REVIEW:
Britney Spears was barely 10 feet away from me, dancing a sexy routine to Freakshow. She catches my eye and summons me closer to the stage from my seat in the audience. And no, this wasn’t a dream.
It was at one of her recent shows at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, in front of a few thousand fans. One of Spears’ dancers ushers me on stage. Before I know it, my arms are hoisted into the air by dancers in skimpy dominatrix costumes and Spears is closing in on me.
No, there isn’t a ticket you can buy to be whipped around by the pop star. But for US$2500 (NZ$2920), you can buy a VIP package that entitles you to the show, a backstage tour and a chance to meet her in person.
The thrill I experienced on stage was an unexpected perk — or was it punishment
For fans, a Vegas residency is a chance to get much closer to their favorite artist than they could at the average 18,000-seat arena. At the resort’s Axis theatre, for instance, there are no nosebleed seats or obstructed sightlines in the 4600-capacity venue, and tickets cost about the same as they would for a show at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
And although Vegas residencies used to be for the Wayne Newton or Cher crowd, Spears’ recently launched two-year stint proves things are changing on the Strip.
High-profile acts that are still very much in the spotlight are now eyeing Vegas, and you’d be hard pressed to hit a nightclub on the Strip that wasn’t occupied by a top-notch electronic DJ. An extended run in Sin City doesn’t just mean less time on the road and fewer touring expenses; it’s also a new way to connect with fans.
And then there are the ultra fans — those who want an even more intimate experience and are willing to pay for it. Starting at US$275 (NZ$321) and topping out at just over US$5000 (NZ$5742), the VIP packages get you in even closer.
Want to meet Spears and get a backstage tour The meet-and-greet package makes it possible for a minimum of $2500 a person. Looking to sit within a foot of the diva The front-and-center package gets you there for $5000 and up. Or you could splurge on one of the two dozen VIP tables that hug the front of the stage for $3000 (NZ$3500) and up. For that price, the front-and-center and the VIP-table packages include six tickets, a bottle of Mo
