Pre Show Packages

I think sSomeone mentioned somewhere (maybe on FB?) the packages Paramore and Fall Out Boy are doing on their tour, does anyone know what those are like?

cdala wrote:

I think sSomeone mentioned somewhere (maybe on FB?) the packages Paramore and Fall Out Boy are doing on their tour, does anyone know what those are like?

http://www.paramore.net/forum/what-vip-package-137681

NeverTrustAJunkie wrote:

They're not asking fans to do anything. They offer experiences/bundles/merch that you have the choice not to purchase.

The issue is that by offering early entry, they would be denying the front row experience to everyone without the preshow pass, which was previously available to anyone who had a ticket and enough drive to get there early enough.  Paying for the soundcheck is cool because if you choose not to do it, your ticket still gives you the same opportunities it always did.

The_River wrote:

cdala wrote:

I think sSomeone mentioned somewhere (maybe on FB?) the packages Paramore and Fall Out Boy are doing on their tour, does anyone know what those are like?

http://www.paramore.net/forum/what-vip-package-137681

Oooh I see these include the show ticket and fan club membership, but from what I can tell, you only get early entry if you're already a member of the fan club, which seems like a cool idea.

Having stayed silent on this since last week because the whole thing is really a case of "you can't please all the people, all the time", I feel like the band is going to have to make peace with whatever secondary solution they come up with and stick with it. There will always be an unhappy vocal minority, no matter where things land.

For instance, now it becomes: if one lines up X# hours before the show and is say third in line, what happens if they purchased the sound check? When that's over do they get their place back in line? How would that work with others who purchased it and are 30th, 100th, 250th in line? Venue security and staff can rarely handle opening doors and checking tickets for the main event correctly, so to put the onus on them to restore everyone's place in line is absurd, especially since you are dealing with different venues each show. A 'one size fits all' solution will never hold up.

Maybe because TGA cares about their fans and their fans' experience so much it is expected they will please all the people all the time. But truly, that is neither realistic nor fair.

moosicmaniac wrote:

NeverTrustAJunkie wrote:

They're not asking fans to do anything. They offer experiences/bundles/merch that you have the choice not to purchase.

The issue is that by offering early entry, they would be denying the front row experience to everyone without the preshow pass, which was previously available to anyone who had a ticket and enough drive to get there early enough.  Paying for the soundcheck is cool because if you choose not to do it, your ticket still gives you the same opportunities it always did.

My comments were directed at the specific quotes (and those who feel similar) claiming Gaslight is trying to drain everyone's wallet. They are not. They post these offers/products and it's for you to decide if you want them or not. Fans are not being manipulated or punished for their loyalty. Everything is a choice.

Other bands I like offer early entry. It doesn't cause the disappointment for those who didn't purchase the VIP package that you think it will. Some early entry people are more concerned with loading up on drinks at the bar up until the band plays and don't go directly to the front row. Some people might prefer standing elsewhere. Not only that, some venues screw it up for everyone because they have their own early entry deals or else keep early entry people in line so long that they let them in at the same time as the non-VIP people.

The threat of NOT having front row is a reality at every general admission show you go to whether these packages are offered or not. Just because someone lines up 6 hours ahead of time doesn't mean they're guaranteed a spot in front of the stage. One day, a group may line up 5 minutes ahead of them and snag the prized spots.

I'm not dismissing the strong feelings about early entry. But at this point Brian already stated they've nixed the idea so there's no point in being scared about it anymore.

Brian in the Q&A posted last night wrote:

For one, we're not including early entry.

There should be a sense of relief if that was what was bothering you the most.

If I look at the responses on twitter there are many interested in such special packages. Curious what the poll results will be.

http://www.altpress.com/the_ap_poll

enola wrote:

If I look at the responses on twitter there are many interested in such special packages. Curious what the poll results will be.

http://www.altpress.com/the_ap_poll

I think they're asking the wrong question. "why should bands offer these packages?" tells you less than "what would make this kind of package worth the extra money?"

I have finally caught up on this thread. While I welcome initiatives by the band, I do wish they would sound people out, before launching into stuff like this and then facing a backlash. It's not as if they haven't got a ready made 'panel' for this.

