VIP got VERY expensive?

Anything Alice Cooper or AC band related goes here

Moderators: Devon, Gorehound, Si, SickThings, Shoesalesman

User avatar
padre_sliprat
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 854
Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:40 pm

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by padre_sliprat » Thu Feb 07, 2019 10:57 am

I've never understood the fascination of meeting a famous person. All I want is for you to put on a fresh new show with a great setlist. I buy a ticket - you perform my money's worth. I applaud at the end, your ego and wallet are fed, and we both go home. Satisfaction.
"He's old, the snake's got gray hair..."

User avatar
Si
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 4363
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 5:47 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Si » Thu Feb 07, 2019 1:02 pm

padre_sliprat wrote:
Thu Feb 07, 2019 10:57 am
I've never understood the fascination of meeting a famous person. All I want is for you to put on a fresh new show with a great setlist. I buy a ticket - you perform my money's worth. I applaud at the end, your ego and wallet are fed, and we both go home. Satisfaction.
I totally get that but its a personal thing. There are certain musicians I'd quite like to meet given the opportunity, just to see what they were like in person, but I wouldn't pay to do it.. ever. That's generally an artificial situation where faceless people are paraded in front of them and neither side gets the chance to really interact, there just isn't the time.
The best situations are often almost accidental - happening to be in the same place, or by putting yourself in a situation where they might be and being lucky. In that situation they may not be in such a hurry, or tired from a show, and in my experience are more likely to actually be interested in talking to you, which is a big factor in these things.

For example many years ago I want to a charity show in London where Marillion where performing and, being young, after the show I ran around to the stage door to see if anyone would come out. Pete Townsend did(!!) but only stopped for a few seconds to sign as he headed away.
After about 45 minutes Fish wandered out and just hung out with the 10 or so of us that were still there. He didn't have to be there, and obviously was happy to be there relaxing. He did the normal signing things bit but then just stayed talking. He was excited about an upcoming festival show they were organising (The Garden Party in Milton Keynes) but hadn't been announced at that point and told us about it, and the other bands he was looking to book for the show. They were mostly pop-rock (Starship was the only one I remember now) and it was hard to hide the fact none of us were impressed by the bill, and we said so. He seemed generally interested in what we thought.
When the bill was announced it was Jethro Tull (who were amazing), Gary Moore etc and none of the bands he had originally told us months earlier. I like to think we had something to do with that!

User avatar
Daggers & Contracts
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 2812
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:47 pm
Location: 340 Sanitarium

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Daggers & Contracts » Fri Feb 08, 2019 12:15 am

padre_sliprat wrote:
Thu Feb 07, 2019 10:57 am
I've never understood the fascination of meeting a famous person. All I want is for you to put on a fresh new show with a great setlist. I buy a ticket - you perform my money's worth. I applaud at the end, your ego and wallet are fed, and we both go home. Satisfaction.
I've worked with bands trying to get their foot in the door & others that are down to Reunion one offs!
They all (male & female) put their pants on one leg at a time. :yawn:
Most of the time when I've approached a musician I'm not familiar with, I've got an interesting bon mot or a serious question that I'm able to vocalize. :8):
As far as paying for the privilege I've only waited at the Stage door & managed to greet a few. :rock:
I've Got The Answers To All Of Your Questions...

Saint&Sinner
Fashion Flusher
Fashion Flusher
Posts: 675
Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2015 12:59 pm

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Saint&Sinner » Fri Feb 08, 2019 1:24 am

I would never pay to meet anyone. I am not that interested in meeting famous people/rock stars whatever.
I have met some - recently met my favourite drummer ever (who inspired me to start drumming) stet howland and I had a good chat with him after a metal church gig. He was lovely and polite and seemed really pleased I gave a shit hahaha

In terms of the larger venues flourishing and the smaller ones not. I'm not sure about that. I see allot of smaller bands in small (underworld) to mid sized venues (Brixton) and they tend to do quite well and the atmosphere is always stunning. (except the Islington academy - that place is where atmosphere goes to die!)
I understand things change and all that, I just miss the really electric gigs - It wasn't too long back alice did used to do it still, anyone remember alice at the roundhouse (10 years ago now, maybe?), that crowd was awesome, they were giving it loads (no seats!) to a largely rehashed average set, but I remember the gig as the band were up for it and so were the crowd.

del
Fashion Flusher
Fashion Flusher
Posts: 611
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2011 4:22 pm
Location: Glasgow

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by del » Fri Feb 08, 2019 7:46 am

Roundhouse was a great gig, similar size to Barrowlands in Glasgow which was fantastic about 18 years ago now. Since then though Alice has built his fan base for the shows which on the one hand is obviously great for him and keeps the show on the road but on the other hand it takes him into the sheds and now the newer and larger sterile arenas.

