VIP got VERY expensive?

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by del » Mon Feb 11, 2019 10:16 pm

Kristian wrote:
Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:59 am
Del: Alice has "Gold" and "VIP" options ... neither includes a M&G.
True - was just my failed attempt at humour..

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Daggers & Contracts » Tue Feb 12, 2019 5:37 am

del wrote:
Mon Feb 11, 2019 10:16 pm
Kristian wrote:
Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:59 am
Del: Alice has "Gold" and "VIP" options ... neither includes a M&G.
True - was just my failed attempt at humour..
Still, After a "Selfie w/A Piano, your's was much more interesting. :x I would love to "Have your (my) picture taken next to Alice Cooper's monster" - whichever the current one is (I do prefer the Cyclops).
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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by RemarkablyInsincere » Wed Feb 13, 2019 6:47 pm

I've done more than my share of general admission shows (no seating) and waited out most of the day many many times for different artists, but nobody more than Alice. It used to be a great opportunity to guarantee yourself a place up front if you were willing to invest the time and effort. And generally, only the big fans were willing.

That's not the case anymore. Nowadays with the VIPs, they're going to get in earlier than you no matter what. So if you wait out all day at a GA show, you probably won't even get on the barrier. That makes it not really worth it. Besides that, the older I get the more difficult it is to stand for hours upon hours. If you don't even have a barrier to lean on, forget about it. A reserved seat is a much better option, especially if you can get a good one.

The pricing is getting out of hand. And the ticketing companies (especially Ticketmaster/Livenation) are playing more and more games to extract as much money as possible out of the concert goer. You can still get lucky and a get a good seat at face value, but it's becoming harder and harder.

I've done paid meet n' greets for artists (not for Alice yet). It's a fun experience and a nice option if you really want to meet one of your heroes, but it's expensive for sure. For as many paid meet n' greets that Alice does, he sees even more people for free after each show. But you have to be special or know the right people to get back.

I too have run into people up front at the shows that aren't really even fans buying the VIP simply because they have the money and it's a night out. Then they stand there like statues for the entire show. The most annoying result of all of this.
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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Saint&Sinner » Fri Feb 15, 2019 2:28 am

I'm not sure when alice tours again but I would really love for him to do just one last theatre jaunt. Brixton Academy size venues would be perfect and the crowd could seriously get into it.
I get that as people get older they want to sit down, I will get there one day! but somewhere like Brixton is perfect seats up top (with good view) and pit down below for the young uns! (or in my case middle ages ones!)
I really hope we get one more good show out of him, i'm not sure I can stand another Wembley abomination......I think I would only go if the setlist was insanely good (ie roses on white lace, which he teased on the last tour in interviews but never played it to my knowledge)

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by bmbcali » Sun Feb 17, 2019 8:14 pm

Just read an article in the Los Angeles Times about KISS coming to The Forum and the writer describes the different levels of the VIP area and how much fans paid. They mentioned the "Ultimate VIP Experience" was $7,000 (in San Diego) where they meet fans and then KISS steps into a different room at the next VIP level. I looked it up on the KISS site and the "Ultimate VIP Experience" is limited to 15 people and has variable pricing (besides photos, M&G, sitting at Eric's drums, wearing Paul's boots, holding guitars, etc.,) those people get to sit in the Pit. So it cost $7,500 at L.A. Forum, down to $6,500 in some cities and $5,000 in some cities (no lounge area). Then there are cheaper VIP levels from there. Yikes! And there is a disclaimer of no personal items will be signed and no price protection in event of price reduction. (Production Manager Robert Long used to be a guitar roadie for Stanley and designed the current stage production--17 trucks--and has worked with Motley Crue - so you saw his staging on the AC/Crue tour.) Maybe the VIP money helps fund the KISS private jet that Stanley said they used to be against as it "was excessive and symptomatic of everything we didn't want to do or be But it allows you to do more shows..." For that money you could go to Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp for several days and meet and play with rock stars. Or from $8,500 spend a week at the exclusive Golden Door spa 40 miles from San Diego, CA, and rub elbows with the 1% and take a dance class with Yuichi Sugiyama (you know him, dancer on WTMN special & tour and other Cooper tours, and L.A. choreographer) he has taught there over 40 years.

