So- having made it only to the outer room on Friday, Saturday night I was determined to get in that room! We arrived at the Rio around midnight and 2 people were already standing waiting. One of them had a general admission wristband so I can only assume people were taking turns waiting on line and being at the main show. The restaurant itself closes down between 11-12, not to re-open until they're ready to start filling up the aftershow room. We went off to the roulette table nearby where if standing you can still see the outside of the restaurant. While gambling away, (31,21 & 7 were hitting now & then ), I kept a close eye on the line building. By 1:30, it was time. Turned out he started the main show earlier and let out earlier as well. My friend- the angel she is- dutifully got on line for us while I played out my chips, waited for our last round of "free" drinks to arrive, ran to the restroom. By the time I got back to her, the line had filled up quite a bit behind us and she was chatting away with our "neighbors". Met a lot of really great people on line, u know who u r! I have to say I found it funny that there are many like me- Prince die-hards who have friends they "drag" along for the ride. I guess that says something about us- our "uniqueness" maybe? Also, that we have wonderful friends!! One funny point was when my friend told me she was talking to another "friend of a Prince fan" and they were going off about "who does he think he is anyway" and the like! Plenty of people there who went through some of the same stress planning their trip for that weekend due to the late release of the show tickets.
As some have already posted, the line does start to bulge a bit at the front as the show lets out and people come to join to their already waiting friends on line. Don't wait too late to grab your spot! I'm so completely thrilled with my experience and don't want to complain about anything but have to agree that they should put a limit on that somehow. 2 should be the max- meaning at least one person on line for the duration, they could get someone to give out wristbands as you arrive on line or something of that sort. It seems somewhat unfair for 5 or more to come out late to one person holding a spot. Makes it hard for others to judge their spot properly as well- why wait for 3 hours for nothing. I was watching really closely all night and yet we ended up being one of the last sets seated. Anyway- eventually the cash register comes out and people start getting in- slowly. Have cash on hand for the cover but you can use credit cards inside. I have no idea why the line moves so slow at this point other than that maybe they give the servers a chance to take drink orders before more pile in. The general consensus is that the room normally holds about 50 but they pack in around 70 for the aftershow. No food- I don't see how they ever served it anyway. It took forever to get our first round of drinks and you see how tough it is for them to get around in there between the dark, the crowd, the musicians. During one of Shelby's songs, I saw her directly hand signal a waitress to say, "it's okay, come on through"... So maybe they've been able to push in some more seats without trying to serve food as well. Anyway- so we get into the room and are led to the long table on the far side. I'm immediately aware that our seats put me about two feet from Prince's chair since I saw where he sat the previous night!! As far as I could tell, his was the only reserved table. All the musicians and I can only assume other Prince camp people were out in the atrium behind the room. What appeared to be a bodyguard was at that door all night. We were probably only there about 10 mins when the band started. He gave a great intro about what Prince was looking to do here- real music, by real musicians, etc. Then before I knew it, there he was!! My friend saw him enter from the kitchen behind us and gave me a poke. I knew better than to turn around, and could smell him coming! BTW, I've seen comments about how great he smells when you get nearby. It's true. However, I don't think it's his cologne per se but the insence that probably burns wherever he is. They burn it non-stop at the club so I think its reasonable to assume he has it burning off stage, dressing rooms, wherever and it will seep into your clothes if around it long enough. I bought some at the 3121 store and have been burning it here at home- I think he smells most like the purple wrapped one called Play in the Sunshine. Anyway- I digress...So there he is, in RED- which has always been my favorite color on him- well one of my top ones ! He sits down about 2 feet to my forward diagonal, and I try my best not to stare!!!! Luckily for me, I was behind him enough for him not to notice, but it sure did suddenly make sense for that dark room!!! There were a couple of girls sitting with him but I have no clue who they were. He sat for only a few minutes, nodding his head to the music, some clapping and then he was UP!! I saw him signal one of the girls at his table for her to move into his seat- where she could see better I assume? He pretty much played non-stop for the next hour. It was the most unbelieveably wonderful, phenomenal thing I have ever experienced in my life. If I wasn't the mother of a young child, I'd be saying "kill me now" because it ain't going to get any better than that night. Lots of amazing solos, some bits of talking, a few times at the end of a song he'd pretend to "cry". You could see what a great mood he was in and how relaxed. He brought Shelby out for 2 songs I think, then he brought her out again later, rousing her from the atrium- I can't recall but believe I've seen the actual songs she did posted elsewhere- my re-collection is that she did 2 of the same songs from fri's main show. They did Superstition which seems to be an aftershow standard now. He got behind the piano and had the room sing How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore which felt so great! At one point, I noticed him right next to one of my newly made friends who was seated on the opposite side of the room, and could see his face was right in line with Prince's hand on the guitar strings- I'm talking right in his face! I felt so excited for him, and so utterly happy for all of us in that room. Eventually Prince had the room dancing, right there next to him. It was amazing how great it sounded in there. The people in front of us left by 5 (r u kidding me?) and we moved right up (we had been about 4 seats back). My friend loves to dance so she was right in there, dancing away a couple of inches from the horns. At one point, Prince was in an incredible groove and made full on eye contact with her, with a grin! I found that if I thought he was looking at me, I had to look away after a few seconds. She later told me she felt the same way, and mind you she's not really a fan- but OH THOSE EYES!!! When it was getting towards 5:15, he walked back over to the table, but you could tell he wanted to keep going. He tapped the bongos (under his table) for a second and then went to grab the bass. Now I'm not entirely sure what was happening here, but he was bent over messing with it- I'm not sure if there was a tuning issue, string or what- but he messed with it on the floor for a minute. And btw, at this point, my friend turns back to me and says "I'm touching his ass right now!" She meant accidently grazed as he bent over- he actually was bumping into her, but it was crazy none the less! I of course, being the good "fam" I am, immediately told her to "back up, give him some room" but she's taller than me by a few inches so I think I also just wanted to be able see past her down to him! He eventually moved back over in front of the band for a short time but then was done. As he came back past our table I was able to shake his hand (touching Prince now for the second day in a row !) and say,"thank you, thank you". My friend got out something along the lines of "awesome show, thank you". He continued to sort of pace around near the atrium door for a few minutes- as I said, I think he would have liked to keep going. But alas- that was it....we stood around just to be sure and within about 5 minutes saw him come through hallway from the back of the atrium and out through the kitchen door. It was over...Truly the most amazing night of my life.

