So, this summer I turn the big 30. I’ve decided to be a bit extravagant and shell out to go see Sting in Texas (there are three concerts in September here with Annie Lennox). I’m not one to fawn over celebrities, but, well, I, well, I have very naughty thoughts about him and love his music. I would like to meet him just once even if it’s just for a handshake.
So, I think I can find online how to buy good tickets (even though they are like 800 bucks a pop), but I would truly love to get a backstage pass or something. I shall try to be a groupie for an evening :). I don’t live in any of the cities where the concerts are, nor do I get their local radio stations so I can’t try to win/beg/borrow or otherwise procur one that way. Or does anyone know a good way to get tickets near front row center that doesn’t involve mortgaging my house?
Any ideas on how to go about doing this? Oh and if you have had one before and want to share, please email me @ bottledblondjeanie@yahoo.com, I’d love to hear about your experience if you don’t want to post it here.
You’ve got to have some connections to get backstage (or win some radio station contest). If there were some easy, cheap way any shmuck could get backstage, no one would buy tickets.
If you want to get close to him under some other circumstances, you could become a full-time stalker and eventually you’d probably find him in a restaurant somewhere. Use the tactics the paparazzi use.
Don’t get too excited about backstage passes. Lots of times they’re handed out like coupons and once you get “backstage” you realize that there are about 200 other people with “backstage” passes and you’re not actually going to meet the star you wanted to meet [size=5]and that the GODDAMN RADIO STATION IS A BASTARD!!![/size]
Be wary of buying tickets from individuals, it’s a big scam in Chicago. I have heard several stories like this:
My friend buys Stones tickets, 20th row, $800 a piece. He shows up for the concert, the bouncers lead him and his date out of the concert, the tickets were reported stolen at gunpoint. On the way out he notices the person that sold him the seats is now seated where he should have been.
I guess I’m probably willing to shell out big bucks to get one if it’d be worth it.
But, I’m not stalkerish, that’s what’s so funny…he’s about the only celeb that makes me weak in the knees…okay male celeb that makes me weak in the knees. So, nope no weirdo type stuff…unless it’s an official thingy, I’m out.
Here’s an angle that might work. Pretend you are a writer for a new website or ezine. (You can even create a one page site to back it up). You may need to create a fake id or letterhead for this. Try contacting the promoter and tell them you are writing an article about the event and see if you can get a press pass. Or see if you can get into a rehearsal.
In my case I used to be the auto mechanic for one of the band members. I won’t name the group, but let us just say that if you were born to be wild you would know who they are.
Anyway, every time they came to town, it was worth 2 excellent and two backstage passes.
I know a lady that really wanted to meet Van Hallen many years ago. During the concert, she got right up next to the backstage entrance (standing next to the security guard) reached into her pocket and pulled out a pair of lacy panties and using her finger like a slingshot shot them on stage. The guard kind of moved his arm and she was backstage.
Feel free to use which ever approach that you think will work the best for you.
AFAIK there’s no way to get backstage without knowing someone or winning a pass… but as mentioned above, it doesn’t get you that close to the singer of your dreams, and frankly, the view from backstage is pretty lousy.
My personal anecdote:
Waaaay back in the dark ages, when I was a mere lass, one of the assistant managers I worked with at Sam Goody (a music store, for those unfamiliar) knew the guy in charge of t-shirts for The Police’s Synchronicity tour. He called her up to offer her a backstage pass for the show at Shea Stadium; she promptly wheedled two more out of him, one for her roommate and one for me, since she knew just how crazy I was for them. (Btw, the show was Aug. 18, 1983. I think I may still have the pass somewhere. :D)
Anyways, when we got there we ran into major problems getting through security. Apparently the passes we were given were some kind of restricted pass, not all-access, so we couldn’t get in without my manager’s friend actually being present to ID us. We completely missed both opening acts (REM and Joan Jett) while we were trying to track the guy down… FINALLY got in just as The Police took the stage. I had a great time, regardless, but I will say we never got closer than about 150 feet to the guys, and I had a far better view of Stewart Copeland’s butt than anything else on stage.
BBJ - unless you win a contest, getting back stage ain’t gonna happen. And Sting is such a control freak (so I have heard from my friends in the biz) that NO ONE will get near him unless he allows them to. Go for the best seats you can in front of the stage and enjoy the view of the show.
My backstage story involved the Grateful Dead - and I am not even remotely a Deadhead. A friend was friends with someone who as a physician for the band (I am not even going to go there) and we got laminates. It was fine - tons of people, schmoozing with Bill Walton and all that - but tough to get close to the band and basically just a cocktail party with a buffet surrounded by people who might or might not being into music or the band but liked the exclusivity of getting backstage. Woo hoo.
I have a friend who has worked as a production manager on several major tours. I have been backstage at many shows and can confirm that being backstage sucks. There is backstage, and then there is backstage. The only way to get backstage (which is where you’ll find Sting) is to be Sting, someone who works for Sting, or a friend/wife/relation of Sting. You can’t get there by blowing someone, you can’t tag along with someone who works for the venue, you can’t convince any of the roadies to let you back there. Sting might have to go through backstage to get to backstage, but if you get in his way someone will pay dearly.
That said, they generally have free coffee and soda pop backstage, so it’s not all bad.
Ahh well, my heart is now broken. Thanks for telling me about backstage, guess it isn’t as much fun as it sounds like…
And I am NOT willing to give up sexual favours to get backstage, I guess I’m a dork, I never even thought about that for a Sting concert–seems like something more fitting for a heavy metal rocker
ccwaterback thank you…I was having a shitty day and you made me feel better. If only nekkid pics of my aging body would work.
So I shall shell out and sit very close to the stage and hope to God that maybe he’ll do what he did last concert I went to where he let a few select women come up on stage and give him a cheek smack. Hmmm, perhaps a sign…
Make friends with the local rock [insert your fave type of music here] DJ and you shall receive the benefits of the DJ’s numerous musical connections. That’s what I did, indirectly. I was trying to find out about radio internships and became friends with the DJ. I got backstage to Tool, Radiohead, Belly, Live, Marilyn Manson, and Primus.
Unfortunately, it’s been a few years since we’ve spoken but he was a great pal. Took me out for my 22nd B-day and I have him to thank for bringing me safely home (since I don’t remember walking up my stairs; he bought me many rounds of B-day drinks). Here’s to you, Larry!
BBJ - I just emailed you with some words of encouragement. Good luck…My emailed anecdote has some good advice And a great story of what happened to my wife and I.
I don’t know about the backstage issue but as to the tickets question I might be able to help. I was listening to an interview of one of the heads of a major-talent concert promoter and he was asked this very question. His response was to join the fan club of the particular artist you are interested in. I have since done that with several of my favorite musicians (it doesn’t cost much $) and have been privy to pre-release ticket sales for each artist. Great seats at great prices all purchased from the comfort of my home. You can’t beat it!
Find out who does a lot of advertising on the radio station sponsoring the show. Radio stations will bend over backwards for their advertisers which means free tickets, backstages passes, invites to play golf with the “star” the day of the concert…that sort of thing. Do you or any of your friends have any contacts, i.e. friends, relatives that are connected with that business in any way?
You could always check the web for Sting’s official web site. Sometimes fan clubs have special get togethers the nights of shows. Lots of times they are invited backstage for a “meet and greet.”
