My Toto VIP experience (06/23/13, Hallenstadion/Switzerland)

[lordreo]

Edit 06.26.13:

From the reactions I got, I feel like I need to clarify something. It looks like I really messed up with this post, because I really did not want to blame the band. It was bad luck and that's all it was. I'm sorry if that was not clear from what I wrote.

Original post:

Hi guys,

So this is what happened to me yesterday.
Since I am a huge fan of Toto, but was never able to actually meet them, I thought it would be a good idea to save some money and buy a VIP ticket, which included the following:

-Front row seat
-Meet and Greet with Toto
-Photo with Toto
-Bring 2 items to be signed during Meet and Greet
-Soundcheck Performance
-Group Q&A
-VIP Entrance
-VIP Laminate
-Exclusive 35th Anniversary Merchandise

Two days before the concert I got an email, saying to be in front of the venue at 15:45. Naturally I followed that instruction and, just to be sure, arrived an hour early. When the wait was over, Paul (Name changed for privacy reasons), our host, welcomed me and the other VIP guests. He handed us our badges and had some news for us. He said the good news was, the band would perform tonight, but the bad news was, because their bus broke down, they would not be doing a soundcheck. Because of this delay, the band would do the meet and greet before the show and the pictures/autographs after the show. He then continued to say, that he would come to get us in an hour in front of the VIP entrance. In other words, we were told to wait outside of the venue for an hour.

At 16:45 we entered through the VIP entrance together with Paul and were led to the merchandise store. This meant we had 15 minutes to shop, before the main entrance opened. Paul told us to meet him again at 18:20. So once again we had to wait for an hour with nothing going on. At 18:20 Paul came to the place we were told to meet and said he had some good news and bad news. The good news was, the band was still going to perform (how is that even news at all?), the bad news was, we were not going to meet the band, or get autographs, or get the photo, or do the Q&A. So basically nothing that included the band. He quickly added that we would get a refund and that the band was sorry, but you could tell the other VIP guests didn't really care about that, at least not right then.

However, Paul told us we woud be allowed to keep the VIP badges (yay) and we would still get the exclusive merchandise, paid for by the band. He then handed everyone a unsigned picture of the band (that was also sold at the merchandise store) and a 35th anniversary blanket, which I guess was the exclusive one. He told us again how sorry he was, and to have fun at the concert. Of course the concert started in an hour, in which we, well, waited.

The concert itself was awesome! The guys were on fire and the sound was great. Also my seat was perfect, though I was standing most of the time. I cannot stress enough how cool the concert was. I will never forget this amazing performance. They played over 2 hours with an awesome setlist.

Now I don't want to blame anyone for the fact that Toto was not able to do the VIP stuff, shit happens. But I think the situation was handled very poorly. And this is where I'd like to hear your opinions. Am I wrong in thinking we were left hanging most of the time? Is it okay to leave your guests waiting for a combined 3 and a half hours? And why do you think the band cancelled the autographs after the show?

I want to add that, according to Paul, this never happened before on this tour and that normally the VIP package is probably awesome. This was just bad luck and is no indication of how things usually go down. And also, go see Toto. They are awesome! I hope someday I will actually get to meet Joseph Williams and the gang, but I guess I'll have to wait a little longer to fulfill that dream.

[WalrusOct9]

As a musician (obviously nowhere near their level in stature or talent ), I can say that ALL KINDS OF SHIT can go wrong on the road. Toto has done a few summer tours the last few years, but they're hardly a well-oiled touring machine like, say, Journey or Rush, with a long-time and full-time road crew. Not to mention jumping from country to country every couple days doesn't make things easier, even if it's all within the EU. Who knows if someone in the band was sick, if they had trouble getting from their hotel to the venue because of traffic or whatnot, god only knows.

As long as you got a refund, IMO there's no foul. These things happen. If I was the band, I would've tried to do something post-show, but I can also see how this would be very difficult to organize on short notice in such a large venue.

These are good guys...Gn'R or another band with a certain reputation, I'd blame the band, but as long as they didn't actually keep your VIP money, I think it's just some bad luck that goes along with the act of being a touring band. At least whatever the reason was didn't seem to affect the quality of the show, and that is what really counts. I'm just envious they played in your town.

[lordreo]

You are right. As I wrote above, their bus broke down, which is obviousely not their fault. Also everyone there was super nice to us, they just left us waiting a lot which annoyed me. I also got an explanation why they couldn't do post-show stuff.

It looks like I really messed up with the above post, because I really did not want to blame the band. It was bad luck and that's all it was. I'm sorry if that was not clear from what I wrote.