Despite some early problems getting into the soundcheck everything worked out fine. The soundcheck was great, Prince clearly relaxed, and the full concert outstanding. Only problem was the aftershow. I was told it was at the Marquee but when I got there at 11.30 it was sold out. Uppity jobsworth on the door wouldn't even discuss the issue of entrance with laminate and it seems that it was just locals queuing up. Did anyone else have any success?
Disappointing end to an otherwise excellent evening.

Did anyone make a note of the full set-list?

The aftershow was strickly laminates + guest only. No one without a laminate was perimeted entry. I jumped straight on the tube after the main show and got to The Marquee at about 11.20pm and got in straight away. I agree the door staff were strict but I guess they had to be. The aftershow was excellent. Prince and the band came on stage at 2am and played for an hour. Mainly jamming and old stuff. He did a full length Sign O the Times, which went down very well.
When the band left the stage at 3am the crowd begged for an encore, but it was not to be. John Blackwell came cack onstage and signed autographs, which was a nice gesture.
9.25am. Just got in. Goodnight!!

Now I'm really hacked off. I had my laminate but she still wouldn't let us in. She told me it was sold out and that was that. Can't believe I missed out, sounds like a great aftershow too.

Everyone got in (eventually) - those without laminates (like me) had to wait until about 1.45, but they did let us in for the Princely sum of £30 just in time to catch a bit of the DJ and then the full set.

Oh...and gawd blimey - Sign O' The Times - I nearly fainted!

The Marquee initally let in only members with BLUE laminates (Saturday) and their guests (all who jad PINK wristbands issued earlier in the day). Sadly, those members who had laminates for the thursday and Friday concerts (Orange and ???) weren't granted priority/free access but were allowed to wait on the offchance there would be space left for fams without laminates.

After it seemd clear that all with blue laminates had been allowed in, the manager told the staff that there as room for 100 extra people. Luckily myself and my friend were about 30th in line, so we got in no problems. £30 on the door, but I would've happily paid £100 just for that hour performance.


Geeman - how the hell did you get to the Marquee by 11:30? The concert had hardly kicked out by then!

I thought the staff at The Marquee handled things very well, but from reading your comments I worry that they didn't have the full information until later in the evening when all the npgmc members turned up with their blue passes.


It's a shame that the marquee didn't just 'hold space' for the right ammount of pink wristbands and let others in earlier (we got in about 1:30am) - npgmc would know how mant laminates/guests there were that night, so it would be really easy to do - and would've meant more money taken over the bar inside! Also all the attendees could have enjoyed the DJ more (how great did "Supercute" sound on that sound system, and the frenetic scratching round the intro to "High" was awasome! Was that DJ Brother Jules?)

I guess Prince wanted to ensure that pass holders got entry first so as to ensure them a good view of the stage, and that's fair enough.

xxx

The Partyman

Sadly I think you may be right, I may have been too early. I actually left the concert after the accoustice encore to get there early as I was told it was first come, first served. I was prepared to miss the end of the concert as I have seen Prince live about 16 times but never made it to an aftershow. Maybe I will have more luck in Dublin on Thursday!

(how great did "Supercute" sound on that sound system, and the frenetic scratching round the intro to "High" was awasome! Was that DJ Brother Jules?)


was the Dj an older black man Bro Jules
or
was he a younger white man, Dj Dudley(from Funky Baldheads)
usually its Dudley touring.

Just to depress you, I got in and I didn't have a laminate. I had one of those pink bands on my wrist from the gig though and that got me in.

The security staff were pretty inconsistent it seems But the venue was very small, so I can appreciate that they went for a first come first served approach. Thank goodness GoldiesParade dragged my ass across the Tube as quick as he did or else we might not have made it in!

was in there for 11.30 and didn't miss the end of the show.

just need to drive a little quickly and be lucky with a parking space I guess

I avoided going on stage (despite wanting to) at the end of the gig because I knew we had to be quick getting to the Marquee. Jumped in a taxi and told the driver there was a tip in it if he drove fast! He went like a madman.

Got in with the blue laminate plus my guest. Right at the front, slightly to the left in front of the keyboards of Renato. It was awesome.

Met some really cool people too!

Gav - are you the really tall guy who had a little tiff with his girlfriend in the Embassy on Friday?

Wish I had been less 'English' and just gone up to people and said "who are you and do you post on the ORG". Nevertheless, I met Joey Coco and a nice Belgian guy on Friday and loads of people Saturday.

