Yesterday I saw that Van Halen is selling VIP tickets for $895 – $995 a ticket. Now I have no problem with VIP tickets, back in 2003 I kicked off that concept I created the KISS Platinum Ticket packages for $1000. But, I feel it is extremely important that you give value for that sort of money. These are your die hard fans buying the packages. In the case of KISS, and most other artists, part of the value is a front row ticket and a meet & greet with the artist, along with a photo. This is often the only way a life long fan will get the chance to meet their favorite artist. As I read in many emails from KISS fans who bought the Platinum Package it was a dream come true for them and it was worth every penny spent.
Onto Van Halen, what really bothers me is for $895 the fan is really getting nothing more than the ticket. It does not include any artist meet & greet. Here is what is included:
Each Van Halen Ultimate VIP Package includes:
* One reserved ticket in the front row*
* Backstage tour
* Pre-show party
* Parking (where available)**
* Early entrance into the venue
* Van Halen Ultimate VIP commemorative laminate
* Exclusive Van Halen gift bag
* Commemorative VIP ticket
* Crowd-free merchandise shopping
* On-site VIP host
I have to ask, is that really worth $895? Is this going to make a fan’s dream come true? Is it too much for Van Halen to spend 30 minutes with a group of fans? Maybe a soundcheck with the band?
The problem is that for the first show on the tour, Louisville, these packages are already sold out. Here is what it comes down to, if the fans buy them, they will keep selling them. You see you have to vote with your wallet. Money talks and in this case sold out tells the band the fans are fine with this. It says the fans will spend $895 for nothing more than really a front row ticket. Nothing is going to change if bands continue to get the money, until fans step up and say no and stop buying something that is nothing more than a ticket.
Just my opinion, but…
Bands, give your fans value for their money.
Fans, vote with your wallet.
Ugh… That really is a useless package. “Crowd free merchandise shopping” and “early entrance into the venue”? Whoopee. You get to sit around for longer and spend even more money on their sure-to-be overpriced. My bet is that the people buying these packages aren’t the true fans. They’re rich dudes who want to impress somebody.
A few years back I spent $150 to see Prince at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, CA. For that $150 I got to go to soundcheck, had a great seat, and would have been able to get into the infamous after party (had their been one that night). With the exception of a meet and greet, I thought that was a lot of value for the money.
If you would know how things are on that front in Russia 🙂 when Tori Amos came to Moscow for her first ever show there on 2010 best seats in first few rows where sold for 450 euros! When in Europe I paid for the best seats 75€.
And it is not her fault. The whole Russian live business is crooked that way. Since there’s no places to advertise live events other than billboards the costs of putting up any show are crazy high. And the most expensive VIP tickets are sold as fast as the cheapest ones. The middle section is always a hard seller.
Tori does meet&greet before each show for those who care enough to read some fan-forums. I’ve met her like that many times since 1998. In moscow some of those rich folks who paid over 40o euros where constantly walking out during the show for drinks… Heartbreaking.
In Russia for the most of artists playing live and doing private gigs has been the only way of income for the last 20 years. And yet live sector seems very underevolved to me. Still people choose to pay lots of money for crappy shows – at least it appears to me to be so. Club gigs that should not be costing more than 10 euros cost 50 and more.
With horror I am starting to think that globalization is bringing this tide from former USSR to the West. Scary.
Thank you for sharing what it is like in Russia. It is not cheap or easy for a fan anywhere to go to a show.
What the heck is a “Backstage Tour?”
For the couple artists I worked with that we did backstage tours it was maybe 30 mins walking backstage. Showing the fans dressing rooms (peeking in the door, not going inside), production offices, road cases, catering, etc.
Have you seen the packages you could get for Bon Jovi when they were touring? Seats in a special area and you get to keep the actual seat, backstage tour (you can take a photo of Jon’s mic!), a bunch of merch, a signed photo, blah blah blah – for $2000. Yup, $2000 but you got nowhere near any member of the band.
$895 almost seems like a bargain.
One of the biggest highs in life for me has always been live music. In recent years, the cost of tickets has gotten to be outrageous! It used to be a top price ticket to a big name show would run $50 to $60. Now you’re lucky if you can even get through the gate for under $100. This means that I am unable to attend most shows and I’m sure I’m not alone in this. The thought of spending $1000 for a VIP ticket…I don’t know whether to laugh or throw up out of disgust! There are children starving to death daily, and some musician actually thinks spending that kind of money just to meet them is right?! Musicians are only successful because of their fans. It is because the fans buy the music and attend the concerts that allows the Gene Simmons and Eddie Van Halens of this world to live the extravagant lifestyles they do. The least they can do is to hold a meet&greet without charging exorbitant amounts of money for the “priviledge” of meeting them.
That has the been argument for years. I have no opposition to selling meet and greets, if there is value and the fans who do purchase them feel it was worth it. I know for a fact that the fans who bought the $1000 KISS packages loved them. For many it was a dream come true. They have gone on to buy them more than once. It would not be feasible to do cheap m&g at a show. The supply is very limited, meaning only so much time and room at a show and demand outstrips that supply, those the pricing. I know many bands will do m&g at a store for free or the cost of buying a product. There are ways to meet bands for free or next to nothing if it is desired.
And then I decided to keep my 895 and watch the whole show on YouTube. Than you for the reviews. I know it specifies in the packages what’s included (Van Halen). I thought the backstage tour was the meet and greet. Glad I didn’t drop a bundle on this. Still though, I’m disappointed and I didn’t even spend a dime.