Just want to hear from all you fortunate folk who have seen the magic up close & personal Unlike myself who had to settle for a nosebleed seat
So tell me about the magic up close as you remember it Can't wait to read your stories

i have never been on stage (and i don't think i'd ever want to be), but i've been lucky enough to have first row experiences on several occasions. if i had nosebleeds for his shows from now on, it would be okay because i feel like i've had more than my share of good luck with seating at prince concerts.

Anxiety said:

You lucky Mod I do believe I saw in that photo where Prince is reaching out to a fan right?

nurseV said:

you can see stymie better than you can see me, but yeah, i'm in the picture famming out

I was close enough to count his nose hairs.... there were only 3 in each nostril that I could see.

Anxiety said:

So not fair-I want to fam out too

pplrain said:

Royal nose hairs

Controversy tour; 3rd row Floor. HELLA CLOSE!
1999 tour L.A. 7th row Floor. Hella Close!
1999 tour Long Beach 15 or 16th row Floor. Close but was far from center. Swung over to the left but still cool.
Purple Rain tour. Saw P 4 times on this tour. 3 times in L.A. Once in Long Beach. One of the shows, the second one, I had EXCELLENT seats. 10th row FLOOR, DEAD CENTER! The one in Long Beach was funny cuz me and my friend were all over the place. That show was far from sold out so we roamed all over over the place. We had floor seats but the row we were in they taped off a few rows, including ours because of Prince's sound board was there. So we mostly hung in the middle aisle up around 4th and 5th row for the last half of the show. The security on the floor that night were really laid back. Many people were all out in the aisles dancing and shit anyways so we just blended right in.
Hit and Run at The Wiltern. Standing room only for the most part. I was crammed up pretty close to the stage veering slightly towards the right. Very close. I was to see P a few more times live after this but never again with floor seats.

I've only seen him twice, but damn....

First time, One Night Alone concert, I sat in the orchestra pit, front row, almost tripped over his guitars. So close he often walked behind us to perform for the rest of the audience. He asked my name and changed it for the performance of Family Name. Also grabbed my hand when doing so.

Second time, the Vegas stint he was doing, Rushed myself to the very front, so was once again super close. He was doing a bass jam, and then leaned out and pretended like he was going to give his bass to someone, I fanatically jumped out to try and grab it (stupidly, but it was reflex, and everyone else was doing it ), and if he hadn't pulled it away it woulda veen mine!

So yeah, close.

- Today Show (96): In front of his piano, close enough to get a great pic of his sticking out his tongue at the (one) girl in front of me.

- Trump Marina, Atlantic City (98): 4th row center, which was stage level. The first 3 rows were BELOW the stage because of the high risers. I was wearing a silver glittery jumpsuit and Prince kept pointing into the audience. My Sister said he was pointing at me! After the show, I got a chance to ask a band member if it was true. He said, "Yeah. The lights were reflecting off your outfit and Prince was like, "What the hell is that?!"

- ONA (2002): 2nd row. Got called out by Prince coming back from the ladies' room with my friend.

- My Birthday, 8/24/04: 2nd row, on the side that The Time & Prince faced.

- Nokia, NYC (06): Right at the stage in front of Prince.

I was real close to the front during the Jam of the Year tour. Prince saw me dancing, made a "Hell no" face at me and shook his head, then smiled. It was awesome.

Row 16, the last show, but I kept running up to the stage every chance I got.

ONA - Centre floor, 5 rows from the stage

Vegas - Rio 3121 - Front row. Right in front of Prince.

Worked my way up to the first row at a ONA aftershow (Dallas, Red Jacket). Maybe 3 feet I guess? I figured I was close enough to grab his heel. Not that that would have been a good idea.

It was just an observation.


[Edited 4/14/08 19:16pm]

Three: front rows (got a 5 from prince). two: 2nd rows (well one was like 5th row but the way the stage was set up it was the 2nd row where I was).

one: very last row. but i was SICK that night and I still got a 'call out' he suggested a guy on the front row trade seats with that crazy person in the back.

The closest I ever was, and this was incredible! was at the Glam Slam club in Minneapolis. He was doing a benefit concert during the pre-Gold Experience days (summer of 94? I cannot remember the date). The club was standing room only, first-come, first serve. I waited for hours to get in, and was right at the stage, only 4-5 feet from the microphone stand. He pretty much played all new material, including Shhh! and P Control. The stage was set up with the center section of the picture on the inside of The Gold Experience album (looking very phallic!) He shook hands with me on a number of occassions, and made eye contact throughout the show. I was surprised at how soft his hands felt - not a single callus was noted, and it was his left hand - used on the fret of his guitar!

