Epica Meet n Greet package

[CarolinaDeLeo]

They are playing in the culture room. Just stick around the parking lot after the show and you'll meet all of them. There is only one way out in that venue: the front.

Is that bar still in the plaza still open? Its been a while since I've been to a show at the Culture Room, but I remmeber back in the day you would find the bands playing that night in there.

 

[Justin G]

That's the band's own damn fault then. Why can't they have their "VIP Meet N Greet" thing on prior to the show? I'm sure it could be done easily.

I'll give you an example: The same way you are with Iced Earth, I am with Epica. Last time they played in NYC, they had their VIP Meet N Greet prior to the openers. People went in for 15-20 minutes, took their pictures, got their autographs, etc. Doors opened for regulars and guests afterwards. It gave me time to hang out with the band most of the night, and it didn't cut their set whatsoever. It's also better for the band themselves, since that way they don't need to worry about any contractual obligations after their show.

Or they could stop doing these "VIP" things altogether. Something about them just seems so...not metal...to me.

 

[Diamond45]

They are playing in the culture room. Just stick around the parking lot after the show and you'll meet all of them. There is only one way out in that venue: the front.

Jaxx is similar. Just hang out by the tour bus on the side of the building. I've talked to several bands that way, and I know damn well SkiBumMSP has done so many times. VIP is so not worth it for those events.

Now for PP USA.. that's a totally different ballgame!

 

[AngraRULES]

Or they could stop doing these "VIP" things altogether. Something about them just seems so...not metal...to me.

I can understand it in a way. Tours are expensive and some bands don't really make much money in it. As somebody said earlier, the only reason why they do it is because they can. If you had the opportunity to have somebody pay you an extra $25 to give them a picture of yours and your autograph, wouldn't you do it?

The problem is that even though this particular style of music (underground metal), the fans still have this "godly" image of the members in the bands. Obviously the bands use that to their advantage - not in a "money hungry bastard" type of way (usually).

I think it's ridiculous that people will actually pay extra to meet the bands for 5 minutes. Then again, it may be just because I've been around the bands for so long that I don't really have the whole "star-stricken" thing going on. Who knows...

 

[General Zod]

The venue sits in the heart of Times Square. There are plenty of places around there that will give you the true NYC treatment. I'll get you a few names and addresses once I have sometime this week.

I'll also shoot you a note. I suspect a few us we'll be getting together for some pre-game activities some place close to the venue.

 

[AngraRULES]

I'll also shoot you a note. I suspect a few us we'll be getting together for some pre-game activities some place close to the venue.

Needless to say, I will be there.

We're talking about the Guardian show though, verdad?

 

[Jasonic]

Neil,
HOB then screwed the pooch on the meet n greet.
Usually, they seem to be BEFORE the show starts.
I thought part of the whole appeal was early entry, and with the early entry came the actual Meet N Greet.

I agree too that for VIP, at minimum I would expect a shirt or more than just a signed promo poster.

Overall I am fine with this, as from a business perspective, if this helps a band remain as a going concern, esp as a touring band, then so be it. There still seems to be some logistics things to work out.

A couple years back, at the Hellish Rock tour stop in Mokena @ the Pearl Room, there was some contractural disputes relating to Meet n Greet that resulted in Helloween going on stage almost an hour later than scheduled. I don't know if the club didn't properly pay the bands for their participation in the Meet N Greet, or what.

 

[Diamond45]

I think it's ridiculous that people will actually pay extra to meet the bands for 5 minutes. Then again, it may be just because I've been around the bands for so long that I don't really have the whole "star-stricken" thing going on. Who knows...

I think many people on here are used to hanging out with the bands at PP USA. Most of the fans treat bands like normal people and vice versa. How many other places do you ever see that? Is it unique to our "underground" genres or this festival?

 

[nomisofsiman]

Why do bands sell these things? And maybe a better question is why in the hell would people buy them? Spend $57.00 to meet someone who will not remember your name 15 minutes after they turnaround.
Ok so guy X wants to hang with the band and be cool, fair enough. But usually these bands hang out in the clubs before, during, and after the gig anyway. So all the people who did not pay that money get to meet the band anyway.
From what I gather from most bands who have this it is not their idea and they typically don't like the idea.

