Just to add another opinion to this new fan club and pricey ticket packages. This is not exclusive to Meat. In fact, a lot of us Alice Cooper fans also got the news about pricey ticket packages being offered for Alice concerts in 2005 through Fanfire/Signatures, see
www.alicecooper.com
Notice the part about how no entire row has been reserved for the package opportunity. That means you could still get a good seat without paying a fortune. Some Alice fans asked about what would happen to the tickets that were not sold through the pricey packages. These would be put back on sale to the general public about 1 or 2 weeks before the show. So, if someone just wanted to get good tickets, if it didn't happen as soon as tickets went on sale, it could be possible to keep checking and see if these package tickets are released. I assume this would be the case with Meat shows as the same company is running this deal.
However, what if Meat, Alice, or whatever other artist has signed to this special ticket deal has to cancel a show? Do you get a refund? What if they are too tired or sick to do the Meet and Greet? Or, what if they get sick half way through the show? It says you can get a refund if the event is cancelled minus the handling fees. Also says you cannot transfer your package or re-sell in whole or part or they have the right to cancel the whole package.
As far as being up close, when Alice played the House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood for 3 nights in a row a few years ago, I was up front for each shows and didn't pay a scalper or anyone else. All tickets are general admission and if you buy dinner you get in a half hour before the rest of the line, so if you show up early, have dinner, and get in the early line, you are up close! Only the really big fans want up close anyway. I was at Meat's last show at Universal (Cindy Lauper opened) and it was disappointing to see "corporate" people with free tickets up close leaving half way throught Meat's show! Those were seats real and energetic fans could have occupied! (not uninterested corporate people on their cell phones during a show--that is what I saw.)
Anyway, here is the bottom line. After belonging to the various incarnations of the official international Meat fan club and paying at first what was a reasonable fee for postage for newsletters, autographed photo, and some special contest opportunities, and possible meet and greets (that never happened in my area of So. California), I finally get an autograph and meet opportunity with Meat at Alice Cooper's annual golf tournament dinner/auction. See
www.alicecooper.com and then check from 2004 and before to see Meat's name on celebrity list.
This event is for a non profit Christian charity to help children and teens and just the dinner/auction was $125, now it is up to $200. However, the money goes towards charity which is well worth it, and you have the opportunity to bid on some cool autographed memorabilia, have a fantastic sit down dinner, and a celebrity jam with Alice and others! You get to mingle with the celebrities that are there and if you are lucky maybe get an autograph or photo just for keeping your eyes open. They also put a celebrity at each table so you never know who you might have dinner with! A few years ago Meat went on stage and performed "Paradise" and one more song. I was jumping for joy!
I have signed up for my free 6-month extension for Meat's official fan club. However, when that expires, that is it for me. I'll just check in to this board to see what Meat is up to.
As far as Meat or Alice or anyone else's shows I want to see, I will not pay a scalper for a good seat. Even being a subscriber to Universal/ Greek theater in So. Cal. does not cost any extra other than regular ticket prices. Sure, you have to buy about 3 or 4 shows (or more for even better seat), but you have first pick at them before the general public. I'm also not going to pay $40 or more for the opportunity to get better tix. I'm already signed up to receive Email for every venue in my area, and it didn't cost me anything. I get special notices all the time for pre-sale tickets by doing this. I don't know if they have this kind of thing in other countries, I don't see why not.
Also, a lot of the fans are getting older also and as we struggle to hold on to our jobs, talk of having our retirements messed with (at least in US), and have other financial obligations, we have to carefully budget our money. The reality is a lot of these artists will not be touring within 5-10 years, and I guess some people think this is a prime opportunity to milk the last of the die hard fans for that special opportunity to meet their artist before they retire.
I don't know what percentage of money from ticket packages Meat, Alice or others get from these special tickets deals. I would be interested in finding out their thoughts on this. For those that think they will never have a chance to meet these artists through an in-store DVD signing, a chance run-in, etc., I guess they can justify the cost of the tickets. There are always local contests you can enter, maybe friends of friends, etc.
In fact, as a last note, I finally met DEVO when they did a concert as part of a Nike race post concert (it was a four US city event) at the Coliseum. I had been in contact with their webmaster before the event. Some fans pointed him out during the concert. I happened to meet with him after the show and just told him I would love a quick chance to meet the guys, so without a special pass or any money changing hands, he told the security guy to let me in, and there I was getting autographs from all the guys on my "energy dome" hat, briefly exchanged a few words, and then they had to make it to the bus. A simple gesture of a fan helping another fan :) That is what makes a meet and greet opportunity special, not paying for it.