VIP Experience

JediJustin, we didn't buy our package from Official Pix. The VIP packages were purchased as entry tickets. Reed should have coordinated with Official Pix on exactly what was to be delivered to VIPs so that our expectation was set properly at the time of purchase. Having paid $750 for each of our tickets, we shouldn't have to hunt down the details on how to claim our benefits on every site of participating partners.

 

Tom,

Thank you for responding. My original post does detail the good, bad, and ugly issues we had with the Masters package. Admittedly, I didn't hold back, but my post is really the draft for what I'll be sending to Reed regarding our experience.

I don't think any of the Masters feel the Clone Wars folks were blowing us off. Given the challenges we had with our benefits all the way around, it was clear there was a lack of planning for logistical delivery, misscommunication, or both. The biggest issue with the Clone Wars meet and greet is that our expectation was not set properly. Had the package said we'd just be meeting Dave, I think we'd have been thrilled because he's enjoyable to talk to and it was great to watch him draw Clone Wars characters from memory on our posters.

Meeting the cast as a family was one of the things we were looking forward to the most. I'm sad that that wasn't part of our Celebration experience. Had we known it would not be part of the package, we would have planned our days differently. Personally, I am very appreciative that you stopped by. Then again, Max and I were the two in the back of the room chatting you up before you said, "Bye" to Peter. You were one of the few Clone Wars cast members we got to see as a family.

 

Thanks for the response Tom, and thanks a lot for being a part of Celebration V.

As I said, overall I had a fantastic time, and I still think this was the best Celebration yet. I don't feel ripped off, just a bit short changed. I know it wasn't the voice actors' fault. It was clearly a miscommunication or inability to deliver on what was originally planned in the VIP package back at the end of March when the packages were sold -- but there were 4.5 months to figure it out. There were definitely expectations that the VIPs had that were not spelled out to the letter in what was offered. My hope is the feedback is taken and processed for Celebration VI.

 

Did anybody attend the VIP Feedback focus group session on Sunday morning? I was scheduled to go but was just too busy with other aspects of the convention.

 

As I understand, the invite was only extended to a few folks via email and you had to RSVP. I didn't receive an invitation. I know a couple of Masters who did receive invites, but by the time they RSVP'ed, the spots were full. I made a point of sharing my feedback anyway and will be following up with an email (largely what I wrote here).

 

ARE YOU FRIGGIN SERIOUS

I paid $750 odd and flew all the way from England and you're telling me this the above, THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS

plesea show me the link to above where it is all shown

 

Alot of great posts on the VIP experience. It seems to me that the Knight package got the most value. There were alot of those prints left over from the Masters Filoni meet and greet.

I think it can be made better for the next Celebration but I enjoyed it.

 

The hubby and I saw that or a similar event posted online, but we didn't attend. As I recall, the tickets were upward of $1000 each. However, for us, we would have had to decide between the charity viewing and Celebration. Besides, I think we had already purchased our Masters tickets. Had they been only $200, we would have attended.

 

Having purchased the Knight package, I felt I got my money's worth at C5. Yes - there were a few glitches the first few days (day 1 was the worst), but Reed seemed to get most problems solved pretty fast. Saturday was a breeze - I lined up early, regardless, because I wanted to be as close as possible to hear GL (5 am). I know the VIP badge guaranteed us a seat, so we didn't have to line up - but I didn't want to chance where that seat may be.

While the Masters I met in line were fantastic people, I did witness one in particular who behaved like a complete jack*ss, and who I believe, abused their priveleges repeatedly - to the point where they were making stuff up. I also witnessed a couple of Knights behave the same way. It was disgusting . While the volunteers may have been misinformed, I don't believe they deserved to be bullied, yelled at, or mistreated. They did the best they could, and in my experience, if they didn't know, they went about finding the answer. I thought they did a great job.

I would definitely buy a VIP pass for CVI - I just hope they keep the numbers limited, like this time.

 

what did this person say or do and who was this person ?

 

It'll be interesting to see if Reed goes with a 2-tiered VIP program for C6 again or just does one VIP price point (say at around $500).

 

In regard to the Lucas charity screening of Empire, the tickets were only $200 per person for the private reception.

If you saw them for $1000, that was more than likely on eBay or Craigslist.


The link on the Field Museum's site advertising the event is long-gone, but here is a link to where it's mentioned here on the boards on April 9th and the price of $200 is quoted for the Lucas reception.

Trust me, guys. I paid the $400 TOTAL for my wife and I to attend, it was a price that is not easy to forget.

Hector

http://boards.theforce.net/south_bend_in/b10171/30868719/p1/

 

Found the best proof of the $200 tickets of all.

Here is TFN's write-up of the event that includes a scan of an actual ticket showing the face price of the private reception and screening ticket (click on thumbnail below for image of the ticket).

I even told my wife afterward that it was a bargain for what we got. Unlimited access to George Lucas, unrushed autographs, plenty of photo ops with him, and a very elegant environment with a limited number of fans.

