this episode, it was a few weeks ago on the tour bus. But we filmed it in hopes of sharing with you all the excitement that we were experiencing while on the road, while Ben and I were living on the tour bus, you know, crossing the country and meeting all of the wonderful fans of Bachelor Nation out there. And I want to be one of the first to say, even though the Batchel LaVansage Tour was cut short. We did visit, you know, I want to say 18 cities we hit. And just the amount of love and support and interaction, amazing interaction that we had with the fans was unlike anything that I have ever experienced before. I mean, Bachelor Nation has just the most amazing fans out there.

And we had the absolute best time while on the road, while on the stage with everyone. And so we really do hope that, you know, one day, fingers. crossed. We're aiming for the fall. We'll see, you know, with how things pan out in our country, but that we can bring it back to cities near you. And we definitely want to hit the cities that we didn't make it to share Bachelor Live on stage once more. You know, and until then, I'm practicing the stage show at home with Garrett. But we do want to hit the road once everything is clear and once we can be out hanging out with each other again. Okay, first of all, I love the fact that Garrett is practicing with you, please record and post to social media ASAP. But I know Bachelor Nation is

probably wondering, okay, so if Bachelor Live on stage isn't happening, why are we airing this podcast? Well, let me tell you. Becca just said it. They hope to be back and they will be back. And so we're going to spew out positivity and good vibes. And so we want to play this interview because honestly, it was a great conversation that I was able to have with Becca and Ben. And it was all about the stage and their interaction together and their experiences on the road and their experiences with you guys. So we felt that this was a little distraction that may help you guys throughout your day and then get you excited for what's to come with Bachelor Live on stage. So if you haven't seen it yet, you can go out and get your tickets when all that's back, started again.

And if you have seen it, maybe you want to see it again. I hear it's different every city. You never know what you're going to get. Without further ado, Becca and Ben on the tour bus, Bachelor Live on stage. Welcome back, Bachelor Nation. You're never going to believe where I am sitting today. Now, I feel like you never know where Bachelor Happy Hour is going to stop.

That just seems to be the new theme. Today, I am on a bus, but not just any bus. I am on the Bachelor Live on stage tour bus sitting right here with Becca and Ben. What's up, guys? Hi, Rachel. We are so excited to be on the bus today to show you our home away from home.

you know we're kind of crowded right now but we're going to have a good time this is this is our home and it feels tight we're sitting just let's give a little picture we're sitting around the kitchen table which feels like now my kitchen we're in this bus for four months um this has been our home that is taking us to all of these cities around the u.s and so rachel i'm excited that you joined us i'm happy to be here now i didn't know what i was going to expect when i rolled up in here i feel like now that i'm here i've never been on a tour bus before so i feel like i feel like i'm I've gotten the tour, you guys. They welcomed me in. It gave me, you know, a little bit of what the surroundings are. And now I really want to find out what the hell is going on with the stage with Baster Live on stage because I feel like I've been following you guys on social media. I've been seeing clips here and there. It's always on the popular page on Instagram, which I feel like is a good thing. But I've seen outfit changes and dancing and it looks like singing injuries and a lot of guest appearances.

So all you Bachelor happy hour listeners, we are going to break down just like what life has been like on the road for you guys, what the tour is all about. I want to know the secrets, the ins and outs. I know everyone else does too. Your favorite moments, your worst moments, what you're excited about moving forward. So like, let's just get into it. Let's just start from the beginning. How are you guys? I don't want to speak for Ben, but I'm doing great.

I saying yes to this I didn't quite know what to expect but it has been more fun it has exceeded my expectations and always possible and it's just been a good wild ride so far yeah there's so much to that question because I was super anxious and nervous about stepping into this whole thing it's it's unknown nobody's done it it's unexpected we're walking like you see now like we're on a bus we're living in a bus for four months and we're committing to that before we even know what these buses look like and for me and I mean everybody's sitting around this table and I think most of your listeners life gets really busy like for most people life is busy we fill our time and the kind of like be on a bus and doing this tour has helped me be in one place for longer than I've been in one place in three years and I actually feel really healthy the and I know we're going to talk about it that the show has been incredible the response has been incredible so I sit here pretty fired up like I feel really good about life right now because I think think we're part of something special. You know what I think is really cool is we're kind of removed as leads all we've been leads of a season. We're kind of removed from bachelor nation in the sense. Even when we do this podcast, like we're talking in a microphone, but we don't get to see bachelor nation and feel their energy and their excitement. We, you know, we watch it every Monday like they do. So you guys get the full experience. You actually are out there in the trenches, getting to meet these people that make up bachelor nation. And I actually think that that's kind of cool

because the rest of us are removed from it. Has that really been like an exciting experience for you guys? Oh, definitely. Our very first show that we had in Mesa, we knew it was going to be a good crowd and we knew that Bad Tination would show up. You know, we've always known the fans are great. But the moment Ben and I stepped on stage

and heard the applause and the cheers and they were standing up cheering for us, I think in that moment I realized like, this is going to be a wild, crazy experience in the best possible way. And we've all done appearances and meeting greets and have met fans of Bachelor Nation, which is great,

but to hear them watching a show and feeling like they're actually watching The Bachelor of Bachelorette. Like, this is how they probably spend their Mondays. It's something so incredible. And every night, I think we've been blown away by the fans and how interactive they are, how much they are cheering or booing sometimes.

