Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Rawlings on August 1, 2012 at 12:34pm

I'm sooo glad you started this post. My wife and I had a meet and greet in Charlotte on 7-26-12. We drove 8.5 hours from Cincinnati to get the m/g because they were all sold out in Cincinnati on Aug 8, 2012. Prior to the m/g I was emailed from Artist Arena that we could have our choice of a poster to have signed or bring one small item to have signed. We were told in the email to bring our camera if the venue allowed. They did allow. When the road manger comes to collect us after a joke of an unorganized crowd running from one door to the next and back and forth due to total disorganization this guy says I will take the photos and nothing is to be signed. NOTHING or I will delete your photo. By the way one week later today and have no idea where the photos are. The m/g was such a JOKE. The BAND should be embarrassed to even permit themselves to participate in such a joke. But I guess for them now it's more about the money than the fans. In fact Pat even said on stage they just made $24,000 and then corrected himself to say it was $26,000. ARE YOU KIDDING ME I thought to myself. Did he really just say that. SOOOOOOOOOO disappointed in the entire event and I had 4th row dead center seats. At least Scott smiled during the m/g and said hi to me. The most expensive 30 seconds I've ever paid for anything. What an arrogant group of jerks!!! Totally blew all the excitement I've ever had for the band. I'm 57 years old and the TRAIN m/g was the #1 thing on my bucket list. Hope I don't die before the excitement comes back.

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Permalink Reply by Jamie Darche Warren on August 1, 2012 at 12:47pm

I just feel like they should stand by what is put out ~ meaning artist arena states that we could have our own camera and something signed - didn't happen.  Thomas told us the pictures would be up tomorrow - still not there!  Someone needs to get it together!  LOVE, LOVE  TRAIN but come on guys!

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Permalink Reply by RJS on August 1, 2012 at 1:02pm

This was my first Meet and Greet with Train...and my last...At no point did I appreciate being spoken to by the manager as he did...we paid good money for this experience...the door people had no idea about anything other than  it was HOT and there were alot of people wanting to know where to go for the meet and greet....it was a disaster. And then, to be lined up, handed a presigned poster...and given 2 seconds for a photo...and sent on our way...HORRID!  The meet and greet was to large...and being the first night of the tour, it was unorganized. My 17 year old daughter was with me, and was not interested in this again, sadly because the music is great...I felt as though the band wanted to be anywhere but with us fans....I get not wanting to sign alot of things for as many meet and greeters as there was but, it would have been nice to have been able to have spoken to them, atleast....and knowing it was already running behind soon as we were finally let in the venue wasnt a good feeling from the get go!  Then  the threat of having our one picture deleted...wow...and being that they havent been posted yet...sad....I have been to other meet and greets that totally rocked....not this one!!  This is the 2nd train concert my husband has bought tickets for and missed both shows... I will also add the wedding....could have done with out that...Id rather have heard more songs than that little show........I do love the music and the band....just hoped for a much better meet and greet experience.

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Permalink Reply by New England Guy on August 1, 2012 at 2:44pm

Well said, David.  I am a huge fan of Train, but the more I see them grabbing money and not caring about the fans as much, it saddens me.  I have a meet and greet scheduled for later in the month that I am now dreading to attend.  Knowing me and my big mouth, I'll tell them right to their faces that the meet and greets are no longer fun and definitely not worth the money.  Seems like the big problem is their road manager, Tom.  Many people think he is an arrogant S.O.B.  The more I read now, the more I tend to agree with them.  I met him last year and he didn't leave a very good impression on me then.  He was very obnoxious and not friendly at all!  Train has no idea how much their "own people" are helping their own demise.  Time for new management . . . and now!    

