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| Roger Waters in Charlotte, N.C. |
July 18, 2012 – Charlotte NC: The Wall experience continues to go on…
T-MAK WORLD attended another Roger Waters show, this time as part of the Live Nation VIP package. While the show was similar to previous shows (see details of the London, Austin, Buffalo or Toronto shows), this review will focus on the experience of the VIP and answer the question “Is the VIP package worth the money?”.
First off, the July 20th show in Charlotte was in an arena, the Time Warner Center, the home of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats as opposed to Carolina Panthers stadium. At first this was puzzling since this leg of the tour included more stadiums shows. However, this turned out to be a wise choice as the electricity inside the arena was matched by a lightning filled sky outside and an outdoor stadium show would have left an army of fans pining for The Wall.
VIP had 2 packages for Charlotte, the $375 VIP Tour Package and the $550 VIP Party Package. Both packages provided a preferred seat and souvenirs. The Party Package also included a meal, open bar (wine and beer) and a parking space. The Party Package provided seats within the first 10 rows of the floors in the left or center section. The Tour Package provided a seat in the first 20 rows in any of the sections of the floors closest to the stage. In Charlotte this was a good value as there were only 3 sections near the stage. Other shows especially in stadiums have as many as 7 sections.
At 5:30, the VIP Party began, in the spectacular location of the Founders Club located at one end of the arena, with dinner. On the walk to the Founders Club once could see behind the wall and an empty arena however once in the Founders Club ones attention turned to the spectacular setting. Reports on the web have been mixed on the dinner in various cities, however in Charlotte the meal was excellent. The menu was highlighted with out-of-this-world BBQ turkey and BBQ chicken and an assortment of sides that lived up to expectations of a Founders Club. Open bar! Great idea, but for a show like The Wall, the die-hard fans did not take full advantage of the open bar as anyone who has seen The Wall knows, it is more than just a concert and they weren’t here for the bar.
The souvenirs with either package consist of a specially designed T-shirt, a Commemorative ticket and laminate, an official tour program and a limited edition tour lithograph, all in a “Tear down the Wall” bag. The extra exclusive gifts provide a good value compared to just buying a ticket in the front floors.
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| Roger Waters The Wall VIP Souvenirs |
The real value comes in the seat location and Live Nation did not disappoint!! Row 5 and just left of center stage!! Wicked view!
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| View from the fifth row in Charlotte |
What really stood out in Charlotte was how close the wall and the band appeared compared to seeing the same show from Row 4 on the right side in Toronto or compared to the view from further back in the floors (i.e. rows 19-30) in both Toronto and Buffalo. The experience from the first few rows is very different from experiencing the show from further back even a close as Row 19 of the floors, never-mind the cheap seats.
The key advantage of seeing The Wall this close is noticed immediately from the beginning of the show where the fireworks and sound blows you out of your seat and you have an out of body experience and no words, pictures or video can do it justice.
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| Opening of the show |
Throughout the show you really feel the pounding of the drums and mind-blowing guitar work from the 3 top notch guitarists in the band. This is the key reason to be in the first few rows for a show like The Wall. Unlike a typical rock concert where the sound is loud all the time no matter where your seat is located, the production of The Wall has incredible sound fidelity and greater variance in sound volume as the story unfolds, so location does make a difference and the front is the location to be for The Wall.
A seat located on the right-hand side of the floors provides a better view of the supporting band especially the excellent singers as well as the props that appear to the right such as the entrance of the flying Pig and the Hotel scene in Nobody Home.
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| Roger and son in Charlotte, N.C. |
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| Dave Kilminster and Snowy White |
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| Snowy White |
The downside to being so close to the stage as compared to being further back is you cannot see what is happening on The Wall all at one time.
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| View in Charlotte, up close |
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| View in Buffalo, further back |
For a die-hard fan experiencing The Wall from both the front few rows and from further back is an absolute must. Like many iconic movies additional viewings reveal different aspects of the production each time and location enhances this experience.
Considering the excellent food, the open bar, the guaranteed premium seat, both VIP packages do provide good value especially for a once in a lifetime show like The Wall. The opportunity to mingle with other die-hard fans in a spectacular setting such as the Founders Club is a welcome change from entering the show with the masses who are rushing to get their beer and to their seats.
Verdict: You only live once and from my experience in Charlotte, I would state VIP is wicked value especially when you consider many of the other tickets in the first few rows are usually taken by ticket brokers or scalpers or those with connections. The VIP Tour package represents a guaranteed great seat for a show that a die-hard fan wants to be in the front and cannot access presales or be online when tickets go on sale. The VIP Party package is a great experience and is an excellent idea for a birthday gift for someone who has everything.
Viva la experience! Next stop Plains of Abraham, Quebec City!!
Review and photos by Michael Litt