And it's really cool to see. I wish we could videotape just the fan action in the audience throughout the entire shows. It's really cool. And another thing I guess y'all are making me think of is you all saw Women Tell All and we did a whole segment about bullying on social media and kind of focused on, you know, sometimes you hear the negative more than you hear the positive. And to see, hear your experience and how all these people are rooting you guys on and

just Bachelor Nation in general and just so excited to what the franchise brings to all of them, it's really refreshing to hear because sometimes you just get. get lost in the comments and the nasty DMs that you hear that you hear right and one thing too playing into that people come to the show and they'll still say we didn't know what to expect but we had fun and that's all we want people to leave having a good time having them feel like they were part of the show for for the first time really in their lives but something special for me that i've noticed and i've talked about this in some other interviews is you know you're witnessing connections on stage we're hoping that each bachelor in the city's find someone

but what's really cool to see is the girls like the girls bond on stage the girls bond backstage they form friendships they all make plans afterwards and so i think people think when they watch the show or this that it's fair season yeah that it's fake but it's really not like you're seeing not only connections with our bachelor and the girls but with the girls and it's a really cool experience for me as a woman to see that bonding how many people come to the show uh we've had anywhere from like Like, a thousand people to 2,500 people. That's crazy. Last night, I think we had 2,200 people come to the San Diego show. And it's been interesting for me personally because, and I don't want to have this victim mentality. Like, being a lead of the Bachelor franchise is a huge benefit to life. It's brought us all something really good. But it does, like you're saying, sometimes feel a little isolating, a little lonely.

Like, why does everybody hate me for something that I'm just trying to do my best at? I feel like Becca and I are getting the benefit of feeling the love that you have from people, Rachel, that Chris Harrison has from people, that all the other leads. Like, this is the first time that Bachelor Nation has been able to come out, stand in front of people from the show and show their support. And so we're getting the benefit of all the work and all the investment and all the vulnerability that you put in. And then in addition to that, as Becca was saying, these girls, think about this. We just said, there's 22 people, 2,200 people at this show last night. They have no clue what they're getting into. when they sign up for the six minutes.

They're getting out of a limo. They're opening up the door on stage to 2,200 people cheering their names. Like, that takes a ton of bravery. It really shakes life up a bit. And I think for Beck and I, we stand up there a lot of times in awe of just like how courageous it is that they're even trying this, just like it was courageous for you and Becca and I to go on the show. And so now it's kind of feeling that the bachelor family is just getting bigger.

Yeah. Yeah. It is getting bigger. And I love that y'all keep. saying people don't know what to expect because we don't know. I feel y'all are several shows in and people ask me now I'm getting asked what is bachel live on stage? I'm like, I don't know you guys. So I want to explain to people because you know, you still have a lot of shows left. What is it? Kind of take us through the beginning without

giving too much away because I do like that people don't know what's going to happen. But just kind of tell the story behind some of the videos and the pictures that we've seen on social media because you're dressed like sandy at one point from greece i'm not sure what's going on there we have a lot of costume changes throughout which when i signed up for this i just i again i had no idea what to expect i'm like oh yeah i'll wear a nice gown like at the rose ceremonies but it's a full-blown show i mean you you start a bachelor season and you have iconic moments through you have the limo entrances you have the group dates and the rose ceremonies that's all part of this show so we really take you from start to finish

There's always twists throughout. You really never know what's going to quite happen with the contestants or The Bachelor. But we have, you know, some fun compatibility games. We have, Ben and I do dance at some point, which is the Sandy costume, which is very hard to get into. I will say that's probably the hardest part of the night is putting on leather leggings, people, and trying to dance in them. Are you Danny Zuko? Mm-hmm. Yeah.

That's great. Leather jacket and all. But it really comes alive on stage. He has so many cool costume changes. and at one point he's in the sparkle blazer and he's just a total different person then he puts on the leather coat and just switches it up so it's

definitely fun but we have a lot of group dates that are really geared towards getting to know these girls in a certain way whether it's compatibility, chemistry whatever it is and you know we only have 90 minutes to make a show so it's not... Is it really only 90 minutes? I remember

when we were first talking about Bachelor I'm on stage and Becca you had just been announced you were saying that the women have power and there's a twist. Can we share that? Yes. Okay. Tell us.

Well, Ben, do you want to take it or do you want me to take it? Got it. This is usually my part. He throws it to me. So, yeah, at the end, there's a twist, of course. We have Bachelor. He narrows 10 girls down to two at the very end. And, you know, we hope that he's made a connection and wants to continue to date one of them.

