I just finished listening to Small Club for the first time, which was awesome, and I thought I'd get round to asking a question that's bugged me for ages, yet which I never asked in case it was stupid or really obvious.

My question is: how did Prince's aftershows work? Like, did you buy tickets in the normal way? Did you just have to 'know someone'? Or was it a case of being lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time?

To two concerts I attended were Arras (07/2010) and Birmingham (05/2014). Am I correct in thinking that Prince didn't perform aftershows on those occasions? Or do I just lack the connections to have known about them?

You're right about there being no aftershows after those performances you have mentioned.

Details about aftershows were spread in different ways.

Sometimes it would be by word of mouth, sometimes there might be an announcement after the show.

In recent times there might be information about an after party using social media, and Prince might even perform.

Often it was cash at the door. Sometimes, tickets could be purchased in advance (for example, the London 2007 after shows at the IndigO2 could be purchased online in the same way as the standard shows at the O2 on the same evening - but there was no guarantee that Prince himself would perform on a particular night at the after show).

In the days of the NPG Music Club, a purchase of a ticket (by an NPGMC member) to a concert show in 2002 would also give you entry to the soundcheck and the pass also gave you free admission to the after party or after show later that evening.

SanMartin said:

I just finished listening to Small Club for the first time, which was awesome, and I thought I'd get round to asking a question that's bugged me for ages, yet which I never asked in case it was stupid or really obvious.

My question is: how did Prince's aftershows work? Like, did you buy tickets in the normal way? Did you just have to 'know someone'? Or was it a case of being lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time?

To two concerts I attended were Arras (07/2010) and Birmingham (05/2014). Am I correct in thinking that Prince didn't perform aftershows on those occasions? Or do I just lack the connections to have known about them?

I went to all three gigs you mentioned, and you are right, Arras and Birmingham didn't have aftershows.

As far as getting in is concerned, there have never been a set of rules.

In the earlier days, word of mouth was used from bouncers near the front. to clubs and people in the 'know'. Sometimes I would seek out staff and ask them. For The Hague for example (small club as you know it), I asked a security guard, who told me where to head.

That type of comunication prevailed till around 93, where they began to announce something on the tannoy (London Emporium Shows for example) which created a mad dash across town; to occasions where you could actually pre-book (Kings Cross - The Dawn and Cafe De Paris).

For 21 nights in London, all were prebookable.

In 2007 during the 21 nights in London, we used to simply purchase the tickets on the ticketmaster website at £31.21 each. These aftershows took place after the main O2 concerts at a small club (within the Dome) called the IndigO2. A friend and I went to as many of these shows as we could. Best thing we ever did!

CherryMoon57 said:

In 2007 during the 21 nights in London, we used to simply purchase the tickets on the ticketmaster website at £31.21 each. These aftershows took place after the main O2 concerts at a small club (within the Dome) called the IndigO2. A friend and I went to as many of these shows as we could. Best thing we ever did!

.

I remember those being formally advertised, but there was no guarantee Prince was there as he was never advertised to perform.

.

For the ones I had attended I kept ringing the management to find out. These were in the days before the internet. After a certain time they were then allowed to say.

.

At the London Oxford Street signing, after all of the crowds had left, the management went round telling people there was a gig.

.

During the New Power Soul tour it was announced on the speakers after most of the stadium had emptied.

.

So no great rule really.

.

darkroman said:

CherryMoon57 said:

In 2007 during the 21 nights in London, we used to simply purchase the tickets on the ticketmaster website at £31.21 each. These aftershows took place after the main O2 concerts at a small club (within the Dome) called the IndigO2. A friend and I went to as many of these shows as we could. Best thing we ever did!

.

I remember those being formally advertised, but there was no guarantee Prince was there as he was never advertised to perform.

.

But he did for most! He actually turned up at all of those I attended except one! And even then, his musicians (including Maceo Parker) did the show and it was absolutely fantastic. Definetely worth far more than the paid £31.21, and worth the gamble anyway.

Yeah the 21 night aftershows were brilliant but a chance happening. If you remember, the tickets were sold as 'aftershows' when they should have been sold as 'afterparties'.

When Prince did not appear on the second night (luckily one of the few nights I didn't go), people kicked off claiming the tickets should have been sold as afterparties.

I think the result was a lot more shows that they thought they were going to give.

Thanks to everyone for your replies!

Loefie: since I've only listened to it once, it's hard to say which one's my favourite. I think the guitar solos on Rave especially stand out, although they're great all the way through (I'd also forgotten that song wasn't originally written for the Rave album in the 90s - I don't think I've ever heard the original recording). It's Gonna be a Beautiful Night seems rather more energetic than the album version, although I suppose the same can be said for a lot of Prince's studio releases. Saying that, I don't think Housequake quite stacks up to the album cut. People Without is really cool... to be honest they all are! I'll give it another play-through this afternoon.

SquirrelMeat: I read a couple of threads from a a while ago about Small Club. Having read about your experiences at different concerts, I have to say I'm very envious!

