DWTS VIP Hot Summer Nights Tour Summer 2017
I’ve had the pleasure of being a VIP for the last five Dancing with the Stars tours. From the first tour I participated in the VIP to this year’s tour I must say: It’s like night and day! They have improved them tremendously! So let’s talk about the details of the VIP!
Pre-Show: For my 1st and 2nd shows in Raleigh/Durham…I did two different packages there. We received our pre-show email about 3-5 days ahead from VIP Nation. For our show we had to arrive between 2:15-2:45 and show started at 5:00 (Note this varies city to city so ALWAYS review your itinerary). There is no reason to line up an hour early or anything. They have a very organized process to get everyone in. The email also contains where the VIP check in table is, the link to where to find your photos and password.
Front Row VIP Package Gifts
Entering VIP: Right on time the doors were opened, they did the usual security checks at the door and then you went to the sign in table. It took maybe 5 minutes to get checked in. We also picked up our 1 drink ticket, the tote bag for the front row package included a bag, sunglasses, water bottle, earbuds & signed tour program. For the 2nd row package it include the same minus the signed tour program. When you check in you are given a laminate with a letter on the back and that is the order they call you for your pictures so there is not one giant line and everyone can enjoy the party until it’s their turn. I will also say I missed our VIP host from the last two tours Anthony Jones. No offense to Brittany in any way.
Now on to the good stuff! After check in we were directed upstairs. We didn’t wait very long at all when they started telling Group A to line up. A few minutes later we saw Alan and Britt coming our way, it was their turn to do the Meet & Mingle! It appears that it’s all rotating like last tour (2 in the Meet & Mingle and 4 in the photos with Emma & Rashad/Heather being consistent). To give you an idea for our cast photo we had Emma, Lindsay, Rashad & Gleb. I will update this after each show to give you all an idea:
http://lightscmemories.com/entertainment-blog/dwts-hot-summer-…r-vip-photo-list/
The photos were wonderful as always. In all past tours I have attended they have always taken 2 pictures, this time they only did 1. The staff is also very kind, nobody is yelling at you it’s a pleasant experience. You do have to leave your purse, bags and anything else on you at the table and you cannot ask for autographs etc. at the cast photo portion. This year too it was one professional photo taken by VIP Nation host, no selfie options in the main photo. You could however do selfies with the dancers in the Meet & Mingle. I did not honestly see the green screen option anywhere at either VIP party in Durham so I cannot comment on that. After the photos were done and the dancers all left to get ready for the show you could go to the merchandise stand and do some crowd free shopping which was also nice.
Rows 2-5 VIP Package Gift
Please note on the pics: the itinerary says up within to 2 weeks but the staff has been doing an awesome job and usually has them up in about 24 hours.
Show time! Here is a full article I did on the show itself. http://lightscmemories.com/entertainment-blog/dwts-hot-summer-nights-tour-2017/
Suggestions for Tour Management: This is something I have been thinking about. For the Maks & Val Tour and the Derek & Julianne tours there was another top level tier package when you got pictures in the VIP and then got extra time with them backstage. I know the VIP photos are with “select” dancers (4 the last 2 tours) at each city but, many fans have voiced their disappointment when their “favorite” isn’t in their photo since it’s a random rotation. I have heard many voice their displeasure at paying several hundred dollars but not getting a pic with their favorite. What if you added another ticket tier or made it with the front row packages that you get your pic with the rest of the VIP’s and then you are either taken down just before the show or just after and get a photo with the full tour cast? If you sold a very limited # of them it wouldn’t take that much extra time. That way you those that truly want to meet them all would have the chance and it would then add another tier package for you. I know I would sign up for that for sure!
If possible rotate the dancers if you are doing two shows in one city. Some of us like to go to both shows and it would be great to get pics with two sets of dancers since you are paying VIP at both.
Bravo & Thank you: VIP Nation you always put together fantastic unique experiences and it doesn’t go unnoticed! Thank you so much to the tour staff: Mandy Moore, Director Andrew Winghart, Associate Director and Ashley Edens-Shaffer, Creative Consultant and our dance captains: Lindsay and Artem truly put together an amazing show that I think every fan should be sure they have a ticket for! The creative genius is obvious at every moment in the show. 
The vision and layout for this tour is truly worth 10 Stars! The crew and all the other behind the scenes individuals also deserve a shout out! The Dancers (Sharna, Gleb, Artem, Lindsay, Sasha, Keo, Emma, Hayley, Alan and Britt all truly leave it on the floor each night. It’s emotional, it’s passionate, it’s raw, it’s FUN, it’s full of energy and I am so excited I will get to see this tour multiple times and have a new take away each night!
If you don’t have a ticket…Buy one today and if you are able to do VIP it’s worth the investment for this experience they have many different levels and price points too! Here’s the link for tickets/VIP package! https://vipnation.com/tours/dancing-with-the-stars-live/hot-summer-nights/e54ccb4a62ac4b99ca9331d468a18443VwH3ZPV%3D
Want to see more photos? For many more pictures from the tour, past tours please follow me on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook @lightscmemories! If you have any questions that I can help with please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Where do I love to shop for fun outfits for VIP pics!
