Purse Strings Loosened For André RieuDUTCH violinist André Rieu has defended charging fans $1250 to meet him after his Melbourne concerts."Some people can buy an expensive car, some people cannot," Rieu said yesterday. "Meeting the artist at an after-party is something special, that's not for the masses, that's for the ones who can pay it. I think it's normal. "A lot of fans asked me to do the meet and greets. I never have before, but I'm going to start doing it around the world now."
Fans had to bid for a minimum of two meet and greet tickets at $2500 in an online auction. Each show in Australia is costing $5.6 million to stage.
"Everyone said, 'you're crazy' especially the bank," Rieu, 59, said.Rieu will play to 30,000 fans a night at Telstra Dome from Thursday to Saturday. His huge show includes a reproduction of a Viennese palace and a 600m ice rink. The stage is so heavy, Telstra Dome has reinforced the underground car park. Part of Rieu's 500-strong entourage includes a bodyguard for his 1667 Stradivarius violin, which is insured for millions of dollars.
Not to take sides on this issue....But Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli have had PBS sponsored Meet & Greet's when they performed at Madison Square Garden in New York City for $1,500 and at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall for $1,250. They would be advertised on our local national TV stations. They did give even more goodies than Andre and like his, they are limited to 100 people. There was talk of white carpets, champagne receptions before the concert, limousine arrivals, etc.
ReplyDeleteAnd like Andre's Meet & Greets here - up through 2005, PBS sponsored them and I believe. received the money. His were only $500 a pair...then and of course, not so lavish! It is/was a service that the artist provided for PBS to reward them for handling the ticket sales and all the arrangements.
I am very sure Andre knows all about the soiree's of Sarah and Andrea.
Laurie
I agree with Andre totally.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who has the means to afford whatever it may be in this life is entitled to 'buy' it!!!
Good luck to them.
Andre is a business man and if he has seen a way to fulfill his dreams and those of many millions of people without bankrupting himself, I'm all for it.
I cannot afford a luxury car, mansion or world tour, but that doesn't make me envious of those who can, nor do I take issue with the sales people who offer such 'goodies' to those who can afford them.
Cheers
Bernadette