The Smiley Smile Message Board

I don't post much on here at all, but always enjoy reading what everyone on here has to contribute. My fiance and I had a bad experience with the Brian,Al, and David meet and greet in Atlantic City. Too make  long story short it was very badly run and pretty much a waste of a lot of money. I won't get into it, but you can go over to Brian's site and read everything on that forum I wrote.

Anyway...I am writing here in the hopes that someone may see this hopefully MIKE or BRUCE or anyone who plays in the band. I am hoping there is someway I might be able to get passes to meet them both in Ocean Grove, NJ this Saturday night (July 27th). I have never met them and I really want to have that chance. I have been told that they are super nice and they always seem so fan friendly: signing autos, taking photos etc. I feel the only way to forget to horrible experience of Atlantic City would be to meet these two fine gentleman. I actually bought the tickets for my fiances birthday and I feel so bad that she walked away feeling like she did....if someone sees this please consider helping me out. I really want her to end this summer with a good Beach Boys memory that she can cherish forever. Thank you all and sorry for going on and on.

You might want to post on the Beach Boys Britain board as Bruce posts there regularly. That`s not to say that he will give you a pass though...

From the complaints I've heard, it sounds like a rip  off. I'd post something on Brian's  board. And contact his organization.

Oh brother.

People get buyer's remorse because when meeting some 70's year old men (who are subject to mood changes like everyone else) the experience didn't live up their expectations. Cry me a river.

You do realize that even Brian`s people have accepted that there was a problem and are offering to send out signed photos in way of recompense.

And if some 70 year olds have an issue then they shouldn`t be charging large sums of money for the meet and greets should they.

That's true, I mean what do people expect?  To make friends and have a conversation with the group?  They don't have time for that.  You shake hands, get your picture taken, have your album/program/etc. signed, you move on.  Yeah, it's overpriced but nobody is forcing you to pay for it.  No need to have such a sense of entitlement.

Guess that wasn't enough recompense for the OP, I can understand being upset -- I don't understand using the board as a platform to air grievances concerning the matter - its poor taste to say the least, and actually pretty silly and immature.

How is it any different from commenting on a good or bad gig? An awful lot of people have complained about the meet and greets and why shouldn`t they. They`re not free after all...

I'm sorry, I did not mean to upset anyone on here. I'm am just trying to make something special happen for my soon to be wife the best way I can. It was not Brian's fault at all or any of the band members. Whoever ran the whole thing really burnt us. I also did not mention that the Brian autos we got were fake, someone else signed for him. I already got one quick response from PSA/DNA and I am also sending it for further analysis. Upon initial review they are saying that it is likely not genuine. I have compiled a lot of info an saw the in person Brian signed the night after...they are completely differen't. It looks nothing like Brian's signature. I believe there are rules against what they did....

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Most likely its late and I am overly-cynical - hope you get satisfaction from somewhere.

I respect all your opinions, but I at least have to try. I can't afford to travel across the country for another Brian show and a chance to make it better. There is another half to the Beach Boys and the fact that they will be playing so close to home I at least have to ask them for a favor. They owe me nothing at all, I'm just a fan hoping they will help me out.

Well, the best we can do for you (probably) is to point you towards the Beach Boys Britain board, where Bruce supposedly posts regularly.
Good luck and congratulations.

How much was the meet and greet?  And what did they tell you was included?  Just curious.

This isn't the place to reveal this stuff in a public forum.

Why?  It's posted publicly on the Ticketmaster and the like websites like every other special concert promo.

Here is the Ravina July 26 package:

VIP ticket package #1
$180 ($175+tax)
Includes sound check, Meet and Greet, photos with Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and David Marks, autograph and T-shirt.


To be fair, it just says autograph.

I just mean the M&B vs. BAD badgering this thread implies...

Mike and Bruce to the rescue.  I've read Bruce doing these kind of things on the BBB board.  He might help.
Brian obviously has no clue to the Meet and Great details.  The PR on the "autograph" is kinda misleading.

Just don't accept a lap dance from Bruce, the yelp reviews say it's a big ripoff as well.

 :lol

Some who post here might have advice about taking your fiancée to a M&B meet and greet!  :lol

The main problem with this meet & greet seems to be that they vastly oversold it. They were greedy. I don't blame fans for wanting to do it or being disappointed in it, and they're the ones paying their hard-earned money.  The Brian Wilson organization obviously saw tens of thousands of dollars per show doing it that way and didn't care about the fans. I know some people think Brian can do no wrong but that wasn't even Brian's call, it was his "people." They weren't thinking about Brian, either, because I can't see him wanting to do a meet and greet with that many people before he does a show or any other time.  They should give the people a partial refund and learn to cut off sales when it reaches a certain number. The fans who were upset should continue to press the issue over at his board and maybe they'll get some results.

BTW, if you're on Facebook, you might try posting your wish to Mike Love's Facebook page. I'm not sure he or his reps would notice your post or do something about it, but it couldn't hurt.

Well, he wants a more personal experience. Seeing two old men hitting on being very welcoming to your soon-to-be-wife will provide memories to last a lifetime

Well done. LMAO! :lol

holy crap I hadnt thought about that angle.  :lol :lol :lol :lol

To the OP, if shes really good looking send Michael a pic or two! That might clench it for ya.