Agreed completely. The only one of these I thought was worth it is the upcoming Devin Townsend one which I was too late to get. It included regular ticket, plus an exclusive acoustic set, shirt and meet. Maybe something else too that I forgot, but yeah most of these things are wastes of money especially for bands that are fairly underground.

 

[AngraRULES]

I think many people on here are used to hanging out with the bands at PP USA. Most of the fans treat bands like normal people and vice versa. How many other places do you ever see that? Is it unique to our "underground" genres or this festival?

A lot of the shows I've been to (and there have been waaaaaaaaay too many lol), the bands in the underground scene would be out hanging out (not all of them, but definitely most), sometimes before the show, during other bands (support/headliners) and even afterwards. I guess it depends on the band and their situation for the night.

 

[AngraRULES]

Agreed completely. The only one of these I thought was worth it is the upcoming Devin Townsend one which I was too late to get. It included regular ticket, plus an exclusive acoustic set, shirt and meet. Maybe something else too that I forgot, but yeah most of these things are wastes of money especially for bands that are fairly underground.

See, this is worth it. You get an extra set and a shirt. Maybe all VIP packages should be like this. At least I would stop looking at someone who purchases these things (especially for the small bands) and thinking "What a sucker..."

 

[No Username]

Is that bar still in the plaza still open? Its been a while since I've been to a show at the Culture Room, but I remmeber back in the day you would find the bands playing that night in there.

That little pub? Yeah it was there the last time I was there...but the lead singer of Epica is not going to be hanging there afterwards.

Getting in an hour early has a couple of advantages at this location:
Yeah, it IS hard to get to the stage if you are not at the head of the line, and there are a few choice spots other than the stage that are taken quite quickly. Also, being able to hang at the bar for a while without 200 people crushing you is nice. Neither is much of a deal for me, as I drink in the parking lot before the show and do not like to be at the stage for these shows..

But I agree with Zod: if the band can sell the tickets more power to them. Maybe a 5 second "meet n greet" is ok for some people. But I have been doing this too long to be satisfied with that. I mean, I WILL buy a couple of tour shirts anyway, so meeting them is not the main reason for getting the VIP ticket.

 

[skyrefuge]

That's the band's own damn fault then. Why can't they have their "VIP Meet N Greet" thing on prior to the show? I'm sure it could be done easily.

Agreed. Really, the entire VIP thing is the band's own damn "fault". It's not like some higher power is forcing them to do it if they don't want to.

Neil,
HOB then screwed the pooch on the meet n greet.
Usually, they seem to be BEFORE the show starts.

The other time I saw Iced Earth when they were doing a VIP thing (in Minneapolis), it was also after the show. I don't know if Iced Earth does them all afterwards, but I have vague memories (in the days before this VIP stuff) that they prefer to do all their interaction after the show, reserving the before-show time to relax and prepare. And that desire was probably amplified at this show, where they couldn't use the opening acts for downtime, since the opening act was essentially the same group of guys.

With my "VIP guestlist" access, I got assigned to a booth in the balcony. I couldn't figure out if people who paid for their VIP package also got balcony access, but if so, that would sort of take the place of any "early entry" benefit. I also assumed that during the meet-and-greet afterwards was where you would pick up your t-shirt+poster+flag, so you wouldn't have to hang onto them during the show, but that's just a guess. What I can definitely say is that early entry was not listed as a benefit on Iced Earth's site for any of these shows.

Most of the fans treat bands like normal people and vice versa. How many other places do you ever see that? Is it unique to our "underground" genres or this festival?

I think it's simply the popularity of the band that's the dominant factor in determining their interaction. Once a band reaches a certainly level of popularity (drawing 1000-2000 people to a concert), it just becomes logistically difficult to meet with fans in a free-form way without getting mobbed in a way that is unsafe or simply no fun.

Of course there are exceptions (popular band members that will put up with the mobbing, or small aloof bands who are less important than they think they are), or ways to mitigate the mobbing (waiting until way after the show until only the few die-hards still remain), but I think for the most part it's just a numbers game.

I see band members hanging out more than half the concerts I go to, regardless of genre, but that's because they're in 200-300 person clubs (and often only 30 people have turned up, and band members make up the majority of the audience!)

Neil

 

[Jasonic]

It included regular ticket, plus an exclusive acoustic set, shirt and meet.