On a final note, I must say this...yes, it was very stressful getting this trip put together, I'm glad those going in coming weeks don't have that worry. I had a lot to say prior to getting out there and did some of the first real complaining I've done in 23 years of being a fan. I take it all back!!! As far as I'm concerned, he can "abuse" us (well me anyway) all he wants from here on out. What other musician, of his stature and skill, puts on things like this for their fans? This wasn't a room full of celebs- this was for US. What artist does aftershows practically every single night after a concert? And in this case with the main show, dinner in a "Prince" restaurant, etc. it was the ultimate Prince package. Pricey- yes, but what isn't these days? I've used my credit cards for worse things than this! Again, I encourage anyone on the fence to go, you won't be disappointed.
And if I could, I would simply tell Prince again....thank you, thank you, thank you....and not only for this past weekend but for all the music has meant to me for so much of my life...
[Edited 1/24/07 22:24pm]

GREAT report thanks so much for sharing! I am also going back and charging it all, I don't care because it just doesn't get better than Prince

GREAT REPORT !!!!!

YEAH!!! So he'z been doin aftershowz each nite? I' hope n pray I have the XPERIENCE u did I'm so glad u had fun girl...he'z ALWAYZ worth it..he makez u totally 4get about all of the STRESS (that he causes) n all of the $$$$ 2. I love him n RED 2 I can't stand it when he'z wearin it ...he'z HOTT...n I KNOW what u mean about his EYEZ ...anywayz I'm glad u had a BLAST...later on 0)+>

solandsky said:

Thank you!! I hope you do 2!!!! and if you're only going to try and make the aftershow one night- I'd put my bet on Saturday being the better of the 2- but don't quote me because you never can tell with Prince!! I just figure on friday's he's still got Sat. in front of him, once it's sat. he's got the rest of the week off. please share your report when u get back! I can't wait to hear about the upcoming shows and aftershows. I'll be depressed but I'll try and live vicariously thru others for the next couple of months!

How much did they charge for the after show?

CarrieLee said:

$50 cover per person plus a $20 drink minimum. see also part 1 here: http://www.prince.org/msg/12/215363
[Edited 2/11/07 21:55pm]