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on the other board? *wonders what you think* [img]smile.gif[/img]
Michelle
xx
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Hi.
I was a meet and greet winner at Darren Hayes' concert in Sydney on September 9.
First of all I would like to say what a huge fan I have been of Darren since Savage Garden released their first album. His voice is incredible and the lyrics he writes have so much meaning.
You cannot imagine how excited I was to win the opportunity to meet him. I won a competition and the proposed concert date of September 2 was just 3 days after my birthday so it was all very exciting.
Having grown up around musicians (my uncle was in a famous Australia band in the 70's), I new what Darren would not want was "groupies" trying to hang off him and kiss and cuddle him (as one girl not part of the group I was with actually did). Might I say at this point that I am 33 years of age, about to complete a law degree, and not some star struck groupie! I am however a devoted fan and was looking forward to meeting him.
When I won the competition I was told I could bring 1 item with me to have autographed and that photos would be taken of me with Darren. I expected that I would at least have the opportunity to introduce myself and tell Darren what a great artist he is. What I did not expect was to be herded around like sheep, spoken to like a child, made to feel like a huge imposition, and experience, not a special moment with a star, but rather a 2 minute group photo session and handed a pre-produced impersonal postcard shot of Darren. Darren had been sick the week before, and yes he should do everything he can to avoid getting sick again particularly at the beginning of a tour, but it was eight to ten adults, not a herd of giggling fans, and 10-20 minutes is all it would have taken to make those people happy. I do not think this was Darren's intention, I think he does care what his fans think, to me he appears very grounded and a down to earth person. Rather it was his "people".
Although the concert was fabulous and Darren's performance impeccable, what I was left with was a huge feeling of disappointment. From a publicity point of view the whole thing was a total failure. People ask me what it was like to meet Darren - what can I say - can't really say I met him.
Okay - so I won a competition - it's not like it cost me anything and the concert tickets were free - I am not ungrateful - but hey - that's publicity, and a radio competition obviously raises people's awareness to the tour. Had I not won the tickets for the chance to meet him, I would have paid to go to the concert.
My opinion of Darren is not changed and I remain a faithful fan. Spin is just such a great solo first release. There is not one track on the album that I do not like.
My purpose in writing this is in the hope that it will reach Darren's PR people so that other fans are not so disappointed.
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ September 10, 2002 09:28 AM: Message edited by: Juliet10 ]</font>
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They could have sent it to the fanclub. [img]frown.gif[/img]
I purposely didn't read that on the Sony board. [img]frown.gif[/img]
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I purposely didn't read that on the Sony board. [img]frown.gif[/img]
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Oh, sorry [img]frown.gif[/img]
Michelle
xx
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Well, you know what I think Michelle but I'll say it here too.
She's entitled to feel that way. Disappointment is far greater when what you've been looking forward to doesn't turn out to be as you expected.
I feel sorry for the person [img]frown.gif[/img]
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As I said in my post over on the Sony board, it all sounded like a rather impersonal experience for her [img]frown.gif[/img] Judging by the way they handled it, I think she's entitled to feel somewhat let down and disappointed [img]frown.gif[/img]
Janie xx
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I think she has every right to be disappointed with the whole thing.
I feel sorry for everyone in that position, but it does make the knowledge I didn't win a little easier to bear [img]wink.gif[/img]
*knows the last remark sounds selfish, but that's how I honestly feel* [img]smile.gif[/img]
xxLauren
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And obviously, being a winner, I feel the opposite of Lauren! [img]wink.gif[/img]
Seriously, I think she's right to feel disappointed. I would be/will be in the same position. However, I think from the wording, it was a radio competition she won, not the fanclub one. Here is another account of one of the "post-cancellation" meet and greets, from the point of view of a winner of the fanclub comp (dunno if it was the same night or not):
"to tell you the truth, I did not put my hopes up for the Meet and Greet, especially after the notice on the main news page.
I don't know whether I'm allowed to tell you ALL the details, so I'll just tell you this - Darren has a special place in his heart for his fans and he made sure all the other M&G winners (from radio comps etc) left, before he talked to his fans alone. I do not know whether you will be allowed to have one on one pics - I suppose it depends on how many people there are. However you will be handed pre autographed photos - but they are specially dedicated to each and one of the fanclub members (meet and greet winners only I mean)."
Hard to know what to make between these 2 accounts really. food for thought, eh?
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I just it's a case of you get what you pay for. Althought if the experience where as these two fans said they where I think it's greatly unfair. Just because someone couldn't join the fan club doesn't mean they are any less of a fan than some one who did. If they where all there at the same time I think they should have gotten the same treatment.
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I have to say I disagree Krissy - the first person won a competition on the radio - and got free concert ticket(s) as well as the meet and greet! The fanclub winners don't get that - their whole prize is the "personal" time with Darren and we had to pay face value for our tickets to the show(s)! If I get the same meet and greet experience as radio competion winners who are also getting into the concert free - is that any fairer?
It would however be insensitive to treat one group of fans differently in front of another group, IMHO. My understanding of the account is that the "extras" for the fanclub winners took place after the others had left, so I don't think that's too bad.
I don't think it's a case of some fans are worth more than others - but rather, one prize was one thing, the other was a different thing...and also organised by different people.
...But we can agree to disagree, eh? [img]smile.gif[/img]
However, the bit about being herded around and spoken to like children is definitely out of order in my opinion, no matter who was involved. (See my post further down the thread about respect, lol!)
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ September 11, 2002 11:12 AM: Message edited by: salomeuk ]</font>
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I really feel sorry for the person that posted that. I know at last nights meet & greet the competition winners had well & truly left while the fanclub winners did hang around and get to chat. The competition people had a group photo, and I know a few people last night were also disappointed, which I can totally understand. I was lucky that I had a fc meet & greet and I actually got to talk to Darren. If I had won a competition, I would have expected to be able to speak to Darren, I would have felt let down when that didnt happen.. so I understand her point but still, atleast she got to have a pic with him right? She got to meet him, even if they didnt really talk.. and some people arent even lucky enough to get that. So I dont know, I feel sorry for her, but think she should be happy with the opportunity she had [img]smile.gif[/img]
Jen
xox