David Rawlings said:

I'm sooo glad you started this post. My wife and I had a meet and greet in Charlotte on 7-26-12. We drove 8.5 hours from Cincinnati to get the m/g because they were all sold out in Cincinnati on Aug 8, 2012. Prior to the m/g I was emailed from Artist Arena that we could have our choice of a poster to have signed or bring one small item to have signed. We were told in the email to bring our camera if the venue allowed. They did allow. When the road manger comes to collect us after a joke of an unorganized crowd running from one door to the next and back and forth due to total disorganization this guy says I will take the photos and nothing is to be signed. NOTHING or I will delete your photo. By the way one week later today and have no idea where the photos are. The m/g was such a JOKE. The BAND should be embarrassed to even permit themselves to participate in such a joke. But I guess for them now it's more about the money than the fans. In fact Pat even said on stage they just made $24,000 and then corrected himself to say it was $26,000. ARE YOU KIDDING ME I thought to myself. Did he really just say that. SOOOOOOOOOO disappointed in the entire event and I had 4th row dead center seats. At least Scott smiled during the m/g and said hi to me. The most expensive 30 seconds I've ever paid for anything. What an arrogant group of jerks!!! Totally blew all the excitement I've ever had for the band. I'm 57 years old and the TRAIN m/g was the #1 thing on my bucket list. Hope I don't die before the excitement comes back.

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Permalink Reply by New England Guy on August 1, 2012 at 5:52pm

Just saw this on twitter,  Jimmy responded to someone who informed him about the complaints on the meet and greets.

" We do more than most bands for cheaper! The complainers should maybe not buy the meet and greet package if they're so unhappy."

Thanks Jimbo.  I think part of the problem this year on the meet and greets is that they are different from years past. Train would ALWAYS sign something that you brought. Those items would then become your keepsake. Now it is just a pre-signed poster, with no emotional significance. Oh well, good things do come to an end. 

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Permalink Reply by David Rawlings on August 1, 2012 at 6:02pm

Jimmy are YOU KIDDING ME!!! You are so arrogant it's not even funny or should I say it's a JOKE!!! We were promised a heck of a lot more than what was givin. In fact what the email from Artist Arena said borders on FRAUD compared to what was delivered. Without us you are NOTHING!!! What part of that don't you get!!!

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Permalink Reply by Jamie Darche Warren on August 1, 2012 at 6:09pm

What I find so incredibly sad is that Pat's Top 20 Reasons the Train Fans are the best includes ~ we tell our friends and family about train and they become fans.  I think Jimmy needs to remember that we all tell our firends and family how great Train is, we take them to the concerts with us and we buy them the CD's as gifts.....maybe we sbould not do that anymore......Just sayin'.

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Permalink Reply by David Rawlings on August 1, 2012 at 6:13pm

You know Jimmy what I have always LOVED about TRAIN is that they were about the fans, the families and the kids. I applaud you guys for that!! I REALLY do. No cursing in your songs, no drugs and bad stuff.....it's all LOVE BROTHER.....so tell me why does it have to end. Just think about it BRO.

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Permalink Reply by Jamie H. on August 1, 2012 at 8:12pm

I absolutely had a blast at the concert.  It was my third time seeing Train, and my first time ever sitting front row and doing a meet and greet. I had no idea what to expect other than what I was told in the email.  It very specifically stated that you were allowed to use your own camera if the venue allowed cameras, and that you could have your poster OR a small item signed.  I didn't mind that they said only the poster would be signed, but it was disappointing that it was a pre-signed poster that was handed to you by an assistant.  

However, the most disappointing thing about the meet and greet is that it has now been 5 days and still no pictures.  When the manager stated that he would take the pictures with his camera he said that they would be on the website "tomorrow." He also stated that if you took a picture with your own camera or asked the band to sign an additional item he would delete your photo.  I have no problem with how a band or their management decides to conduct their meet and greets.  Obviously there are no promises made prior to purchase about how the experience will be, but when you are sent an email telling you exactly what to expect and what you are entitled to I think that should be honored.  

At this point I just really want my picture so that I can add it to the photos that I took myself.  Sitting front row was awesome, the show was amazing and I would definitely do it all over again but I would insist on the picture being taken with MY CAMERA so that I could have it. 

Please post the meet and greet photos...pretty please! 

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Permalink Reply by David Rawlings on August 1, 2012 at 11:45pm

Pam,

That's a shame they are treating the fans this way. I did my m/g in Charlotte and my email from artist arena did not state what yours does. Guess they all got together since they have been reading this blog and did some serious re-evaluating what they did because they did not deliver to us what was promised. Certainly they don't have time when they sell 200-300 m/g.It's now obivously all about the money and not about the fans. If it was about the fans they would sell less and actually give you a m/g or maybe even 60 seconds of their time and not just a hurry up and click and get movin so we can click the next one treatment. Soooooooo dissappointing to hear and yes losing respect by the minute myself.

