So Arcade Fire....

[Northern Wish]

1) Are offering $350 VIP seats with an opportunity for 'crowd free merchandise shopping'

2) Have listed a mandatory suggested dress code on their ticket buying page

How do you feel about this?

Edited November 19, 2013 by Guest

[edger]

Mandatory eh?

To me it sounds elitist and pretentious and completely out of touch with their fan-base. Mind you I never got into them so I don't really know their fan-base...maybe some would be wooed by the illusion of exclusivity.

[Northern Wish]

Clearly the use of the word mandatory was overstating it, but the fact is that this is the statement on the ticket purchase page:

"Please wear formal attire or costume"

Edited November 19, 2013 by Guest

[Swan]

The Beastie Boys played a slow like this at the Hummingbird back in 2007. I wasn't sure what to think of it before going to the show. Not everyone dressed up but those who did looked like they were having a blast. I remember the show being a lot of fun. I have the same expectations for the Arcade Fire.

[AD]

Ridiculous and pretentious.

I like the band but not this "stuff."

[edger]

"Suggested" dress code doesn't bother me so much. It can be fun to dapper it up at times. Those two things listed together though certainly have an air to them

[fluffhead77]

Wingsuit'd.

[NewRider]

Doesn't like all these bands have "VIP" shit at their shows now?? I thought it was just the norm now. Are people shocked because it's Arcade Fire?

Who cares about the suggested dress code, personally I think it sounds fun!!! And they're not the first ones to do it.

Perhaps I'm biased, I love the band, love the new album. I'm stoked to dress up for the show.

[boiler]

Isn't Arcade Fire a very charitable band? If they were just greedy people I'd probably have a problem but I don't see Arcade Fire as a greedy bunch of people. VIP's for $350 while might be steep for most people probably isn't much for some folks. People pay that much to see a Leafs game all the time. And it's just for a relatively small section I assume.

The dress up part, I've been to shows where a lot of hipsters attended, they all dress the same anyway, with their tight coloured jeans and Rayban glasses, so it's probably not much of a stretch. Sounds like they're just trying to have some fun. If people were denied entry because they wore tie dye or something, then that would be an issue requiring an all out ban of Arcade Fire. Until that happens.... relax.

Edited November 19, 2013 by Guest

[c-towns]

The half of their fans that don't show up in thick rimmed glasses (with or without lenses) and perfectly manicured beards already show up in suits anyways. Very 'indie' of them.

It was fun when the Beastie Boys did it because it didn't reek of pretentiousness.

[AD]

Great publicity though, out of 2 sentences on the ticketing website. Smart move.

[c-towns]

Ya, that was their plan for sure.

[Northern Wish]

Like Bob Lefsetz says, marketing is a now a 365 day event. No one should be doing launch marketing and then hoping the product will maintain momentum. I think the Arcade Fire team will have lots of tricks up their sleeve for 4 to 6 months to come. The album launch with the lead up, the shows, the live broadcasts etc was pretty brilliant.

Of course all of that work and they debuted at No 1 on Billboard and have dropped all the way to 9 this week with a decline of 77% selling only 31,000 units.

I personally hate that VIP packages and artificial cool is what the band has become. If they want an art project, take the millions off the table, get out of arenas and play clubs that would give people a true experience not just an opportunity to spend some money down at the Value Village and impress (or annoy?) their instagram friends.

Edited November 19, 2013 by Guest

[Guest Low Roller]

If you have $350 to burn for preferential treatment at a concert, then you probably own a suit or two.

[Booche]

[bouche]

Clearly the use of the word mandatory was overstating it, but the fact is that this is the statement on the ticket purchase page:

"Please wear formal attire or costume"

The fact is that asking "please" should provide a clue to any normal person that choice is involved.

[Northern Wish]

Please have a great day bouche!

Edited November 19, 2013 by Guest

[bouche]

Please have a great day bouche!

Thank you for keeping these washrooms clean.

[Booche]

The fact that they just axed me not to buy a ticket should provide a clue as to how fucking moronic I find their plea to wear a costume/suit to see them at CTC.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

I heard that for $650 you can strip any one item of clothing from anyone who has bought the $350 tickets and keep it as a souvenir

[Guest Low Roller]

Yet you all jump through hoops to wear costumes at a Phish or moe. show if given the opportunity...

[Booche]

.......on Halloween.........(fify)

[Guest Low Roller]

I am referring to the effort to dress in something other than your regular attire for a single evening's event. Clearly.

[Booche]

You have resorted to making shit up. Clearly.

[Guest Low Roller]

See? Even that cat is wearing a f'n suit. Why is it so hard?