Ok, I was just starting to get over the whole Superbowl thing. Well, not really getting over it....but letting it go. I listened to the respected opinion of a certain guitar master that I know, and his take on it inspired me to soften my stance on what I perceived to be appauling actions by this well documented musical genius. Musical genius or not, I'm back to the rigidity of my previous post....Prince is on the naughty list, for good! This isn't even about tingles, this is about so much more. The story goes something like this -
A friend of mine approached me today and asked me if I would like to go and see Prince with her. She reads this blog, and knows that pre-superbowl, I am ALL over going to see Prince, but now....not so much. She informs me that he is playing a small venue in Northern California next month, and really wants us to go and see him. I agree to go. Simple, right? Not even close! We get on ticketmaster and learn that in order to attend this concert, one must be a Citibank/AAdvantage card holder. The tickets must be purchased using said credit card and a special code must be entered verifying that you are an enrolled/paid member of the Citibank/AAdvantage club. Well, I don't think I probably need to go into what my reaction was to that, or the tirade that ensued for several minutes later. I have never seen such a gross example of the alignment of art and capitalism, in my life. And a bank, of all things! It doesn't get any worse than banks (well, maybe insurance companies are worse...it's a toss up). I mean, what is he doing?
You know, some of the greatest things I've seen have been what musicians do on stage. Going to live shows and watching the bands you love, play the music you love....it does something wonderful to you. The vibe is so incredible, and the feeling of the sound resonating through your whole body is euphoric. The energy stays with you for days - it's amazing. I am horrified and saddened by the increasing trend of elitist promotional tactics that make concert going impossible for many, and a financial burden to most. I forgot to mention that a ticket to this little citibank gig....$225.
So, what to do about it? We are the ones in control. Don't buy tickets to these shows. It really does come down to simple supply and demand. Don't go buy a CD at Best Buy, or pay to join the fan club, just so you can have a code to some pre-sale bullshit. At every turn, concert promoters and artists are finding ways to squeeze every dollar they can out of us. Take a stand and make art accessible to everyone who is interested. Ironically, the first concert I went to was Prince, on the Purple Rain tour. I was 14. That experience changed me, opened up something wonderful inside of me...and you know, how many 14 year olds are getting citibank credit cards and paying $225 to see Prince now? My guess is none - and that is just wrong.
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I have been to one major concert in my life (it was a country singer that I can not remember) I went with a girl I was hot for; she was into the music, and I was hoping like hell that I would get laid if for no other reason than I had made the effort to attend this concert with her. I am getting off topic my sorted past is not the topic of this comment. The point I want to make is that while I am not a concert goer I too feel outrage at this insidious marriage of art at money. The most disturbing part of your story is that in order to attend this concert one must apply for a credit card and join their AAdvantage program which as we all know is just another way to milk the consumer. Citibank has a plan for all those young people who want to attend this concert but do not have the $225 ticket price. They can charge it with their new credit card. The bright side is that they will remember this concert for a long time to come. They will have an opportunity to reminisce about it each month as they send in their minimum payment. Shame on Prince for aligning himself with such a slimy campaign.
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