DJ Tiesto Live in Manila 2008

First, let me get it out of the way and say that I love going to these kinds of events. Aside from the music, the whole concept of people watching is very appealing to me (and my friends). Imagine all the women dressed up in their most revealing comfortable get ups and getting drunk crazy on the dance floor. I’ve also had my fair share of warehouse and rave parties in the past (they don’t all em’ that anymore) when I was still in school. I didn’t mind elbow to elbow crowds either.

While I enjoy these big parties, one thing I absolutely abhor is the certain air of exclusivity that is associated with these kinds of events. Last night’s DJ Tiesto Elements of Life event at the World Trade Center was no different.

DJ Tiesto Ticket Prices

If my memory serves me right, tickets to Big Fish events used to cost P300. Last night’s Tiesto event set people back P1,000 to P1,500, depending on when people bought their tickets. It’s definitely not easy on the pocket. That’s good enough for about 10-15 lunches!

On VIP Treatment

Like I said, people pay more to get special treatment. When you “avail” of the VIP tickets, your group gets 2 bottles of hard liquor, a table, and a few seats (and you get to enter via the VIP line). I just have to say one thing though, isn’t the concept of VIP twisted, since it is based on how much you pay to get in? I’ve always thought that you become a VIP based on influence. They could have called it premium tix instead. Vincent Chase doesn’t get his special treatment because of his money. Oh well, just nitpicking :D

An Affluent Market

Since Big Fish revolutionized the club scene, so too advertisers begun to take notice of the marketing opportunities that these events represent. They know that they’ll be hitting a good chunk of the A, B, and upper C crowd. It’s all part of the seen and be seen culture in the Philippines, just like the stuff you find in society magazines.

This brings me to another point — don’t society people ever get tired of seeing their pictures in magazines or newspapers? Do people ever get tired of seeing these same people? I used to be judgmental against this, but somehow I realized that post event collages maintain the public’s interest. It makes people want to go to the next big party.

Exclusive or Not?

After all is said and done, one thing remains — that this is still a business. If the artist is worth P1,500 then people will pay. This in itself is what the organizers took a risk on. Judging by the size of the crowd last night, I think it’s a risk that paid of quite handsomely. They did after all, bring in the world’s #1 DJ. If people paid P20,000 for Beyonce, then I guess Tiesto deserves every bit of his P1,500 per head as well. :P

I think the exclusivity only comes with the kind of music that is played. One thing’s for sure, it is not what you would call mainstream. Take this point of comparison for example, go to Ticketnet and you’ll see that Apo Hiking Society Patron tickets cost P5,500. So as a personal appeal to the organizers, be careful with the ticket prices, people may get tired of paying so much.

With all of this being said, I think everyone has to keep an open mind regarding people who go to these events.

  • “Pang mayaman na gimik, ayoko nyan.”
  • “Puro drugista lang pumupunta sa ganyan”
  • “Si Chesto? Kaya ko naman gawin yan eh” <- had to throw this in to lighten my tone :P

Everyone has different tastes in music. Everyone has their own idea of “fun”. The topic of exclusivity is a very touchy topic to debate on, as the word is always closely tied with discrimination. My only wish is for Filipinos to let go of this mentality. I can assure you, our country would be a much better place to live in.

*To those who were wondering how the Tiesto performance went, I just feel that he had a lot more audience rapport the last time he was here. Whereas he played from 1 to 5am in 06′, he only played from 1 to 3am last night! Needless to say, the people started to funnel out right after. I’m glad I only got the tickets for free.

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