The following are cut and pastes of the email dialouge between me and the NPGMC regarding the HOB aftershow. Nothing has been omitted.
It will be quite lengthy but if y'all got a moment or two to comment I would really appreciate it. My emails will be in blue while the responses from the NPGMC will be in black.

High NPGMC.....
Let me start by saying that I attended the ONA show and afterparty in LA on 4/20. Prince was fantabulous as usual!!
I would like to find out what happened with the
House of Blues tickets. I am a premium member and
when I arrived at the HOB, sporting my wristband and laminate, I was told that they have let in all the members they were going to.
They told me in not so uncertain terms that I had to buy a ticket for me and my guest if we were to attend. I tried to explain, that as a member I was to be free while my guest will pay the cover. They said that they were aware of that but I would still have to buy two tickets!! I was genuinely upset. This was sooooo very wrong!!
It wasn't until after we bought the tickets and were inside that I find out that members and their guests
were admitted free of charge just moments before I arrived. How and why did this happen???
I was severly stuck for $50.oo!!!
I would not have minded paying the 5o.oo for my guest, that was understood. However, being an actual member and having to pay $50.00 for my admittance while other members and their guests were admitted free was scandalous.
I am hoping that, perhaps, I might be compensated for the additional charge I was forced to pay.
Even though the other members andtheir guests were admitted sans any payment, I was prepared to pay the $50.00 for 1 ticket but I do respectfully request that I may be refunded the monies I was unjustly charged.
Thank you for your time and cooperation.
Life Sexy u all!
Aannastesia
High

It says on the CONCERTS page that every afterparty will b different because
we have 2 play buy very different rules at different clubs. At the HOB, it
was considered a seperate concert and not an afterparty. they allowed us 2
let in a specific amount of members 4 free, after that, we couldn't let in
anymore. So that is what we did. Like we said, every show is differerent
and we do not guarantee access or cover charge.

PEACE,
NPG Music Club
"...they allowed us 2
let in a specific amount of members 4 free, after that, we couldn't let in
anymore. So that is what we did."
That is not what you did!! You allowed members and their guest free admission while actual members ended up getting stiffed.
It says on your site, "that members will be admitted free of charge while guests will be required to pay cover." That is not how it went down.
Since you were permitted to let in a certain amount of members... why is it that you allowed half of the members' admission tickets to go to non-members??? Especially, knowing that there was a limit to the number of free admissions .... shouldn't the actual members been given priority and shouldn't there have been an effort made to see that the members were taken care of ??? You were well aware of exactly how many actual members were in attendence and it very wrong for you to have givven the free tickets to non-members.
According to your response, it is apparent that you had control over the free admiisions. Why were nonmembers given free tickets while members were forced to pay????
Somebody ducked up..... and there should be a refund made to the members to compensate their loss incurred through no fault of their own.
Thankyou!!
Aannastesia
High

It is what we did and we have told u that EVERY aftershow is
different. Some afterparties, everyone pays. Some afterparties, no one
pays. Some afterparties r considered second concerts and everyone has 2
buy a ticket in advance. There r no strict rules regarding this. As we
said b4r and we r saying again now, EVERY aftershow is different.
Dear NPGMC,

I understand that EVERY aftershow is different.
I do not have a problem with that. I do not have a
problem with "Some afterparties, everyone pays.
Some afterparties r considered second concerts and
everyone has 2 buy a ticket in advance."
Please try to address my problem.
Again, I am saying that this
particular aftershow there were tickets set aside for
members that were wrongfully given to guests.
I don't have a problem with all members having to pay
or no members having to pay...
but it is wrong for some members to be admitted free
while others are required to pay.
Shouldn't all members recieve the same benefits
as every other member?? Of Course!!
Is it right that guests recieve the membership benefits and actual members don't???
Any reasonable person would agree that, NO! of course
it's not right!!!
Whether the aftershow is all pay or no pay is irrelevant,
what is relevent, however, is that all members are
treated equally and fairly. Rather than shouting at
me regarding how aftershows can vary....which has
never even been in question.... I would
very much appreciate it if you would address this
particular scenario directly.
Thank you.

Respectfully,
Aannastesia
High

At a concert, we have a 2 ticket limit 4 members. They can buy one 4 themselves and one 4 a guest. We hold on2 the first 15 rows and sell those in a 2 day presale. The first 15 rows r not a majority of the house, but this is what we have set aside 4 the members. Now if the first 15 rows sell out, that's it. No more. Members plus their guest (if they have one, a lot of people go solo) have bought all the tix. No more tix will b sold, member or not. Now, this particular concert at the HOB was just like that. Exact same model. We understand u r dissappointed that u didn't get there in time 2 get in with the members, but that everyone had a chance u get in and we did what we were able 2 do.
High!
Again, let me say that I am not questioning the "rules"
regarding any concerts, soundchecks, or afterparties.
They seem quite clear to me, and as I said previously,
"the 'rules' are not in question".
In your reply you cited the HOB show as being "The
Exact Same Model" as the concerts. However, that
simply is just not the case.
NPGMC web site states, ever so clearly, that members
will be admitted to afterparties with their laminate and
then goes on to say, and emphasized in bold font no less,
that guests will be required to pay cover. Plain and simple.

