No Go For Go Pro

Maybe this has been in place for a while but don't plan or taking your iPad or Go Pro into some concert venues.

The iPad especially is annoying when it is pointed toward the stage and recording begins ... It has a bigger screen that any cameraman has at ABC Sports ... It is big and it is bright. I was trying to watch Lionel Richie play when the amateur Spielberg started iPad photography shooting. I literally could not see Lionel or the piano except via the iPad screen. I paid this for that?

Happening at the Brian Wilson show in Bowling Green, KY this week. The iPhone screen was bright and right in my line of sight. It is rude! My suggestion: Let everyone shoot all you want to during the first song ... maybe first 2. Then all the electronic devices must be stored ... If you start shooting again, you are escorted OUT!

Etiquette in 2016 is definitely in short supply. During a beautiful section of Brian's Pet Sounds, some character, likely drunk, kept talking. Paid $150 for some guy to pontificate about Mike Love vs. Brian Wilson. I was about to melt ... You just have to let some things go.

The Dixie Chicks came back to Music City and their loyal fans filled up the Bridgestone. Media was not allowed access like most shows for at least one song.

The Chicks' lack of media sensitivity got them in the stink they got in. Trump gets it in the 180-degree different directions. You feed the tiger so it won't eat YOU. Keep your friends close and your "enemies" closer.

Looking back on that incident is like look back to the '60s when Beatle records were burned in Birmingham by DJ Tommy Charles and others. Both in history look really stupid.

While the Chicks were rocking the Bridgestone, Steven Tyler did his first big show in the Ryman. It is a magical place. All music seems to live and flourish inside The Ryman.

The 2017 festivals are already booking ... tour opening acts are in many cases inked. Thomas Rhett, Chris Young, Cam and Rascal Flatts are booked for Spring Break in Panama City, FL.

The Mexican mid-Winter shows and the Caribbean cruises are plentiful this coming cold weather season. Blake Shelton added to the open Luke is affiliated with.

Blake can't stay out of the news ... The tweet apology this week (Google that one) ... Gwen and tour hanging at his Oklahoma pad, Blake showing up for her show in Dallas, NBC Olympics are never far from a Blake promo for either NASCAR or The Voice. That's a lot of Blake!

Eric Church in 2017 better have a good ENT! Three hours shows a'plenty. That is a lot of singing! No opening acts, but it will have an intermission. That's a lot of Eric!

Then there is the debate on the meet-and-greet packages. Paying big bucks to get a picture with your favorite star. There are other versions of that, too. You can't pay your way to meet Paul McCartney but you can get a front-row ticket, go to soundcheck and get some special swag. One price I saw for upcoming Sacramento show just over 2,000 bucks ... 4,000 with a date ... That gets a really big, wow ... No picture, no autograph ... just to get close. He can't possibly need the money. I guess it is a service for the mega-fan. Still. Something about this doesn't feel right.

Now the wannabe McCartney's rock and some Country are doing this bonus work. These backstage "special" meet-and-greets may include an acoustic song or two ... and maybe a group picture. That would be a great one.

Think long and hard before jumping in too deep. What if artist runs late and can't do soundcheck ... or who knows what causes the special meet to be cancelled? Refund? That would be a mess.

Paying to sit in first five rows and individual fast picture and poster costing $500 was seen this week. You do 50 of those, that's $25,000 dollars ... Now that makes some sit up straight. Do that for 10 shows ... that would be a quarter-million dollars ... Now that really makes the business manager sit up in bed....

Picking a date out of the air ...2000 ... You charged 50 bucks for a ticket ... could be front row or in the balcony like Garth does ... one size fits all ... Or you tier price it as I think it is called... It is big money ... a million dollars over the course of a tour season for an hour a night ... that is a tough debate in economic times like these...

This subject is getting debated right now. The devil is in the details ... There is some potential fan blow back.

The Summer is roaring to a close ... off to Idaho, Washington, L.A. and Texas ... Will report next week.