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VIP Experience Blog

Dierks Bentley WTH Tour VIP

Dierks Bentley What the Hell Tour VIP

July 2017

#Dierksbentley

Dierks has a very good VIP program.

Entering the VIP: You sign in, get some merchandise (Sunglasses, pin and cloth to wipe down glasses) and he did a 6 song acoustic set and some finger snacks. The VIP area is very intimate and Dierks absolutely played more songs than I have ever seen another artist do to date in a similar setting.

 

He was super fun, he took requests from the crowd on what we wanted to hear as well.

 

 

 

 

Suggestions for his staff: One suggestion would be to offer a limited # of VIP tickets for purchase to compliment the fan club meet and greet contest. I know a few friends of mine would love to meet Dierks but, have not been lucky enough to win yet and with Dierks’ s ever growing popularity it will be harder. 

I have to hand it to Coastal Creek for the VIP area there was a large built in AC blower this time as it was over 95 degrees that night and otherwise the tent would have brutal.  I know there is not much they can do about the weather and I tried to stick it out in the pit for as long as I could but, after about 12 songs into Dierks set I had to step off to the side where it was cooler and get some more water.

Also wanted to shout out Jon Pardi and Cole Swindell who opened for Dierks.  Both are phenomenal talents as well.  It was my first time hearing Jon perform and Cole is absolutely amazing.  I would think we will see Cole headlining his own tour very soon.

For more photos from the show please follow my social media pages @lightscmemories

 

Final Verdict: Definitely recommend.

 

Until Next Time,

Xoxo

Heather

Entertainment Blog

Ideal Meet & Greet/Photo Op

Ideal Meet & Greet/Photo Op

If I could sit down with celebrity VIP teams…

This is a topic I have been thinking about for the last few years.  It’s part of the reason for starting this blog.  I never want this page to be a negative place but, rather somewhere to share information, experiences, value etc.  If I could sit down with artist’s and their management teams to give them insight into what fans feel are best VIP practices this is what I would say:

  1. Artists should keep their commitments. It’s one of the things that I think a pop star and his team did wrong earlier this year.  If they didn’t want to do meet and greets anymore that’s fine but, finish the ones that you had committed to, implement rules to meet your needs in the interim and have your team enforce them but, respect that a good portion of your VIP attendees often are paying to travel for the experience.

 

  1. Don’t do photo assembly lines. I truly wish all artists that did meet and greets would commit to an hour or so of their time depending on the #’s and do it right, treat each person like a human being, say hello, ask their name, ask where they are from (stars may be shocked how far some will travel to see them), have a genuine interaction, then take the photo.  Let’s face it these meet and greets, photo ops, fan trips cost a large sum of money, show the fans you value and respect their time and money by giving them an interaction.  When an artist’s team brags that they did 300 pictures in 16 minutes that truly is disappointing vs a recent event I was at they had about 200 people and they devoted a solid hour or more, it wasn’t rushed and everyone that walked out after was so happy, felt so special and most of all valued.

 

  1. Make the interactions private. What I have been seeing quite a bit lately is a curtain box created and have thought that is such a great idea.  You can step in, have your interaction and not have 200-300 people watching it.  It helps with your nerves too, nobody wants to feel like they are in a fishbowl it also solves the issue of people taking photos of the entertainer/star as they approach.  It will also help the genuine interaction because then they are not still speaking to the person ahead of you etc.

 

  1. Make the rules clear, stick to them and let them know what will happen if they violate the rules. If you say don’t take your cell phones out and ask for a selfie and someone does don’t post the photo, if you say don’t hug, kiss and rub all over an artist and people do don’t post the photo.  I would guarantee you would only have to enforce it once and word would travel.  Too many fans will just take liberties, ignore the rules just to achieve their own objective and it truly does spoil the process for others in many cases and it’s disrespectful to the artist.

 

  1. Post photos in a timely manner. The companies that have them posted same day or in 24 hours always get a WOW for service from me.  VIP Nation events have been crushing it with this service the last year.  All events I have gone to hosted by them they have been up during the show or the next day.   It’s been nice to see many are getting them done quickly lately, people are always so excited to receive them so the faster the better.

 

  1. Give organic genuine experiences. A few tours recently I have seen many people asking for kisses, hugs etc.  You are putting the stars in an awkward position because if they say no then they can be looked at like they are being a jerk but, people have to realize in most cases you are a stranger or a familiar face in the crowd to the artist.  Would you want a stranger walking up and asking you to kiss them, hug them etc.?  It’s such a better experience when it happens organically and it’s something the artist initiates because it’s genuine and something they truly wanted to do.  On the flip side though as the artist make an effort to say hello, ask someone’s name and go from there.

 

  1. Please no gum or food in your mouth. I have a few photos with different entertainers with a wad of gum clearly seen in the pic and then recently had an experience where someone was eating a marshmallow.  Again people pay a lot for these experiences, travel long distances and it’s just respectful not to have food/gum in your mouth and seen in the photos.

 

  1. Respect the time of individuals paying for the VIP experience. Don’t make them arrive 2 hours ahead to just stand in line and don’t leave them in the various elements like extreme heat & cold.  Be organized. Nobody likes to stand around waiting for hours.