NeverTrustAJunkie wrote:

"and to then ask them to open their wallet more"

"Gaslight is notorious for milking fans for every dollar they can"

They're not asking fans to do anything. They offer experiences/bundles/merch that you have the choice not to purchase.


"For those that go to ten shows a tour I can see why they would cringe at the expense but then again do they need the pre show for every show they go to."
Agreed.

Since you pulled a quote from my response - I agree with you that no one is requiring fans to purchase the package, obviously. But yes, they if they communicate and market an experience that costs money, they are asking you to pay for that experience. They're not holding a gun to anyone's head, of course.

My response was more the timing, as I said. Apologizing to your most hardcore fans for a less than satisfactory experience, and then announcing an initiative that is most likely going to appeal primarily to those hardcore fans at a significant cost seemed like a bizarre way to follow through on that apology.

USD$125 is about $160 Singapore dollars...

Most of the bands who travel to my country charge about $180 for a main area ticket. And I can't even complain to anyone about it.

I've never seen Gaslight Anthem but i'll pay up to $300 if they come here. :-(

I finally caught up with this, and thought I'd chime in.

I find it a tad ridiculous that people jumped to conclusions so quickly. Every venue is a little different and every crowd/show is a little different. Why not let them give it a chance and see how it actually turns out by getting real feedback from shows, then go from there? After all, if you truly enjoy all Gaslight Anthem's albums, then you can't be that opposed to trying new things?

It's also unfair to assume people who have money>time aren't worthy enough fans as those who have time>money.

I just think about all the huge Gaslight fans who pour money out on this band. Whether it's having a copy of all the different albums, or paying $300 on eBay for a rare vinyl, or pre-order packages, or fan club memberships or tickets for multiple tour dates... so why are we assuming that the people who are willing to throw down big money for one of these pre-concert packages is someone who isn't a fan?

And I guess I didn't see where Gaslight said specific tracks would only be played at sound checks or never played again... but I have to be honest, comparing the pre-Handwritten to the post-Handwritten shows, I would be happy to pay extra money if I could get the smaller show vibe back, and it seemed like maybe that was what the band was going for with this idea -- A way to give fans (as well as themselves) a smaller show experience on a wider scale.

CutToRibbons wrote:

I finally caught up with this, and thought I'd chime in.

I find it a tad ridiculous that people jumped to conclusions so quickly. Every venue is a little different and every crowd/show is a little different. Why not let them give it a chance and see how it actually turns out by getting real feedback from shows, then go from there? After all, if you truly enjoy all Gaslight Anthem's albums, then you can't be that opposed to trying new things?

It's also unfair to assume people who have money>time aren't worthy enough fans as those who have time>money.  

I just think about all the huge Gaslight fans who pour money out on this band. Whether it's having a copy of all the different albums, or paying $300 on eBay for a rare vinyl, or pre-order packages, or fan club memberships or tickets for multiple tour dates... so why are we assuming that the people who are willing to throw down big money for one of these pre-concert packages is someone who isn't a fan?

And I guess I didn't see where Gaslight said specific tracks would only be played at sound checks or never played again... but I have to be honest, comparing the pre-Handwritten to the post-Handwritten shows, I would be happy to pay extra money if I could get the smaller show vibe back, and it seemed like maybe that was what the band was going for with this idea -- A way to give fans (as well as themselves) a smaller show experience on a wider scale.

I couldn't agree more with what you said above! Especially the part of jumping into the discussion and judging the offer too quickly. And the part about the fan classification. I don't think there is just one definition for a Gaslight fan - even the hugest fans have different ways of showing their support for the band, of which you already mentioned some in your post. No matter if it is through time or money or in some cases even both, in the end we're all in this game because we love this band and their music, right?

CutToRibbons wrote:

I find it a tad ridiculous that people jumped to conclusions so quickly. Every venue is a little different and every crowd/show is a little different. Why not let them give it a chance and see how it actually turns out by getting real feedback from shows, then go from there? After all, if you truly enjoy all Gaslight Anthem's albums, then you can't be that opposed to trying new things?

I don't understand why those who objected to the pre-show package are "ridiculous" but there's no similar criticism of the band.  They rolled out something that they (admittedly) didn't think out, yet somehow they aren't getting the criticism here.

