When I was younger and going to gigs at places like the Glasgow Apollo, The Venue, The Edinburgh Playhouse etc etc. after the gig if you had time to hang about for a while you always had the chance to meet the band if you got to the front of the crowd.
The venue’s staff would open the doors and allow about 50 – 100 fans back into the venue and the band would be there to sign programmes.
There was no money involved in this, it was simply bands saying thanks to the fans who had waited for a glimpse of their heroes…I did it many times myself…
Now if you want to meet the band, you need hard cash!!Ā Get yourself a V.I.P package for an extra Ā£100, meet the band, have a photo take with the band…but what about the fans, who for many years have followed these bands and can’t afford to pay those big ticket prices to ‘meet the band’?
It’s created an us and them, a haves and have nots division in concert goers I think.
Why not open it up and simply choose ticket numbers, and let those fans meet the band? no matter their financial status, everyone who buys a ticket has the chance..
Money thats why, 100 fans paying an extra Ā£100 for a VIP ticket is of course and extra Ā£10,000 in the bands pocket.Ā Now bands have to make money yes, but they shouldn’t forgot those fans who first saw them in the clubs, bought their debut albums and singles, bought the concert T-Shirts and programmes
Maybe I’m just getting old…….and grumpy š
MMc
Mark McCafferty Music 