I remember that happening to you guys! Did they end up rescheduling that concert? I think they did but I don't recall if it happened or not.
I had most of my concert experiences before they made VIP a thing. Back in the days when to be able to get into a soundcheck, you had to win a spot in a lottery type draw. Remember when they used to do that? When they started the, anyone can do VIP for a price thing, I quickly figured out that was too much money for me to justify spending on five minutes with the boys.
They seem to have stopped doing all their charitable events. Those things I didn't mind spending money on because I knew it was going to a great cause. I've only done two but they were both pretty awesome experiences. Howie's bowling event is still one of my all time favorite things ever lol he's the best. And Brian's was pretty excellent too (minus Leighanne) and yes, I was being quite charitable! lol
Anyway...I wish they would do more of those and less cruises. It seems like maybe that's a thing of the past now.
They didn't actually reschedule it; they just came back to Chicago on the second leg the following summer and offered us a freaking $5 discount (or maybe it was 5%?) off ticket prices, which everyone complained about, so they made it 25 instead. I couldn't go anyway because it was on a Wednesday night, and I had class.
I do remember the soundcheck lottery; I think they started that during the NG tour, and then during Unbreakable, they started offering the paid VIPs, but also still had soundcheck winners. I know because I went to two Unbreakable shows, and the first one I paid for VIP (which was my first time meeting the Boys) and the other I actually won soundcheck!
I have mixed feelings on the VIPs. In general, I like them because they're a guaranteed way to get to meet the guys. I like getting pictures with them, and I LOVE going to the soundchecks. For me, the soundcheck is better than the meet-and-greet. The meet-and-greets are super quick, but they've gotten better over the years. It used to be they would stand behind a barrier, and you weren't supposed to ask them for hugs or talk to them too long. They haven't done the barrier thing since NKOTBSB, and hugs are okay now, although the bodyguards still try to hurry you along. The downside is they are super expensive. I don't like the different levels because that's just made it more expensive. I will only do silver or bronze, and those are bad enough. Worth it, though? To me it is because that's pretty much the only way I've ever been able to interact with them, other than the cruises.
I love the cruises too because they're fun and a great way to meet up with a lot of online friends at once, but again, they are so expensive (and so much MORE expensive than a regular cruise), I get why people wish they would stop. I don't think they necessarily need to do one every year, but I hope they keep doing them and branch out where they go.
I do wish they would do more of their charity stuff. It's too bad they all seem to have let that stuff go. I would love to go to some of those kinds of events now that I can afford to travel and have BSB friends to go with.