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VIP Experience Blog

Bon Jovi This House is Not For Sale Tour 2017

Bon Jovi This House is Not For Sale Tour

March 2017-Los Angeles

The Forum

bon jovi

I love Bon Jovi’s VIP Tour staff.  I was so happy to see Alli & Lou were back with us the This House is Not For Sale tour and the addition of Christine was also great!  They are so kind and really want to ensure you have a great experience.

Entering the VIP: You sign in,  receive your VIP lament for the show, all the other merchandise was mailed to you with a very nice black leather bag this time, you also received a USB bracelet that you could download the live show of your choice, a set of guitar pics, signed lithograph, tour program for the Front Row “Knockout” package.  You also were able to take the tour chair home with you.  We needed to be checked in no later than 5:30 so you didn’t miss the backstage tour.

bon joviBackstage Tour:  We were taken down in groups to do the tour.  It’s a fun experience because you get to peak in JBJ’s quick change room, you might get a chance run in with Phil X or John Shanks even!  They allow you up on stage to take photos with the white mic stand, keyboards, drums etc.  After the tour you return to the party area where they have a cash bar and some snack type foods.

bon joviThe show is always a super fun high energy show.  Bon Jovi has been one of my favorite bands since I was 15 and it’s been fun watching them evolve over the years.  I love having Phil X and John Shanks on stage now they both add a new and different energy and dynamic to the band and Jon just seems so much more relaxed during this tour and truly seemed to be having a lot of fun!  There truly is nothing like a Bon Jovi concert and this show was no different with a great mix of the new and older music and JBJ even sang Always for us during the encore which was a great surprise!

bon joviVenue Comments:  My seat was ok but, I had a friend that also had a front row seat and she was so far down she wasn’t even in front of the stage. I would say don’t sell those as seats if they are going to be staring at a black curtain vs the band.

 

Final Verdict: Definitely recommend Bon Jovi’s VIP!

Fun concert wear!

Bebe:  http://www.bebe.com/

Nordstrom:  http://shop.nordstrom.com/

White House Black Market:  https://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/

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

 

 

 

Until Next Time,

Xoxo

Heather

VIP Experience Blog

Runaway Tours-Ft Lauderdale Feb 2017

Jon Bon Jovi February 2017-Ft Lauderdale

Runaway Tours Trip

This was my 21st Runaway Tours trip.  They have improved so much since my first one back in 2011. Back then you had to be in a big group photo with 8-10 other people you didn’t know.  Now you get a photo with JBJ based on how many are in your room, single, double and sometimes triple depending on the options they give you.  This trip included 2 nights hotel stay (there was also a no hotel option), a welcome party, bus to/from the venue, the show, a photo with JBJ & the band for this trip grouped by room, a great signed photo that I will treasure and a small zip up bag with the Runaway Tours logo on it.

We checked into the hotel and got ready for the Q&A as that was the first event up for this trip.  We knew the Q&A would be with the band this time but, we were all surprised and excited when Phil X walked in, he took Tico’s place so we had David Bryan, Phil X and JBJ for this event.  It was a fun dynamic and a lot of great questions.

After the Q&A we all lined up for our photos.  It was another nice but, quick photo opportunity and then we were told there was about an hour before the party room would open.  Not sure in this case if that was planned or maybe the Q&A went shorter than they had originally planned or what.  A few of us left the hotel and went to find some dinner.  I was pretty tired after returning from dinner but I did swing by the party for a bit to see friends.   This trip had a really good group of people on it which I thought made it a lot of fun.

This trip was different because it was occurring during the tour so instead of the acoustic show you were able to attend a full Bon Jovi Concert which is always amazing.  In the interest of full disclosure I always upgrade my seats because the seats Runaway is given just are not where I prefer to sit at a concert.  This tour in both Ft Lauderdale and LA they were in the first few rows of the section full floor section.  However this is why I prefer to do Runaway Tours when they are on tour so I can guarantee I will be thrilled with where I am sitting.

I upgraded the front row experience for this show.  Due to the fact we had a package and had to arrive earlier than the buses were leaving a bunch of us that upgraded car pooled to the venue with a local friend.  More on the experience in a future blog.  After the show the buses were easy to find and we jumped on and got back to the hotel pretty quickly.

If you are interested in trying a Runaway Experience:   http://www.runawaytours.com/

One suggestion I would love to see implemented for tour travel companies is a loyalty program.  Wouldn’t it be so cool to say after you have done 25 trips you get something like a meet and greet or x period of time with JBJ, at 50 trips you get xyz.  That would make people really want to go on a lot of trips to achieve that status/rewards.  Very similar to how cruise lines, airlines have reward programs and how Aerosmith does their concert tickets.   Similar to the Keith Urban 100 club concept which I will also cover in a future blog.

I would also love to see a return of a group tour of the city or an activity in the city we are in.  It’s very hard for those that are new and those events used to be such a great bonding time.

Fun concert wear!

