Question if you paid your membership to NPGMC...
- Couldn't afford the overpriced concert/celebration tickets , merchandise
- Prince didn't go to your Town/State
- you got shut out of the Celebration cause tickets sold out

What did you get?

Besides 3 CDs you can buy yourself at best buy, tower records, CDNOW, Amazon and any other place on the planet that sells CD on the 17th. What did you really get?

1 CD and Oh! and I forgot an "Opportunity" according the the NPGMC. When did " an opporutnity" start to cost money? Especially $100 bucks.

Am I wrong to think this way? I would love to hear what you all think on this subject...
[This message was edited Fri Nov 29 11:09:00 PST 2002 by visionex]

You are correct. Let's just see if anything else comes our way before the year is up.

I did see 3 concerts in Canada. Sat front row for all 3. 1 after show which was incredible and spoke with the little freak. I don't feel that bad about $100.

visionex said:

Echo say:

If you would care to go to "Home Page - older
news) and find "NEW NPGMC Commentary on "Value"
of membership".

http://www.prince.org/msg...&tid=29036







[This message was edited Fri Nov 29 11:36:01 PST 2002 by EchoOfMySoul]

they are in talks about giving us a stinkin dvd... EYE WANT A STUDIO CD.. not anything 2 do with something LIVE

geez

This point of view has been presented many times in other forums. I guess the answer depends on each person: how they value their money, how much they think indie artists should be supported, and how much they consider Prince to be an indie artist (indies usually tend to be unknown and poor).

Seeing Prince in concert and at the celebration definitely adds value to the membership. I think it's up to each of us to decide to pay for membership or not, and to live with our decisions. Prince never clearly promised any specific CD's, let's not delude ourselves. So we knew that the least that we would get is 4 unannounced CD's for US$100, which is expensive. Of course, we could get more, but the membership didn't guarantee it. So we shouldn't blame anyone but ourselves for shelling out the cash to pay for so many uncertainties.

I'm not disappointed, but I understand that many people are. Let's spend our money more wisely next year (ie, scrutinize the membership offer more closely and maybe take a "wait-and-see" strategy).

And don't take any RUMOURS about what we will be getting into consideration!

Your $100 basically gets you music you can get either in stores, online or already had last year, & the "opportunity" to spend even more money on Prince with overpriced tickets & bland and unimaginative merchandise.

Far too many seem to think that the $100 they spent got them into all these shows, got them to Xenophobia or wherever & into the soundchecks & aftershows. Truth of the matter is, many non-members who didn't pay $100 also got into the soundchecks and aftershows, many of whom did not always have to pay. Truth of the matter is, the concerts that you had such wonderful seats in cost you as much as $150, not to mention airfare & hotels for out-of-towners, & Xenophobia was also far from a "free" benefit as well. Like I said, paying $100, just gives you the chance to blow more money. NPG Commentary, NPG Schmomentary. I'm not into their cutlic-new agey-feel good about going broke-gibberish.

People don't "Think" the $100 got us the concert tickets. It did allow us to get front row and into the soundchecks.

Just because your upset does not mean other's are.
Just don't join next year and you won't have to worry about it. As someone said earlier in this post - it's value is basically what you got out of it
[This message was edited Fri Nov 29 11:56:40 PST 2002 by MrSquish]
[This message was edited Fri Nov 29 12:37:09 PST 2002 by MrSquish]

...I can't believe how "bitchy" some people are...

Simply put, the $100.00 allowed us as members to be part of an exclusive community, while also allowing us to be part of his cause regarding music distribution and "the establishment" that is the industry.

Instead of constantly complaining about it not being "worth it", complain about how your own judgement put you in the position you find yourself in now.

Speaking for myself, I am more or less happy with the club over the past 2 years.

Strike

ThirdStrike said:

[This message was edited Fri Nov 29 12:36:23 PST 2002 by MrSquish]

ThirdStrike said:

Well thirdstrike we are all part of an exclusive community -Prince.org.!and guess how much that cost a year? NOTHING! Do they (the people who run prince.com.) promise us anything? NO! Do they dissapoint us or tell us how to live life the way they do?NO! Do they screen EVERYTHING NEGATIVE said & ignore or try to BRAINWASH US? NO!Do they give daily & more precise news & happening on Prince than his own musicclub?YES!Is it worth it to be a member of prince.com.?YES! Is it worth $100 to be part of a biase one sided "Prince is god & anything he says or does is alright" the NPGMC?HELL NO!

MrSquish said:

As has been said before, many non-members got into the soundchecks and the aftershows without paying the $100. And yes, in your constant yapping about the "benefits" of this club (your is being used in general here), the fact that people paid so much extra for the various concerts is almost always overlooked. Paying $100 did not get you into Prince's world carte blanc. It did not guarantee Prince would tour in your neck of the woods or arrange your flight or offer directions to the venue for out-of-towners - hell, it didn't even provide a forum to do such things as was the case at www.davidbowie.com. We were promised 4 very specific CDs, which they have not delivered. Citing that and being upset about it is not crying. It's completely justified.