Anyone going to the Dawn Experience's club night 30 November?

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[This message was edited Mon Oct 7 3:22:38 PDT 2002 by freakyfeet]

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[This message was edited Mon Oct 7 3:22:59 PDT 2002 by freakyfeet]

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[This message was edited Mon Oct 7 15:08:07 PDT 2002 by jaypotton]

jaypotton said:

Hi Jay - yep that was me but wasn't a tiff luckily.

Her bag went missing with all our cash, credit cards and my passport, this made Sam burst into tears - turned out that someone had moved it and not told anyone - I had security about to start searching the place as well !

Mind you, if I hear "Prince picked me to dance during Peach" from her once more today...

Actually Gav were you the guy running along the queue outside Apollo on Saturday getting everyone in the queue in the right order (ie the number on the tickets)? I never had a chance to say hello, even though I've known you online for bloody years now

We got into the Aftershow just fine, my guest got in for free too.

£30 wow! Happy I had a memeber ticket!

I just posted this elsewhere but apparently some people were using their passes to get into the queue for the aftershow, and then handing them over the barrier so their friends could get in too.

We were innocent victims of this because when we turned up and tried to get in we were refused, because they'd cottoned on to this and assumed I'd been handed the pass over the barrier. Still, I got in eventually and all was cool!

Jaypotton, I must have been standing a few folk behind you in the aftershow...

I'm actually quite surprised to read how many of the orgers were there that I never met! You guys should have come to the Wetherspoons.

ian said:

Yep that was me. The Dutch guys were having major language problems and security were refusing to let ANYONE in until we were in number order so I volunteered.

Before anyone says anything, i was number 124 so I didn't have ANY advantage from doing this. I was row K first night, row F second night and was lucky enough to get row A (to the left side) on Saturday.

Actually I'd say I had a better view on Thursday and Friday, the only advantage on Saturday was that my girlfriend got to be on of the four girls picked out for "Peach" (she now constantly goes on about it and is doing my head in !)

Gav said:

I have a shaved head, but I was wearing a black and grey stripey kangol hat, and purple glasses. You might have spotted me in the queue once or twice.

Anyway I had a chat with your girlfriend in the queue... I was number 132 or something so we weren't far away from ya Anyway thanks for organising that queue stuff it was very cool of you to do that.

And tell your GF she kicked ass on stage

eggy said:

And your guest is very appreciative... as I have already mentioned elsewhere!! Thanks again... Fri/Sat were the best nights of my life... too cool... it doesn't get any better...

Much love 2 "that girl" too (she knows who she is! ) Saturday night was made all the better by her presence...

And peace 2 all the guys in the Wetherspoons... cool meeting u all... hope we all catch up again real soon...

was the Dj an older black man Bro Jules >> hey mauve


c'mon... an older black man? julian is about his 30, so no old, i know him personally - check my profile...

but on the end : does any know now if it was jules (julian white) or the fonky boldhead? duudley?

tell me, i need 2 know that!

also i wonder how it works as a member when u arrive ...
b4 concert.. what do u have 2 bring with (confirmation mail?) and how they handle it? and what do u get then? laminate? vip pass? what? and which time do u recommend 2 arrive (also asking as a member with member tixs 4 frankfurt, berlin and zurich), thxs. 4 helping me out!

Jaypotton - I agree! My friends would NEVER say this but, even though I was dying to say 'Hi' to one and all, I felt quite shy when I got up there. How do we overcome this barrier? Maybe we should start a secret language!

eggy said:

£30??? very expensive! I have to say, the old marquee was far better!
Anyway, the aftershow was soo good!

purplefab said:

The latter I'm afraid, hence the mis-queued records, the constant f**k-ups and the amazing ability to get a crowd dancing and then kill the atmosphere with just a single track !

As much as I enjoyed the weekend, let's help Prince's cronies learn something from the seating/aftershow problems.
On the Saturday, I couldn't take my guest into the Aftershow since too many members of the general public had been let in. The NPGMC KNEW how many members were going to the show; all they had to do was calculate this, reserve that number of places (plus guest) in the Aftershow venue, then allow non-members/guests in AFTER those places had been filled. It was a farce.

Sorry, I meant the Friday then.
I had no problems on the Saturday - apart from NEARLY getting evicted after standing up to a (very large) bouncer! But it disheartens me to hear other Members had problems getting in. It was a fabulous performance (esp 'SOTT').
NPGMC - take note!