Valentin Chmerkovskiy

Dancing with the Stars Winter Tour 2020

VIP Experience 

My apologies on being absent from the blog for a while.  My sweet heart dog, my one in a million got cancer last year and we fought so hard but, she passed away the day before Thanksgiving.  I have been in such a sad place overall and been trying to pull myself out of it which hasn’t been easy.  Honestly, the first show I went to I wasn’t even excited to go but, only because I just was finding it a struggle to get excited about anything.  Once I got there for both shows I so appreciated that I could smile, enjoy the performances and forget my reality for a few hours.

I wanted to wait and go to at least 2 of my shows before writing this to see if some of the kinks got worked out.

Pre-Show:

You receive your email a few days before telling you when to arrive, giving you the link and password for the photos, the waiver etc.  One thing that has been confusing to people this year is it says no personal cameras/phones allowed.  I think they need to be more specific and say no cameras/phones allowed in the photo area because several have thought it also meant in mingle.

Check-in:

Check in was so slow at the first event I went to at Mohegan.  Even after they started checking people in the line moved extremely slow.  They also had us in such a small room at Mohegan in my opinion too many people for such a small room.  The second show I went to in Durham was much faster, they had us in the usual area for VIP at DPAC which is always great!

VIP Swag:

I honestly didn’t keep any of mine, I gave it away at both cities.  It really seems like they continue to increase the prices and give fans less.  I always liked when they at least gave you a tote bag.

VIP Photo & Mingle:

I didn’t want to comment on this until after I saw if things were better at the 2nd show but, this VIP Host will not go down on my list of great ones.  At Mohegan she was not very polite, she would only post 1 of the 2 pics.  I let her know we have always received both and she sarcastically responded that she would only post 1 and she would decide which one to post.  I emailed VIP Nation after that show and was very pleased that they backed the fans up and are now posting both pictures.  The photo experience is way too fast, they are taking away the personal aspect of it that used to make this so great in the early tours.    I barely had time to say hi and hug the pros before the host was saying look here.  It’s disappointing because you spend $300-650 of your hard earned $ for a rushed experience.  I am not saying give each person 5 minutes but, at least let them say hello and if they have something quick to say allow that like you used to.  That almost always comes down to the host though because all the pros are awesome and engaging.  I miss the host Anthony Jones a lot, he was one of the best they have had, he got the job done but, truly understood the fan experience.  There was also another girl a few tours ago that was really good.   Both of them posted pics within 24 hours, were very friendly at all times, didn’t rush you in the photos, checked the photos before you walked away etc.

She also doesn’t post the pictures very fast, I have seen it take almost a week for some cities.  My last show in Charlotte it took 6 days and then she only posted 1 of my pictures.  Pictures are not all being checked again.  That happened to me two years ago when both of my pictures had my eyes closed.  One girl shared with me that only 1 of her pics was posted on a recent show and it was blurry and when she emailed and asked about the 2nd pic which she did a special pose with her fav pro she was told it would be posted when the host had a chance and she still didn’t have it.  The hosts should understand that fans are super excited to see their pics and everyone understands you cannot always do it same day but, a week…

Mingle:  This also seemed faster than usual.   At Mohegan the pros were mobbed so they tried to say wait and let them come to your table.  Durham it was better but, the only issue with wait until they come to your table is if your  photo group # is called when they are almost at your table and then you come out and missed them.

This is another fan’s experience this year that goes every year:

The Maks & Val Tour & Derek Hough tours are run much better and they truly give you a great fan experience and understand and appreciate that you are spending your hard earned $ to do these experiences.  In my opinion that comes from the top down.  Maks & Val especially have always genuinely cared about and been so proud of their tour and really listen to fan feedback and work hard at providing a fun, genuine VIP experience for those that come to their event & pay extra for VIP.

Tour staff interaction/waiting by buses:

I was personally happy to see a different security guy in Durham than the guy that has done it for years that is absolutely is nasty to fans.  The guy in Durham was very nice & respectful yet got his point across when he needed to and I am hoping he is now the regular security.  The usual is always said to fans that wait at the buses that “we have a VIP M&G you can do if you want to meet them, we cannot guarantee who will come out etc”.  The one thing I want to say on this is fans wait by the buses for mostly 2 reasons:  1.  they might not be able to afford VIP and 2. They may be hoping for a chance to talk briefly to their favorite pros if they didn’t get the chance to in the VIP because its so rushed or maybe their favorite pros were not in the photo/mingle that day.  I think that is something everyone needs to understand better and maybe one day my suggestion below will be taken.  Nobody wants to wait outside on a winter tour and freeze waiting but it sure is appreciated when the Pros come out and do it for those reasons I just described.

Suggestions for tour management:

For several years I have been saying this but, it falls on deaf ears.  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 (3 Pro’s and the Celeb guest star) 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 or do an add on pkg 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 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 & several other fans would sign up for that for sure!

If possible rotate the Pro’s 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.  That used to be the way it was done but, the last year or two it’s the same Pro’s at both so it doesn’t make sense to pay for VIP for both and then the tour loses out when fans stop buying both.

Suggestion for VIP Nation:  I would love to see a fan experience survey come out after shows and then have you all take the feedback and connect with your host to help them improve experiences.  Make sure the hosts that you hire understand and appreciate the fan experience and make sure they are not only knowledgeable with a camera but, make sure they understand they must check the photos before the people walk away.

I have personally done so many VIP Experiences over the years and I can say I am being a lot more selective on what I am doing & spending $ on.  It really seems to be that the VIP #’s are down and I think it’s because of what I have outlined.  I am always happy to do a VIP, support a tour when you feel the lead(s) care, when you are getting a genuine, not rushed, quality interaction etc.  Steven Tyler is amazing at this, he has 100’s yet he starts early and gives every single person a special, genuine interaction.  Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban same thing.  I have to believe most of the Pro’s want to do that for the DWTS fans and I continue to hope we will see positive changes for future tours.

VIP Experiences should always strive to improve the experience especially when prices continue to rise.

For photos from this tour and others I attend follow me on Instagram:  @lightscmemories