Paid meet & greets?

[Jenina 15,103]

34 minutes ago, SamanthaC said:

The biggest thing I noticed in this is that it should be paid not payed.  

I understand the point being made, but what other choice is there? Random numbers and if your number is called you get to go backstage?  I understand Gaga did this in her beginning stages, but how would they control the masses?

Back like 10 years ago I went to a Miley Cyrus and they basically did a raffle for who was able to go backstage and meet her. I mean I guess it was the closest to "fair" they could get, but people still were super upset and  tried to take raffle tickets from other people to have a greater chance.

[SharkmanthaC 114,731]

2 minutes ago, Jenina said:

Back like 10 years ago I went to a Miley Cyrus and they basically did a raffle for who was able to go backstage and meet her. I mean I guess it was the closest to "fair" they could get, but people still were super upset and  tried to take raffle tickets from other people to have a greater chance.

I can imagine the chaos. 

[RAMROD 111,929]

1 minute ago, Sid said:

Like I've been saying, it's not like I was suggesting having some free-for-all disaster. 

Have the artist or tour staff pick a few lucky people out of the crowd, where they can meet in a controlled space after the show. That way they have time to chat for a bit, take some candid/professional photos, and still be done in 1/16th of the time a paid m&g would take. 

No matter how you set it up, not everyone is going to be able to meet their fave artist. I just don't think that monetizing it is the end-all solution. 

I'm assuming we're talking about Gagz...i hate to be a downer but my ex paid a boatload of money to 'meet' her on JWT and got to stand in a room with her for 15 seconds, no 'meeting' or words spoken. 

Seems like when labels make artists do these endless m&g photos one after another, it really ruins the vibe for both the artist and the fan 

The artRAVe M&G was swell imho.  The JWT a bit all over the place in the beginning, but she got to talk with fans at later dates in the end.

[Borislshere 53,136]

2 minutes ago, Sid said:

Like I've been saying, it's not like I was suggesting having some free-for-all disaster. 

Have the artist or tour staff pick a few lucky people out of the crowd, where they can meet in a controlled space after the show. That way they have time to chat for a bit, take some candid/professional photos, and still be done in 1/16th of the time a paid m&g would take. 

No matter how you set it up, not everyone is going to be able to meet their fave artist. I just don't think that monetizing it is the end-all solution. 

Then people would complain that that's unfair. At the end of the day, it's better to have the option open for all regardless of the price than to pick a select few at random. Even if you can't afford it, you still have the option available to you. 

[Glamourpuss 29,062]

I agree with him tbh and I've paid for a meet and greet. 

[Letmelivemylife 8,715]

11 hours ago, Borislshere said:

If it were free, the artist would never get out the venue. The high prices make it so the artist can still meet the fans while controlling how many people they meet. It sucks everyone can't meet their faves but that's just how it is. Save up. 

Exactly. 

[Zander 14,913]

I would never ever pay for a meet and greet. All that money for hardly any time? No thank you. If I were to meet an artist I’d rather it be in an organic way like by chance if I was out and about somewhere. 

They do it because they can and know people will pay $$$ easily to meet their fav. Capitalising on obsession.

[gagaisitalian 3,573]

I've always thought that if artists just publicize that they'll donate 20% of the earnings of a VIP package (no matter what it comes with), that it somewhat validates allowing VIP packages.

If I was some huge touring artist and someone wanted to pay $1,000 to meet me. Then sure, but $200 of each package is going to the local animal shelter. Or something like that. The other $800 can go to the security and vip staff as well as renting the correct space.

In my opinion, Taylor Swift is the only pop star doing meet and greets right. Picking 50 random people from the crowd each night and not only letting them meeting her for free, but she feeds them, lets them hang out in a cool, decorated area. She is a queen in terms of fan interaction. Gaga used to do this, but would only pick less than 20 people (and now she's charging 2k in Vegas so she is just as bad as any other greedy pop star).

Like, these pop girls are millionaires for life. They don't need an extra 10k each night from VIP packages.

[Sid 6,755]

6 minutes ago, gagaisitalian said:

Picking 50 random people from the crowd each night and not only letting them meeting her for free, but she feeds them, lets them hang out in a cool, decorated area. She is a queen in terms of fan interaction.

Yep, I don't get why so many people seem to think this would never work or would get backlash 

[gumzy3000 7,544]

It's 100% selfish and greedy. This band is completely correct. They are MONETIZING human connection. That is scary. I understand maybe if you are a small artist... let's say if you are like Ava Max then sure. You are new and you need money and you need that publicity and fan connection. But if you are a huge and famous artist, it is selfish and greedy. I am talking Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Halsey level. They should be grateful and meet their fans for free... they shouldn't seek money for it because they already have so much and because they are already established. I am not saying this should be forced to meet fans... they should if they want to. They should just do a lottery system or something for those fans who want to. Not everyone can afford to do so and that is unfair.

I forgot which artist (I am thinking it is Billy Joel) but he always reserves a couple of seats in the front of the stage in his concerts and he does this so that he can bring some people who are sitting all the way in the back to the front... because he knows some people simply can not afford it no matter what. That is called respect and humility. 

I am not blaming Gaga for her meet and greets, we honestly do not know if it's mostly her decision or her labels/managers but I highly doubt she has bad intentions in this... after all, she does say "MUSIC not the BLING"