The VIP Topic (What it includes what it doesn't)

[Yankomaniac]

They should just charge like 350 bucks for backstage passes, and allow like 50-100 people to do a quick meet and greet, before or after the show. That would be alot of extra cash from the tour that they would profit from. When I met Dio before he died it was about 400 bucks but I gladly payed it, and it was well worth it.

[Alinite27]

Ah, I don't think it should ever get down to where Al is selling meets. We're lucky that he's so gracious to do as many as he does. I still think that a meet should be included with a VIP Package, since you're not directly selling the meet itself. But, I can see both sides of the debate over that.

[Yankomaniac]

Well the ticket to the show right in front of the stage would be necessary of course, it would be the same as the v.i.p. thing now but you are basically guaranteed a meet I guess, and you pay more for that. Still,he would still be willing to hang out with the fans who wait outside or whatever, but if say he had family matters than, its more like you should have got the v.i.p. package dude.

[Alinite27]

Aw yeah, I get that. And I do think that if it was included in a VIP Package it would be cool. I pretty much feel the exact same way as you. But, it is what it is.

[TMBJon]

I disagree with this idea because I don't think it's fair to put Al in the situation where he is forced to do a meet and greet after a show. Some nights this is just not feasible.

[Alinite27]

Yeah, that's the aspect that I was considering in my first post. I really don't think that there should ever be a place where you can buy Al's time. He's gracious enough to us, as it is. But, I can also see where if that's your only chance to meet Al, you'd want to do everything possible...even buying an expensive package...to do it. I think it says a lot about Al that he hasn't gone for these different totally expensive VIP Packages as other stars.

I remember the Cotillion show in Wichita, Kansas last tour. Al had a quick flight home and had to leave immediately at the end of the show. Those who had backstage passes didn't even get to meet him. Sometimes they get to meet him, but are in a handshake line. Then, sometimes Al can be more flexible with his time. It all depends on the situation of the night. It's funny, his bus drive Wayne, remarked to me a few days after that, that he had only left shows that quickly when he had driven for rap stars who were fearing for their life. He said that that night he was told to be ready to blast off (have the bus running, etc.) for the set time that the show was to be over.

[OneWAY]

haha yeah.

I remember after the Grand Prairie, TX show last year people were waiting for hours after the show to see Al. Some dropped off, but there were still a few left by the time the crew bus left. It was funny because no one knew that Al had basically left completely under the radar to "spend the night with his in-laws," as a guy that worked at the venue said. It made sense though, because Suzanne grew up in the area and Suzanne and Nina were present at the show.

The only reason I was in that crowd was because I was waiting for a ride and had nothing else to do. Otherwise, I had large doubts early on that Al would be meeting with us. Especially considering the immediacy of the meet and greet the night before in Tulsa.

[Yankomaniac]

Well theres 4 other important guys in the band, did they come out?

[OneWAY]

Well, to clarify, the buses were also gated off, which was pretty much the first clue that there wouldn't be a meet and greet. I saw Steve walk by the gate once and a guy in the group of people asked out loud where Al was, and Steve told him he had already left. (Which definitely solidified my assumption about Al leaving... Steve wouldn't lie to a fan, but I guess the guy wasn't taking any chances, haha)

The whole set up was definitely made as if they were just packing up and leaving; there was no indication of anyone sticking around at all.

[Yankomaniac]

So Steve said that he left, but did he come over to say hi or did he just walk on like he was too busy?