It's a real shame I hadn't discovered Prince when he did the 21 nights in 2007. It was around that time that I saw the video for 1999 on the TV, which was the first step on the road to fandom. However, it wasn't until late 2009 that I bought Ultimate, just in time to get hyped up for and subsequently disappointed by 20Ten.

SanMartin said:

During the Jam Of The Year Tour in '97, my friends and I hipped to the fact that if the tickets were $15, it would be an AfterPARTY with Prince in attendance and a DJ spinning tunes. If the tickets were $25, it would be an AfterSHOW and Prince would actually play. Unfortunately I learned this too late. Of the 3 shows I saw, I attended 2 Afterparties and went home after the other show only to miss the Aftershow in Nashville where Prince first jammed with Larry Graham.... I'm still kind of bummed about that 19 years later.

[Edited 5/5/16 6:19am]

SquirrelMeat said:

Yeah the 21 night aftershows were brilliant but a chance happening. If you remember, the tickets were sold as 'aftershows' when they should have been sold as 'afterparties'.

When Prince did not appear on the second night (luckily one of the few nights I didn't go), people kicked off claiming the tickets should have been sold as afterparties.

I think the result was a lot more shows that they thought they were going to give.

Yeah I as there and was soooo dissapointed he didn't turn up. But so so pleased as I was there on the final night (and many more in between) and he went on for like 4 hours or more!!!

I was incredibly lucky with the 21 Nights aftershows/parties. I went to 5 and all 5 of them he showed up and did an epic set. There was only one I missed that I regret not going to (9th Sept.)

It was a guessing game for when he'd show up, but our logic was that if there was no arena show the next night and a sizable gap between shows that week, he'd be likley to come to the aftershow.

During the Musicology Tour in 2004, I went to four after shows. One at House of Blues in Los Angeles, and three at Paisley Park. The L.A. HOB show I think was announced the day of around 12:00 noon, I don't have any idea how I came across a ticket, I honestly don't remember, but I think I had to meet someone that day to pick it up. The Paisley Park aftershows, I vividly remember. They were announced a couple of days ahead of time. I flew in from L.A. got a room at the Chanhassen Inn, and since EVERYONE in MPLS was at the arena gig in St. Paul, I mosied on over to PP around 8:30 in the evening on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friiday nights, and was somewhere between the 2nd and 10th person in line each evening, as it was pretty much deserted at that hour. You paid cash ($40) once the main gate to PP was opened, the girl at the cashbox gave you a laminate, and you stood online until 11:00 or 11:30 then they started letting people in. There was a DJ playing outside, many of the people at the front of the line were from out of town as again the locals had long since purchased their tickets to the arena gig. It was a very good time waiting on line, not tedious in the least, as I remember it. There are NO WORDS to describe the feeling of anticipation and excitement being led by security in a small group and then let into the main soundstage area of Paisley Park when you are at the VERY FRONT of the line. I knew during those three nights I had to be the luckiest son of a bitch that ever lived. Everything you have EVER heard about Prince aftershows is TRUE.

SquirrelMeat said:

SanMartin said:

I just finished listening to Small Club for the first time, which was awesome, and I thought I'd get round to asking a question that's bugged me for ages, yet which I never asked in case it was stupid or really obvious.

My question is: how did Prince's aftershows work? Like, did you buy tickets in the normal way? Did you just have to 'know someone'? Or was it a case of being lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time?

To two concerts I attended were Arras (07/2010) and Birmingham (05/2014). Am I correct in thinking that Prince didn't perform aftershows on those occasions? Or do I just lack the connections to have known about them?

I went to all three gigs you mentioned, and you are right, Arras and Birmingham didn't have aftershows.

As far as getting in is concerned, there have never been a set of rules.

In the earlier days, word of mouth was used from bouncers near the front. to clubs and people in the 'know'. Sometimes I would seek out staff and ask them. For The Hague for example (small club as you know it), I asked a security guard, who told me where to head.

That type of comunication prevailed till around 93, where they began to announce something on the tannoy (London Emporium Shows for example) which created a mad dash across town; to occasions where you could actually pre-book (Kings Cross - The Dawn and Cafe De Paris).

For 21 nights in London, all were prebookable.

you were at the Small Club show.

wow, what I would have given to have been there as well.

Back in 1995 Prince performed two (?) nights in Den Bosch The Netherlands. We were not able to visit the first one, but decided to queue up pretty early (07am) for the second show.

Unfortunately rain was pouring down and a lot a fans were already waiting there (most of them stayed after the first concert). My girl (now wife) and me were pretty disappointed and discussed what to do. Because of the long trip I decided to visit the toilet first.

In the toilet a big dark American guy (security) asked me if I stayed after the first concert and I told him no. After a few minutes he said something like 'just imagine that Prince would perform in Amsterdam Paradiso tonight.', smiled at me and left...

I told my girl about this strange talk and we decided to drive to Amsterdam. During the trip I repeatedly called Paradiso (yes I had a cell phone in 1995). After a few calls I got lucky: the woman on the phone said she didn't know about Prince, but told me that a special party was planned (no artist mentioned). Presale would start at 09 an at Boudisque Records (?) in Amsterdam.