And so he'll, of course, give out that final rose. And whoever he gives it to, she can say yes, just like. in the show, but she also can say no, which we haven't encountered yet, but we have a gift package that the couple will, well, the couple will either take it and go explore their city

and have this great date night. But as she says, no, she still gets that awesome package and can take herself and treat herself or take a friend. So we kind of say, you know, love is 50-50. It's a two-way straight. So he, yes, is handing out the roses

every night, but she can also choose to accept or decline. So is the audience helping the women make the decision? Well, not the women, the bachelor. Is the audience helping the bachelor make the decision? Yeah. It's wild, Rachel. It is. This is, I was just walking here and I was like, how am I going to explain this show? Because I knew you're going to ask for details. And now we can get them because it's out there in public. And, you know, originally there's a lot of things we couldn't say because some changes might be made or we wanted to leave some mystery to it. But In all the appropriate ways, this is the largest drinking watch party I've ever been to in my life.

If you look at intermission out at the line to the bar, it is so long because these people are getting fired up. And then they come in and it's like a sporting event in the healthiest of ways. Like they pick their favorites and they're yelling at the rose ceremonies. Hey, Julie, come on. Oh, they're rose ceremonies. Yeah. 100%. So let me walk you through the evening.

Yes, please. And I'll try to fill in, like, kind of what we've experienced and what fans can experience when they show up there. So as Becca said, you know, this whole show is really about empowerment for both sides. And so, you know, The Bachelor is passing out the roses, but the women have a lot of say in it. And at the same time, the women actually get a lot of the benefit of the show because they're participating in these experiences. They're having a blast. They're getting to share their heart. We hear more from them than we do actually the Bachelor for the most part.

So it's one Bachelor from each city. So a local bachelor, 10 to 20. Really? We've had 12 and kind of 13 last night. So who knows how many will take in? And then there's rose ceremonies. And there's group dates. These group dates are focused on, as Becca said,

compatibility and also kind of personality and showing who you can be on a stage or just in person. And then the rose ceremonies are just like the show. You'll experience it. there's there's women standing up kind of like you see in the mansion and the bachelor will be sending people home. And during that time, and Becca can attest to this, the fans get wild. You can't hear, Beck and I can't hear on stage who he's picking. So we have to look like we have to watch to see who walks down because we can't hear on stage typically who he's picking because the audience is so loud.

And I let me chime in because I think it was our very first show. We had no idea what to expect. And we were blown away not only by just the enthusiasm and the cheering, but at one point, I mean, it gets intense during the roast ceremonies. Like, people are cheering, but then it gets very silent. We have this underlaying, like, dramatic music. At one point, people get pissed and they call, they're like, pick Katie, you dick. Like, they will yell at him if they're not, if he's not picking who they want. It's like they're watching.

You see a microcosm of our world and what they watch a show like. And then the audience is a say. And so there's group dates that the audience actually gets to pick who moves on through the group dates by their voice and their chanting and their kind of applause, all leaning up to the final rose. And, you know, we have hometowns and fantasy suites and I'll leave those things mysteries. What? Yeah. Hometowns and fantasy movies? And they're great.

All on stage. This is what I'll tell you, Rachel. This will blow your mind. I want to leave a lot of mystery there for these because they're worth coming to see. And the show has had, like we said, a great reaction so far. Um, we're, this will be show 10 and eight of the 10 shows people have made out on stage. Mm-hmm. That I could say, because do the contestants get to drink?

If they want, we don't provide alcohol. Okay. Have there been tears? Yes. There has been seen tears. And last night, last night a girl got kicked off. She got so mad that she didn't even want to say goodbye to him. She walked straight past them down and gave her bow and walked off stage.

Okay. Do you know what I love about this is, obviously this isn't, you know, everyone's like, oh, this is so produced. Oh, people make you do this. and what's happening on stage is the real deal. They're no actors in this. This has actually happened, contestants who, whether they were applied,

chosen, whatever, to be on stage. So I talk about the experience that we get to be able to fill the energy and the response from the fans, but at the same time, the fans are getting to see this is the real deal. This is how it really is. I mean, I'm shocked. The crime, the making out,

the cursing, the storming off. And that's the thing. Ben and I have an outline of how the night goes. You know, we're prepped for certain things, but we really have no idea what could happen. It depends on our bachelor. It depends on the 10 to 20 girls we have. It depends on the audience. So we like at times a lot of, a lot of during the show, we're just kind of winging it and going with the flow and basing it upon what we're hearing. And so it's, that's what's been really fun is it's keeping Ben and I on our toes. It's keeping our dancers on their toes. So it's

a crazy ride, which is fun, because it's never going to be boring. It's never going to be stinking. We're never going to get too comfortable with this. So how does it feel to be the Chris Harrison? Do you have more respect for him? Oh, that's Ben's job. I'm more like the Van of White. Oh, is that how it is? Okay.

I think it's like, I think that we just like have doubled Chris Harrison. Let's think about it this way. This show's different because we have two main hosts and we each have, I think very equal responsibilities during the show. Like we both have our own dates that we host. I just, I think maybe because I'm selfish and it's been like something I've practiced here in the last couple weeks is I just take the road ceremonies. So I have my, my, my lines. But,

um, yeah, I have more respect for Chris Harrison. I don't, this is the part I have the most respect for is on stage, we have some ridiculous things happen. Like, things are like, I can't help us start laughing at it. I've been laughing. It's fine. I don't know how Chris Harrison for 20 plus years of his life has stood in this mansion or stood on the beach somewhere or sit on these dates and seen this ridiculousness go down and stay composed. I don't get it. I don't get it. I do money.