Ranks as one of the best moments of SW fandom in my life.

Hector

http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/TESB_30th_Anniversary_Screening_131186.asp

[image=http://www.collectinghq.com/im/0018470.jpg]

 

Likely I'm just remembering the cost it was for us to go. While the tickets were only $200, we'd also have to pay for airfare, hotel and meals, so it wasn't in the budget since we had purchased VIP Master tickets.

 

Yeah well... Reed has a knack for not providing what was sold/advertised/strongly implied.

Commitment chapel, how the passes were sent out (UPS sent after USPS, charging S&H to willcall-only international orders, not sealing many of the envelopes, etc), pre-order t-shirts NEVER arriving for some, issues with pre-ordering the guide and having to fight for refunds when discovered that the two different priced programs sold were both one and the same, those that ordered their passes back in December before the price change being totally dropped from the system (and not receiving things like their passes) when Reed still kept their money and had assured them there would be no issues with the price change. According to some of the people running events like the droid races, the official schedule handed out at the con was wrong regarding times (and in some cases locations). Reed volunteers not trained and Reed picking the exact same shade of orange for their crew shirts as Official Pix (when OP always uses that orange for their volunteers). Some Reed volunteers stating they were only supposed to work 3 hours with two breaks but were stuck working 6 hours straight with no break. Another that he couldn?t check out on his final day because his lead had left for the day. Some Reed crew were reportedly going to OP volunteers to find out where things were at when asked for info by convention goers. I overheard a couple of the security ladies talking to each other while I was passing through a door to get back into the exhibition hall. I suppose one must have asked about what to do, because I heard the second one say she was literally letting in anyone with a badge. She wasn?t checking to see which day?s badge was being worn. Other convention-goers mentioned that they knew people who would just wait until they found a particular guard (an older one) that wasn?t checking too well and could walk in without any badge at all.

If you tried to figure out what happened to your passes or t-shirts before the con by contacting Reed's hotline, you might get such gems as "You didn't get your tickets yet when everyone else is getting theirs? Then you'll need to contact the postal service for them to fix it. It?s not Reed?s issue." (they actually told that to someone) or "Your t-shirts didn't arrive? No refunds are being issued and we don't handle that...contact the t-shirt vendor to work out how you?re getting your shirts." and then proceeded to give out the WRONG vendor name and email (that?s what hubby got on the third time he called checking on the shirts). Or the chapel thing, they were supposed to contact couples within 3 to 4 business days to set up the details; the form had even collected phone number info. The confirmation page after you paid for the event actually said that it would be a ?wedding planner? who would contact couples. But for our emails prodding them about when we?d be contacted, the only communication initiated by Reed regarding this was to confirm what we already knew (date, time, light or dark side and that we had a slot reserved?which we figured since they had taken our money) and that we?d be contacted next week to plan out further details. This was literally the only thing they?d tell us for 3 weeks until we finally demanded a refund. Then they tried to blame Lucasfilm for the delay in communication in that they were ?just told? to not tell couples anything unti

 

I am VERY annoyed at this

I paid $750 and I didnt get none of this

 

You paid for the Vip at CV. You got the VIP at CV. Nowhere was it ever said you would get to meet George or get his autograph. To pay $200 to go see the anniversary screening with dinner is a little steep. The $200 ticket was only for 102 people and if you read the article it says George stopped by. I Don't think he was scheduled to do what he did at this screening. Also if you read the link all proceeds went to a charity not to Reed.

Like I said before did you get your $750 dollars worth. Sure you did. 4 days of Star Wars. No lines and other pearks. This is like comparing apples to oranges.

Now, Move along.

 

This perk alone made my Jedi Knight badges well worth the cost.

 

I agree, I am not sure who the other person was referring to as being unpleasant or whatnot, but I thought the other Jedi Masters were great and I enjoyed meeting them and speaking with them. Actually, far from being an elitist experience where you don't mingle with other fans, I thought it was an opportunity to get to know a group of fans at least a little bit over four days. You see the same people in the VIP room, especially the masters you see in the meet and greets, and you get an opportunity to speak to them a bit and get to know them. I thought that was cool!

I have to admit to laughing pretty hard about the people who basically espouse a socialist / communist attitude about commercial events. Like somehow everyone should be treated equally and there should never be any VIP level because it's unfair to the regular people. Dude, this is STAR WARS, a $15 billion+ franchise, do you not understand it's about the money? Yes, we all love Star Wars, no I'm not cynical and I don't think Lucas only thinks about money, of course not, he's like me -- he loves his art, but he also is a businessman. They aren't mutually exclusive. But the other companies involved here? They care about the money. Reed, the merchants, the exhibitors, they have families to feed, bills to pay, and stockholders to make happy, or whatever. The free world revolves around money and capitalism, and be thankful that it does because that's how we're able to live the lives we do.