I just don't see how y'all can justify giving member entitled
tickets to non-members at the expense of the members!!

The limited number of members tickets set aside for the
members should have been given to the members.
As stated in the agreement, and as any reasonable person
would agree should have been the case.
Even if there were not enough members to use all of the
allotted tickets ....guests should have still been required to
pay cover. That was and is the agreement set forth by
NPGMC.
I agreed to those rules upon registering my
membership....I believe that you agreed to be bound by
your own rules upon acceptance of my membership.

Essentially, I am asking ~
Why were the passes that were intended for actual members given to guests ??

How is it right for guests to enjoy the benefits of membership while
actual members are unfairly forced to pay for something that they were
entitled to as a 'perk' of membership???

I very much feel as though I have been taken advantage
of and that my rights and entitlements as a member have
been negated.
I still believe that some sort of compensation is in order.

Thank you.
Respectfully,
Aannastesia
High

We r only going 2 say this one more time - every afterparty will b different. We could keep sending emales back and forth saying "but wait, it says this..." all year. All we r going 2 do tho is wind up repeating rselves 2 u over and over again.

So, whataya all think??
Hmmmm, is it getting hot in here or did I just ask to be flamed??

..clearly you were treated unfairly...had the club allowed only members in for free this problem could've been avoided i bet...
at the aftershow in dallas the club members got in free, but all guests had to pay...i suspect that would've been the plan here as well...but somebody messed up...
sorry this happened to you...i don't really know what to say about it...it sucks for you tho...
again..sorry...

high
i took the time 2 read ur emails back and 4th 2 the NPGMC i cant believe what im reading! this is rediculous u should NOT of had 2 PAY 4 ur entrance fee whilst non memners got in FREE! thats a slap in the face..and that last email u recieved from NPGMC phewwwww! im feel 4 ya!
Peace
~N@TH~
xxxx

thanx Rio for responding!!
I was just curious as to what the overall
consensus was here at the Org. I was hoping
that NPGMC would actually address my direct
questions rather than tapdancing all over
the place!!! But C'est la vie!!

BTW...out of 40 some odd views the only
one with a single thought has been you Rio!!

Life Sexy u all

Aannastesia, I am sure the NPGMC will not admit fault. I wondere if they even knew what was happening. As much as you write explaining the situation, they will always mention the diclaimer on the concert's page. I hope you still had a fun time.

NPGMC owe you an apology. Why is it so hard for people to admit that they've made a balls up.

diashfiend said:

From what I have seen (not just this case but other as well) is that the NPGMC staff are more interested in giving out disclaimers that cover their own back than any specific info. They are so vague on everything!
BTW; I hope someone from over there is reading this. :p

.
[This message was edited Tue Apr 30 11:42:01 PDT 2002 by AzureStar]

from npgmc website:


"And with ur presale concert pass, members will have priority access 2 any open soundchecks and afterparties that take place 4 the show u attend."

"And with ur presale ticket, u will get xclusive access to the concert, soundcheck and VIP treatment at the afterparty"

You certainly didn't get any of what is advertised.

Azure Star said:
"Even if the guests paid, you still would have had to pay (because of this unspoken rule of a certain number of members allowed for free) because you got there after the free member limit was reached."

---

In my eyes, I would not have had to pay the cover if the vip tickets were distributed properly. There would have been approximately 150 more tickets for the actual members had the nonmembers been required to pay cover as is stated on the website. That being the case I wouldn't have had to pay because there would have been a ticket in that 150 for me!!

Life Sexy u all

Not to detract from your main discussion Aannastesia, I think there were more than a few fans who got jerked around at the HOB. I've been meaning to post my experience at the House of Fools.

I think that the employees and security there were COMPLETE idiots.

They had extreme attitudes and the security and folks were not informative.

I missed the second Kodak show and actually got to the HOB early with my girlfriend and calmy started to line up before 11pm. I asked TWO security people if I was in the right line. I said clearly that I had ordered tickets online, I had no pass for that night as a member and I showed them a PRINTOUT of the ticket confirmation.