And numbness. Chris Harrison has truly seen it all. Yeah. And he always knows how to handle it and what to do. And there are moments where Ben and I are speechless and shocked and we're like, what the heck do right now? What do we say? Like, we've had some crazy stuff being said from the audience where it's so funny.

Ben and I have to take a second and be like, where are we in the show right now? And Chris just always seems to pick it up and know what to say and know how to transition everything. And so I give him so much respect. And that's where Ben does an awesome job at, too, is just staying in the moment and kind of bringing us back on track where I can kind of go off and be like, what the hell is going on right now? So Ben is very good at that too. So much respect for Chris. We had, Becca and I had this moment in one of these games. I'm not going to say, well, it's called Nadia nice. And so Nodian nicest set up, it's Becca's game, but it's to share your naughtiest or nicest story to kind of get to know yourself a little better. It's a fun game. It's great. And

you never know what's going to take you. Some nights, it flops because people don't share anything good. And then it's just like, all right, well, that was, but some nights, it gets good. One night, one of our first shows, um, I went on the audience. I said, who's feeling naughty tonight? And this lady, she's probably in her 60s, raises her hand. She said, why do you feel naughty? She stands up. She goes, because I love to be spanked by rulers. And the crowd, like reacts it's hilarious right everybody's laughing she's with her husband she's trying to like pull her down like honey and everybody's laughing and so then the bachelor has a ruler in his hand during this game kind of ironically and he walks over thinking it's funny for him to like act like he's going to

spank her and so beck and i like hey this is funny but like this could get out control come on back come on back like let's let's compose ourselves here so the girls start talking the second girl and goes well i was going to share a nice story but that's my mom and i have to one up her so the girl on stage's mom was the one that was about to be spanked by the back. So Ben and I are like, oh my gosh the crowd's going crazy. We're laughing. We're just trying to like compose everything. But in that

moment, I was like, this show is going to be so great if people keep showing up like that. I love that it's unpredictable. And I know that that's what makes it even more fun for you guys because each night when you walk out on that stage, you have no idea what it's going to be. I mean, maybe for like the bigger cities, you probably think, oh, it's going to be something crazy. I'm curious

to know how do you pick the lead? Like, how do you find the bachelors? Because at this point, we already know, like, there have been bachelors from the actual show, Bachelorette, bachelor. Well, I guess it wouldn't be a bachelor, but bachelorette. You pick past contestants that we've already seen, but how do you go about

picking the other leads? There's a full casting team who does an awesome job at, I mean, much like the show, because we have to go through background checks, you have to go through social checks. You have to make videos and submit pictures and fill up the applications and so the casting team will go through

and I've actually, when I have some downtime I'll go through with them and go through the applications and help choose people but they'll always have a bachelor and a runner up in case something happens but they you know first off we want somebody who's single because we have had a lot of people

apply or nominate someone who is in a relationship so which could make for a great show but no we're not that's a show you guys but just people I mean, some of them, we've had some fun guys who just really, like, whether they're new to the area and haven't had luck in dating, some, I will say, we have had some duds so far. Like, there's been some tough people. We actually, I shouldn't say this, but we like to rate the bachelors at the end of the nights.

But they're getting better. And I think as the show goes on, I think more people are now nominating themselves or friends, which is good. So we're getting better, better people, just as the word spreads, I think. But yeah, there's a full casting team going through everything. Ben and I will check them out too. They'll send, if it's a toss-up, we'll kind of go through. Like, oh, let's go with this guy. He seems like he'd be more fun on stage.

And same with the girls, too. But it's easier for the girls because I think more of them apply for themselves. Of course. It's nice that y'all have an input, though. I feel like y'all's job doesn't stop. Like, y'all are doing a little bit of everything. casting, dancing, singing, hosting. A little producing, maybe.

Oh, look, look at these credits. You can get that producer credit. Deca also lives on the bus with the casting department. So her bus has the casting department on it. And so she never stops because she wakes up and they're there going through people. For me, I walk on my bus. I eat some food. I grab a drink and I walk back to my bedroom and I go to bed.

And I'm glad you brought that up because let's get back to the bus, especially since we're sitting on it right now. I think when I heard you guys were traveling on a bus because we talked about this and I knew you had separate buses I just thought it was you guys you know you're maybe a friend

the loved one whoever the dogs and the bus driver I am shocked as I'm sitting here to see six bunk beds is it so you guys are really I need I need everyone to just put down

what you're doing and understand the effort and the work and the sacrifice that Becca and Ben are putting into this show. It's not just what you see on stage. It's behind the stage. You guys are on the road. So explain us. I'm looking at six bunk bets right now. So who are you living on this bus with? My bus has

two of our dancers. So we do have professional dancers that are on this show with us, which are incredible. Sidney. Sydney. That's so cool. She's incredible by the way. They're all incredible, but people get really excited to see Sydney every night. I think that's a really cool that you'll implement at that. Yeah, she's great at this. And all the dancers

have been terrific. But I have two dancers. I have the head of the tour, lives on my bus. our social media manager. And right now, I think that's it on my bus. And then your amazing bus driver. And then my bus driver, John. So, yeah, this is wild. I mean, I'm the craziest part.