So for the guy who said you won't attend more Celebrations with VIP level access, I think I wouldn't attend any more without it, frankly. I've already been to 5, I absolutely love going and it would be a shame to miss one, but I'm at the point in my life and my career where I really don't want to be part of the masses to go to these things. I don't have it in me to wait 10 hours to see Lucas on a stage from far away. I'm in the industry, I work with people who have worked on major movies, I can meet actors bigger than a guy who had a role in a 30-year-old movie, frankly, so yes I love the saga and yes I love meeting people involved in it but I just can't really tolerate hours and hours of waiting and being lumped in with everyone else willing to wait OVERNIGHT just to see Lucas speak perhaps from 20, 30, 40 rows back. That's great, I love that level of dedication that our fans have, we have the most amazing fans, but for me it's a bit too much.

I'm hoping for Celebration VII I go as an actual VIP, like a Kyle Newman for instance, haha. But I'm definitely hoping for the VIP package to continue because the whole no-lines thing was in itself worthwhile.

Sure, I agree with the other Masters who wrote that we didn't quite get what we paid for, and it was a hassle, you guys are right. It was not well coordinated and the communication was awful. Also, there is a night and day difference in attitude between volunteers and staff. Volunteers -- loved you guys, what a friendly group of people who were trying to make everyone happy and were just great!! Staff, honestly, quit and go find a job you like, the bad attitudes couldn't have been any more obvious. I saw anyone in a staff shirt and I wanted to punch them in the face. They didn't know anything, they were rude, they were absolutely NEVER helpful, it was like they just existed t

 

I bought a knight pass and it was worth it to me. I skipped the lines for Mark, Carrie, and Ashley to get their autographs since I was short on time. I was able to walk right into Lucas show without any problems and used the lounge to store my stuff for the day.

Because I volunteered so much of my time for OPX, Lucas was the only panel I was able to attend and, therefore, didn't have to deal with the hassle of seating for day 1 & 2. I loaned my VIP pass to a friend so she could see the Robot Chicken panel and she enjoyed the fact that she could sit near the front.

The VIP pass was worth it to me and I hope they continue it for the future celebrations. I've attended all of the US celebrations so I've seen the good & bad, but I just adapted and adjusted my expectations so that my experience wouldn't be marred too badly.

 

Wow, obviously no reason that anyone would think some of those people with VIP passes had entitlement issues. Even with a pass that got me various advantages I really enjoyed the times I spent waiting in lines, and that made it worth it given some of the people I met while waiting. Different people have different reasons for going to a con, and so if you don't want to do certain things that other do, no problems. Just loose the condescension.

 

Excuse me?! Because I don't want to wait in super long lines that's condescending? Take a chill pill.

I've met a lot of great fans in line, one of my friends is from the first Celebration, we've kept in touch now for 11 years! But that doesn't mean I want to wait in hours-long lines at this point, that doesn't make me evil or entitled or anything else. It means that experience is not for me anymore. Period.

 

I'd think the elitism was more in the statements "I really don't want to be part of the masses to go to these things." and "I just can't really tolerate hours and hours of waiting and being lumped in with everyone else"

Granted, personally I don't get the big deal about seeing George Lucas. But to each his own.

 

I don't really see a problem with elitism, so if you do I guess that's your issue. This isn't a communist society -- I want to be able to pay NOT to be part of the crowd, yes. What's the big deal about that? It doesn't mean I think I'm "better" than anyone else, it simply means I would prefer not to wait in the same long lines that everyone else does if there's some way around that. If there isn't, I've always been willing to wait in the longest lines, and I was first in line at my theater for ROTS and AOTC, and have waited in hideously long Star Wars lines for years now We all have. It's ok if that's the only way to go. But sure, if I can avoid it, I like to avoid it.

It's like saying I don't want to have to drive the same powered car most people drive. I don't. If I had to drive a Honda Civic, to get from Point A to B, you bet I would, no biggie it's just a car, but if I can drive a better car that's more fun, that would be preferable.

I'm looking forward to the next Celebration and I think they did a good job by offering the VIP tickets, at least, and it was great for those of us who really want a better-than-average experience of the event. That IS the point -- you are paying a premium for a better experience and better access. Some people don't have the money for that or don't care to spend their money in that fashion, and other people enjoy the perks, to each their own.

 

'They did a good job' ... LoL Really !! Hey dont get me wrong having not to wait in line was a REAL bonus but a 750 DOLLAR bonus eh dont think so .. the meet n greets were VERY poor considering who was attending,the Lounge while cool to have somewhere to sit was bit grubby with some odd bags of crisps thrown around ,the seating area in the main theatre was stupid till WE complained or they would have left it as was!, They had explained NOTHING to most of their staff! ,Hey but I got a cap lol lol ... seriously though it COULD and SHOULD have been much better and come next time if Im going I would prob fork out again for it , but did a good job!! lol no ! Did I enjoy CV and have a great time course I did,Amanda and HER staff could not have been more helpful but Reed should have really pulled ALL the stops out and they so didnt!
And as for waiting in line ... i go all the way back to the first in 77 lol!!