When we arrived at the store, a small queue was lined up. Everybody was expecting Prince in Paradiso that night. After the store opened we bought our tickets (just for us, no scalping. we didn't want to the other people after us to get less lucky).

We then drove back to Den Bosch, had dinner and entered the Brabanthallen to experience a great show (I recall "I love u in me"). After the show Prince yelled "See you in Amsterdam!", causing thousands of fans to run for their cars.

While driving to Amsterdam again (around 22pm), a lot of cars were racing to Amsterdam. When we arrived at Paradiso we had to wait till around 03am to see Prince in one of his best performances ever. He went nuts when the party sung "the roof, the roof, the roof is on fire. We don't need no water let the motherf*cker burn!".

Purple Memories. Thank you Prince

Stimpy said:

CherryMoon57 said:

In 2007 during the 21 nights in London, we used to simply purchase the tickets on the ticketmaster website at £31.21 each. These aftershows took place after the main O2 concerts at a small club (within the Dome) called the IndigO2. A friend and I went to as many of these shows as we could. Best thing we ever did!

The aftershow tickets were only £25 + booking fee, I believe.

Loefie said:

leecaldon said:

CherryMoon57 said:

In 2007 during the 21 nights in London, we used to simply purchase the tickets on the ticketmaster website at £31.21 each. These aftershows took place after the main O2 concerts at a small club (within the Dome) called the IndigO2. A friend and I went to as many of these shows as we could. Best thing we ever did!

The aftershow tickets were only £25 + booking fee, I believe.

It was £56.75 for 2 downstairs tickets on some shows and £57 on other dates. For some reason I had remembered £31.21, I think it had initially been advertised at that price.

CherryMoon57 said:

leecaldon said:

The aftershow tickets were only £25 + booking fee, I believe.

It was £56.75 for 2 downstairs tickets on some shows and £57 on other dates. For some reason I had remembered £31.21, I think it had initially been advertised at that price.

The main shows were £31.21 and the aftershows were £25.

Ellie said:

I was incredibly lucky with the 21 Nights aftershows/parties. I went to 5 and all 5 of them he showed up and did an epic set. There was only one I missed that I regret not going to (9th Sept.)

It was a guessing game for when he'd show up, but our logic was that if there was no arena show the next night and a sizable gap between shows that week, he'd be likley to come to the aftershow.

CherryMoon57 said:

I actually remember you writing that at the time, I even sold some of my tickets and bought new ones based on your advice and it paid off! Out of 6 aftershows he showed up at 5 of them. One of the best ones was on 18th August if I remember correctly, when Prince walked on stage wearing a red feathered hat, sat at his keyboard (right in front of me) and started off with Superstition. I had never seen him so close before, I have goosebumps just remembering it. Most of these shows were magnificent, have so many brilliant memories including a memorable invitation to dance on stage on 13th September.

Ah, the red hat, loved that show. Did anyone get a picture of it? I'm so sad that he had such a strict control on people taking photo's as it would be great to have the odd pic or two to help boost the fading memories.

I saw a Prince aftershow in 2002 in the morning of June 7. I heard a rumour about it and contacted a friend I knew in the newspaper business, who confirmed it. I went to the venue and waited outside in line for hours and then waited in the venue for another hour. We paid $30 cash (it was specified that it had to be cash) and Prince went on at 1am and played for about an hour. Totally worth the wait!!

TheEnglishGent said:

CherryMoon57 said:

I actually remember you writing that at the time, I even sold some of my tickets and bought new ones based on your advice and it paid off! Out of 6 aftershows he showed up at 5 of them. One of the best ones was on 18th August if I remember correctly, when Prince walked on stage wearing a red feathered hat, sat at his keyboard (right in front of me) and started off with Superstition. I had never seen him so close before, I have goosebumps just remembering it. Most of these shows were magnificent, have so many brilliant memories including a memorable invitation to dance on stage on 13th September.

Ah, the red hat, loved that show. Did anyone get a picture of it? I'm so sad that he had such a strict control on people taking photo's as it would be great to have the odd pic or two to help boost the fading memories.

You were there too? That's so cool, I love the .org for that, it really helps keep the memories alive. I do have a few photos someone had emailed me after the 13th, with me on stage and a very short clip of Prince, but they are all very blurry. As you say, it is a shame they were so strict about photo taking. I remember a few stories of people's cameras being snatched off by security.

CherryMoon57 said:

TheEnglishGent said:

Ah, the red hat, loved that show. Did anyone get a picture of it? I'm so sad that he had such a strict control on people taking photo's as it would be great to have the odd pic or two to help boost the fading memories.

You were there too? That's so cool, I love the .org for that, it really helps keep the memories alive. I do have a few photos someone had emailed me after the 13th, with me on stage and a very short clip of Prince, but they are all very blurry. As you say, it is a shame they were so strict about photo taking. I remember a few stories of people's cameras being snatched off by security.

Sure was, great show.

I really wanted to take pics but had seen many people get thrown out at earlier shows for doing it, so didn't dare.