After Last night I thought my Fresh Beat Band frenzie would be over, but I think I may need to take my daughter to a different venue to see them again to make up for the sheer disaapointment in our visit to the Count Basie theater last night.
After months of waiting for this concert to finally arrive and pain-stakingly making my own Rockstar jacket for my daughter (that no one bothered to mention was being sold at these concerts for $45.00), I have to say I was less than thrilled by the "vip" package I purchased for $258.000 for my daughter and I. Yes I know...a little crazy but I am willing to do anything for my little girl and just knew how much she would love this. If only it was what they advertised.
I'm writing this because I wish someone else would have warned me. I wish they told me that the extra money I paid was buying us a poster, bottle of water, dried apples and a 30 second photo op with the fresh beat band. Oh and the "dance party" was a crowded room that only fit half of the people that signed up for this party. Unfortunately my daughter was one of them that got left out. I have to say it was mostly the venues fault - they should have had a bigger space.
So after about 10 minutes consoling my daughter, crying her eyes out that she didn't get to dance and me trying to explain to her why she didn't make it into the party room, we were then rushed in to take pictures (bring your own camera - point and shoot only). No autographs allowed due to timing because the next show was coming in. You had better believe I contacted the venue to give them an earful. Not sure yet if they will do anything about it. Needless to say she cried half way home and I cried my self to sleep wishing I wasn't so nice and that I would have just picked her up and plowed through the crowd to get my kid in the stupid party.
Anyway now that my rant is over, the concert itself was good. We did have front row and my daughter had a lot of fun. I just wish I left immediately afterward and never went to the stupid vip party. The night would have ended on a much better note.
So here are some things you may expect to see at your concert. Not sure if all concerts are the same but just listing this here so other parents can have a heads up:
- The vip party was after the show - we had to arrive 1 hour early to get our "package". Open this package and you will find:
- a poster which has 2 of them in it
- wristbands for the party that you may or may not get to attend unless you shove your way through the crowd
- vip lanyards which are just a novelty - it is the wrist band you need to get in to the after party.
- A plastic bag to hold all your junk
Items for sale at the concert:
Fresh beat band cup with twisty straw - they use this on stage to do freeze dance - $10
Light up spinning thing - $20 (note - do not crush this 10 minutes later by wedging it between your seat then sitting down.)
T-shirts - $25 - $35
Rockstar jacket with orange star - all are the same you do not get to choose color star - it's just a generic star on front and fresh beat live logo on the back. - $45.00
Pens- not sure how much
Rubber bracelets / bands - $5
CD - $15
Having your daughter ask for only one thing - PRICELESS
Oh and they were selling beer and well as candy and other refreshments at my venue in Red Bank. Although I certainly needed a beer by the time I got home, I was shocked to see the number of moms chugging beers and dancing in the aisles like they were flashing back to some rock concert they may have gone to in the 80's. Pretty disgusting but to each their own.
- My last word of advice if you do purchase the vip - go to the last show of the night so there is no rush to go anywhere.
Here is a link to some video I took from our seats.