So I'm an only child. You don't act like it. Really? Yeah, sorry. I just had to say. I always ask birthdays, enneagram numbers, and where you are. I'm a middle child. So, yeah.

Single child, enigram for birthday, March 23rd. I'm sorry, I'm digressing, but it's so nice to meet a four. They say you never meet them because they're really antisocial. We're the weird ones. So that's a good point. That's a good lead in. So I tend to enjoy my time alone. Like I process a lot.

Like I'm constantly, I feel like in my head. And when I'm around people, I can't be in my head and I can't be thinking through problems and situations. And so the bus is interesting because there's six people living like on top of you within a foot from you all the time. And then it's wild because. like dancers are super comfortable with each other like girls and guys will just change and get butt naked in front of each other all the time and there's no like weirdness to it and they don't even think about it and so for me I'm picking up on all this stuff trying to like catch up trying to figure out like where my boundaries lie where I feel comfortable where I don't it's been

really healthy for me because it's stretched me and pushed me and something that I typically wouldn't be pushed I said at the other night sitting on the bus and I'll let Becca speak from here I said it feels like I've almost backtracked to the healthiest version of college like I'm a 30 old man living on a bus with one of our dancers is 19 years old like i feel like i've gone back to college but yet now college is my job in a class and i will say the same like i for a while i've lived alone and now i live with garret and i'm used to our space and our alone time i'm like ben where i need that at certain points but being on this tour i feel like i don't i don't like to be alone as much as I thought I did.

I have very bad fomo when all the dancers are going and working out or they're all going out to breakfast. I'm like, oh, I'm missing that right now. So it's pushed me outside of my comfort zone a little bit in the best ways. On my bus, I also have two dancers. Sidney is with me. We have, and then we have three

girls from the casting team. We have our amazing driver, Mr. Mike, who Minow loves. But Minow is definitely the, on my bus, the bus diva. Oh, that's matter, I know. Yeah, she is so spoiled she hogs the back bed she has her own little setup back there she loves it um but it's been a really cool experience as ben said we just we have to get really close real fast and so we spent a week

before the tour started in rehearsals and i think right away like first day because we're going through costume changes the quick changes all this all this craziness backstage that right away i think i like had to change in front of one of the male dancers and my butt was in his face i'm like i'm sorry this is going to be the show for the next four months he's like honey don't worry i got you and so yeah you just get really close in a weird way um but it's it's been i think the best crew with us we've we have a really awesome team here and i wish every show you know we have our dancers at the end take about and i wish we could have everyone on the team come out and see how much work goes into this because everyone on the crew just deserves kudos and the most praise because

they're awesome at what they do the director put together probably the most amazing team for this show like the top of the top, I would say. Directors Mark Swanhart, too. Shout out to Swanee. Swanee. I mean, rolling up, as I was walking to your bus, I'm like seeing all these 18-wheelers unload all this stuff. And I know what you're doing,

but I don't know what you're doing behind the scenes. And I was just like, wow, this is a full-out production that you guys have. And what you're saying about the crew and everything that you have and how you have such great people, even though we don't necessarily see them on stage, that's a tribute to why the show has been such a success, I'm sure, because everybody is working together and you have such a good group of people. Like you have to that chemistry on stage and offstage.

Definitely, yeah. And that's what we learned too is, I mean, at the beginning, and I was like, oh, it's going to be Ben and I. We'll just kind of wing it off of each other. But there's so much that goes into it that everyone has to be aligned all the time. And you kind of just have to be on this certain wavelength, especially when you're onstage doing the shows with everyone.

And so it's a really, it bonds you in this really weird, unique way. No. I mean, it makes sense to me. If it didn't, I would be concerned. If you were speaking in a different way. Okay, craziest thing that's happened on the bus so far, what is it? Flat tire.

Do you drive? Well, I don't have to drive. I'd be like, can I drive? No, but Beno does take the co-pilot seat up there all the time. I think for us, I don't know if this happened on Ben's bus, but one of the shows, I don't remember where we, oh, well, I don't want to say the city, but we were parked up next to a jail. and we've had some weird people

hanging outside our doors trying to get on sometimes. What? Yeah, we... It's kind of scary sometimes. Like the Beatles? Like, you know, like people banging on your doors trying to get in?

I don't know what their intention. We had some fan girls outside one time. AKA groupies. There was one night in Salt Lake City and the girls stood outside and were waiting for Minow. Literally, they wanted to see Minow. Yeah.

That's not playing. Minnow gets a huge round of applause in the show. People freak out for Minnow. And, you know, the craziest thing that's happened on the bus for me is really like, we have, it's fun, Rachel. And I think you'd be into this too. It's like, we have these dance parties when we come off the show. I walk into my bus and we always do a meet and greet, Beck and I do. And so we're always like the last one's back on the bus.