Until next time,
XOXO
Heather
This was my 5th Dancing with the Stars tour! The stage set up with fantastic, great music/dance selection and the cast was filled with not only great talent but, the kindest people. Truly loved the Hot Summer Nights Tour!
This year’s tour was very light & fun with a lot of summertime elements mixed in. It was so great to see Emma & Rashad dance together live again. I was so excited for them that they won this season. I haven’t seen Heather perform yet that will be at the next show. It was also so nice to have Sasha back on tour this time and Britt was another fantastic addition to the cast. I know a lot of people were unsure what to expect when Val took the summer off. Even though he and Jenna were incredibly missed on the stage I think many of the other dancers really shined bright this tour. 
We saw a few of our favorite dances from the season, they had an entire movie section which was just fantastic. I know I keep saying it when I post pictures but, that dance that Sharna & Gleb do to 50 Shades was just smoking hot. I also really enjoyed Artem & Hayley’s beautiful and passionate contemporary dance and Gleb & Hayley’s dance to “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”. Watching Sasha and Emma dance quite a few pieces together including the Viennese Waltz dedicated to their engagement was just beautiful. 
Lindsay has a fun storytelling portion of the show as well that is hilarious in addition to performing many amazing numbers. I also really enjoyed the Prince/Princess piece. Keo is absolutely hilarious with his drop the mic moment and also has many beautiful and high energy performances. Alan also truly stands out this tour with his fun dance with the ladies, his Samba with Lindsay and many other fantastic performances. 
Britt is a real sweetheart and also incredibly talented. She shines bright on the stage every night! All of the dancers just radiate joy on that stage. The entire show was absolutely beautiful and high energy and it allowed all the dancers to be equally in the spotlight.
I also loved all the other special elements. If you haven’t seen the show you can skip a few of the videos so it doesn’t get spoiled:
The dancers gave it their all every single night of the performances and I cannot say enough what a privilege it was to meet them at the meet and greets, but to sit in the audience and watch their talent and brilliance come to life.
I have been a fan of this show ever since Season 1 and I have to say this season will be a hard one to top. The entire cast truly came in with a great attitude and really put in the effort. It was hard not to fall in love with the personalities and stories of each of our stars this season. There were so many shining stars.
I want to give a huge shout out to the Season 23 Dance Troupe: Brittany Cherry, Alan Bersten, Hayley Erbert, 
On to the finale:
It was too fun to watch Maureen McCormick live her huge fan dream of dancing with Babyface, Ryan, Artem, Keo and Dennis tonight. Maureen was one that I truly felt grew a lot this season. It’s always fun when a star is also a fan of the show because it allows us at home to live it through their eyes.
I loved the friendship that developed between Vanilla Ice and Rick Perry this season. Vanilla’s performance was a fun blast from the past and even though they might not have been the strongest dancers the partnerships between Witney/Vanilla and Emma/Rick were fun to watch all season and both did work hard.
Sharna Burgess & James Hinchcliffe 
The gift that James gave to Sharna of the race suit he wore the first time he raced again after his accident was truly sweet. Sharna truly put together the most amazing piece to close the chapter on James’s survival journey. They performed a fusion dance of Foxtrot & Viennese Waltz. It was absolutely beautiful. James demonstrated all the grace in his movements and it again highlighted the beautiful friendship that developed between them this season. It was stunning.
Calvin & Lindsay 
Calvin & Lindsay did a Jive & Quickstep fusion. Calvin and Lindsay almost developed a big brother/little sister relationship this season. Calvin should be so happy with his journey this season. He grew immensely and I think kept his attitude on the fun this entire season. He was a joy to watch! Their fusion dance was a lot of fun, high energy and again showed off all the great dance qualities that Calvin brought to the floor.
Laurie Hernandez & Val Chmerkovskiy 
Val and Laurie had a Foxtrot & Argentine Tango Fusion dance. Their package was so adorable. It was sad hearing them talk about this season ending. I think Val was a tremendous positive influence on Laurie. Laurie grew so much before our eyes and is truly a remarkable young lady. Their fusion dance was incredible. Laurie had that fire, pure determination and the look of champion in her eyes when they started that fusion dance. I do disagree with those that felt Laurie had an edge this season because of gymnastics. Laurie was the first gymnast that didn’t use the tricks in the dances this season. I can speak from personal experience at a lower level. I was a cheerleader and when I started taking ballroom & latin dance lessons it is totally different and definitely not easy to learn to dance with a partner.
More on the finale…
ce number was also choreographed by the amazing Mandy Moore. This was truly remarkable. It was creative, it was a technical and visual delight the way she was able to bring the story into motion using the special screen to make the young girl’s dream a reality. It truly was an absolute Masterpiece!
Sharna & James and Val & Laurie were the final two couples and truly they were both so good it could have been a tie this season. Each partnership just had that special something. The talent, the creativity of Val & Sharna with their respective partners was just unstoppable this year. I would have been absolutely thrilled if their partnership had won.