Was I in the right line to pick up the tickets? No...a friend informed me that there was another line forming way on the other side...I looked for an NPG Music Club person, you know the ones that have the official staff badges on and asked because they should know, and this big guy verified that I was in the wrong line, that nights members line. I explained that security had missled me early on and he said that I best be getting in that other line or it's going to get worse!

So I had to and the line was huuuuge. We ended up waiting for almost two hours and I THEN the dude verifying our names was acting like a complete asshole. He told somebody after they had forgotten their ID that he was checking with managment to get them the hell out of his face, to a girl!

ANyway, House of Blues SUCKS, I hope Prince doesn't play there again, it was place before but now it really does feel and look like a shack. Unfortunatly I'm planning to see the Time there...I'll deal with it.

And I really don't know about that stuff NPGMC is saying. They keep repeating that every afterparty will b different, but HOW ARE THEY different. I mean specifics would help.

I recommend that they get a NPGMC Staff member walking around those lines to answer any questions or verify any rules that a club should have. Paying $100+ and having to chase them around for info just is NOT cool. And just saying that it says here and there that every show is different still in no excuse why you AS A member was not informed and forced to pay. Needless to say they tested my patience that night.

PLUS! If members got in for free with a guest, that's an aftershow for them...then for those who bought tickets, then it was considered a regular show? Ambiguity.

Refund for Aannastesia!

---

[This message was edited Tue Apr 30 12:37:45 PDT 2002 by FlyingCloudPassenger]

Who was in charge of deciding who to let in as NPGMC members? It's not clear to me. The club or NPG?

If it was the club, then I don't think you can blame NPG for the mishap. Surely, NPG should advise the club on the particulars of our membership priveledges but they may not have complete control over how things are implemented.

If it was NPG, then they fucked up and should admit it and compensate you accordingly.

Sounds to me like you got totally shafted, I'd be mad as hell!

divo02 said:

Club security at the front gate said he was confused about how the laminate thing worked and went to ask an NPGMC associate. She told him that there were no more free vip passes and that laminate or not I had to pay or not attend!!

Life Sexy u all

Sorry 2 say, but I am not suprised. It's a good gesture 4 Prince 2 want 2 do extra 4 his fans but he should just leave it alone or get a professional team 2 take care of it because things r just not working out. In fact it is worse. Prince has way 2 many fans and the local PP staff doesn't seem able enough 2 handle. All of his concerts and possible after shows shoulda been mapped out and arranged already especially because of the NPGMC bonus'.
It's like the 1st years Celebration. How is it that every1 that was at the nightly parties were supposed VIPs yet once inside were separrated? I was waiting 2 get in2 the L4OA/NPGMC room 2 see the performances and when I turned around 2 see what the rest of the people were doing, half of them were sitting on the floor watching the projection screen. I was like "what kinda party is this?"
Anyhow I'm not suprised, I'm just sorry it happned 2 u Aannastesia.

Aannastesia said:

I am in total agreement with you on this. All I was saying was that this is what I think they were trying to say with their response of it being like the concerts. That once the limit is reached, you would have had to pay. They really were unclear about that, in my opinion. But, to me it sounded like it was a limit on how many members (plus a guest)...were allowed in free...regardless if the guest paid or not. Meaning that the non-members didn't take away your chances of getting in free...they were guests of those that were within the limit of free entry. To me...the guests that got in free of charge should have had to pay. It really doesn't matter...they really went against what is advertised on their site regarding this entire thing anyway.

FlyingCloudPassenger said:

YES! Or, at the very least they should have something that says that on their website...that you do not get VIP treatment to afterparties at every show...because each show is different. They really should update the website to reflect changes as they make them. Even if it means hiring someone specifically for that...this is a club...it's not a test. I'm paying my membership this week and I won't use the presale part of the membership...I just would like the four cd's, but it really should be clear with no question as to what anyone is receiving for their membership. All in all, I think the club is a wonderful concept...just has some kinks that need to be addressed and some thought put into it a little more.




!!!



.
[This message was edited Tue Apr 30 13:10:33 PDT 2002 by AzureStar]

This is terrible. I'd expect this kind of behavior from, let's say, Sprint PCS or Citibank or something...but NPGMC? It must be one of the seven signs. (ha)

Anyway, I express my solidarity with you, Aannastesia. It certainly sheds some light on my decision not/to attend the Celebration.

And now for who to blame... Like I always said, if you want something done, hire GOOD people to do it. ; )

There's still time...maybe they'll come through for you...?

Once again, Prince's business acumen breaks forth, leaving broken promises & tattered dreams in it's wake.

YOU were DEFINITELY GYPPED!!!!! No doubt about it. Unfortunately his people are never going to admit that they were wrong, or that they mismanaged that situation. I admire your perseverance in persuing the matter with them, and I admire that you kept the correspondence professional (can't say the same for NPCMC.)

