:
What was your impression?

Why were you there?

How was your experience?

Was it what you expected?


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I've been there, many reasons and different times...the very first experience was a tour. Just me and two friends. It was great, because we got to see almost everything (no not inside the vault ) without anyone around.

I had expected it to be a lot more funky looking than it was, but it still had a pretty look and feel to it.

What about you?

Been there many times for parties and impromtu
shows. What I always think of is the horribly hard concrete floor. After dancing all
night, you get up the next day and can barely walk
because you've destroyed all the muscles and tendons
in your legs and feet from standing so long!

And long lines for the .

The first time I saw it in person (the 1st Celebration), I cried It was not what I expected, I expected it to be far off of some windy road. But, to my surprise it sits right on a major highway. It was much smaller than I thought it would be.

My experience was overwhelming...I loved it. I keep going back every year trying to recapture that '1st time' feeling, but guess you only have your '1st' once

I wish I could have seen it when Mayte's big pregnant belly was painted on the wall.

minneapolisgenius said:

I have to agree with you.

I am not a musician, but isn't the reason the studios are built that way for the sound quality?

Lines to the restroom...it's sad, really. I purposely don't drink fluids until near closing for that very reason.

i liked it right off! the architecture is kind of trippy, what with the pyramids and now the new domed building (whatever it is to be).

the first time i went inside i was impressed by the decor - i happen to love velvet myself so i was pleased that some of the furniture there seemed to be upholstered in velvet, i liked the wall drapes and the big gold lion statues in the L4OA room. the multi-colored lighting was cool, and the overall ambience that of a playground for adults

felt like i'd walked right into a fantasy still do when i go out there. to me the Park represents what can be accomplished when someone follows their dream

would recommend a guided tour for those interested, there's way too much cool stuff about the park to describe on a thread!

PsychedelicMama said:

I had only been in Minnesota for 2 days! Can you believe it, lol...and I was already invited inside the Park. For me it was like being in some dream...not in a silly sense, but literally...back then, this was 1991 or 1992, it was exclusive, and getting inside was not like it is today.

In fact, it was near impossible to get inside without either knowing someone personally who worked for the park, or being given a special VIP pass (by paper, or verbally) to be allowed inside.

An amazing experience the first time, for sure.

LaVisHh said:

My first two visits were for late night performances in the NPG Music Club Room (f/k/a the Love 4 One Another Room), so I didn't see much of the building aside from that room and the soundstage-area lobby. Then, at the 2000 Celebration, I took the "VIP tour," which pretty much covered everything aside from Prince's personal office and the inside of the Vault. I also visited Paisley Park during last year's Celebration, although access to most of the building was shut off then.

From the outside, Paisley Park doesn't look like anything terribly special, and if I didn't know what it was, I wouldn't think much about it. The sign just gives the street address. (When my dad was in Minneapolis a few years ago, he took a look at Paisley Park from the outside and commented that it looked like a small office/industrial park--maybe a small widget factory with, say, a dentist's office in part of the first level.)

On the inside, though, I thought it looked quite Princely. (Note: all of my visits were after the 1996 renovations--I know it used to be rather plain inside.)

As for the 2000 tour, it was kind of unreal... before they announced the Celebration, I would have never thought I'd get to visit Studio A, see the Vault door in person, etc. While the tour did take away some of the "mysterious" aura of Paisley Park for me, I'm definitely glad I experienced it, because I don't know if they'll ever offer an extensive tour again.

matt said:

Here! Here!

matt said:

It used to be plain, but the meeting room, Prince's office, and the room with the vault was always rather funky. Plus, there used to be a LOT of scarves, sheer drapings, and candles that I don't see anymore...

The carpeting and paint are the usual changes done.

I totally agree. I don't think I will ever have any tour like I got that very first time.

LaVisHh said:

Ahhh...to be Paisley virgins again...

The first time I went to Paisley Park, I stood in a long line waiting to get into a Friday nite jam. I noticed how many people were drinking in the parking lot. By the time the doors finally opened, there were several drunks in the crowd. That night, I didn't get to see much of Paisley, just the parking lot and the room that used to be called L4OA room.

I was in Minneapolis back in December of '95. I was there for work with one of my co-workers. We met a couple of people at a convention we were at and they said they'd take us out that night and show us the town. We went to Uptown (cool neighborhood), downtown to the clubs & bars(including 1st Ave...very cool place...much smaller than I was expecting). While we were driving back to our hotel (which was in Bloomington) I asked where Paisley was and one of the girls said we should go, since they have had parties sometimes.

It was about 1AM and sure enough when we drove by, there was a line outside the Park. I almost shit when I actually saw the building and almost shit twice when I realised we were going to be inside.

This was when Gold came out and they were filming some scenes for a special that was going to be on VH1 (I don't think he was there). The Gold tour's sets were in the soundstage and we were able to sit in one of the props...it had a couch! They filmed some crowd scenes with "Rock 'n' Roll is Alive" playing in the background. We just danced while they filmed. The party itself kinda sucked since there weren't many people there (but it was the 1st time I heard Exodus...the DJ played the whole album)...but one of the girls we were with asked a security guy if we could have a mini tour of the building. The guard was all into this chick so he said sure. We saw the outside of the studios, Prince's office, some props from Graffiti Bridge, and the famous doves. It was very cool. It was an incredible experience...can't wait to go back for this years celebration!

Pagey said:

Cool story...gave me chills!!

Cool accounts of your visits -- thanks! I've never been.

