AHI Benefit Concert

[Patti]

The first AHI benefit I went to was in 2000, which is the one that had the $500 package. There was no interaction between Stevie and friends and the guests.

The second one I went to was in 2001. Only Mick and Stevie came to the afterparty and they sat at a table and signed autographs and allowed people to take pictures. It was a mob scene around the table and many of the guests (myself included) didn't have an opportunity to get anywhere near the table. I complained to Geri about this, after having been disappointed for two years in a row. She was actually very gracious and empathetic.

It seemed like they had a much better handle on things at the FM benefit in 2003. Although the time with the band was brief, we did have the opportunity to say hello to all the band members and chatted for a few minutes with John Mcvie while they were getting the picture set up.

When I spoke with Geri yesterday, she was very excited about the new venue and believes that things will go much better this time.

[GardenStateGirlie]

Originally Posted by Livia

John Kinney already knows about it - he can't post anything without Stevie's management's "blessing."

That's the only thing that blows about Stevie's official site--nothing goes up without their approval

[SapphireSister]

Originally Posted by Patti

Donor packages are available, and are still $1000. This year there will be no pre-party, just the after meet & greet. There WILL be friends there, for sure. They just don't have a clue who it will be at this point.

I agree that "meet & greet" is a bit of a misnomer as you don't actually have a lot of opportunity to talk to Stevie. All I do know is in 2003, I got to spend about 15-30 seconds talking one-on-one with Lindsey. Was it short? Yep. Was it worth it? YEP! I am thinking that because it is such short notice it may not be as crowded this year.

If anyone does decide you want the donor package, you have to call the AHI directly and pay by credit card. Geri is taking orders now. I got my tickets last night. The number is 602-266-2200. Ask for the Foundation. If Geri's not available, it will go directly to her voice mail. She is very good about returning calls.

You are soooo lucky! I wish I had $1,000 to spend on this but I don't Make sure you tell us all about it!

[Livia]

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

That's the only thing that blows about Stevie's official site--nothing goes up without their approval

Yep!

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

That's an understatement!!

Took me several years to get over that awful experience.

It's good of you to post the caution. I hear that the post-concert party has at least become more organized. The 1998 one was a total disaster.

That really really really sucked. Those fans just spontaneously lined up and did that. Everyone was supposed to remain in their seats, yeah right. It wasn't arranged very well. I was so mad at them. Then I ran into Sharon at the airport and got the backstage passes to Vegas from her but Stevie was busy doing the Fanatic interview for MTV. Ugh.

My luck with that is awful. I have some good friends that just moved out there though, they live near Stevie and I am just dying to go out there again. So I may go but I do not have a grand to drop on a ticket.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by diamondsnake

Okay, did Stevie deliberately leave knowing that people paid to meet and greet and get autographs from her? Because if so that is really tacky...

But of course if everything was up in the air and you guys didn't know what was going on, the same could be said for her. Maybe she didn't know she was supposed to have an autograph session with people?

I'm sorry you had that experience... I'm just trying to think of a logical explaination because I don't think Stevie would really want to snub any of her fans on purpose.

My take on it was she got overwhelmed and "escaped". Man was I pissed at her and I never thought I could get mad at Stevie. She was only at the party for 45 minutes. It never occured to me that those were party crashers that didn't even pay. I'm so mad all over again!

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

Well, first let me be clear that I'm not trying to talk anyone out of buying the donor package to this year's show. I hear things have gotten much more organized and it's a lot clearer what you "get" with your purchase.

I went to the July 1998 AHI benefit. When they announced the package, which included a post-performance party with Stevie, I called AHI to see if Stevie would be signing autographs and that there would actually be an opportunity to meet her. That's because the wording was very vague--a post-performance party with Stevie could just mean that there would be a party and Stevie would show up for a few minutes and leave.

Which is precisely what happened! Oh, now I can laugh about it.

Anyway, given that my lifelong dream since I was about 7 is to meet Stevie, I scraped together the $$ and flew to Phoenix for the show. It was a great performance--she had sold out the entire basketball arena and was full of energy.

Following the show, I went to the party. The AHI folks didn't have a guest list and the restaurant became extremely crowded. I'm sure a lot of people crashed. Stevie showed up, sat at a table in a small room, signed about 6 autographs, got up, went to another room, made a speech about supporting AHI, went back to the small room, signed about 4 more autographs, got up, and left in her limo.

I never had a prayer of getting her autograph. Mick Fleetwood and Don Henley were class acts, sticking around to sign autographs for disappointed fans.

I tried to call Geri, head of AHI, just to have a conversation with her about my experience as a donor. I work for a non-profit and if a donor is unhappy with one of our events, we talk to them about it. That's just the basics of donor relations. She never even called me back, which I found to be very unprofessional.

It's just my experience, I know others have had really good ones at AHI events.

I tried to talk to Geri afterward as well and got the brush off.

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

I tried to talk to Geri afterward as well and got the brush off.

Interesting that I wasn't alone with this experience. It's a really crappy way to treat donors.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

Interesting that I wasn't alone with this experience. It's a really crappy way to treat donors.

