Recently I read a BBC report into the growing practice of bands offering fans access to exclusive events, items and/or meet-and-greet opportunities in return for cash. Supporters claim fans can get closer to their heroes and create a new revenue stream in an era when live music is now more lucrative than its recorded counterpart. Others may understandably assert that charging loyal fans even more money for sometimes very little in return is wrong, especially given how fans arguably already finance an act's career.
But several years ago, as I planned to buy tickets to see the band James for the umpteenth time as a birthday celebration for myself and my mate (we were born on the same day); I also decided to throw caution to the wind and pay a premium to also gain access to the exclusive soundcheck and Q&A session a couple of hours prior to the concert itself. This offer is also mentioned in the BBC report.
So for the princely sum of £75 each, roughly double the price of the gig ticket alone, we received:
1. An exclusive lanyard and James pen drive (handed to us by the teenage son of band member Saul Davies)
2. Access to the exclusive 30-minute soundcheck and Q&A session with around 50 other people prior to the concert.
At the Q&A, attendees were encouraged to ask the band questions from the floor, as young Master Davies raced around handing individuals the radio mic. The session was entertaining and I certainly didn't feel like I'd been fleeced. The band were very forthcoming, answered questions fully and played some great songs, as well as work-in-progress ideas that they'd been rehearsing.
As the band were getting ready to leave, they asked if anyone had a final question. As someone else had already asked my prepared question, on a whim I decided to ask the band why they never included the 1988 track 'Burned' in their live sets. It featured on a limited-edition live album from 1989 but I had never heard it anywhere else ever. Band member Saul Davies instantly agreed that it was a great track and that the band should re-record it. At this point, following a little tune-up and a reminder from me that the song was in the key of D and that I could play the piano part if needed (cringeworthy, I know); James proceeded to play 'Burned', with singer Tim Booth reading the lyrics off his mobile phone. With thanks from other fans afterwards, and with this final song even getting a mention in the review of the gig in the Manchester Evening News; I had, to my mind, been given the gift that money simply could not buy.
My overall point here is that under normal circumstances, regardless of how much you pay, you are not forging any kind of personal connection with your favourite band. You will remember the experience in the morning; they won't. That said, if you'd like the opportunity, however brief, to at least shake hands and let your heroes know that their music has helped or inspired you for years, I would try one or all of the following tactics:
1. Choose a venue with a small capacity. You've more chance of meeting your idol after a gig at a provincial arts centre than you have at a London theatre or arena.
2. Choose an artist/band at an early stage in their career or at the very end. International superstars will be too busy to see you.
3. If the performer has promised to sign CDs in the foyer afterwards, queue up and buy one.
4. Queue up at the stage door after the gig and hope for the best!
The best experiences between artists and their fans will always be the chance meetings or the fan-driven initiatives to persuade a band to help them raise money for a charitable cause. Any paid-for meeting will, in most cases, be nothing more than a fleeting, impersonal encounter to fulfil a transaction.
