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JennaG
11 Oct 2014, 12:28
I've been looking at VIP ticket packages offered by various artists for several years and I've seen things offered from a M&G with beverages, signing opportunities, a dinner party with other fans to on stage seating. I thought it'd be interesting to discuss what fans really would like from these packages and what's important to them when deciding to part with their cash.

Leaving aside the obvious issue of money which can be a barrier for some, here are a few things that I thought of.

Is a Meet and Greet with the artist the most important thing about the package or is a premium seat the main draw?

What is your opinion on the photo opportunity that is included in some packages? Would you prefer to have the chance to use your own camera/take a selfie rather than have the photo taken on someone else's camera? Would you be disappointed if the package only offered a group photo rather than an individual photo?

Do you think that fans should have the opportunity to have a personal item signed or do you think that a pre-signed item such as an album is adequate?

What kind of merchandise do you think should be offered as part of the package?

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

TheDoode
11 Oct 2014, 13:36
I've never been a fan of the whole meet and greet idea. I don't know, for me, paying to spend time with someone just doesn't really do it. And that's not to take anything away from anyone else's experience. But for me, personally, I just don't really get it. When I was a kid, a teen, I used to just head to the venue early and bump into someone from the band nine times out of ten. We'd get talking, maybe have a drink or check out the sound check, and then I'd leave them to set up.

I do like this post, especially how you've broken it down. Look forward to seeing everyone else's thoughts. For me though, there's just something about paying to meet an artist that doesn't quite sit right with me. But that's just me! Meet and greets have become pretty standard procedure over the past five years or so, so what do I know :cool:

tonyloaf
11 Oct 2014, 16:20
For me I've been lucky to have a few meet and greets, all have been great , my first one was at Wembley and it was a competition win through .net which was a totally different meet and greet, there was no structure to this just pure time spent with meat and the band and was the best experience of my life.
For the concert I was actually sitting at the back of the arena as I got a ticket late after sale, but because of the pre build up it made me just sit back and think wow. So for me the seat did not matter.
I think now when we pay for the meet I would expect nothing less to be at the front

Julie in the rv mirror
11 Oct 2014, 20:57
I've never been a fan of the whole meet and greet idea. I don't know, for me, paying to spend time with someone just doesn't really do it. […]
For me though, there's just something about paying to meet an artist that doesn't quite sit right with me. But that's just me!
It's not just you, Doode, you pretty much echoed my own thoughts on the matter. I think fan club-run M&G's are better, in that they give the opportunity to more fans, as opposed to only those who can afford a package. Having said that, though, I would be more likely to buy a package that included more personal items, such as an individual photo as opposed to a group one. I'd also much prefer being able to get my own personal items signed, as opposed to pre-signed items. As for cameras, I guess it would be nice to be able to use your own camera, but I'd probably rather leave the picture-taking to someone else rather than rely on my own, especially since I'd probably be nervous. I also might be more inclined to buy a M&G package if the proceeds went to charity.

Aside from M&G's, I don't have a problem with VIP packages in general; however, most of the ones I've seen don't offer a great value for what you get, IMO. For me, a premium seat would be the draw- I don't care that much about merchandise or food and drinks. I think it's wrong when the only way you could get a great seat is by buying a package, some of which are ridiculously priced. Paul McCartney includes attendance at the soundcheck in his packages, which I've heard is a great experience, but IMO, nowhere near worth the $2000 price tag.

So, I guess to answer the question, I'd be likely to purchase a reasonably-priced package that included a premium seat and maybe one nice exclusive souvenir item. A nice dinner might be an incentive, but hardly the deal maker.

CarylB
11 Oct 2014, 21:17
Deal maker for me, a prime seat. I've only bought Meat's packages which are low cost for an artist of his stature, great value, and I pay less than I had always had to pay for a good seat in the past because I have never struck lucky with TM, and if I wanted to be anywhere but in the gods yet still SEE him performing on the stage I had to go the eBay route. There is something so electric about being close to the stage AND able to see :-) Huge bonus is the M&G because of the time and effort Meat outs into them. All the other things that get included are nice but have less importance.

It's nice to be able to get something of meaning signed I agree, but with the larger groups I think it's better that Meat invests his time in entertaining the group as a whole and then making sure everyone has a little time with him. He puts thought, care and effort into this, and that's what to me makes his M&Gs special.

I've never really looked into the packages offered by the other artists I would go to see live, as seating is not such an issue for me with them, nor do I really have any great desire for a M&G. We all look for things that make packages special and value for us as individuals. I'm lucky that the ones that Meat offers are perfect for me :D

Julie in the rv mirror
12 Oct 2014, 03:06
I've never really looked into the packages offered by the other artists I would go to see live, as seating is not such an issue for me with them, nor do I really have any great desire for a M&G.
Well, if you were so inclined, you could buy the Mötley Crüe "Too Fast" ULTIMATE Meet and Greet VIP Package:

-Ticket in Rows 1-2 (or GA Early Entry where applicable)
-Exclusive Meet & Greet with Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil and Mick Mars
-Individual one-on-one photo of you with Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil and Mick Mars
-One personal item autographed by Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil and Mick Mars
-Backstage/Onstage Tour
-Mötley Crüe Autographed Electric Guitar- Personalized to you by Nikki Sixx, ---Vince Neil and Mick Mars
-Mötley Crüe Plaque- Personalized to you
-Merchandise Voucher worth $400, redeemable in the Mötley Crüe Exclusive VIP store
-Autographed Lithograph (autographed by Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil and Mick Mars)
-Limited Edition Commemorative Laminate and Lanyard
-On-Site VIP Host
-All "Too Fast" purchasers will be entered to win a pair of Front Row tickets to attend the last concert on the tour. Two winners will be chosen. Winners responsible for lodging and travel to the concert.