And I walk into my bus. And there's like, it's like almost like, I know it's a weird thing. It's like almost spiritual. where, like, you walk onto this little room with a bunch of people you met two weeks ago and everybody's dancing to celebrate an accomplishment of the evening. And, like, for me, that's the craziest thing because it's like, these are people unlike me. Like, I would never have met them. We don't run in the same circles.

We have very different interests. Like, our lives would not have probably crossed. And if they did cross, we would not have anything to share our lives together with. But the show has brought us together where I walk into my little home and people are dancing here in the kitchen celebrating something that we've done together. and like I'm welcome into that circle. And for me, that's really fun, really cool and super unique that like is special. And the second part of this is this is like I think one of our biggest responses to the show is I didn't know what to expect.

I didn't realize this was such a big production. We have a 40 foot LED screen behind us that gets set up every night. We have all these props. I mean, this is not a small show. This is a big show that's shocking for people right now as we talk. There are 25 people outside unloading semi-trucks that are setting up this stage. Like, people are shocked at the work that's gone into this. I don't, I think people thought it was going to be a really fun meet and greet watch party.

No, this is a show. You are signing up to come to an experience to watch people find connection on stage and to celebrate 20 plus years of Bachelor Nation. And for Becca and I, and for you and for all of us, like, I hope it's a celebration to say, like, this thing was wild. It's definitely weird. It's changed life of a lot. But, like, there's a lot of people that support us, too, and they're willing to pay to come see it. Yeah. I feel like y'all are never going to watch a concert the same way again.

Never. You're going to know, oh, this person's behind the stage and the lighting is doing this and the production of this. It's, like, completely changed your whole view of this kind of stuff. Yeah, I think when we signed up, I was like, oh, you know, there's going to be maybe a rose bush, a podium to put the roses on, whatever. No, as Ben said, this massive screen, even like the stage itself, the flooring, everything, the cue marks, all of the props. Like, that comes with us to 66 cities. It's just, it's way more than I could have ever imagined.

And so now I do appreciate the little details and the, the little pieces that make up a show. But yeah, we went to an R-rated Magic Show a few nights ago where we were watching. There was like, maybe four props on stage. And I was like, do you think he has a lighting crew? Do you think he has audience? And so we're picking apart all of the little details now, which is really cool. I feel like I'm like, what's next for you guys? Broadway?

You're fully trained. I want to go back to what happens on stage, like the success of the show on stage. Have you had a lot of success with the couples, like making love connections? And if so, can you give us any updates on the couples? I would say we've had a handful of couples that have come from this. We always leave the stage kind of knowing,

yeah, maybe they'll have like fun one night or this could actually go somewhere. I mean, for instance, we were at one show a few nights ago. And all of our dressing rooms are, of course, backstage. Ben and I have our own little spots where we can get ready. And then we have a holding room where we keep our bachelor. And Ben and I were walking back after the meet and greet. And there was some of our crew there. And they're like, can you guys keep it down?

The couples in the back room hanging out. And they like need some alone time. And we're like, okay. Two hours of hanging out. And I think it was our very first show. It was one of our dress rehearsal shows, a couple who was, you know, just standing in before our actual show got together, ended up going on a date that night,

came to our show the next night, and as far as I know, they're still together. So we've seen, I think, some couples who really hit it off. So I'm excited to go back, especially to my hometown in San Diego,

because I think that couple really made a connection, so it'll be fun to check in with them. I told them after the show, I'm like, stay in touch. If you guys are still together at the end of this, we're all grabbing drinks. We're going to double date. And so, yeah, you can definitely tell

there's some connection. Some, you know, some I think just want to get through The night. He can't win them all. Exactly. Some of them I'm kind of rooting for the girl to say no. Same.

Like I'm standing up there being like, you know, you don't like this. This dude hasn't treated. One night we had a guy go, at the very last, you'll love this. At the very last rose, he goes on in his mic, because he has a hot mic at all the times. He goes, I don't know. This is like a 50-50 coin flip. I was like, girl and say no. It's like you don't want to be saying that on stage right now.

You just ruin this. For everybody, the crowd is like you've lost the crowd. you've lost us like and the girl still said yes because i think it's like hard to say no but like there's been nights where i've been like no these girls like take this price package and go off on your own okay so speaking of prize packages do you think that we'll see some of the women maybe on the big screen on tv do you think that they'll transfer onto a bachelor or a paradise or summer games or when they're so listen to your heart there's so many shows now i really hope i think it's the evolution of this show i think we've seen it because we've had some characters

And we've also had some really incredible people, men and women that step up on that stage. I hope the evolution of this show is that this would be maybe not like a recruitment zone. Because I don't think this is its own living show. This is a special experience. But I would think if somebody was like, I want to try this. I think this could work. I would hope that at least one or two people from this experience would go on the show on television. I think it will happen.

I just don't win. Yeah. Yeah. We've definitely had some really fun standout, more so women that I would love to see on the actual show. I've noticed with, and I don't know how much I should say, some of the bachelors that kind of just use it as like, oh, can I go on the real show? And we're like, uh-uh, you've not earned it. You did not do well on that stage to go on to the real show.