I can imagine what must go on in 95% of that building...but I CANNOT imagine what Prince does in his personal office. (I can imagine what he might have done in his office at a different time of his life... ) Can anyone picture the man sitting in a highback executive chair thumbing through file folders or eating a sack lunch??

Doozer said:

You mean Doritos?

Lots of skeletons in the halls of Paisley, that's for sure.

LaVisHh said:

Yeah...maybe just like Aretha with her sack o' Fritos...funky 'til the Kingdom Come.

First time 1st celebration I will never
forget it as long as I live. It was my
dream that came true. My sister and I
would always talk about going to the Park
and finally it happen but with my son to
show him if you work hard enough you can
accomplish anything. Our first night there
was a beautiful rainbow over The Park. I
was like a little kid just so excited to be
there listen to the stories while we were in
line waiting to get in side.

The secord day we went on our tour and I was
proud when we went in. The candles burning,
the awards, the pictures of him I went wild
just looking at all those pictures I blew a kiss
and Kiss came on at the right time. We
went into Studio A and B we saw the vault, the
game room. It was every thing I wanted to see
and feel. It was wonderful a dream come true
I was prouder when we left the Park. We didn't
want to leave. My son and I left with Pride

I noticed that it smells sooo good. I found the same insence at a store, and whenever I use it it takes me back to the park.

I've been there on 3 different trips now.

First in Novemeber of '99 for a late nite gig.

Second at the Celebration in 2001.

And most recently at last year's Celebration.

I love it. I like how it's uncluttered and colorful, yet most of the surfaces are clean white. It's got a very professional but friendly look to it. And during the Celebrations, I love all the instruments, costumes and curiosities on display. The soundstages and studios are warm and accomodating. The staff is nice. Prince seems really at home there. You feel like you're really meeting him at his level. I'd say that's the best part about it. And all the wonderful people you meet. Oh and I like playing B-Ball there too.

The first time I went I had come early for the first celebration and I got there the Friday before, so about 11 o'clock that nite my friend and I rode past PP and sure enough the lights outside were burning and the gate was opened with a line outside, for a Friday nite jam.I will never forget that exciting feeling.

Prince didnot come on until about 4:45 and before this my friend wanted to go back to the hotel, but I didn't dare go back.Prince only played for about 5 minutes, but I had never been so close and I didn't even expect to see him that nite.It was a wonderful experience.

I have been to all the celebrations and I still dream of going back to PP. If Prince still had the Friday nite jams I think I would move there so I could attend them.

Very
80s

JC said:

JC, I'm in love with you!

Thanks for all the great stories!

More! More!

Here is an excerpt from a journal entry I made during my trip to Celebration 2001. Most of this has already been said, but I thought I'd include my 2 cents.

***

Once the discussion was over I just walked around PP. Many of the studios were open so I walked through them. The thing that amazed me the most was that most of the serious recording equipment and small decorative items had been taken out and stored in locked sound rooms with glass doors. Moving all of that equipment and taking down all of those wires must have been an awesome task. If I were Prince I wouldn’t have gone to all of that trouble for my “fams” – I simply wouldn’t have had anyone tour my space. (Fans are fanatics and “fams” are family and friends according to Prince.)
In one of the studios, in a corner, behind the door there was an empty water bottle partially filled with money. I looked at it for a second and then giggled. As I was giggling the security guard noticed what I was looking at and told me that it was, in fact, a swear jar and that the penalty for swearing was one dollar. From the amount of money in the jar, someone has a potty mouth.
The most fascinating room was Studio B – I have dubbed it “The Freak Room.” The only light in the room is black light that makes everything look purple. There was this big pillow on the floor and a lot of knick-knacks decorating the room. Really eclectic/strange stuff. The room oozed eroticism. I was very clear that Prince has brought some women to that room back in the day. Any woman in her right mind wouldn’t be able to resist a man in that room. I’m going to make a room in my house that has that kind of aura.
Just as I was beginning to get bored I did a final walk to make sure I had seen everything. I started to walk back through the soundstage where Graffiti Bridge was filmed. As I stepped in – there was Prince – chillin’. He was sitting on the edge of the stage talking with about 20 people who were all on the tour. Once again, I was all in his face. (Saw him at a club in Sacramento a couple of months ago and I was about 18 inches from him.) This time I was too far away to touch him, but as people around me asked him questions (I couldn’t think of any)
***

MBlaineEverywhere said:

That's some great dish!

Those are the things great stories are made of.

bumpies!!

i've been there a couple times...the first time i went there i wuz like, "this don't seem like a studio...it's more like an art museum or sumfin!"

One day I hope I will have the pleasure of going to this fabulous building.

I went once during a roadtrip to MPLS with a friend, way back in the summer of 1990...we dropped in, hung out in the lobby for a little while and chatted with the receptionist, then left. I remember two things about the visit: 1) there was a car in the parking lot with a license plate that read DRFINK; and 2) lots of smashed purple glass in the reserved parking space closest to the entrance.

I went there for the 2001 celebration and the first thing i noticed were the potholes in the parking lot ( i was like damn prince slipping) anyways once i got inside it the main the atrium was a lot smaller than i thought it would be, i'd first seen this on oprah and it looked huge on her show...Overall it was cool though i think if the bright colors weren't on the walls it would have a cold corporate feeling, ...I also got yelled at a couple of times once for playing pool on his purple table and for just being plain nosey, i was like shit put some signs up then!!! open house means everythings open...Did anyone notice the beat up gold record of shelia's? It looked like someone purposely tried to destroy it...who knows?