Been spending a lot of time thinking about Wired for the upcoming year and specifically WINTERJAM.
We've done about 150 shows on the REVELATION album cycle, but are doing the tour as way to go out and make some new fans. My sincere hope is that our fans, and especially our WIRED fans, will embrace that this is a time to invite new folks into our community, and that we can all be good ambassadors of the grace filled community that when we're at our best, we actively demonstrate.
There are going to be some limitations and unique situations as this is really like a traveling festival where we do not have control over ticketing or backstage passes, etc.
I'm kicking around some ideas to get some kind of reserved section where Wired Members can at least have a guaranteed seat. It's not as easy as you'd think for a non-ticketed $10 at the door event where there will not be a pre-sale. I want to find a way where WIRED MEMBERS can at least know that they won't be turned away at the door which will happen for some fans in some of the markets.
I'm also kicking around the option for some of you guys to be able to help us by being merchandise volunteers for the show, but then not working during our set so you can see us play!
Also, I'm trying to get my head around the best way to try and have a meet and greet for WIRED members during WINTERJAM which also has its own complications. I know that no matter what we come up with some people are going to have a problem with it. (Back to that GRACE thing)
Here is the challenge, when we did and do meet and greets after the show, it is a REALLY long night. Frankly, the band just doesn't like it. We give all we have on stage and after the show, we're ready to veg out! Furthermore, the fans that come with children are having to keep there kids up way too late. We want to continue to look forward to hanging out with our most passionate fans, but the MEET and GREETS were getting so long that we were starting to dread them.
When we do the meet and greet before the show, the time constraints of the show put natural limits on the time which can tend to leave people a little short on time with each of us. Also, if it is a long line up, as winterjam is, then it requires members to be at the show for a long time which is also inconvenient for those who have hired babysitters or want to go out to eat.
I go to concerts myself. So, I get it. Of course, I've never seen any other band spend the amount of time we do with fans at meet and greets. Usually, the time is just a grip and grin. We strive hard to make sure you guys get 3 things. AUTOGRAPHS, PICTURES, and a chance for a little face time with each of the guys.
Anyway, I'm going to continue to weigh all the factors and try to come up with the best plan for the show for this season. I'm currently looking at the viability of splitting the difference and having the meet and greet at an intermission time during the show, but it will require fans to be very punctual. I've been to a lot of other concerts and attended a lot of meet and greets as a friend and fan. No matter what, we try and make the experience the best possible for the fans and better than anything we've ever experienced.
Anyway, I'm going to leave the comments open on here for a while to get your feedback. But, even though this is an open forum, this is for constructive dialog on how to make your experience better. If I feel that you're comments are turning to personal attacks on the band's integrity, your message will be deleted and your ISP will be blocked. I'm tired of open transparent dialog being hijacked by people that have forgotten the words to 'NOTHING AT ALL!"