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Permalink Reply by David Rawlings on August 2, 2012 at 12:40am

Pam,

Below you will find where I copied and pasted my email from Artist Arena. Prior to this fiasco beginning you will see that my email from Artist Arena was different than the one they sent to you. Unfortunately we did not get what they stated we would get. Instead we got what they are now promising thousands of other fans that have already paid for a M/G in anticipation of receiving a M/G similiar to what other artists give their fans. SAD SAD SAD day when your IDOLS totally turn against you over GREED!!!

 

 

Hello Train Fan!

Thank you for purchasing a
Gold VIP package for your upcoming Train show on July 26th, 2012!
As you know, this package gives you access to an exclusive Meet & Greet
with the band!  Please READ ON for full details!

The Meet &
Greet will be before the show.  For access to the Meet & Greet, please
CHECK IN at the venue’s Box Office/Will Call window with your
photo ID NO LATER than the 6:30 PM door time (please check with
the venue to verify door times) to receive your VIP Meet & Greet laminate
and further printed instructions on where to go.  Make sure you have your
photo ID and a copy of THIS email to ensure entrance
to the Meet & Greet.  Your poster will be handed to you at the Meet &
Greet. 

If cameras are allowed into the venue, you will be allowed to
take a picture with the band (*please contact the venue directly about its
camera policy). You will also have the opportunity to have your poster (or
ONE other small item) signed by the band. Remember, you will need
your photo ID in order to gain entry to the Meet & Greet.  *Please DO
NOT ask either the Box Office staff OR venue security about details of the Meet
& Greet, as they are not associated with this VIP
package.*

Have a great time at the show and thank you for your
continued support!

Artist Arena



**PLEASE NOTE: This
email is for informational purposes only.  It is not a confirmation of your
order.  For questions regarding your ticket order, please read our FAQ page-
www.artistarena.com/faq.  If you still need
assistance, please contact tickets@artistarena.com or call 212-420-8500 for US
shows or email info@artistarena.uk.com for UK
shows.

Instructions are subject to change. Keep an eye on your
inbox as any last minute updates will be emailed to you prior to your event.  To
ensure you receive all notifications, please add infovip@artistarena.com to your Safe Sender’s
list.

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Permalink Reply by New England Guy on August 2, 2012 at 6:26am

Will be contacting DMV today to change my Train vanity plates into something "cooler".  You have said it all.  Well done. 

Pam Kraft said:

Jimmy's response was in response to a tweet I sent him.  I sent..."please read fans concerns about the meet and greets on trainline.com"  He actually responded..."got it.  We just don't have time.  Have to accommodate everyone - new fans and old fans - equally.  It's just the way it is."  Ok.  So what has changed from last year that you can't treat us like you did then?  You are more popular now?  Is that it?  What happened to Replaced Greed with Gratitude?  I think greed is winning.  If Jimmy really sent that tweet about what do they expect, etc....he should be ashamed.  Wow.  Just Wow.  You aren't the Rolling Stones dude.  We just want to get what we expected (or were told was to be expected).  If this is how they are now - I wish I would have known.  I would NOT have spent my hard earned money for a pre-signed poster and a picture I will likely never see.  I am bringing my 14 year old this summer and was so excited because last year's M&G was freaking awesome.  Now she too will disappointed just like the rest of you (us).  I have M&G for next week and now I am completely bummed.  Broken hearted...disenchanted...deflated.  I can't even describe what I am feeling about this.  I thought Pat was better than this and appreciated his fans more.  We are, after all, the reason the are so "busy" and "just don't have time" afterall.  I have TRAIN37 vanity plates and am tempted to take them and hand them to Pat and tell him I won't be needing them anymore.  You can't honestly tell me that they don't have any control over it either.  That's complete bullshit.  They are the reason the record company is making $$$ so they can calls the shots.  Not cool Train.  Not cool.  

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