Andy Vineberg, staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 12:00 am
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| Bon Jovi (from left) Richie Sambora, David Bryan, Jon Bon Jovi and Tico Torres are photographed in Brooklyn. |
Concert tickets for a major act almost always cost in the triple digits these days. For that price - for any price, really - you ought to be able to expect a handful of givens.
Such as the band you bought tickets for being the band you actually get to see.
Doesn't seem like too much to ask, does it?
Last week, Bon Jovi announced that guitarist Richie Sambora was headed back into rehab and would miss at least part of the band's spring/summer tour of North America and Europe, which began Saturday in New Orleans and includes a show this Friday on Long Island.
According to a statement from the band, the shows will go on without him: "We will keep our commitment to the fans and continue our tour."
Commitment to the fans? More like a slap in the face.
This isn't about whether or not Sambora should have gone into rehab. None of us know the details or the severity of his problems, just that he's "been drinking too much, and wants to get his life together" according to what a source told Radar Online.
Nor is it about the credentials about replacement guitarist Phil X (an accomplished session man and former member of Canadian rock group Triumph), who, by some Internet accounts, handled himself fine in New Orleans.
This is about offering the fans something totally different than what they paid to see.
There are two superstars in Bon Jovi. Jon Bon Jovi is one of them. Sambora is the other. Take either one out of the mix, and you've suddenly got a totally different band.
Postponing shows seemed like the right move here. Sure, it would have been a logistical nightmare, and the band might take a hit financially (trust me, they can afford it), but plenty of major acts have managed to reschedule shows for various reasons over the years.
Another option would have been playing the shows but offering refunds to fans who don't want to go. Again, it'd be a huge logistical headache, but it would probably be the fairest solution.
You pay to see a certain band, you should have the right to a refund if that band no longer exists.
But maybe I'm making too much of this. Judging by the multitudes of veteran bands that continue to draw decent crowds on tour without key members in the lineup, maybe fans just want to scream along to familiar songs and don't care who's playing them. (Of course, if that's your thing, the corner bar hosting karaoke is a hell of a lot cheaper than the glorified tribute band packing the amphitheater.)
But in those cases, fans at least know beforehand who is - or isn't - in the band when they buy their tickets. That wasn't the case here, and penalizing fans by offering a significantly different product - especially at these prices - is borderline stealing.
So what else should fans have the right to expect when they buy their tickets to see a major act in concert?
In a perfect world, these five guarantees would come with every ticket purchase:
1. Full disclosure of concert format
If you're a solo artist who normally performs with a band but is going it alone on tour, let people know. Likewise, if you're a loud, electric band planning an extended acoustic set, promote it before tickets go on sale. Maybe the hardcore fans will come to your show regardless of the format, but casual fans ought to have some idea what to expect before they fork over a week's salary for two tickets and parking.
2. Full disclosure of setlist plans
No, acts shouldn't reveal their specific setlists in advance. (Surprises are great!) But if they plan on devoting, say, half the show to new material, they should be upfront about it, so fans who only want to hear the decades-old hits won't whine about hearing new songs during the show. (Oh, who am I kidding - they'll still whine, but at least they'll have only themselves to blame.)
3. A little diversity
Speaking of setlists, the same ones every night get old in a hurry. Is it too much to ask for acts - especially ones that have been around for a while and have a huge back catalog - to mix it up from night to night, even a little? Like I said, surprises are great. Every show should include at least one "OMG, they played that!?!" moment.
4. Two-hour sets from the headliner + minimum
When fans spend more time in their cars getting in and out of the parking lot than they did in their seats watching the show, there's a problem.
5. An honest effort
I don't care if it's your 17th show in 20 nights and you're mentally fried. For some fans, it might be the only night they'll ever see you. Sing and play like you actually want to be there - even if you don't.
And while you're at it, do something about those ridiculous service charges, would you?
This is my take on everything.
How would you feel if you had an 18 month contract with an employer and were told at month 15, oh yeah well we're cancelling the contract. In this economy jobs are scarce and you're in a specialized field where you have a job lined up 4 months from now, but that's four months away. What are you going to do for those 4 months to make ends meet? The economy sucks. Jobs are scarce and is an employer going to hire you and train you so you can leave in four months? Essentially that's what Bon Jovi would have done to their crew
How do you reschedule events in arenas when you don't know when you're going to be able to reschedule? I mean no one know how long Richie's going to be gone or when/if he comes back.
How do you tell all the Fan Club members who have booked airline tickets that you're not going to help them with their airfare, but they can call the airline.
How do you tell other fans who have made plans. Oh sorry. Your hotels (if you pre-paid) gas, air fare, etc.
There are very few shows Jon Bon Jovi has cancelled, if you want to talk to people who have been left disappointed talk to Guns N Roses fans who year after year have watched shows get cancelled or watch Axl walk off 2 songs in. That too me is complete and utter bullshit. You build a bad reputation that way and I have never thought that Jon wants to build a bad reputation (its bad for business and bad for charity).
If you think that this "show must go on" mentality was easy for Jon watch the last 2 performances. If you think you're upset that Richie isn't there and that Jon is letting his ego get the best of him, you need to watch those videos and think again. I'm sure this wasn't the easiest decision for him to make and I bet he drinks a bottle of wine every night wondering if he made the right decision.
Also go back and watch When we Were Beautiful. Who's the CEO and who's the employees? That should end the whole thing, but it doesn't.
If you think, I'll just get back at Jon by not going to the show, at least sell your ticket to another person who wants to go. If you bought a $125 ticket and waste the ticket by not going & not selling it, who's the fool? You or Jon Bon Jovi (who by the way is $125 richer and didn't have to do squat for you).
Remember there's this thing call royalties. Jon & Richie co-wrote most of the Bon Jovi catalog, Richie still gets money when those songs are played. By not getting those songs played you're therefore denying him money too.
Those are my thoughts. Feel free to share yours, the comments field is below. But don't tell me how you're a huge fan and Richie not being there won't make a difference because its all about Jon, because we all know its not. I will respond back to you and I won't be nice about it either.
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