And it's clearly evident that I'm not alone in being upset about this nonsensical excuse for a club.

Yeah, but doesn "prince org" allow us some of the perks (soundcheck access, exclusive downloads, etc) that the NPGMC does?? No!! (No offense to the "org", of course).

Again, I think the point of this is that of couse we get a little frustrated with the club's business practices. But, I think it's rather funny that before it's conception, most fans were all with him in his "fight" against the "majors", and were equally excited about the prospect of music being distributed direct to the consumer (The NPGMC). Now, since you are upset that in your opinion he hasn't lived up to the "promises" of this years membership, you are basically requesting he considers it a "business" instead of it just being about "art" and go back to how it was under those very same "majors" (being dictated to regarding amount of product on the market, etc).

Can you relate???

Strike

I must have missed something this year... How and when were we promised specific CD's? Please provide the NPGMC e-mail or posting from the web site or wherever you saw it. I really can't remember any promises, but I read my e-mail the way I read speed limit signs I guess...

Germinito Said...

I must have missed something this year... How and when were we promised specific CD's? Please provide the NPGMC e-mail or posting from the web site or wherever you saw it. I really can't remember any promises, but I read my e-mail the way I read speed limit signs I guess...

___

Good point!! I have yet to get any type of "official" notification from the club for '02 Membership specifically outlining the CD's being offered for members of the club.

But, as you said...I have the same problems with street signs myself...

ThirdStrike said:

Yeah but did you get those "perks" for free? NO! you paid a higher amount for tickets than the non-members did for the concerts & in many cases i've heard members had to pay $20 to get into the aftershows!and as far as the npgmc being "art" & not a "business" -why do they have a business license & why do they charge $100? last i heard art was to be admired & was FREE! Can YOU relate?

I understand Miko...you are bitter and unconvinced about the club. It's your right to feel that way.

What I think is the funniest thing of all is that with all your points, you will still probably be one of the first ones to join the club next year. It's an illness, I know...

As far as the point regarding the "business" aspect of the club...of course he has a business license. He's be stupid not to, with currency being exchanged and all. But, don't get that confused...underneath it all, it's still ART, and should be treated as such. It becomes contaminated when it is treated as "product". I don't know about you, but music of all kinds (not just Prince's) is an invaluable part of my life, so I don't look at it in terms of $$$. I had the $100 to spend, and I made a decision to join the club. If I am dissatisfied with it, I'll make a different decision when it comes time to renew.

I suggest you do then same...

Good day to you,

Strike

ThirdStrike said:

No, it is not my opinion that the club has not delivered promised product. It is simple fact. We were promised 4 albums, by name, which were used to entice new members into joing: Xenophobia, One Night Alone, The Very Best of , & The Last December. The exact promise mentioned at least four, but when we have thus far received only 25% of what was promised, I won't be concerned with "at least" until I get the four.

Many fans did see Prince's struggle with the major labels as a worthwhile one, just as many saw it as a pop star's tantrum. Whatever the point of view, he certainly could have gone about the formation of his club in a more mutually beneficial fashion - hint, when such a high number of fans are upset about the way things are going, & when a company has as many BBB complaints against it as the NPGMC, something is more than likely WRONG.

geminito said:

Prince AND the NPGMC did a really good job of eluding to during the course of the year. They made no promises, but they sure did a good job of eluding that we were going to see those CDs...

Where?
Listen to the final downloads set from the first year of NPGMC. What were the tracks from? In the tourbook what albums are mentioned. Let's not forget the Celebration this year was called "Xenophobia". The first cd sent out by the NPGMC was called what? "One Nite Alone". Wasn't that the first CD in the list of the tour book?

Amy I wrong or is this just revisionist history?

ThirdStrike said:

That's cool 'strike i wasn't trying to "rag" on you-i just get so frustrated with some people on here who act like anything you "get"(paided for!) from the npgmc is alright & we should bow down & be thankful for it! anyway,i've already made my decision & no year 3 for me!so take care & YOU have a good day!

...Although I enjoy your lovely picture on your profile (are those eggs???), I have to disgaree with you...

I think it's an exaggeration regarding the BBB complaints. ALL businesses field a certain amount of complaints on an annual basis. I discard those as "tantrums" (to borrow a phrase from your post) from bitter members.

But, again...at the core, I am happy with the club. The only reason I am posting here is that I guess I can only tolerate so much crying (yes, it's a selfish reason). before it's said, I acknowledge that I am nobody to judge. But, simply put...the boat is staying a float. If you wish, jump off...