I was a little embarrassed, although also intrigued at what he was wearing -- a sleeveless, all black, all lace, one-piece outfit. It put the "assless pants" to shame. I remember seeing one picture from that night, in that outfit, in the St. Paul Pioneer Press the next day. I did not keep the photo, and have never seen a copy of it since. What a great concert! What a night!

Me and a girlfriend were at an afterparty in DC and he was just behind the rope w/Venus and Serena. Of course I was talking in her ear when he went by.

Musicology 2004
2nd Row , Center Stagre = 7 Feet Away

All three times I went to 3121 in Vegas I was in front. (Two times right against the stage, once there were a couple of people in front of me).

Second time I claimed a nice little corner stage right next to where tech was posted and Prince reached down and grabbed my hands, danced with me from the stage. (I'll spare you the "Sagittarius Elaboration" and not make this a long story).

At the aftershows: One night (same night he touched my hands) he came over to our table handing out Jehovah's Witnesses pamphlets before the show. Another time, we were seated near the kitchen entrance in the jazz room and he walked right past our table to enter and exit.

So I guess I was close enough.I think I used up all my good luck as far as Prince is concerned!

4 Lovesexy,I camped out 4 tix with my older brother and his girlfriend,and we ended up with great seatz.Thru the binocularz,we could clearly c the hair pinz holding back his pretty ponytail with the polka dot bow.I was only 9,so I don't remember how many rowz back we were.I'll have 2 check with my brother on that.
4 ONA,5 rowz back! I thought I'd died and gone 2 heaven when,at the start of that show,Prince came down in2 the audience with his guitar! I had an end seat,and he was actually close enough 4 me 2 reach out and touch him.I didn't tho-2 busy looking like this. R eyez locked,and 4 a minute,I felt like time stood still.

A stones throw away from him!

He looked me in the eye, pointed & said 'you' (& others) to come & dance on stage with him at the Koko in Camden

I tried to remain & act like this was the norm, like I always dance on stage with Prince when really I just wanted to stare loads & scream!

PS No, I was NOT Humpalina!!

He stage dived on us and my hand touched his buttocks

NouveauDance said:

I'd never wash my handz again.

I had Row A seats on the floor at the O2 last year for two nights in a row. Managed to get tickets on the day via Ticketmaster - some very very happy memories. On the second of the nights I even managed to "poke" (if thats the right word) Elton John as he walked past me.

On the first of the nights (12th), at the final encore, security let me and Mrs Fubksoldier into the stage suites as everyone rushed the stage to be close and the really nice guy saw that we were finiding it hard to see. Prince played the synth set and Raspberry Beret no more than 6 feet away.

On the night of the 13th I am sure that you would be able to see Mr and Mrs Funksoldier dancing the night away at fairly regular intervals. (If it was ever recorded that is and the camera was pointing in their direction.... )

This was then followed at the aftershow by the most amazing (ever imho) performance of Around The World In A Day.

The night I met Prince for a minute...in 1983...I had tenth row floor...that I managed to turn into second row.
Even though the other concerts were far away, I appreciated being in the room.
I really even enjoyed seeing "Musicology" at the theatre...It was a very comfortable night...and knowing it was live, was so worth being at the theatre even knowing that California was still 700 miles away.

lalalailoveu said:

I was gonna ask that.

I've had my fair share of front row and close up seats and was lucky enough to meet him during the Lovesexy shws so can't complain at all!!!

However, am I one of the few people that actually prefers to be a little way back and raised slightly higher than the stage, so you see the whole show???

I've always prefered lower tier seats to floor seats!!!

I was on the floor for a couple of the O2 shows, but they were nothing compared to the lower tier views - with all the lights and fantastic stage - and the sound was better!!!!

The good thing with those shows is that over the 11 times I went, I saw it from nearly every possible angle (except from the upper tier - don't do those seats!!!)
[Edited 4/15/08 4:06am]

I've been in the front row about 20 times. Been at the front barrier of an aftershow 4 times and I've been on stage once, been backstage once.

SquirrelMeat said:

backstage? ooohhh now thats worth being jealous of!!!


who'd u meet? what was it like?

I've been right up front more times than not. I actually wouldn't want to go if I was far away. Once you're spoiled, it's always the way to go.

It's like that for me for any concert (even other than Prince), when I'm far I don't really feel part of the show. Last concert was Bjork in the nose bleeds and I actually fell asleep.