A just-wait-and-see approach is misguided.  What if you live in D.C. and the show you go to is the first show of the tour?

Finally, one's enjoyment of Gaslight's albums has absolutely no effect on whether the pre-show packages were good or not.

Tried reading through all this, but just to be clear, what all was included before it was pulled? Just getting to watch soundcheck and early entry?

Preshow package is online again with slight adaptations.

$95
no early entry
30% discount for 45rpm members
30% discount if you buy more than one package, starting from the 2nd package

http://tgapreshowpackage.com/

Dear Friends of The Gaslight Anthem,
Thank you all for your comments, opinions and wishes last week upon our launch of the first ever Gaslight Pre-Show Package for all of our North American and European Fall tour dates. We learned a lot about what was most important to all of you, for instance, we are thankful and realize a number of our fans wait a long time before each show for first entrance to get that great spot up front.
That being said, we would ideally like to provide the best experiences for every sort of our fans. We had done research previously and felt a pre-show experience was something really nice which some fans would really enjoy. So, now that we have reviewed and considered all of the comments which some of you expressed online last week, we are ready to re-launch the Pre-Show Package at a lower price and excluding early entry.
Still included as part of this new Gaslight Pre-Show Package, we have designed an intimate soundcheck performance for each evening, and Pre-Show Package fans will then receive a download link of the songs you hear at the soundcheck performance!


Here is what we’ve come up with—the 'new & improved' GASLIGHT PRE-SHOW PACKAGE costing $95 and including the following (show tickets must be bought separately):
Attendance to special Pre-Show soundcheck intimate performance by The Gaslight Anthem
Exclusive private pre-show merchandise shopping
Download code to for Pre-Show Package attendees to download Gaslight Pre-Show soundcheck
Commemorative Souvenir exclusive ‘The Gaslight Anthem’ GET HURT Tour Laminate and Lanyard
The Gaslight Anthem’ GET HURT "Disposable Camera” (to take photos during the Gaslight Pre-Show soundcheck performance--please do not film soundcheck)


ONE lucky winner will receive photo pass which entitles you access to the photo pit to take photos during the show

*All physical items will be given out at the pre-show Soundcheck performance. After the pre-show Soundcheck hang out is over, all Pre-Show Package holders will be escorted out of the venue to join all other fans.

*ALL current members of the 45 RPM Club will receive a 30% DISCOUNT to the Gaslight Pre-Show Package (a savings of more than their Club subscription price!)

*ALL fans buying more than one Pre-Show Package will receive a 30% DISCOUNT on any additional Pre-Show Packages, more than 1, bought by the same person/credit card, lowering the average price paid per Pre-Show Package as reflected by the numbers above. In other words, if you are purchasing two Pre-Show Packages, the first Pre-Show Package purchased is $95, the second package is $66.50 (30% discount) totaling $161.50.

Anyone know how to access the 45 RPM Club discount (was this info released last time around?) and if it can be used in conjunction with the multi-purchase discount?

We're going to try this again? Ok.

Is there any info on what time these soundchecks start? PNC is in the middle of fucking nowhere and I'm not sure how early I can get there.

Chris

almost thinking of selling my actual show tickets and just going to the pre-show instead. because im old staying out late on a tuesday night is hard

cmigs wrote:

Is there any info on what time these soundchecks start? PNC is in the middle of fucking nowhere and I'm not sure how early I can get there.

Chris

You probably get it when you buy the package.

markbarlow wrote:

Anyone know how to access the 45 RPM Club discount (was this info released last time around?) and if it can be used in conjunction with the multi-purchase discount?

Waiting for this info as well....

bootime wrote:

markbarlow wrote:

Anyone know how to access the 45 RPM Club discount (was this info released last time around?) and if it can be used in conjunction with the multi-purchase discount?

Waiting for this info as well....

This I am definitely waiting for as I'll buy them.

still think its a dumb exploitative idea, but I like the guys in Gaslight so if want to take $100 from their rich fans who have more money than common sense ($100 for a single concert? lol) they more power to them I guess

Fan club discount applies to total order. You get the bulk discount.