Strike

...and as far as you, Miko...It's all love!! I can appreciate a good debate, and I respect everyone's opinions. I by no means think I am right on this issue. Just putting my 2 cents in. So, no hard feelings at all. As a matter of fact, props on your educated dialogue...

Strike

"if you paid your membership to NPGMC...
- Couldn't afford the overpriced concert/celebration tickets , merchandise
- Prince didn't go to your Town/State
- you got shut out of the Celebration cause tickets sold out"

You know these risks before you join. You know he might not come by you which is why most people wait until a concert is announced. You know it might sell out too since the laws of physics say that there can only be so many people in one place. So if you were unsure about the tour thing, you should have waited. Don't blame Prince. Take responsibility for your own decisions.

Derek, you were at the Celebration and at the NYC show, what's this personal beef all about?

Fair enough. I'll have to listen to the final downloads more closely again, I don't remember that. I only heard about "The Best of " and "Last December" a few days ago here on prince.org. I remember mention of "Madrid 2 Chicago" as an album name for some of the downloads, but am really glad that we didn't get that album. The two songs from it that we downloaded were awful, and I don't feel that way about many Prince songs.

I don't have the tour book, and certainly didn't consider him naming the celebration "Xenophobia" to be a promise for an album of the same name. Having joined the club and thoroughly explored the NPGMC web site, I never got the impression that any albums were promised until they were announced.

Let's not take an artist's allusions to be promises again. We've all learned our lesson. Don't you have any artsie friends?? Unpredictable folk, they be. The good ones are, anyway...

mediadarling said:

You keep mentioning the fact that "non members" got in to the soundchecks" Big bloody deal. Good for them.

As I've said before, I can understand people being upset with the club. I've never "yapped" about the benefits of the club Don't take it personnaly if everyone is not upset like you are. Just don't join next year, As you have said you can get into the soundchecks without joining.

DonnieDarko said:

No personal beef. I am just curious what other people think. If I am just "Bitching and Moan" or do other people feel the same way. Reading all the views its Seems to be its split across the board...

I am also concerned about other not being able to take advantage of this so called "opporutnity" granted to them for a mere $100. Since this wasn't originally addressed to me or the rest of the world as an "opportunity" how is Joe Nebraska going to know this?

Personally if do bother with anything Prince related next year I will probably take free ride off of someone else's membership take advantage of 20 dollar aftershow and buy the CD of the year off of buy.com and take advantage of the free shipping. 100 dollars cheaper and its the same experience

geminito said:

I never said anything about promises. I said "Eluded Too". You keep using the word promised.

Why is it that the basic principal of fair trade and commerce get thrown out of the window cause Prince is an "Artist"

Btw you never answered the question in the topic...
[This message was edited Fri Nov 29 19:13:38 PST 2002 by visionex]

My wishy-washy answer was: I guess the answer depends on each person: how they value their money, how much they think indie artists should be supported, and how much they consider Prince to be an indie artist (indies usually tend to be unknown and poor).

But you're not wrong to think the way you do. By the numbers, the price of the CD's doesn't add up when we compare to prices for top 40 CD's in wrecha stows, and other clubs like Columbia House.

But I don't tend to think about money unless it's really important. I spend it if I got it, I eat macaroni and cheese if I don't. Life goes on. Nobody likes a cheap-skate and a whiner. No offense.

And you say "eluded too", but you probably mean "alluded to". But it's funny when read "He eluded, too!" He sure did elude telling us exactly what CD's we'd get. But I like surprises!

And by your profile, visionex, you live in North America, so what are you talking about "the basic principal of fair trade and commerce"? Capitalism is the law here, not anything "fair".

That sure sounded pessimistic!

MrSquish said:

My god, you're a simpleton. Yeah, you keep arguing about the soundchecks & aftershows being such an exclusive treat, so I'll keep pointing out they're not.

Did I, or did I not say "you" was meant in general terms? I don't take anything imbeciles say personally. Except when I pay $100 for it & do not receive the promised product.

mediadarling said:

MrSquish said:

"Imbecile" And you don't take this personnaly?. It's quite funny how people on here can't have a discussion because they are so bitter that they feel they lost $100. Listen you idiot. Everyone here knows your upset. Everyone knows your crying like a little baby that did not get her candy. Now that everyone has heard you complaining on these various posts what would you like them to do? Listen up Einstein - if it's not worth it to you then DON'T SPEND MONEY ON THE CLUB!!!!! Obviously the $100 has destroyed you. Read all the posts on here. Do you not realize how pathetic you sound? I'll bet you'll be the first person to sign right up for next year and start complaining 2 months later!!!
[This message was edited Sat Nov 30 5:46:46 PST 2002 by MrSquish]