See now that is really something special then.
Hardcore fans would certainly pay to see a unique set, even if its 3 or 4 songs or whatever. Or you can even do it simpler, and have Soundcheck later than normal (closer to doors opening) and let the VIPs come in to view the soundcheck, where you do more than you usually do. (IE - play a short set of 3 songs, maybe throw in a number that won't be played during the set).

Look, people like to feel special. Die hard fans will pay for extras. Metal fans are indeed that dedicated. I would do this if it meant getting something more than a handshake and a poster. For me, I would love an exclusive VIP tour CD that is limited to just the number of VIP tickets available for the tour (numbered of course!!!)

 

[J. Golden]

Why would anyone even consider doing this? Epica is not Metallica. They hang out at the venue before and after the show. Chances of running into them are just as big if you buy a regular ticket. It's a waste of money. Sure, I would love to see the band making a bit more money with these packages, but it's just *not* worth it.

I would give my money to Epica first. HAHA

 

[J. Golden]

I can understand being a fan boy, I have my share of autographs actually boxes full and countless CDs. And I might get a couple of more in the future depending on who it is. Still I came to a point when I thought this is kind of pathetic. It all comes into perspective when standing in a line waiting just to have some guy scribble on paper. And was it really worth it when you are going to run into that same guy later anyway.
So many of these people are so disappointing when encountering anyway.
To buy VIP passes makes no sense, really do you feel that important? Are you still just as important when I can get the same signature by the end of the night.
you know to get an autograph use to seem like a cool thing like when I met Dio as a kid. Something about these rockerstar wannabes charging for VIP passes seems to so cheapen that. I can't help to think all it does is blows up these assholes egos, and all you guys in line contribute to that.
I heard a story recently about a friend backstage at a KISS show who wanted Gene's autograph and Gene just passed by and made a smartass comment to my buddy who has been a fan since the beginning. Well in your forties isn't it time to let it go? I felt bad for my man, but then again if you set yourself up...
I was dissed by Geoff Tate, Adam West was a jerk, John from Iced Earth is a pompous ass, and Midnight well that was just upsetting. All in all it is not worth it I have a little respect for myself.

 

[PopLies]

I bought a VIP ticket to the upcoming Nevermore tour. Not that I actually wanted to (I agree that it's a waste of money), but my friend is a huge Nevermore/Jeff Loomis fan, and since he is driving to the show.. I didn't have much of a choice unless I wanted to stand outside for an hour by myself.

I've meet tons of bands/members over the years, and never had to pay to do so. And I usually don't even bother talking to members of bands that I see at shows anyways, simply because after the whole, "I'm a fan" comment I have nothing to say to them. And I really don't care about getting their autograph.

 

[AirGuitarLoonhouse]

Keep your money or just pay me while I party like a rock star for you.

 

[mattbrood]

actually the band has little involvement in scheduling these VIP meet and greets..It's Enter The Vault that sets it up...I went to see Primal Fear at this hole in the wall called Harpers Ferry in Allston, Ma. I did not pay for VIP, the whole band was hanging out after the show (Pamela Moore hung out on the side of the stage all night taking pictures and talking to people). In fact, Ralf even told me 'I don't know why anyone would pay $50 to meet us..we always hang out after the show for free!"

 

[Jasonic]

I heard a story recently about a friend backstage at a KISS show who wanted Gene's autograph and Gene just passed by and made a smartass comment to my buddy who has been a fan since the beginning. Well in your forties isn't it time to let it go? I felt bad for my man, but then again if you set yourself up...
I was dissed by Geoff Tate, Adam West was a jerk, John from Iced Earth is a pompous ass, and Midnight well that was just upsetting. All in all it is not worth it I have a little respect for myself.

Yeah, everyone has had different experiences with the big boys of the game.
Gene and Paul were cool as hell the one time I met them, though it was not just impromptu, it was an autograph session while they were promoting KISS ALIVE III (They needed ALL the promotion they could get in those days).

Anyhow, your examples above are why I would NEVER EVER want to meet Lemmy or the Maiden boys. I seriously would be crushed if I met them and they were pricks to me. Everybody has bad days, and you never know when you might catch someone on one of them. Though that one bad experience would stick with you forever.