All I want is the respect and decency due to me by handing over my $100 membership. In other words, I want to be told when I can expect the benefits and WHAT to expect.

Bear in mind that I really dont give a fuck about the $100, I earn well enough. I just dont like being treated like an imbecile. I dont like being fucked without being given a drink and a kiss first.

There's my .02 cents.

I feel like i'm the odd one out saying i liked ONA(on a prince site no less), but i did.

Bootleggers treat Prince fans better than Prince does.

Of course, there's the theory that if it weren't for Prince being loosey-goosey with his unreleased studio tracks as an underhanded way of getting around WB, we wouldn't HAVE those bootlegs, but still...maybe that old skool down-low secret double-agent music-pushin' Prince is the guy we need back.

I'm loving my copy of "Dream Factory". I'm STILL loving my copies of "Dreams" and "H2O" (I know, I know, there have been better quality compilations of the music on these boots released since...my hearing's for shit, so audiophilia isn't exactly my strong suit, mmmkay?). I'm still loving my revved-up copy of "The Undertaker".

Though this year, as an "Xperiment in Truth", I decided to quit lining the bootleggers' pockets for a while and give my money to the source; it seemed a logical, ethical choice. I felt like I was supporting an alternative to the big, nasty, mean music industry. I felt like I was supporting an artist who was giving up the label of "commodity" and re-establishing himself as someone whose trade was creating art. It felt like taking part in something positive.

Shitty thing is, I'm realizing that when I supported the big mean music industry and the thieving bootleggers, I actually got MUSIC in return.

If you're going to provide an alternative, you either have to deliver the goods or you have to acknowledge your weaknesses and keep your supporters standing by you. You can't coast on your celebrity status and continue to make us feel lucky that you're still bothering to record music for us. When Prince said "Purple Rain is over" at his recent ONA shows, he really needed to think about what he was saying. He continues to want it both ways: he wants to have the credibility of an independent artist who is forging his own way, yet he still wants to enjoy the privileges of Michael and Madonna. He's created his legend; that can't be changed. It's going to take him years to fit into his own legend, to rest on his laurels, to enjoy the accolades that are due him. Look at Tina Turner - she had to work her ass off - in her 50s! - to make a comeback, and only in the past ten or so years has she been able to sit back and enjoy the worldwide appreciation of her life's work. He'll get there, and when he does, he can command a whole lot more than he can now.

Prince ain't at that point yet. He won't be for quite a while. And outside of a few moony-eyed sycophantic "Fams", there aren't a whole lot of fans who have the patience to be jerked around by a "club" that charges $100 for a year of bad service, shady treatment and attitude.

After years of living in awe of the Great and Powerful Oz, it's becoming more and more necessary to pay attention to the man behind the curtain...

And the ticket perk? Well, all that really is doing is guaranteeing u the most expensive seats in the house. No skin off his nose there.

I am totally satisfied. i think they r now much more organized, communication improved immensely, they r very polite. the celebration was well run. the cd's may b a bit slow, but they'll come. i'd like some more news on the site itself, pictures, etc, but on the whole, i cant complain.