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Permalink Reply by Michelle McCarthy on July 28, 2012 at 12:53pm

I attended the Raleigh meet & greet last night.  I don't feel like we were treated rudely by anybody like has been said about the Charlotte show.  However, the email that you receive about the meet & greet clearly says that you can either have your poster signed or another small item signed and to bring your own camera to take your picture with the band.  Neither of these events occurred.  We were handed a pre-signed poster as we left and were told ahead of time that this is our "signed item", and we were also told that they were taking the picture with their camera.  There were some people in line that were having the person behind them in line take their picture with their own camera when it was their turn in line and it seems like nobody was getting reprimanded for that. 

So for me, I was disappointed mainly because I really wanted my CD signed by the band and I would not have been disappointed if the email hadn't clearly stated that I could have something signed. It seemed like Artist Arena doesn't communicate with the people in the field or something because from the email the meet & greet should have been a completely different experience than what I actually received.  I have never been to a Train concert before this one so I can't base my opinion off of any other experience though. 

Also, I didn't feel the line was so extremely long as to where they wouldn't have had time to sign something for everybody and I feel like if that is what they are promising in the email from the company organizing the event then they shouldn't sell so many meet & greet packages so that they do have the time to sign something for everybody.

I’m not one to complain much but this disappointed me enough to where I am going to contact Artist Arena and let them know how the meet & greets are being conducted.  Maybe it is possible that they think they are being conducted like the email that they are sending and have no idea that the people working in the field are actually doing it differently.  Like I said any disappointment that I felt came from reading the email sent to me and then experiencing something completely different in person.

All in all the show was still great and I mainly bought the tickets because I am short and wanted to sit in the 2nd row so that I could see. 

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Permalink Reply by Catherine on July 28, 2012 at 3:40pm

You may have already read my comment in the other forum (CA 37 Tour Roll Call), but I was extremely disappointed by the M&G in Charlotte.  The brief set of instructions given to us at the box office weren't accurate.  There was mass confusion about where to go and what to do.  When we were finally herded into the building where the M&G took place, we were threatened by the facilitator that if we dared to ask the band to sign anything, then the picture he snapped of us would be deleted.  I have a piano/vocal/guitar book of SMSF that I wanted signed.  I don't care about the pre-autographed poster.  The book would be so much more meaningful to me.

One of the reasons I chose this venue was that my daughter is heading out of the country in August for a semester of Study Abroad, so she won't be in town when Train comes to Atlanta.  She had a CD that she wanted autographed.  I'm a grown woman, and I felt like crying over what happened.

Having said all that, the concert itself was WONDERFUL!  The band was on, Pat sang great, interacted really well with the audience.  The trumpet player was fantastic!  Even the wedding ceremony (which I was dreading) was handled pretty well.  Still, my memories of the night will always be wistful for what could have been and should have happened.

 

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Permalink Reply by Sophia Z on July 28, 2012 at 9:14pm

This was my first meet and greet with the band (in Raleigh), and I have to say I was quite happy with the experience. The boys were so sweet and nice. I was upset that Artist Arena gave us different instructions at the venue than from the email (the pre-signed poster was our only signed item, taking pictures was not allowed, etc.) Still, I asked Pat to sign my shirt and the whole band ended up signing 3 extra items for me and we talked for about a minute. 

I just want to stress that the band was extremely nice and grateful, but management was very strict and rushed the event. But overall it was an awesome experience, one I wouldn't want to criticize. :)

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Permalink Reply by Charlene0822 on July 29, 2012 at 12:38am

I didn't have a M&G but I purchased a Gold Pkg for the Charlotte show as a graduation gift for my daughter. This was the first time she has met them and for the last 2 months anticipated this meeting.  She had planned on having them sign an item she carries everywhere & was disappointed when they were told the poster was her signed item. She is shy and respects authority figures so there is no way she would have spoke up to ask for a personal item signed. If the email had stated this in advance everyone would not have had their hopes up for the personal items. 