I'm one of the people who will never pay to meet anyone. I'm there for the music and have better things to do with my money. A weekend break in Europe, possibly including a gig in a great wee venue or 20 mins backstage with a quick chat and a picture? No contest.

Kristian
Killer
Killer
Posts: 202
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:34 pm

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Kristian » Fri Feb 08, 2019 9:01 pm

Saint&Sinner wrote:
Wed Feb 06, 2019 1:51 am
[...] venues to be all seated which is KILLING the atmosphere [...]
I hate seated rock shows, luckily the venue near me has standing tickets as well.

User avatar
Sparticus
Killer
Killer
Posts: 118
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:03 pm
Location: Illinois

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Sparticus » Sat Feb 09, 2019 12:58 am

If it makes anyone feel any better, Elton John is somehow charging $5,000USD for VIP where you don’t even get to meet him :rotfl:
If you call that guilty...then that's what I am

del
Fashion Flusher
Fashion Flusher
Posts: 611
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2011 4:22 pm
Location: Glasgow

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by del » Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:42 am

I'd pay that price to guarantee I never met him.

User avatar
padre_sliprat
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 854
Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:40 pm

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by padre_sliprat » Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:27 am

del wrote:
Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:42 am
I'd pay that price to guarantee I never met him.
My sentiments exactly. Ive already seen Davey twice with Coop, so I'm Elton'd out.
"He's old, the snake's got gray hair..."

User avatar
Marcelocooper
Billion Dollar Baby
Billion Dollar Baby
Posts: 484
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:43 pm
Location: Brazil

Re: VIP got VERY expensive

Post by Marcelocooper » Sat Feb 09, 2019 4:46 pm

I’ve met Alice two separated times, and had to pay for both. I would much rather meet him at the street or something like that, but living on a country so far away where he plays 2 or 3 show at a times at 4 or 5 years interval, at best, doesn’t put me in a position to hope so much to do so.
So, in the fisrt time I met him, in 2009 it was in NJ, for the Monster Mania convention, and I paid to garantee that I wouldn’t be spendind a lot of money to travel there and not met the man. I gotta say the monst fun part was meeting Mike in the lobby of the hotel (both he and my family stayed at the same hotel the convention was beeing held), two days before the event took place. We had a lot of time to chat, he played the piano for me ( Marry Ann) and we had a great time. The next day he calles my dad to go to the bar with him and we hang there a while. He even tried to set me up with a woman there.
Had a great chat with Dennis also, he told me about the new album at the time and hiw they recorded it ( the great bones from the yard).
But I had a awesome time with Alice also, at the time and in São Paulo in 2011 with VIP package. He told jokes, we chatted a bit and it was a time I will never forget. I guess it all dependes on hiw you see it, some people would spend a lot of money to travel to another country to see a concert if it was the only chance to see it, but wouldn’t pay to meet the artist for less than that.
These good little shocks must be working I’m so happy now

Kristian
Killer
Killer
Posts: 202
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:34 pm

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Kristian » 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.

mestreech
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 1446
Joined: Fri Jun 02, 2006 6:36 pm
Location: holland

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by mestreech » Sun Feb 10, 2019 3:38 am

Wow that is insane. And you get NO artist.

User avatar
Daggers & Contracts
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 2812
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:47 pm
Location: 340 Sanitarium

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Daggers & Contracts » Sun Feb 10, 2019 5:05 am

mestreech wrote:
Sun Feb 10, 2019 3:38 am
Wow that is insane. And you get NO artist.
But,You get a selfie w/His Piano! :rotfl:
Pretty much what I thought when it was revealed that it didn't include a M & G w/Elton. :yawn:
I've Got The Answers To All Of Your Questions...

User avatar
padre_sliprat
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 854
Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:40 pm

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by padre_sliprat » Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:16 pm

I'd never forget blowing a grand on a handful of lavender-scented bath beads and a selfie with a piano. "Memories to last a lifetime"...yep...for that kind of money, you can get a Blue Point 10 pound sledgehammer, a share of Snap On stock, a BBQ grill, a Mossberg 500 12-gauge pump, a couple boxes of shells and still have enough left over for a huge sack of triple meat Whataburgers and two 6-packs of Lone Star beer.
"He's old, the snake's got gray hair..."