But I think there's some girls. I mean, at least one, we always have one wild card in every show. That's just the fan favorite. That's really just giving it their all. That's enjoying the moment. And so there's definitely some I would, you know, I would root for if they went on the actual TV show. But as Ben said, it's its own thing. And the show itself is so different from the live show.

I mean, when you're filming, it's months in advance. You kind of have time to process and everything. This is live in the moment, which really, I think, can pull out someone's personality a little bit more. But they're, it's very different. Well, for example, Dylan Hannah came. And Dylan was sitting in the dressing room. Like, there's no shot I could do that out there. 2,200 people, and I'm like, I could kiss on the stage and have people,

2,200 people cheer for me because you can see it and they go crazy. I can't do it. Now, I can do it in front of millions of people behind a screen. Right. And a cameraman that I got comfortable with and I understand and no, but 2,200 people sitting out there watching me do this. No, not for me. So as Becca said, it's completely different experience.

I didn't think of it that way. That's so true. Because we know millions of people are watching it, or though they will watch it later. But in the moment, and a lot of people don't know this, you guys who are listening, it does feel very private when you're there. There's not a camera five inches away from your face. There aren't people chanting and screaming your name. Do it.

Do it. Do it. It's just you and this person making the connection. Isn't it great when you can have the best of both worlds? Like getting what you need out of a product, but also know that it's not going to be bad for you. Well, I got you covered with Madison Reed. Are you concerned about what's in your hair color or

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So visit Madison-dash-Reed.com now to find your perfect shade. That's Madison-dash-reed.com. Okay. Before I let you go, I feel like I can ask you a million questions about this, but of course we want to leave some things to the imagination. Dream guest to come on the show. Dream experience, like thing you would love to see happen on the show. Oh, that's a good one. Man, you know what?

Okay, this is, I'm shooting big here, but I would love to have Chris Harrison at one point walk out for one final row ceremony when no one expects it and kind of push Ben to the side for a moment and just lead that last row ceremony. I think people would run up on stage. Do you have security? Yeah. We do, but sometimes they time out and like we'll have fans come backstage when our security checks out. That would be a great experience, right? If Chris Harrison

came out. Oh, it would be phenomenal. I'm glad to step aside. I'm big of the manifestation. Just put it out there. I want to shoot my shot right now. Chris Harrison, what do we have to do to get you on our stage? What about you, Ben? Who would you want? Becca said it, you know, I think we had this like all-star list of people, you know, leads like you, Rachel and Chris Harrison. And, you know, for me, I've always been partial to Caitlin Bristow. She was

the bachelor when I was on the show. She was, was awesome to me yeah um and so i'd love for katelyn to come out and support it uh you know i think for us anytime uh this feels weird so anytime this is we've entered back into the bachelor world in a way that i never thought we were going to right we're back into this whole environment again we're hosting a live show you're doing a podcast it sometimes feels a little isolating and there is this level of like how much is my life going to be represented in the fine by the still and so when other people from the show come to support us whoever it is who has been on the show before and who's willing to step out on that stage and stand next to be like hey

good job we'll watch the show we'll celebrate with you and the fans it's good for me at least personally i feel supported and so anybody from the show you know last time we had hether martin who wasn't on the show very long but she's she came out and she said next to us and that means a lot So anybody, anybody that has done the show who will stand next to us on stage will be, just get a big hug for me. Yeah, I would agree. I mean, there's a select few that I wouldn't say anybody, but most people, yeah, it's just, it's really special to even to see people or to meet people who I haven't met before from the show to be on stage and to, you know, have gone through this crazy thing. And now who's doing this very new thing with us? It's really special.

but uh and then what did you say what was your last question like the experience what what what would you add to the show like because i was going to say for a guest there are a lot of people and we all know this there are a lot of people celebrities who are big fans of the bachelor show and they can't always come to the first night or be in the control room but you could come to batch you live on stage so i was thinking like some super fan you know if you could get i don't even know Jennifer Anson. I was a daughter of Jason.

Jimmy Camel, can you imagine if he just, you're like, you know what, guys, I'm not feeling that well tonight.

I'm just going to let my boy Jimmy take it over. I mean, you can't exclude these things from happening because this is the Bachelor franchise. And, you know,

it happened a year ago. Did you think you'd be dancing and singing and hosting on stage and blowing your knee out, meeting fans face to face, bringing, it's almost more than just live on stage.

I look at it as like an appreciation tour. I feel like that's what you guys are doing we know you're out there we speak of bachelor nation but now we're coming from city to city big and small middle of nowhere just to meet you and let you see what this experience is like and i think that that's what's so cool so i feel like if you haven't been sold already because each time i've talked to you what like three times at this point i mean beck we host the show so we talk a little bit about what you're doing but i've sat down with the both of you three times now and talk to you about what this is and this experience and each time i talk to you i'm like

like drawn in even more. So I don't understand how you guys can't either. Bachelor happy hour listeners. Tell a friend, a loved one, a stranger on this street. But let everyone know how they can find or sign up to come to the show. It's all on Bachelor Live onstage.com. So, I mean, for tickets, if you want to apply for yourself, if you want to nominate anyone that you want to see on stage in the future show, it's all Bachelor Live onstage.com.

