Year: July 1998 - November 1998;
Countries: South and North America, Canada;
Shows: 26;
Costumes: 2;
Dancers: 2;
Lengh: 17 minutes;
Tickets Prise: Free;
Set List:
1. "(You Drive Me) Crazy";
2. "Sometimes";
3. "Deep in My Heart"/"Born To Make You Happy"/"Thinkin' About You";
4. "...Baby One More Time".
Tour Dates: Unknown;
Before even releasing a single, "Jive Records" pulled an old trick out of the music industry promotional bag. Before any music was officially released, the label set up a Britney Spears web-site, e-mail adress, and a toll-free number. This information was printed up on several hundred thousand postcards and sent off to various teen fan clubs around the nation - including the Backstreet Boys fan club - letting them know about the hotline. The web page featured photos of Britney, vidiotaped interview footage, and a music clips. This served as the kickoff for a huge promo blitz.
In late July 1998, almost six months before the release of the record, Britney travelled across the nation and into Canada, performing at 26 different shopping malls.
The North American promotional tour was sponsored by several teen magazines such as "Seventeen." "Teen People," "Teen" and many others. A "Sunglasses Hut" tie-in capped it off. With a purchase of $80 or more at "Sunglasses Hut", shoppers received a free CD containing one of Britney's songs.
The musical mall program included a four-gong set performed in the food courts with two dancers accompanying Britney and several costume changes. Organizators knew they had a great package - a gifted singer who could dance like a dream.
After the song and dance numbers, the troupe headed out goody bags containing cassette samplers of her music and some biographical information. Britney found herself signing autographs even before the album was released. The tour also included plenty of radio interview spots. That blitz was a big success. The response was tremendous, kids were intrigued by Britney. Her polite southern manners soon won over anyone who met her. The tour introduced Britney to a generation of young girls at the time they were most likely to be receptive to "buying into something" new while they were shopping.
The mall jaunt taught Britney about the pitfalls of touring, including the loneliness of the road and how nasty it was to live on the bus. She also got her first hard lesson in how anything can happen at a show. Her performance begun with her dressed like one of the dancers, then ripping off the outfit, which was clasped with Velcro. She couldn't get the Velcro undone at another show. Britney pulled at her costume, and her dancers pulled at her costume, and no one could get it undone.
However the mall tour turned out to be an overwhelming success. It was a positive experience, as it helped establish her initial fan base. "It was crazy. No one knew who I was, but I could see that they really enjoyed the music," recalled Britney.
Before the tour was finished Britney was offered the spot of opening act on a tour with 'N Sync.
Dancers
Andre Fuentes
Andre was born on September 7, 1975.
He has been working with Britney since her "Mall Tour" till her "Dream Within a Dream" Tour.
Andre appeared in Britney's videos:
- "Sometimes";
- "Born To Make You Happy";
- "(You Drive Me) Crazy";
- "Oops!.. I Did It Again";
- "I'm A Slave 4 U";
- "Overprotected".
He was a dancer in an episode of "Kids Incorporated" TV series (1993), as well as "Boy Meets World" TV series (1994). He appeared in musical drama "The Birdcage" (1996) and movie "The Longest Yard" (2005).
He also worked with Prince on a video "The Greatest Romance That Has Ever Been Sold" and danced in No Doubt's video "Bathwater". He appeared in TV-commercials and other projects, including carnival "Choreographers Ball."
Right now Andre Fuentes teaching at the "Edge Performing Arts Center" in Los Angeles.
Tray Jeremy Espinoza (T.J.)"I'm the only one who's responsible for my success. If I believe in myself, I can achieve."T.J. was born on August 10, 1980. Trey is American, but he has Indian, Spanish, and French roots. Even though he started his dance career at the age of 19, working with Britney, he was in modeling business before.
T.J. appeared in Britney's videos:
- "...Baby One More Time";
- "(You Drive Me) Crazy";
- "Sometimes";
- "Born To Make You Happy";
- "Oops!.. I Did It Again".
He has been working with Britney on her "Mall Tour", "Baby One More Time" ? "Crazy 2K" tours.
He also danced for Brandy ("Best Friends"), Gloria Estefan ("Out Of Nowhere") and worked on following projects: "MTV Diary: Christina Aguilera", "Time Out With Britney Spears", "Britney Spears Live And More", "Sisquo's Shakedown" and many others. He appeared in "She's All That" (1999) and "That Thing You Do!" (1996) movies. He was managing LaLaine and worked on debut album "If No One Loves Me" and singe "Even If". His music was not successful.
He was one of Britney's favorite dancers and was seen with Britney last time in the beginning of 2007.