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by bmbcali » Sun Feb 17, 2019 9:12 pm

Kristian wrote:
Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:35 am
This reads like a joke:

FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD' VIP EXPERIENCE
One Incredible Top Price Reserved Floor Ticket in the First Ten (10) Rows *
Memories to Last a Lifetime **
---- Champagne Toast & Welcome Gift Upon Arrival ***
---- Exclusive "Behind the Scenes" Escorted VIP Backstage Tour
---- Unforgettable On-Stage VIP Photo Opportunity at Elton John's Piano
On-Site VIP Perks ****
---- VIP Preferred Parking (One Parking Pass Per Order)
---- VIP Priority Check-In
---- Separate VIP Entrance
---- Crowd-Free VIP Merchandise Shopping Opportunity
Limited Edition Elton John Tour Lithograph
---- Limited Edition Tour Lithograph Based Upon Original Elton John Artwork
---- All Limited Edition Lithographs Printed on Fine Art Paper & Include a Certificate of Authenticity
The Essential Elton John VIP Gift Bag
---- Custom VIP Gift Bag Designed Exclusively for Elton John VIPs
---- Includes a Special Collection of Elton John Themed VIP Merchandise
---- Each Gift Bag Contains a Commemorative VIP Tour Laminate & Matching Lanyard

[...]

** Elton John does not participate in any VIP-related activities. VIP Packages do not include a Meet & Greet with Elton John.

----------------------------

However, it seems as if he's "only" charging around USD 1.000 for this amazing experience.
I went to see Elton at the Forum and bought one of the cheaper VIP packages just to get a decent seat before seats went on sale to the general public. Hey, I took a photo of some of Liberace's pianos when his Museum was still open, some costumes, and all that cost me was admission to the Museum in Las Vegas! (This May happy 100th birthday Liberace.) I laughed when I saw Elton's VIP included NO M&G with Elton. The show was fantastic though and there was no opening band and they played almost 3 hours without intermission! The other cool thing is most of Elton's original band was on this tour Davey, etc. The VIP instructions for my package said the merchandise would be mailed to my house, possibly after the concert date. The items were mailed to me 2 days before the concert and included:

--Limited Edition Tour Lithograph Based Upon Original Elton John Artwork printed on Fine Art Paper & Include a Certificate of Authenticity
--The Essential Elton John VIP Gift Bag - Custom VIP Gift Bag Designed Exclusively for Elton John VIPs with Commemorative VIP Tour Laminate & Matching Lanyard
---- Includes a Special Collection of Elton John Themed VIP Merchandise
the bag was double cotton canvas with purple and black "E" print inside and black on outside with "Elton John" in white print. The handles are black plastic and instead of being sewed on the bag are double riveted to the bag at each handle end.
Individual white boxes with a gold "E*" on the box and purple velveteen plastic inside:
Box 1 - extra long and slim pen and pencil set (black with gold "Elton John"). The pencil is NOT automatic, but the kind you sharpen until it disappears
Box 2 - Shiney gold leather-like strap-on luggage tag and shiney gold leather-like passport holder (why you would want to put your passport in something like that with an embossed "E" on the cover is beyond me - I guess you could use it for something else)
Box 3 - Gold metal "E*" keychain (the E has a small star in the middle, I guess it is a special designed Elton logo, but unless it says "Elton John" I doubt anyone would know what "E*" was
Item 4 - (not in box but covered in clear plastic) an approx. 6" x 9" white booklet with gold "E*" on front, gold rimmed white pages that are blank with an attached shiney purple string to use as a placeholder. It is bound like a regular book. I guess you can use it as a journal, write your grocery list, etc.

So the VIP Elton stuff was of a higher quality than most VIP packages. A lot of this VIP stuff is stuff you don't need or want. Most people get the cheapest VIP ticket just to be able to get a decent seat to the concert and I guess after the show you have something else to show for the price you paid. But that is a lot of worthless laminates and lanyards, drink tumblers, can koozies, posters that will stay rolled up in cardboard tubes because there is no room for them on the walls. At least the tote bags can be used for groceries, etc.