Now to top things off, we have yet to see the pic that was taken.  Hopefully it will be posted soon.

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Permalink Reply by Hannah King on July 29, 2012 at 1:49am

It sounds like their management is the reason the M&G's suck. I don't know, but from my understanding of the guys, I'm not sure they're entirely happy with the meet and greets either. I think they would enjoy being able to socialize a bit more. I honestly don't know, just throwing my thoughts in.

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Permalink Reply by Charlene0822 on July 29, 2012 at 5:08pm

@Hannah I totally agree, I have had M&G's with other artist and worked directly with management. Honestly the management team is doing what they are paid to do. They do however need to correct the email being sent to the fans so they will not be expecting one thing and receiving another. 

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Permalink Reply by Michelle McCarthy on July 29, 2012 at 6:41pm

I know how your daughter must feel.  I brought my CD to be signed but didn't want to take my chances and still ask to have something signed after they told us that the poster was the signed item we would receive.  Now after reading Sophia Z's comment I wish I had asked anyway or waited until the end and then asked.  :-(  Overall, I hope your daughter still had a good time.  The band's performance was still awesome and we still got our picture taken with the band.  Can't wait to see the pictures!!

Charlene0822 said:

I didn't have a M&G but I purchased a Gold Pkg for the Charlotte show as a graduation gift for my daughter. This was the first time she has met them and for the last 2 months anticipated this meeting.  She had planned on having them sign an item she carries everywhere & was disappointed when they were told the poster was her signed item. She is shy and respects authority figures so there is no way she would have spoke up to ask for a personal item signed. If the email had stated this in advance everyone would not have had their hopes up for the personal items. 

Now to top things off, we have yet to see the pic that was taken.  Hopefully it will be posted soon.

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Permalink Reply by Peggy Melton on July 30, 2012 at 7:14am

I'm glad that the posts are saying that Pat, Jimmy and Scott were not rude at all to the fans.  That was something that made me feel better.  Can't imagine that they would ever be rude or indifferent to anyone that was so looking forward to meeting them.  They know that the fans are what keep them in business and I truly believe that they would protect that relationship with us.  One of the reasons I am such a fan.  My daughter and I made a short road trip at the last minute to meet Jimmy in Morris.  There were people lined up clear out the door, but he could not have been more wonderful to each and every one.  Now I am again excited for the Chicago concert and the M&G.

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Permalink Reply by New England Guy on July 30, 2012 at 7:40am

Pam, I also had an amazing Meet and Greet experience last year, just like you. It was with that thought in mind that a sprung for a couple for this year. I also have Train vanity plates and have been a fan for many years, but from what I hear so far, this years Meet and Greet could turn out to be a disaster. If you have a bad time at the M & G, please tell Train right to their faces, as you have a captive audience. I know I will. And please let us know on this forum about it.  In fact, it would be a good idea to send Train a Tweet (@train) now and ask them to please start signing again.  I read where there were like 75-100 people lined up for the meet and greet, it's no wonder they have to rush everyone.  Why not only sell 25 meet and greet tickets per show and do it right.  The problem is they are getting too big and too many people want to meet them.  I have a sad feeling that this will be my final meet and greet.  

Pam Kraft said:

I was at a M&G last year and it was awesome.  I got a poster signed and they all signed the bag I had bought there.  We actually got to talk for a bit - but we were the last ones in line.  I have M&G tix in a few weeks.  I surely hope my experience was like last year.  If I feel herded or rushed and I don't get my own camera picture and something I bring signed, you will hear about it.  I had to scrape the money together for this birthday present to myself so it better be worth it.  Train has always prided themselves on connecting with their fans and if that isn't the case now I would really be surprised.  I am also not above telling that to Pat, Jimmy and Scott when I meet them.  I have been a loyal - you can't even imagine how loyal (i actually have train vanity plates!!) - fan since 1998 from the first moment I heard Meet Virginia.  I would really really hate to think Pat an the guys have sold out.  I am praying I am not disappointed in thinking this. I will keep you posted.  T-minus 10 days til my 8th Train show (9 and 10 are shortly after that). Fingers crossed!

