{"id":185198,"date":"2025-10-02T14:14:04","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T14:14:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/185198\/"},"modified":"2025-10-02T14:14:04","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T14:14:04","slug":"the-rise-of-fan-experiences-and-vip-tickets-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/185198\/","title":{"rendered":"The rise of fan experiences and VIP tickets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Forget the merch stand: having a personal moment with your idol is proving to be a profitable business for some celebrities. For $1000, Oprah Winfrey devotees can buy an \u201cinner circle experience<\/a>\u201d during her December Australian tour. Along with a seat in the front two rows, it includes a meet-and-greet and a \u201cprofessionally\u201d taken photograph with Oprah. You even get a \u201ccurated, Oprah-themed wellness kit\u201d as a parting gift.<\/p>\n

\"James<\/p>\n

James Traill met Kylie Minogue a few times: \u201cShe\u2019s worth the expense,\u201d he adds.Credit: Courtesy of James Traill<\/p>\n

Diehard Metallica fans won\u2019t be getting any wellness kits in November for their $4000<\/a> \u201cSnake Pit Experience: Nothing Else Matters\u201d tickets. These also include a meet-and-greet, a photo with two unspecified band members and the chance for a \u201cgroup conversation\u201d.<\/p>\n

If it wasn\u2019t for Kylie Minogue, 45-year-old Sydney barista James Traill says he\u2019d be a home-owner by now. \u201cI don\u2019t like to think of the amount of money I\u2019ve spent on Kylie tours and merch; it probably amounts to a deposit on a flat,\u201d laughs Traill, who also runs an Instagram page called @thekyliehistorian<\/a> with almost 26,000 followers. He\u2019s met Minogue a few times: \u201cShe\u2019s worth the expense,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

Dr Paul Harrison, chair of consumer behaviour and marketing at Deakin University points out that, for superfans, celebrity worship \u201cisn\u2019t irrational at all. Once it was religion or royalty; today, celebrities are many people\u2019s reference point when it comes to defining their own place in the world. The stars\u2019 backstories \u2013 Oprah pulling herself up by her bootstraps, for example \u2013 resonate with fans. This activates \u2018mirror neurons\u2019, encouraging them to emulate their idols, which reduces their rational defences when buying or doing something that a celebrity is endorsing. These personal experiences become a tangible bridge to the celebrity. The problem is, they\u2019re only seeing a curated portion of their idol\u2019s life, not the messy reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/p>\n

Alex Patsellis in Hollywood: one of his most prized possessions is a bag of confetti he collected from the venue floors of Mariah Carey\u2019s Australian tour in 2014.Credit: Courtesy of Alex Patsellis<\/p>\n

Among Sydney finance broker Alex Patsellis\u2019s most prized possessions is a bag of confetti he collected from the venue floors of Mariah Carey\u2019s Australian tour in 2014. Seven years ago, the 39-year-old spent $5000 on a ticket to see the star in Las Vegas, which included a photo with her backstage. \u201cBut she cancelled. I was devastated. I\u2019ve been a fan since I was 10. I really identify with her lyrics.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recently, Patsellis forked out $500 for front-row tickets to Carey\u2019s Sydney concert on October 18. While there\u2019s no scheduled meet-and-greet, he holds out hope. \u201cA friend in the know is working on something,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald<\/a>,The Age<\/a> and Brisbane Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n