And it is not just the classic rockers that have the VIP packages, newer bands like The Struts that just headlined last year also had VIP packages with tote bag, can koozie, laminate, cardboard coasters, small Struts flag and round pins (buttons), and meet & greet take a photo with your camera. The only advantage to their VIP was getting in early at least at the Ventura show where we got right up to the stage (shows there are standing room only with some seats in the back of the venue which is an old theater - Alice has played there and some big bands will play there coming or going from a Los Angeles show).
**

The days for the big rock shows for the fans are numbered because of the prohibitive prices! A lot of us will be retiring soon and will be on fixed incomes so while we might have the time to go to more shows, we will have limited funds. So it will be FEWER shows, or more shows in CHEAP seats in the back. And the other option will be free concerts in the local parks with tribute bands, maybe some club shows with tribute bands or up and coming bands. And if you do drop thousands of dollars on VIP tickets, how will you ever afford to retire? How does a 20 year old afford this stuff? At least if you see tribute bands, hopefully they are really singing and playing live (not like a band that is on tour and starts with a "K").

Any big show in USA big cities is at least $25-30 to park (or VIP parking now for $35-40). There is the cost of gas (very expensive in L.A.), more traffic and Ticketmaster charges of at least $30 added to the cost of the ticket! So these days I eat BEFORE I go to shows and I do not get any food or drink at venues (which is overpriced and crappy anyway and I had to spend at least $60 just to park, pay TM fees, and gas cost). I end up leaving earlier (before the encore) to avoid fighting the traffic out of the parking lot, especially on a week night when you have to get up at 5 am to work the next day. (At least these days you can check You Tube to see if anything exciting happened at the encore you missed in person.)

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Daggers & Contracts » Tue Feb 19, 2019 1:14 am

This is where I've been for years...
Any Tour worth it's weight should have a BluRay/DVD of said tour! :HEART:
All of this money coming in. :teach:
Why can't they pick a venue & bring in a good camera crew? :bam:
Milk the cows but, don't give the average fan access to a single show?
I miss the old days when a Van or two got a band to the show.
Charted planes & tour Busses are the norm these day's :nono:
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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Saint&Sinner » Tue Feb 19, 2019 1:44 am

It's just disgusting some of these VIP packages, which prices the real fans out of the market. You used to see familys, young kids, teenagers etc when they were theatre shows but since he does the horrible sheds you just don't see that. It's no wonder given the prices they charge.
I understand its easy money and albums don't pay any more but - there must be a compromise somewhere so fans can still get to the front and rock out but the rich boys can still buy 10mins of the artists time.....

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by jram » Sun Feb 24, 2019 1:24 am

I've said it before on here, but I've effectively given up on bigger gigs. Even smaller gigs, there's very little that excites me, but a couple of my friends promote (100-500 capacity clubs) and I regularly go and see whoever they're putting on. I resent paying more than £30 for a ticket, or £20 for acts I can take or leave - I finally missed Iron Maiden on their last tour, after 19 years of religious attendance, and I would have sat Alice out this year for the first time since 2000, but for the fact I found a 4th row ticket and bought it without really thinking about the £70 it skinned me (plus return travel to Manchester).

Alice is the only arena gig I'll attend these days, and part of that is hoping to pull a favour and meet him, which almost worked last time. I do want to see The Chemical Brothers again, who are playing the Hydro this year. Standing for that has already sold out, months ago, so I'll wait until the week of the gig and search social media for someone selling a spare. Which usually works, and is generally cheaper (no fees) and faster (no online queues and forms and time limits.)

I like and appreciate Blaze Bayley's efforts though - ex Maiden and Wolfsbane - £15 tickets including fees, and he sits at the merch booth for hours talking to everyone and signing anything.

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Saint&Sinner » Sun Feb 24, 2019 10:18 am

Looks like I am missing alice this year. I am disappointed. I tried doing the pre sale (including the 02 presale) and when we could eventually get in, the only tickets left were the nose bleeds. I am not paying crazy prizes for terrible seats again. It should be criminal, but while everyone Is getting rich I don't suppose anything will happen.

I lost interest in maiden a long time ago due to hating their recent output (post brave new world) but gotta give them credit they seem like the only band willing to try and stop reselling for profit and actually sell tickets for a reasonable cost (unless this changed recently they have been very good at doing it historically)

"I like and appreciate Blaze Bayley's efforts though - ex Maiden and Wolfsbane - £15 tickets including fees, and he sits at the merch booth for hours talking to everyone and signing anything."

yeah I regularly go and see blaze, like you say always willing to sit and chat. A lot of bands on "that level" do this, I recently met my drumming idol, stet howland. He and the rest of metal church sat for hours talking, taking photos and signing stuff. couldn't hope to meet nicer guys.