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Lowe on July 30, 2012 at 6:31pm

Not only was I disappointed in the meet and greet (exactly as you described), but my tickets were in the 2nd row near an end where there were no seats in front of us (Row AAA did not extend as far/long as row BBB).  I thought, 'Wow!  Perfect!' until a pretty tall cameraman with a large video camera perched on his shoulder stood in front of me shooting footage for their big screen throughout the entire concert.  I'm under 5' 3", so I was disappointed (to say the least) that I paid a premium price (and chose those seats over some seats that were available in the third row).  Didn't they realize and/or care that their camera guy would be standing and walking right in front of the people who cared enough about the band and the concert experience to spend quite a bit of money on the show?  I love Train still and had a great time -- but I did not have the concert experience that I should have had based on what the package I purchased was supposed to offer.

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Permalink Reply by Amy B on July 31, 2012 at 2:58pm

I did the M&G in Toronto.  It was my first one, and I admit I was a bit disappointed, but only because I don't feel like I actually got more than an introduction, to shake their hands and get a photo - I didn't really get to talk to them much.  BUT - everything I was told was correct except I got the poster already signed, they didn't sign it there.  I did get my photo taken with my own camera and the pic is amazing - we were promised that if they had to take it a hundred times we would not leave with a bad photo.  One reason I think it may have been shorter is because the band were receiving their platinum records for Drive By from Sony just before the M&G (which we actually got to see while we were waiting and that in itself was very cool).  I didn't get much time with the guys but that is my only complaint - it was just too fast.  That being said, they were so warm and lovely and I'd most definitely do it again. And my front row seat was amazing.

The fact that they even do a M&G before every show is pretty amazing.  Trust me - compared to other bands that I have loved that have blatantly sold out, they have definitely NOT.  They were exceptionally gracious - I felt.

I was more disappointed in the short set list compared to the ones they've been doing since the US tour started... I would have liked more old stuff.  I kind of feel like we were a warm up show.  Oh well, I'm still happy I saw them and I can only hope that they come back on this tour.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Lowe on July 31, 2012 at 6:03pm

Hello again.  I'm pretty sure your name probably isn't 'Goat', but I don't know what to call you.  I meant to introduce myself when we got seated but for some reason we never got around to that, did we?

I'm still at a loss for words when it comes to that night.  I tried to be calm and kind in my earlier post BUT I had tickets for a meet and greet to get one item signed and seats with an unobstructed view in the 2nd row.  What I ended up with was a lecture about what not to do, a hurried unappreciated photo, and a large cameraman who never even acknowledged me blocking a good part of my view for pretty much the entire show.  (Which, of course, you know because you were right there.)  I want to be positive when people ask me about that night -- but it's hard.

Where do I go to look at your photos?  (I'm not really familiar with the fan-posted aspects of this website yet.)  I would love to see them (despite the cameraman's head).

Sarah

Goat said:

Hi Sarah,,

I'm with you completly,,The best part of the meet & greet was the deafening silence in the room. You could feel the tension. I really loved the tension when the guy said,," Isn't that kinda decietful ? ". And T.O.'s response was just so lame,,,"we'll see about that." And what I most enjoyed was,,"I promise the pics will be up tomorrow." His words not mine. I do hope the little girl got her uke signed,,I'm sure they made consessions for both her and the guy that bitched,,They both got moved to the end of the line. Now,,I've got nothing against either,,but that will be the last they get of my cash. And to top it off,,they were siging stuff and taking photos early in the afternoon,,,for free. And that camera guy was annoying,,look at my photos,,his big head was in most of them. By the way we sat right next to you,,nice to meet you. Ok,,,my rants over,,,it was a great show.

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