Clench it?

His intended might be doing the clenching if Mike has his way. `Just don`t look at it when you touch it` as Ricky Gervais said...

I wonder if Mike quotes Beach Boy lyrics as he... you know.....

Here's to hoping it's not "Hey, Little Tomboy."

(http://assets.noisey.com/content-images/contentimage/no-slug/48846f0bbdcb0d4a69a2dfbbf2ac8894.jpg)

He does do this just as he... you know. The pointing helps make a connection between himself and the ladyfolk he... you know.

The finger of darkness....

Yeah! This is a great chance for Mike and Bruce to stick it to Team Wilson. How could they treat their fans like that. Mike and Bruce will make things right! Someone call the L.A. Times!  >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D :woot

Just kidding!  :o ;) :lol

I hope things go well and I hope you both get to meet Mike and Bruce. These meet and greet things can go either way. Sorry you had a bad experience. Brian and Mike have their 'people' arrange these things and often don't hear fan reaction.

I'll post more about the meet and greet tomorrow when I have more time. I started a thread about the meet and great many weeks ago and I'll do a follow up.

I hear the N.J. meet and greet didn't go well but the Pittsburgh one was much better. I spoke to people who attended both. My experience was very good.

We did see the return of Tara, our hostess for the BB50 meet and greet. Don't mess with Tara!  :o I'll write more later.

By the way, Justin was right. (see the old thread...I'll post tomorrow) The autographs were done on a very high quality glossy photo. No complaints. They signed in person. More later....

The prices seem to vary city to city or venue to venue. That $175 event is a really good deal.

Have Mike and Bruce done them?

They tour strictly for the fans and to spread positivity, Mike routinely refuses to accept payment and instead hands it to the fan in the ugliest Hawaiian shirt. Bruce sarcastically undermines the whole "meet and greet" concept by demanding autographs from fans and complaining about inkjet DPI when he isn't posting rants to Free Republic.

I was thinking of the BB50 celebration tour. I'm sure Mike would have wanted the fans to be happy. I don't think Mike's tour has done a meet and greet on the scale as BB50 or Brian's tour.

"They're doin' it all over the world......"

 >:D

They did one at the show I saw in 2011, although I don't think (or know if) anybody had to pay for it.

Mike and Bruce don't have a VIP package or anything...you just have to get in touch with somebody or know a guy who knows a guy deal...but they stood on the side of the stage shaking A LOT of hands and I think Bruce signed something after their show Saturday. There was a large group waiting at their buses for them too. I didn't get to meet them, but I did have some help from backstage and they got my meet n greet pic from C50 signed.

The perfect canned ham-all pink and juicy specially with all the grease. :old

Now that you mentioned that -- Peter Noone meets his audiences after the show, autographs stuff (BYO or product from his tables) and there is no charge -- you just have to get in the queue. and wait.  :-D

I have a signed Tour programme from the 50th. Paid a lot of money for it from the BravadoUK store.  I believe they are the ones that were being sold at some of the gigs (I didn't see any at the Wembley show but bought an unsigned one).  However, the Brian signature was not done by Brian.  I also have a large signed lithograph bought at a Gershwin Tour show (which wasn't cheap) and while it looks more authentic I still have my doubts about how genuine it is.  I have been very fortunate to have met Brian on several occasions and had him sign for me so I would say I have a bit of knowledge on the variety of his signature over the years.  Did anyone else buy these items and wonder about how genuine the signatures were?

Every waking moment of every single day of my life. It makes relationships with others difficult, as I'm always asking them what they think of the "W."

"Does that look right to you?"

"It's some guy's Wilson alright."

If you truly love your fiancee, you'll keep her away from Mike Love and instead take her over to Nagle's on Main and Central Aves. for a nice comfort food dinner.

Well, this is the signature that Brian signed in front of me in person:

(http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/SloopJohnnyB/Other%20Stuff/brisig5_zpsd4bba43f.jpg) (http://s1332.photobucket.com/user/SloopJohnnyB/media/Other%20Stuff/brisig5_zpsd4bba43f.jpg.html)

This is the signature on the BB50 program that I bought at the BB50 concert:

(http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/SloopJohnnyB/Other%20Stuff/brisig4_zps563cfe7e.jpg) (http://s1332.photobucket.com/user/SloopJohnnyB/media/Other%20Stuff/brisig4_zps563cfe7e.jpg.html)

I feel very confident that Brian signed the BB50 program. You can see the upward tail at the end of Wilson. Also the 'bump' in Brian. Brian might have been tired but he signed the programs. He had to sign many, too. My opinion.

I don't know what happened in N.J. but I'd like to see the photo they were given. My only concern is that they signed one photo and then made copies from it. Still an autograph. I don't want to speculate on what happened when I wasn't there.

Sloop, I would say your C50 is a genuine signature (after he'd signed quite a few before it!).  The 'bump' in 'Brian' and the end of 'Wilson' are usual characteristics of Brian's signing.  Other missing elements, such as the lack of a 'W' are probably just down to fatigue.  My C50 is totally different on the other hand.