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Forums > Fan Gatherings > Your experience seeing Prince perform at Paisley Park.
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Thread started 08/28/17 6:18pm

calhounlovejoy

Your experience seeing Prince perform at Paisley Park.

I'm just curious about any good stories of being at Paisley Park before Prince passed. I never had the chance to see him and would love to hear about your experience.
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Reply #1 posted 08/28/17 8:02pm

dreamer5

I moved to mpls in 1994 and made a quick stop at the NPG Store. A man who worked there asked if I wanted to be put on the "list" for late night parties. It started as home phone calls and then emails and online websites. I've seen him around town at clubs, Glam Slam and Paisley Park more times than I can remember. Was in the audience when he took us all out to the movies at 3 am and went to his 1999 garage sale:) My last concert was in fall of 2015. I was hooked after the first show and it became a bit of an obsessive escapism to get to see him play at Paisley Park. You'd wait in line for hours based on vague innuendo indicating he "may" play. Sometimes you went home disappointed after waiting in line for hours, but when the time came that he did play it was worth the sore feet and limping to the car. 3 minute songs turned into 30 minutes of impromptu genius. It was his own Utopia where every color, age, socioeconomic background came together in love. This is not a cheesy concept he used to promote or sell a record, it was real.

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Reply #2 posted 08/29/17 5:42am

calhounlovejoy

dreamer5 said:

I moved to mpls in 1994 and made a quick stop at the NPG Store. A man who worked there asked if I wanted to be put on the "list" for late night parties. It started as home phone calls and then emails and online websites. I've seen him around town at clubs, Glam Slam and Paisley Park more times than I can remember. Was in the audience when he took us all out to the movies at 3 am and went to his 1999 garage sale:) My last concert was in fall of 2015. I was hooked after the first show and it became a bit of an obsessive escapism to get to see him play at Paisley Park. You'd wait in line for hours based on vague innuendo indicating he "may" play. Sometimes you went home disappointed after waiting in line for hours, but when the time came that he did play it was worth the sore feet and limping to the car. 3 minute songs turned into 30 minutes of impromptu genius. It was his own Utopia where every color, age, socioeconomic background came together in love. This is not a cheesy concept he used to promote or sell a record, it was real.




Thank you so much. That was awesome!
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Reply #3 posted 08/29/17 1:37pm

rickyprynce

dreamer5 said:

I moved to mpls in 1994 and made a quick stop at the NPG Store. A man who worked there asked if I wanted to be put on the "list" for late night parties. It started as home phone calls and then emails and online websites. I've seen him around town at clubs, Glam Slam and Paisley Park more times than I can remember. Was in the audience when he took us all out to the movies at 3 am and went to his 1999 garage sale:) My last concert was in fall of 2015. I was hooked after the first show and it became a bit of an obsessive escapism to get to see him play at Paisley Park. You'd wait in line for hours based on vague innuendo indicating he "may" play. Sometimes you went home disappointed after waiting in line for hours, but when the time came that he did play it was worth the sore feet and limping to the car. 3 minute songs turned into 30 minutes of impromptu genius. It was his own Utopia where every color, age, socioeconomic background came together in love. This is not a cheesy concept he used to promote or sell a record, it was real.

Nice Share! Thank U...I was there in 2002 (Xenophobia) when he invited everyone to the movies. LOL Only Prince.... great memories..made my day 2 day

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Reply #4 posted 09/02/17 7:23pm

cantstop

Hello, first time posting but I've been creepn the org for years wink! I've been a Prince fan/friend since the 80s. When I moved to mpls in 96, I had no idea I'd get the chance to visit paisley park. My first time of many was a benefit show for the mayor. I'll never forget seeing paisley park at night for the first time. The skylights were glowing purple, along with a purple spot lights ... it gave me the chills. Getting inside the door hits you hard, the smell of nag champa incense and sounds of some killer remix or bootleg you swore only you had. The first song I ever heard prince play live (and right in front of my face) was joy in repetition. I honestly had to wipe tears. I would often drive to paisley on a Friday or sat night at midnight or so. Sometimes there would be a dozen people standing outside the fence, sometimes hundreds. They might let you in, they might not. Some nights when you got in it was hours of dancing to a dj playing Prince or Prince type music. I'm talking til 4 or 5 am. Some nights Prince would come outta the shadows and pop up on stage. It might be midnight, it might be 2 am. Seems like he'd always play till dawn.... more to come
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Reply #5 posted 09/05/17 9:13am

motherfunka

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cantstop said:

Hello, first time posting but I've been creepn the org for years wink! I've been a Prince fan/friend since the 80s. When I moved to mpls in 96, I had no idea I'd get the chance to visit paisley park. My first time of many was a benefit show for the mayor. I'll never forget seeing paisley park at night for the first time. The skylights were glowing purple, along with a purple spot lights ... it gave me the chills. Getting inside the door hits you hard, the smell of nag champa incense and sounds of some killer remix or bootleg you swore only you had. The first song I ever heard prince play live (and right in front of my face) was joy in repetition. I honestly had to wipe tears. I would often drive to paisley on a Friday or sat night at midnight or so. Sometimes there would be a dozen people standing outside the fence, sometimes hundreds. They might let you in, they might not. Some nights when you got in it was hours of dancing to a dj playing Prince or Prince type music. I'm talking til 4 or 5 am. Some nights Prince would come outta the shadows and pop up on stage. It might be midnight, it might be 2 am. Seems like he'd always play till dawn.... more to come

I was at that show too! biggrin It was $100. I recently read a story where CJ bought a ticket and was asked to leave and escorted out by security. She said she told them she wanted her money back and the security guy pulled out a $100 and handed it to her. I also remember he played another free show later that night.

TRUE BLUE
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Reply #6 posted 09/05/17 5:33pm

cantstop

Nice! Most of the time paisley had a 5 dollar "donation" to get in. It generally had the same set up when you got in. Entry was usually where the merchandise room is now. Always a security guy or two when you first walk in. If I remember right, you would get a wand or metal detector pat down. There was no booze or smoking, and usually a couple snack bowls and some bottled water available. I would always get pumped when you would see the main stage set up with instruments, which meant Prince MIGHT play. While dancing, I would scan every inch of the room hoping to peep Prince somewhere. One night he was standing in a dark corner by the main room entry. I thought "here's my chance, don't blow this. Just walk up and say something cool." I built up the balls and headed that direction. I got 5 ft away, Prince turned away, and a security dude stepped in front of me sad hahaha
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