In a perfect world you would at least receive an apology, but I don't see that coming over the horizon. I'm sorry for your experience, and hope that some day soon the karma boomerang will come around & bring something wonderful back to you.

FlyingCloudPassenger said:

I think they mean that every afterparty will be different in the sense that the chaos and disorder caused by their mismanagement will be unique in each instance.

Aannastesia... first of all -- I completely feel your complaint... however, you have to consider the source: Prince.

Prince has a history of changing his mind at the last minute, hiring friends who turn out to be incompetent for what they were hired for, firing ppl at the drop of a dime... heck, i dont have to go on, ya'll know the game.

Even tho' the Music Club operates under the guise of a business... (ie. membership fees = merchandise (downloads/cds) - it is still considered more or less "a fan club" with "perks with membership". It is, of course, still a Paisley-runned business with possibly a skeleton crew of individuals who barely know what they are doing.

Now, I am not "defending" the club... but you pretty much take your chances at disorganization, lack of business acumen and dissapointment when participating in a Paisley venture.

I for one, have had great results with the club because i have no expectations. I even know someone who works there but i dont take my chances with this individual either.

At HOB some friends stood in line (they left the venue early at Kodak) and we got in... I too would have been peeved if all the NON members got in before me and I was required to pay... but I also know that there was some confusion at HOB where they SOLD most of their tix and they werent told about the NPGMC members... so they stopped selling (therefore it was "sold out") and whatever was left -- a certain amount went to club members and a certain amount went to paying club members to make up the difference. the NPGMC line was also not equipped to take money for purchase of tix.. that had to be done at the box office... it was a cluster fuck for sure --

so all in all -- it requires great patience to be a member and a fan/supporter.

While it seems logical for them to own up to the fuck up.. they probably cant admit guilt and lose even more credibilty and possibly be liable for some freaks (not you A) ludicrous claim.

just my 2cents worth.

You're not going to get a refund because if you get a refund, other people who had something happen to them will want refunds, too.

There are people who paid the top prices for member seats and the the NPGMC oversold the seats. Those members ended up not having a seat for the show, or they got sent to the balcony.

If those people didn't get refunds, you're not going to get one.

aaanna?? release the houndz.

Your problem is that you're stuck in negativity.

You need to move Into the Light and Live4Love.
Have you had your + sign 2day?



(I'm just kidding)

She's not stuck in negativity--she was wronged!

Salacious - I completely agree with you. It's Prince, which doesn't make it excusable, but it certainly does explain a lot. His shit is always screwed up. Nothing is ever planned in advance, and if it is, it changes at the last moment. The worst part? That 99% of his staff is unaware of what's going on.

Aanna, I feel for you, and I would be completely (rightfully) angry if the same happened to me, but I doubt you will get anything out of these money-hungry sdufhlszfcdsdfhxljkhdf

Yes, I agree, you were definitely wronged. After reading your responses, I still don't entirely get what the club meant by every afterparty situation being different. Some you pay? And some you don't? That isn't the information that's up on their website apparently. The best way they could have handled it was to have the information posted on their website about getting there early or they can only let in a certain number of members for free. All it takes is a laptop or a phone call to provide up-to-date information on the NPGMC website, no? If Prince promised on his website that members will be allowed in free to all afterparties, then his organization should at least check and make sure that the venue he's playing will provide his members that. If you are paying that much money to be in the club, then his first priority is taking care of his members. And then for them to say that it wasn't really an afterparty? In running a business and people come and complain about something that happened, then, even if they are unable to refund your money, offer you something - t-shirt, coupons, etc. to appease you. It may not sound like much, but it does send the message that they're sympathetic.

All you can do, I guess, is just chock it up in the experience file. At least you let people know this kind of thing can happen.

LQ

That sucks that that happend. What are you gonna do?
Peace and Love!

I think House of Blues is to blame.
But the NPG Music Club could at least apologize!

At the shows I attended the club members were tended to respectfully. And I believe most people left happy.

Yours was a very unfortunate incident. If nothing else I think they should apologize! The House of Blues should have to give you a refund, though.

This is a tough one...

If u r the only one reporting this concern...it may be seen as invalid (not that I agree). If this happened to other members it would be good for them to let NPGMC know as well.

I know that I would be upset too. Maybe try getting the others that this happened to together and do a standard letter that u all send in thoughfully requesting refunds. And then I would suggest to NPGMC that the House Of Blues eat it for mismanagment.

This is really a tough one, maybe they r also stalling to see if they get any other complaints or can discuss it with Prince/managment.

I would also change ur tone in ur letter, ur anger is clear. Sugar gets more bees than vinegar. Not that it's wrong 4 u to express urself, it just might be more helpful to u

I really hope this get's resolved 4 u.