Pros & Cons Of The Benefits Vs. Buying A General Admission Ticket

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Nightlife Blogger
One of the questions that almost always comes up when people are discussing getting tickets to a music festival is this one: “shall we go for the VIP?”
There are, of course, pros and cons to either side and I examine both in this post.
For music festivals, the biggest pro is location for the concerts. Does the VIP get you close to the stage, or in a seated area near the stage? Also, will I be able to come and go as I please and still be able to be down front?
A con to a VIP ticket is you’re always running the risk it’s not worth the extra price and if you’re paying, $150 or so for a VIP as opposed to $75 or event $100 for a GA, then you want to know going in that it’s worth the extra cost.
Certainly, you’ll know pretty much from the moment you arrive whether it was worth it or not. It would, tho, be nice to know before you buy the ticket.
Part of the problem is that the organizers seem to want to tell you as little as possible, using fancy wording to describe, say, a Port-o-Let. My general rule is simple: the less information they give you, the less likely it is worth the cost of getting a VIP ticket. If it appears as the event organizers are hiding something, they probably are hiding something.
The benefits as listed by the event organizers are always a bit vague. They include things like “premium” seating and a private area, but often don’t detail what that entails. Specifically:
• What is in the VIP area?
• Does it include all food and drinks? (If this is a “no,” then I say to skip the VIP tix.)
• Where are the “premium” seats for the stages and is a VIP guaranteed to have a seat?
• What other benefits does a VIP ticket offer, such as a free or close-to-the-gate parking spot and/or a cool (even air conditioned) shaded area?
These are all questions you should be asking of yourself and your friends.
Perhaps the biggest one you should ask is how much time will you be spending in that VIP area? If your objective is to get out and mingle, to be single and take advantage of the ample opportunities being single at an event that serves beer, wine and booze, then you do not want to be spending half your time in the VIP area.
Singles don’t do the VIP area. You want to be out there among them, in the general admission section.
Frankly, some events are worth the VIP and some are not; I suggest talking to people who have been to the festival to get their thoughts. Ask if they had VIP and if so, was it worth the extra cost?
In other words do your homework.
These are my thoughts; I would love to hear yours on this matter.
Cheers!
RELATED POST:
• Is It Worth A VIP Tickets For Beer, Wine & Food Festivals?
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