 

For random interactions with stars I always like to see who puts in the extra effort with their fans.  I can say after seeing it many times that Keith Urban is one of the best at this.  Keith will stop and literally do selfies with 40 people and it takes maybe 10 minutes.  Now in these random cases I think it’s fine to do a quick hello, photo and move on you are not paying for it.

I think the stars also need to be careful the way their team is representing them.  At the softball game at CMA fest one of the entertainer’s boyfriend’s came out where fans were lined up after the game and was telling a guy to hurry up and have her car pulled around because she didn’t want to stop for fans.  Another country star I saw three times at CMA fest once on the pink carpet, at Fan Fair X and then out and about and he could not be bothered to take a photo or have an interaction but as soon as a TV camera was on him he changed right away.  I personally will not spend my money, pay to travel, attend a concert of anyone that shows such disregard for fans.  It’s all in how the situation is handled.  Like I said in my CMA Fest blog from Day 3 instead of responding “NAH” to someone, say sorry not today.  Treat people like human beings and they will in turn reward you by devoting their time and spending their hard earned money to support your career.

One star recently said it best you always have to treat each person special because that may be your 1 time ever to meet that person that has supported you and you don’t know what they had to do to be at that show, if they saved for 6 months, flew across the country etc.  Whether it’s a 30 second selfie interaction or a paid meet and greet it’s your chance to make and leave an impression both on the fan and star’s end.  I will always support the ones that care and truly get it because that adds value to the experience.  I also feel we all have to treat them respectfully.

I would love to hear more thoughts on this from those that read the blog…

 

Until next time,

 

Xoxoxo

Heather

VIP Experience Blog

Keith Urban: Raleigh, NC

Keith Urban:  Once in a Lifetime Package

#keithurban

0B_ZJ6m4I was so excited when I saw that Keith Urban was going to offer VIP packages with his ripCord Tour.  The Once in a Lifetime package option allowed you to get an individual photo with Keith!  Prior to this you had to win a fan club contest giveaway to meet Keith and I was never fortunate enough to win.  I have met Keith at CMA fest though the last two years and he has always impressed me.  He has no ego, a genuine kindness, he’s a sweet man and truly one of the best at fan interaction.IMG_4961 (2)

It looks like they sold 6 of these packages per show which was great because it was a nice small group.  You had to arrive at check in between 5:15-6 pm, you received your bag of special items to go with the package.  I included a photo of what you received from merchandise discounts at the show or online, a blanket, license plate holder, temporary tattoo, special light up VIP lanyard, hat etc.  After check in you were taken back to an air conditioned tent and I don’t think there was more than 75-100 people in there including those packages like mine, radio station winners, CISCO staff (they sponsored the party) and then the fan club photo winners.  They had food, water and soda for us.  Keith’s staff handled everything very organized.  They brought everyone back for photos in small groups based on the type of pass you had.  The photo interaction was private which I loved although a bit fast however still not a photo assembly line.  You could enter the room and Keith gives you a huge hug, asks your name etc.  I hope the photos will be posted quickly.  . Hu5LHP6q

After the photos Keith came in and sang one song by request and answered a little over a handful of questions.  What I loved about that is it was intimate and everyone was told and everyone respected the no cell phones, cameras or recording and it was great.  It was a nice intimate and engaged interaction.  After that we were taken down to the pit.   cu0VTKzn

 

 

The show was absolutely fantastic.  Maren Morris, Brett Eldredge opened and they both were absolutely wonderful!  Keith and his band hit the stage with such energy!  The show was absolutely awesome, I love how Keith will spotlight members of his band during the show and allow them to sing individually as well.  Keith is such an engaging performer, he sang many of his hits, songs off the new album and if we had been inside he would have blown the roof off the venue!  Every time I have seen him perform he brings 200%, if you have never seen him perform…GO buy your tickets now!

gSHwZY6zI love how Keith uses social media.  After every show he will tweet photos and does a short video on IG or Twitter thanking the fans from that city, sharing his thoughts from the evening etc.  It’s just a special thing he makes a point of doing and that 1-2 minutes is appreciated by fans.

Nathan1

 

 

The venue:  Coastal Credit Music Park in Raleigh was good, the security and staff are all very nice.  Last summer I would have given them 5 stars for the ease in getting out after the show.  Last night I would give them a fail on that.  It took over 45 minutes to get out after the show vs the 15 minutes max it took last year for all the events I attended.

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Concert Wear!

I love wearing my J Crew tee’s to shows!  They are lightweight and come in fun colors!  https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/Tshirtsandtanktops/shortsleevetshirts/PRDOVR~A6166/A6166.jsp

IMG_4829 (2)I also used my Coach Wristlet and cross body that I was given as gifts from friends for my birthday.  They were perfect!  The wristlet held my car key, ID, money and credit card and the cross body fit the wristlet, camera and lip gloss with room left over but, it was nice not to have to carry around a bulky purse with me.

http://www.coach.com/shop/women-wristlets

http://www.coach.com/north/south-swingpack-in-embossed-textured-leather/52348.html?dwvar_color=SV%2FTU

 

Until next time,

 

Xoxo

Heather