User avatar
Daggers & Contracts
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 2812
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:47 pm
Location: 340 Sanitarium

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Daggers & Contracts » Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:51 pm

padre_sliprat wrote:
Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:16 pm
I'd never forget blowing a grand on a handful of lavender-scented bath beads and a selfie with a piano. "Memories to last a lifetime"...yep...for that kind of money, you can get a Blue Point 10 pound sledgehammer, a share of Snap On stock, a BBQ grill, a Mossberg 500 12-gauge pump, a couple boxes of shells and still have enough left over for a huge sack of triple meat Whataburgers and two 6-packs of Lone Star beer.
What, no Whiskey??? I'll take 1 6pack & a pint Thank You. :blues:
I've Got The Answers To All Of Your Questions...

killer wolf
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 776
Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:26 am
Location: DragonTown

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by killer wolf » Mon Feb 11, 2019 7:38 am

del wrote:
Thu Feb 07, 2019 8:10 am
No intention to put the spanner in the works here but could it be that we represent the minority nowadays?

Attendances at gigs in the UK has exploded over the last 7-8 years with the majority of this (excluding festivals) at the very same venues that we hate. At the same time, the number of smaller venues has continued to decline meaning that the big boys have all the evidence they need to confirm that their model works and continues to grow.
self-fulfilling though, isn't it - the venues get attendance because they're the only ones the promoter books.
~Roses On White Lace~ A Love Story...Kinda
KW
/X\oo/X\

del
Fashion Flusher
Fashion Flusher
Posts: 611
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2011 4:22 pm
Location: Glasgow

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by del » Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:00 am

I'm afraid It is self-fulfilling but it's always been a bit like that hasn't it?

40 years ago we had the Apollo in Glasgow which many people, including me, remember fondly. It got all the acts because the venue chased the deals with the promoters and they had the largest music venue in Scotland at the time.

Sure, it was a fantastic and truly legendary atmosphere when you saw Alice, Bowie, the Who etc to a sold out 3,500 crowd but it was also awful sometimes when bands like Mann, Hawkwind or Eddie and the Hot Rods had to play to less than 1,000 in the cold and the sound bounced around the place. The Apollo lost out when the SECC was being built and the new venue got the deals for the bigger acts leaving the rest to flounder.

Economics won the day then and continues to do so now. Book ten tours to the venue, make your money on six, break even on a couple and the two bad ones are covered. Worked fine for the venue and the promoter back then and still does now but on much larger numbers.

del
Fashion Flusher
Fashion Flusher
Posts: 611
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2011 4:22 pm
Location: Glasgow

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by del » Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:38 am

Daggers & Contracts wrote:
Sun Feb 10, 2019 5:05 am
mestreech wrote:
Sun Feb 10, 2019 3:38 am
Wow that is insane. And you get NO artist.
But,You get a selfie w/His Piano! :rotfl:
Pretty much what I thought when it was revealed that it didn't include a M & G w/Elton. :yawn:
Is this a new trend?

Alice has more props so he could do Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum versions. The options are endless...

Apart from the VIP sticker, lithograph and carrier bag you could get..

Bronze £100 - have your picture taken holding your VIP badge and bag next to the venue entrance.
Silver £200 - have your picture taken next to the gas cylinder for blowing up the balloons at the end of the show. One lucky VIP guest will also be chosen at random and he/she will be allowed to hold one of the balloons in the picture (before it is blown up obviously)
Gold £300 - have your picture taken next to Alice Cooper's monster. Please note, this is a standard size picture and depending on your height you may only get a % of the monster in the picture. For an extra £100 you can have a full length picture.
Platinum £500 - a full video of you being executed in the guillotine. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be fleeced and executed in one day.

User avatar
Si
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 4363
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 5:47 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Si » Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:53 am

Just an aside in reference to venues...
Don't forget nowadays the venues are often in bed with Live Nation, who in turn are in bed with Ticketmaster.
There are exclusivity links and deals in the promotional chain forcing bands into the same venues over and over, and these venues are often the arenas (over here).
Because of this it's often more profitable for them to play a venue that's really too big, then one that is better suited to th show, possibly playing multiple nights as used to happen (remember three night runs at Birmingham or Manchester Apollos?).

In terms of Alice he has often said he thinks his show works better in theaters, and he's right. But over here he's in Arenas over and over which no one really likes. It's presumably more cost effective that way for the promotional chain, and without that chain he can't tour.

The VIP packages all feed into this as one VIP can cover the loss of numerous unsold seats in the larger venue, and if they do sell out its all gravy.

Just look at the Problems Pearl Jam had a decade or so ago when they tried to tour the US without using Ticketmaster. They discovered they just couldn't play most major venues because Ticketmaster simply blocked the deals. It's an effective monopoly.

Kristian
Killer
Killer
Posts: 202
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:34 pm

Re: VIP got VERY expensive?

Post by Kristian » Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:59 am

Del: Alice has "Gold" and "VIP" options ... neither includes a M&G.

Post Reply