Mandatory Czar Experience

[RunningWithScissors]

So I feel like this is a stupid question, but I want to clarify in advance.

There are tables of food, and a cash bar.

I assume that if we want ANYTHING to drink we have to buy it at the bar? Or are there non alcoholic beverages included?

[NH Weird Al Fan]

was the food free??

No, it costs $120 or $240 with a meet and greet.

Actually, it's $130 or $260.

[M3m3s3]

Does anyone know anything about the prize for the costume contest?

[Muppetboy09]

Does anyone know anything about the prize for the costume contest?

IIRC, it was your choice of an item from the merch table...

[spmahn]

So I attended the VIP party at Foxwoods tonight and well, uh, yeah. Let me preface this by saying that I am often accused of being overly negative, or a stick in the mud, or whatever, and that may be a fair criticism. At the end of the day however I have to be completely honest, and thus I must say that in my honest opinion, the VIP party was, for the most part, a stupid waste of time. At Foxwoods they basically just had tables setup in the ballroom, you sit down, the waitresses come around with hors d'oeuvres which aren't so great, and the host runs the same show everyone else has already described. The whole thing to me felt really hokey and corny, and not in a this is amusing sort of way, but more in a roll your eyes and wonder why they even bothered kind of way. Now my experience may not be your experience, I don't care for idle chit chat with people I don't know, so if you're more outgoing than I am, maybe you'll have fun. If you want to eat some crappy appetizers and sit around for three hours, then you'll have a blast. Truly though, if for some reason you have the VIP package or Czar package and can't make the pre show party, you aren't missing a single thing. Stop by, get your tickets and your merch, and go do whatever it is you have to do. If you do want to go, definitely don't come at the beginning, show up maybe an hour and a half in, and you'll see all there is to see.

After the show we got the standard meet and greet. Everyone lines up, the host takes your picture with Al, you get a brief chat, he signs the poster, and you leave. I kinda feel like for the money I spent, that they should have allowed at least ONE personal item to be signed along with the poster, but I get it, Al doesn't have all night to spend signing stuff for 30 people.

That being said, the whole experience was worth every penny. Even though the party may have been super lame, I came into that with zero expectations whatsoever, so it's not like I could say it was disappointing or anything, it was just an extra event for the money. The premium seats, the merchandise, and meet and greet alone make the Czar package more than worth the expense. I recommend it highly.

[bellminer]

I gotta agree with spmahn here. We got there around 6:30 which was right before the raffle so we stuck around for that, but we left immediately after to go have an actual dinner before the show.

[RyRyTheJewishGuy]

The VIP party starts at 5:00 (3 hours before showtime) at the hotel across the street. We'll receive our poster, cards, and shirt at that time.

You get a shirt? Is that the unnamed exclusive bonus item for the Czar VIP package? How do they know your size?

Yes that's the bonus item. They ask your size before they hand it over.

[M3m3s3]

I had a great time! I bought the 8 PM show Czar ticket knowing I was going alone to the party, but I talked to people and made a few friends. I also won the Wheel of Fish raffle! The prize was my choice of a merchandise item. I chose the hoodie. I have an 8x10 favorite picture of Al that was taken at my first ever Al show in 2000 at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom that I politely asked him to sign instead of the poster. He ended up signing both.

In case anyone is interested (I didn't see it posted anywhere else), here are pictures of the front and back of the shirt they give you.

[Yankomaniac]

Good review spmahn. Back of the shirt is pretty sweet.

[FreedomHaul]

Good review spmahn. Back of the shirt is pretty sweet.

So weird that he's channelling Che Guevara though...