All for the low bargain price of only $3999! ;) http://motleyvip.com/


This article is a few years old, but I think it makes some great points: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/arts/music/23VIP.html

It's interesting to note:

Promoters say that premium ticketing offers them two particular benefits. One is that high prices up front can effectively subsidize cheaper seats elsewhere, which leaves more money in fans’ pockets to buy extras like food and T-shirts.[...]

“It’s probably the biggest negotiation in any tour deal,” said Randy Phillips, the chief executive of AEG Live, promoter of the Bon Jovi tour. “On a hot act you can make as much money from 10 percent of the house as the other 90.”
IMO, it effectively takes advantage the biggest fans who will pay more to be upfront, as opposed to being any kind of "reward". I'd just as soon dispense with the swag, and have a cheaper ticket.

The woman who was quoted as saying she would rather see Bon Jovi get the cash than a scalper has a point, but at those prices? (I think the idea of spending $1875 for a folding chair and the chance to pose with JBJ's mic stand is beyond laughable).

As long as people like this guy exist, though, I think things are unlikely to change:

“I have money,” said Jim Leaman, 55, who owns a propane gas company. “So if I want to come to a show, I want to be up front and I don’t care if it costs $100 or $1,000.”

CarylB
12 Oct 2014, 15:27
As I said, I had to pay as much as or more than a M&G package to get a seat near the front when there were no VIP options. If my buying a package helps Meat keep the overall cost of the show (and thus tickets elsewhere) down I'm perfectly happy with that. I don't own a propane gas company, don't consider myself "monied" so there would be a ceiling on what I could afford, but Meat's are very reasonable imo, and I would rather have a really good vantage point for less shows, than go to more and see nothing at all, save the middle back of 3 tall well-built people standing in front of me ;) I was once delighted to get 4th row via TM at a rescheduled show .. second song the 4 large men in front stood up, touching shoulder to shoulder and stayed this way for the entire show. I couldn't even see the screens at the side of the stage, let alone the stage itself ;)

It's about choices. Different performers offer different packages. We make our own choices :-) I manage my fixed income to accommodate my priorities.

JennaG
13 Oct 2014, 11:25
There's been some interesting points raised here so thank you for that guys. :D

I've never been a fan of the whole meet and greet idea. I don't know, for me, paying to spend time with someone just doesn't really do it. And that's not to take anything away from anyone else's experience. But for me, personally, I just don't really get it. When I was a kid, a teen, I used to just head to the venue early and bump into someone from the band nine times out of ten. We'd get talking, maybe have a drink or check out the sound check, and then I'd leave them to set up.

I know several people who feel the same way as you and are not comfortable with the idea of paid packages. They're more than entitled to feel that way and part of me thinks that's a nice way to be sometimes. However I am not a lucky person and were it left down to chance or a fanclub draw I am certain that I'd never have met Meat. One of the reasons why I decided to pay for the package was because I wanted that certainty of being able to meet him at a time when I was prepared with something to say (that doesn't mean I actually said it - I could just about manage a yes and a no!).

It'd be nice to meet the band and I've actually waited outside a venue last year in the hope of doing so but unfortunately didn't meet anyone.

Having said that, though, I would be more likely to buy a package that included more personal items, such as an individual photo as opposed to a group one. I'd also much prefer being able to get my own personal items signed, as opposed to pre-signed items.

I agree with this. I've seen a couple of packages advertised by VIPNation that included a group photo and have never really liked the idea. Part of a M&G includes a MEET and people tend to like a photo to prove that. Who really wants a photo with a bunch of other people that you don't know as one of your only mementos. As for the signing, I'd much rather have an item that means something to me signed than something that has been or still is for sale with a signature.

As for cameras, I guess it would be nice to be able to use your own camera, but I'd probably rather leave the picture-taking to someone else rather than rely on my own, especially since I'd probably be nervous.

I've been to one M&G where we had to use our own cameras and although the camera I used wasn't great at the time, I didn't mind. Meat's PA took the photos and I don't think she did that bad of a job considering the fact that she was using so many different types of cameras throughout the event. Something I've always thought might be nice is the opportunity to take a selfie instead of the normal photo. I appreciate that it might not turn out great but then again nor did two of my M&G photos from last year and they were taken on a camera that this girl form VIP Nation kept saying how wonderful it was.

Paul McCartney includes attendance at the soundcheck in his packages, which I've heard is a great experience, but IMO, nowhere near worth the $2000 price tag.

So, I guess to answer the question, I'd be likely to purchase a reasonably-priced package that included a premium seat and maybe one nice exclusive souvenir item. A nice dinner might be an incentive, but hardly the deal maker.

I wouldn't mind a soundcheck or a backstage tour rather than a dinner because I'm likely to be too nervous to eat it. It's an opportunity to get to know other fans I guess.

Deal maker for me, a prime seat. I've only bought Meat's packages which are low cost for an artist of his stature, great value, and I pay less than I had always had to pay for a good seat in the past because I have never struck lucky with TM, and if I wanted to be anywhere but in the gods yet still SEE him performing on the stage I had to go the eBay route.

I've never been lucky when buying tickets outside of packages. I usually end up in the very back blocks of huge arenas so it makes a nice change to know that I'll be getting a good seat - even if I've got to pay for it.
I'm not well off and to be able to pay for a package offered by any artist I've got to be prepared to save and because artists don't tend to tour in places that are easy for me to do in a day, I've got to be prepared to save over quite some time but I'd happily do it again for the right artist.