I e-mailed NPGMC about soundcheck entry for NPGMC members who aren't in a position to pay a further $125. The reply came in about 5 minutes.
Here's the conversation:


High

It has come to my attention that I would only be able to get into a soundcheck with a laminate from the pre-sale tickets, and all pre-sale tickets are $125. When I renewed my membership to the NPGMC, it was not clearly displayed anywhere in the renewal material that I would need to buy the $125 tickets for the members-only perks. In fact, I read several times that members were allowed into the soundchecks from presenting ID matching a list of all NPGMC members.

I cannot afford the $125 tickets, and I will be buying a $50 ticket for any shows in my area. Having already paid $100 for membership (largely with the tour perks in mind) I deserve to be able to enter for the soundcheck as other members have, and then find my seat for the show itself. One option to have this succeed would be to have a certain number of $50 tickets in the pre-sale also. I do not want to miss this tour, and if I go to a show but I'm not allowed into the soundcheck, I doubt I will renew my membership again next year.

I have read several reports of people being very happy paying this money, so I don't expect I'm in the majority, but I want my voice to be heard. I am a loyal fam of Prince, and I definitely want to see a soundcheck, but at $50 for the show and $75 for the extras, I will stick with the $50 - that way I can help a friend to come also and introduce someone new to the music of Prince and the NPG.



The NPGMC replied:

High

No, u can only attend the soundcheck with a presale concert pass. We will keep changing the concert procedures until we feel it suits r needs best. There may b shows were don't sell any tickets at $50. The ticket prices are always up 2 the per4mers. All we promise is that u will b able 2 buy tickets 2 days ahead of the public. Things like soundchecks and laminates r all bonuses we didn't even have at all last year and r provided at no additional cost.

This is pure bullshit and someone ought to ask/tell Prince about this at one of the soundchecks. Evidently it won't be this person; which is too bad.

and your response is to post it here and try and whip up some "F*** THEM!" steam? why don't you email them back instead? though it is pretty clear.

xenophobia said:

I wanted to get this on the .org because I've been confused about the situation reading other posts, and this kind of information should be available. I'm not really interested in "F*** THEM!" steam. If enough people are in a similar situation, though, they may take note. I'm writing a school curriculum on Gandhi right now - I know about nonviolent change...

booyah said:

I tried for 4 days to convince the NPGMC that their new policy was unfair, but they seemed completely unwilling to yield. As far as I'm concerned, any paying member of the club should be granted access to these perks. This seems like a case of "bait and switch." The Club tells you that if you join, you can access soundchecks and afterparties, then they change the rules so that only members with the most expensive tickets can do so. The Club seems to be more of a membership drive than a fan club to me. There are several quick solutions to this problem, but they've made it clear that they would like to milk as much money as possible out of the loyal dedicated fans like ourselves