That's right. Yeah. That's where the most updated information. will be. So time, you know, sometimes show times change based on the volume of people that bought tickets. And so, yeah, just go check it out. Bachelor Live onstage.com or Bachelor Live on stage Instagram keeps everybody pretty updated. So Ben, before we let you go, because we like to play games, but we also like to do a rose and thorn of the week on the podcast. So because we're not really talking about the show, the season's over with, I mean, that could be your rose and thorn.

You could take it back to Peter's season. But what's your rose and thorn of the week? You too, Becca. I'm going to do one too. It's like something that's happened that's been great. And then another thing that's just been a thorn. Yes. So for me, it's my rose is spending time with Jessica on this tour.

It's awesome. So she's been a trooper. You know, we've been dating for a year and a month. We are getting more and more serious. And I think, you know, just like Garrett. But Jessica's like, go do this thing. Like, I'll support you 100% and she has made me feel zero, zero anxiety or guilt or pressure since I've stepped on to the bus, which is like the craziest thing ever for me to think about. My thorn is my knee hurts because while we're on stage, I did a dance move and dislocated my knee on stage.

And it's, it's been so early in the tour that I'm really worried about the next few weeks. but it's fine. It's going to be okay. Ben is a trooper. I don't know if anyone out there was at the show where Ben hurt his knee, but I personally thought it was just part of his dance moves because the way it went down, he was so smooth about it. And I would say maybe that's a thorn too for me is seeing my co-hosts who, you know,

I need for this show get injured. And I feel like I'm a mom at times where I get really nervous and worried. So that was probably the thorn, even though it wasn't this week. I think just the thorn in general for me personally is just lack of sleep during this but I can't even say that in a bad way because even though it's crazy

and we're tired at times and don't sleep all that well it's still like we're running on this fun adrenaline and meeting so many people to keep us going so it's not a very prickly thorn but I would say Rose like Ben having Garrett and Minow support me on this tour and just be

here wholeheartedly with me And Garrett's been so supportive and so helpful throughout every show. And then also adding to that, just having all of our guests and people on stage, all of the people that we've met just really, I know this sounds juicy, but it's filling my heart. And it's just a really special bonding experience. And honestly, over everything, this is probably like one of the best experiences and things that I've ever done in my life.

Oh, I'm like, how do I follow this up? Okay, so my Rose is finally getting to be. be on Bachelor Live on stage. So everything, everything they're telling you guys is 100% true. So happy to be a part of what you're doing to meet people, a Bachelor nation fans, and it's

just an incredible experience. My rose is also meeting an enneagram four. You don't understand how I am. I'm so into these numbers. So the fact that I'm like, I finally met a four, I'm telling everyone. And then my thorn is to make you uncomfortable as a four and my

cramps that I have right now. I feel you, girl. Yeah. Okay, like Ben's like, no, work. No, he's looking at so many girls on this one. He's used to it. I'm getting used to it now, yeah. He's learning so much about women.

It's great. This will prepare you for daughters, for your wife. I'm telling you, it's fantastic. But anyways, thank you guys so much for coming on, well, Becca, you're a co-host, but, like, kind of like taking off that co-host hat and just talking about what you do with Bachelor Live on stage. Ben, you too. And I can't wait to see what you guys continue to do.

Maybe I'll stop by on another stop. Don't know. You guys aren't coming to Miami. I just want to say that. We are going north, though, West Palm Beach. It is far. No, it's beautiful. Rich, any show you want to be on.

You're a girl. You're welcome. Thank you guys. Well, listeners, we hope that you enjoyed the show. We love that you listen to us. You support us. Make sure you email us at happy hour at bachelornation.com. Yes.

And don't forget to please visit bathtronation.com. That's where you'll get all the latest and greatest details about the show. And we are the first place to announce everything that's coming up. I'm Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, host of the Psychology Podcast. Here's a clip from an upcoming conversation about how to be a better you. When you think about emotion regulation, we're not going to choose an adaptive strategy which is more effortful to use unless you think there's a good outcome. Avoidance is easier. Ignoring is easier. Denials easier. Complex problem solving takes effort.

Listen to the psychology podcast on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When your car is making a strange noise, no matter what it is, you can't just pretend it's not happening. That's an interesting sound. It's like your mental health. If you're struggling and feeling overwhelmed, it's important to do something about it. It can be as simple as talking to someone. just taking a deep calming breath to ground yourself. Because once you start to address the problem, you can go so much further. The Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council have resources available for you at loveyourmind today.org.

Have you ever wished for a change but weren't sure how to make it? Maybe you felt stuck in a job, a place, or even a relationship. I'm Emily Tish Sussman, and on she pivots, I dive into the inspiring pivots of women who have taken big leaps in their lives and careers. I'm Gretchen Wittmer, Jody Sweetie. Monica Patton, Elaine Welteroff. Learn how to get comfortable pivoting because your life is going to be full of them. Listen to these women and more on She Pivotts, now on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.