Bebe:  http://www.bebe.com/

Nordstrom:  http://shop.nordstrom.com/

White House Black Market:  https://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/

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

Until next time,

Xoxo

Heather

Entertainment Blog

Bon Jovi ‘This House is Not For Sale’

Bon Jovi ‘This House is Not For Sale’ Album Review

#THINFS

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I have been a fan of Bon Jovi since my early teen years, they were one of the first concerts I ever attended and I am proud to say I am still a fan today.   Over the years I have been to 150+ Jovi shows all around the world.  The last tour ironically was what I called my “go big” tour.  I went to over 40 shows in the US, Canada, Ireland, England and Australia and it was truly a difficult and special tour to be able to attend that many shows.  As everyone knows Richie Sambora stopped showing up for work one day and truly left the band in a very tough situation.  It’s true that Jon and Richie created a lot of magic together for many years but, that start of the last tour Richie’s heart didn’t seem in it anymore.  The last night I saw Richie perform with the band was his 2nd to last show in Oklahoma City, my friends and I were in the front row on Richie’s side and he never looked down or made eye contact with anyone and it felt different.  I am not here to trash Richie in any way, the chapter is closed, I don’t respect the way he handled it but, I am proud of who the band is today.  I think Phil X was the absolute perfect individual to step into that position in the band.  Phil is a true professional, a fantastic guitar player, a really great guy, he has such a genuine down to earth nature and truly enjoys interacting with the fans.

14606468_10154170919683978_5697857292941078621_nThe final night of the tour in Brisbane in 2013 was one of the most emotional concert experiences I have ever had.  At that time so much was unknown.  JBJ gave the speech towards the end and said this is the last time for a long time and we really were not sure when or if we would see our band perform again.  I can remember us all swaying arm and arm during I’ll Be There for You, tears streaming down our faces we felt like we were on an emotional journey with the band on that tour and it’s a night I will remember for the rest of my life.  I was glad that was my “go big” year.

 

img_6895As a fan I was thrilled to hear that the album was done, that they would be doing special Live Listening Parties and really building major excitement behind this album.  As the singles started coming out I was pleasantly surprised by everything I initially heard.  ‘This House is Not for Sale’ is raw, it’s emotional, and it’s a rock record with some of the most beautifully written and inspiring lyrics.  For me it closely measured up to ‘These Days’ which is my favorite Jovi record.  I was only able to attend one of the Live Listening Parties but, I walked out of the theater that night in Toronto blown away and beyond excited for the tour.  Many of the songs sounded even better live and the biggest take away for me was how happy the entire band was on that stage, it was a lighter feeling, the smiles were endless, they were all having fun and the heaviness that you could feel last tour was completely lifted.  Our band is back and better than ever!

img_6154I have listened to the album many times preparing for this review and unlike a few past albums there were no songs that I just felt were ok or I was tempted to skip over.  Every song on this album deserves its place on the album.  If I were to pick my two favorite songs I would say hands down “Scars on this Guitar” makes me stop and fully listen each time.  The lyrics are some of the best and most beautiful JBJ has ever written in my opinion.  As a fan it speaks to my heart, the music is what I turn to get me through hard times.  My other favorite has been Roller Coaster.  I love the lyrics, the beat and I will say this is one of the songs that blew me away when I saw it performed live in Toronto.  Both of those songs I am hoping we will hear a lot on tour.

img_6151The album has a lot of great rock songs  including “This House is Not for Sale”, “Living with the Ghost”, “Knockout”, “Born Again Tomorrow”, “New Year’s Day”, “The Devil’s in the Temple”, “God Bless This Mess”, “All Hail the King” and “We Don’t Run” which was also on the Burning Bridges Album.

JBJ has always written amazing ballads and this album is no exception.  In addition to “Scars on this Guitar” there is “Labor of Love” & “Real Love” which are also both beautifully written and the lyrics and emotion pulled at your heart.

Songs like “Reunion” will have staying power with a great message.   “Come on up to Our House” reminded me of the movie New Year’s Eve that JBJ was in a few years ago.

img_6805It’s great to have John Shanks & Everett Bradley join the band on the tour.  JBJ and the entire band should be incredibly proud of this album.  It’s an absolute hit and one of the best albums to date.  I am so glad that they continue to work hard to develop new music and are still willing to get out and tour to support it.  There is nothing like being at a live Bon Jovi show its magic the minute those lights go down.

Thank you to JBJ, David, Tico, Phil X, John, Hugh & Everett for pouring your heart, your feelings & emotions into this album and the special Live Listening Parties.  This tour will be special and I could not be more thrilled to see the happiness and energy radiating from all of you on stage.  See you in February!

If you want to see additional pictures from the Toronto Listening Party, the Q&A and of course when the tour begins please feel free to follow me on instagram, twitter and/or Facebook:  @lightscmemories

For more information on tour dates etc please go to: 

TOUR

Until Next Time,

xoxo

Heather