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Steven Allan » Sun Feb 24, 2019 11:44 am

I've done the VIP thing once. I wouldn't do it again. It was back when they were prices a bit more rationally. I did have some nice items I wanted signing (which attracted a lot of attention).

I had a brief chat with Bri at the time and I got a vibe that he wasn't too keen on the whole thing.

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Dannorama » Tue Feb 26, 2019 12:43 am

NotSoPerfect wrote:
Wed Jan 30, 2019 10:15 pm
Kristian wrote:
Wed Jan 30, 2019 10:13 pm
Out of curiosity: NotSoPerfect, what's going on in your profile picture?

A) You're a woman posing with Tom Green.

or ...

B) You're a man who looks a bit like Tom Green, posing with a female celebrity I'm unaware of ...
Haha. I'm the female (shorter of the two) posing with Damon Johnson after an Alice Cooper show...in which Damon Johnson was a guitar player in Alice's band. ;-)
I knew that. A little credit here???
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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by NikToo » Tue Feb 26, 2019 11:59 am

I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll never meet Alice in person. Would have been nice. Missed out on meeting Dennis for his book signing a couple of years ago. Hopefully Blue Coupe comes over to the UK this year and I can catch him then. He seems like a nice guy as well.

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by wind_up_toy » Tue Feb 26, 2019 1:59 pm

NikToo wrote:
Tue Feb 26, 2019 11:59 am
Hopefully Blue Coupe comes over to the UK this year and I can catch him then. He seems like a nice guy as well.
I'm hoping Dennis will come back to the UK too. Crazy to think that last time round you could meet him and Cindy, pose for photos and get a copy of his book dedicated to you for about £15.00. Now that's good value!
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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by NikToo » Tue Feb 26, 2019 2:31 pm

wind_up_toy wrote:
Tue Feb 26, 2019 1:59 pm
NikToo wrote:
Tue Feb 26, 2019 11:59 am
Hopefully Blue Coupe comes over to the UK this year and I can catch him then. He seems like a nice guy as well.
I'm hoping Dennis will come back to the UK too. Crazy to think that last time round you could meet him and Cindy, pose for photos and get a copy of his book dedicated to you for about £15.00. Now that's good value!
I know! And I had to go to Berlin the same morning! *brick* :(

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by padre_sliprat » Wed Feb 27, 2019 3:59 am

Daggers & Contracts wrote:
Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:51 pm
What, no Whiskey??? I'll take 1 6pack & a pint Thank You. :blues:
I think this can be arranged.
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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by rgallie » Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:56 am

I cant see me ever doing VIP, BUT i think in general Alice charges a fair price. Forget VIP for a second. Front row centre tickets where going for about £45, just for knowing alicecooper.com exists, most bands/artists would at least want a paid memebership for that presale tip and it still would not get you a ticket that good for that price. As for the various VIP deals. They reflect a market where people subscribe to music platforms and dont buy albums. And it is a lot more common now than say 5 years ago. That means less album sales, so the money is in these VIP packages (and expensive merchandise). Yet Alice is charging about half what i've seen Motley Crue charge for example. End of day imo what Alice charges in more than fair in all areas.

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by NotSoPerfect » Thu Feb 28, 2019 2:52 am

Alice charges a quarter of what MC charges.
Schooooooooooooool's Ouuuuuuuuuuuuut. FOR. EVER!

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by jram » Sun Mar 03, 2019 1:38 pm

NotSoPerfect wrote:
Thu Feb 28, 2019 2:52 am
Alice charges a quarter of what MC charges.
Because there's one of him and four of them? :grin:

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Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by rgallie » Sun Mar 03, 2019 10:32 pm

jram wrote:
Sun Mar 03, 2019 1:38 pm
NotSoPerfect wrote:
Thu Feb 28, 2019 2:52 am
Alice charges a quarter of what MC charges.
Because there's one of him and four of them? :grin:


ahahaha I dunno if it's still the case but I heard Tommy used to not be included as he disagreed with fans paying to meet him when he'll stop and sign stuff on the street. Thats a great sentiment for a solo artist but if you've paid to meet MC to get your original LP signed or whatever and only get 3 you're gonna be raging surley.

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