I vowed I would never ever give them another dime. But we'll see about that. You are right about it being crappy. If someone gives $1,000 to your charity you should be VERY gracious to them, especially if they are being nice! If anyone's going this year and wants to help me crash the party, just PM me. I can't afford to give them another dime.

[Patti]

I have to say, Geri has never been anything other than extremely nice to me and receptive to anything I had to say, be it criticisms or nice stuff. Of course I didn't start dealing with her until 2000 and from your accounts, your problems with her happened in 1998.

[Tango]

I'm reading some of the comments here and one thing seems to get lost. It's a benefit for a really good cause. The thousand dollars goes to the AHI, not to Stevie Nicks. You are not purchasing "time" with Stevie. Stevie donates her time and energy to this, and tries to spend time with the fans. But she's what? 5' 1" and a swarming mob of people wanting to "touch" her is a little overwhelming. You are donating to a benefit, not renting out Stevie for whatever "time" you think your $1000 entitles you to get. You are not paying her anything. Stevie seems pretty tickled that her fans want to support a project near and dear to her families heart because of that "connection." But you take your chances when you think you are going to have a long chat with Stevie. Weigh that. Look at your motives. If you want to make a donation to the AHI, have a decent tax write off (it was $850 out of the $1000 dollars last go round) and support an effort Stevie cares about, do it. Your donor seat will be the big deal after that. So really, you are insuring yourself a decent seat for $150.00- which is still a bargain!

Don't do this if you think you are renting Stevie out. It won't happen. She's not for sale.

[diamondsnake]

Originally Posted by Tango

I'm reading some of the comments here and one thing seems to get lost. It's a benefit for a really good cause. The thousand dollars goes to the AHI, not to Stevie Nicks. You are not purchasing "time" with Stevie. Stevie donates her time and energy to this, and tries to spend time with the fans. But she's what? 5' 1" and a swarming mob of people wanting to "touch" her is a little overwhelming. You are donating to a benefit, not renting out Stevie for whatever "time" you think your $1000 entitles you to get. You are not paying her anything. Stevie seems pretty tickled that her fans want to support a project near and dear to her families heart because of that "connection." But you take your chances when you think you are going to have a long chat with Stevie. Weigh that. Look at your motives. If you want to make a donation to the AHI, have a decent tax write off (it was $850 out of the $1000 dollars last go round) and support an effort Stevie cares about, do it. Your donor seat will be the big deal after that. So really, you are insuring yourself a decent seat for $150.00- which is still a bargain!

Don't do this if you think you are renting Stevie out. It won't happen. She's not for sale.

I agree. If I was in a restaurant full of people who wanted to just "touch me" I would be pretty scared! I'm suprised she llasted 45 minutes! I'd probably have a panic attack!

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by Tango

I'm reading some of the comments here and one thing seems to get lost. It's a benefit for a really good cause. The thousand dollars goes to the AHI, not to Stevie Nicks. You are not purchasing "time" with Stevie. Stevie donates her time and energy to this, and tries to spend time with the fans. But she's what? 5' 1" and a swarming mob of people wanting to "touch" her is a little overwhelming. You are donating to a benefit, not renting out Stevie for whatever "time" you think your $1000 entitles you to get. You are not paying her anything. Stevie seems pretty tickled that her fans want to support a project near and dear to her families heart because of that "connection." But you take your chances when you think you are going to have a long chat with Stevie. Weigh that. Look at your motives. If you want to make a donation to the AHI, have a decent tax write off (it was $850 out of the $1000 dollars last go round) and support an effort Stevie cares about, do it. Your donor seat will be the big deal after that. So really, you are insuring yourself a decent seat for $150.00- which is still a bargain!

Don't do this if you think you are renting Stevie out. It won't happen. She's not for sale.

I do not think anyone is arguing that point and I agree with you. I think people are a little put off by the fact that this has been advertised in the past with the solgan "Meet Stevie Nicks" and that did not happen. Again, I agree that anyone who goes and thinks La Nicks is going to meet with them for an hour is deluded.

[diamondsnake]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I do not think anyone is arguing that point and I agree with you. I think people are a little put off by the fact that this has been advertised in the past with the solgan "Meet Stevie Nicks" and that did not happen. Again, I agree that anyone who goes and thinks La Nicks is going to meet with them for an hour is deluded.

If only like a dozen people did the meet and greet then they could all sit down and have dinner. Stevie could sit at the head of the table!

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I do not think anyone is arguing that point and I agree with you. I think people are a little put off by the fact that this has been advertised in the past with the solgan "Meet Stevie Nicks" and that did not happen. Again, I agree that anyone who goes and thinks La Nicks is going to meet with them for an hour is deluded.

No, I just wanted to shake her hand and tell her how much her music means to me and has supported me and that is all. I guess that is hard to understand for some? I mean, I traveled thousands of miles, spent thousands, and that is all I "expected". A few seconds.

I am happy I gave to that charity. I didn't get the write off because I just take a standard deduction, I never have enough write offs to use them instead of the standard so that didn't matter.

I'm not one of those people who runs around feeling entitled and expecting things and I resent the accusation.