I've been watching the forums for about a month now and I finally signed up. You all are hilarious! I'm going on the 31st. I am confused about the aftershow. How do I buy the $50.00 one? Am I guaranteed to get in if I do get one? I know you all help us newbees out, but watching the threads, I'm still confused???

It seems to be a fluid situation, with the criteria of who gets in changing all the time.
I just read in another thread and experienced 3121 goer having problems.

keep checking in.

For one, there may or may not be an aftershow, there's no particular guarantee. For two, Prince may not even play, at a recent one he played for only 10 or 20 minutes before leaving, leaving the band to play lots of jazz jams. For three, you may not have a view of the band, from what I've read there are 2 rooms at the restaurant where the aftershows happen and if you don't get into the first room you don't really have a view.

From what I've read, you have to get in line early for the restaurant aftershow, even leaving the main concert before it is finished. But even then there may be a queue, and there are lots of guests who may get let in ahead of the queue. It's all rather messy unfortunately.

I have not been personally, but this is what I've gathered from reading many reports.

It seems some people who have purchased the expensive VIP (meal+ticket+table) option have been buying tickets in advance for the aftershow when having their meal. From a recent report:

There seems to be more and more people on the "VIP" list each week. Those we've talked to have nothing to do with Prince or his record people or the Rio at all. Every single one we've spoken to bought their wristbands during dinner through their waiter or the manager lady. I think it's so wrong!!! I can't afford to eat there by the time I've bought my flight and hotel and show ticket, I also thought that for $50, Prince could have played more than one song at the 3/17 aftershow.
[Edited 3/20/07 5:25am]

Thanks for the help! I'll just try my luck. I'm going on the 31st so it may be impossible but at least I'll see P in concert!

We left the show early on Sat. to get in line for the aftershow. So you do have to miss the encores--I would say not worth it to go to the aftershow! They then figure how many VIP"S are going in and then sell wristbands for $50 for the ones standing in line. The list of VIP's was long--but we did get in to the aftershow. We sat in a booth in back and as cool as it was to be in a small room like that it was SO DARK we could not even see Prince! Just his shadow! Could not see a thing. Why didn't they have a few more lights on? Not worth $50 to "hear" him do a few songs in the dark. JMHO!