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Post by Rike on Apr 30, 2009 0:31:55 GMT -6
Bongiovi brother plans Stamford clubSTAMFORD -- Matthew Bongiovi, the youngest brother of Jon from the Bon Jovi rock group, plans to open a bar in June at 84 W. Park Place in downtown Stamford, the former site of the Thirsty Turtle. It will be a "boutique nightclub" called 84 Park, said Nan Leonard, Matthew Bongiovi's publicist. Unlike his world-famous brother, Matthew Bongiovi is an entrepreneur, not a musician, Leonard said Wednesday. The younger Bongiovi co-owns the Elements Steakhouse & Lounge in Sea Bright, N.J., with Vince Rizzo, according to the Elements Steakhouse's Web site. Leonard said more details about 84 Park will be released soon. Bongiovi was not available for comment, she added. Matthew's brother, Jon Bon Jovi, was born in 1962 in New Jersey as John Francis Bongiovi Jr. If it opens as scheduled, the new club could draw customers from large crowds that gather for the Alive@Five concert series sponsored by Stamford's Downtown Special Services District. "It is very, very positive that someone like Matthew Bongiovi wants to partner in this major and expensive effort" to renovate the former Thirsty Turtle in the downtown, said Sandra Goldstein, executive director of the DSSD. "It shows that even in times of economic hardship, people recognize strong communities and strong potential for economic growth." The Thirsty Turtle closed for undisclosed reasons in the winter after six years of operation. www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_12257522?source=most_emailed
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LJ
Wanted Dead or Alive
Posts: 679
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Post by LJ on Apr 30, 2009 9:44:13 GMT -6
saw this, the person running the fanclub, should only do that job. No disrespect to matt, but he is only human. there are just so many hours in the day.
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Post by Hath on Apr 30, 2009 9:48:05 GMT -6
Well, now I have to respectfully disagree. I'd qualify your statement by saying "if he can't multitask....he should only do one". Though he does manage to manage Elements, right? Or at least hire the right people to do it -- I'd say this is probably no different.
Anyway, look at all that Jon does! He's proof positive that if you want to do something (or a whole bunch of somethings), and work your ass off, you can attain it.
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LJ
Wanted Dead or Alive
Posts: 679
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Post by LJ on Apr 30, 2009 9:55:26 GMT -6
Well, now I have to respectfully disagree. I'd qualify your statement by saying "if he can't multitask....he should only do one". Though he does manage to manage Elements, right? Or at least hire the right people to do it -- I'd say this is probably no different. Anyway, look at all that Jon does! He's proof positive that if you want to do something (or a whole bunch of somethings), and work your ass off, you can attain it. Jon is very unusual in his energy level. Not of all of us have that kind of energy. Not all of us are work alcoholics like that! lol! I think the fan club is in need a full time person. I think the fan club is a big job, and Matt has a lot going. Hey Jon! I'm available to run the fanclub!
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Post by T on Apr 30, 2009 11:14:58 GMT -6
I'm not a member of the fan club so maybe I shouldn't comment on this....but I've never let "shouldn't" stop me before....lol.
I think the problem here is that Matt CAN'T multitask...he tries, but falls short....and it's the fan club that suffers...apparently, they consider the fan club as the "throw away" task. The FC needs a hands on director. Someone that takes care of it first....and then everything else....not the other way around. I really think that Jon thinks that both his brothers are like him....the Energizer Bunny.....and expects too much of them.....or at least Matt. I honestly think that Jon doesn't realize all the problems the FC has...because of that fact. And, Matt's not gonna tell him because he doesn't want to disappoint big brother.
Just my opinion.
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LJ
Wanted Dead or Alive
Posts: 679
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Post by LJ on Apr 30, 2009 12:30:33 GMT -6
I'm not a member of the fan club so maybe I shouldn't comment on this....but I've never let "shouldn't" stop me before....lol.
I think the problem here is that Matt CAN'T multitask...he tries, but falls short....and it's the fan club that suffers...apparently, they consider the fan club as the "throw away" task. The FC needs a hands on director. Someone that takes care of it first....and then everything else....not the other way around. I really think that Jon thinks that both his brothers are like him....the Energizer Bunny.....and expects too much of them.....or at least Matt. I honestly think that Jon doesn't realize all the problems the FC has...because of that fact. And, Matt's not gonna tell him because he doesn't want to disappoint big brother.
Just my opinion. I totally agree with you! I use to be a member of B.S. and I use to renew every year. I'm not anymore because I just don't feel I get my money's worth, and it's not been run well. Nothing against Matt, the job is just too big, and I just don't think he has the time to do it right. When I first joined you could buy two fan club seats per B.S. membership, then they changed it one. Who wants to go by themselves? Have they changed that back yet? |
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Post by norwichliz on Apr 30, 2009 22:43:12 GMT -6
I'm a member of the fanclub, although I'm not active on the boards over there. To be honest I've never understood what all the bitching has been about. I think it depends on what your expectations of the FC are. I join to get concert tickets and merchandise. I don't expect to meet Jon or get any special treatment or treats. I guess that's why I've never been disappointed. For what I want, Matt does just fine.
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Post by Rike on May 1, 2009 0:25:22 GMT -6
sometimes!!
he did a great job during the European leg of the tour last year. But I know other fanclubs andthats why I can't understand what we get for our $50 fee. There are still member who wait for the laminate, more than a year. And a little welcome gift could really possible in my opinion (a lanyard, a welcome letter and an signed photo - I expect not much, only a little attention.)
And I'm still waiting for the FC-show CD.
And the message board only needs a good moderator. But I'm not there so often, only for pics and news.
last year for the tour we could buy 2 tix per member and for the fanclub show it was the same.
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Post by Hath on May 1, 2009 6:44:31 GMT -6
I have to agree with Liz, though I too am not a member -- yet. I'll join when the next record is released, so I can [hopefully] go to more shows. Most of the bitching about the FC (and not the random, sensible grumblings like I see here, but the real bitching) is about how they expect this and that, and feel entitled to get Jon's old clothes or whatever. Granted, when Mrs. B. ran the club it was a LOT different (from what I understand). But the sense of entitlement I see in some of the fandom is staggering. All they owe us really is our money's worth at a show.
As for the $50 for the FC membership; you get shots at tickets and special events the GP doesn't get, you can get merch we don't, pics and vids that we don't have access too, periodic chats with da man.... $50 barely buys decent shoes, I'd counter with what do you expect to get for your $50? And that's not even being snide. I've never belonged to any official fan club, so I have nothing to compare BSWJBJ against. What do other FCs give you for their fees? Do all FCs even charge fees?
And, I've gone by myself to shows. Sure, it's more fun going with friends, but I've never met a Jovi fan who wasn't a friend. Hell, I met a girl on the train going to the same show I was at Newark, and we're still friends.
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LJ
Wanted Dead or Alive
Posts: 679
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Post by LJ on May 1, 2009 8:36:03 GMT -6
I have to agree with Liz, though I too am not a member -- yet. I'll join when the next record is released, so I can [hopefully] go to more shows. Most of the bitching about the FC (and not the random, sensible grumblings like I see here, but the real bitching) is about how they expect this and that, and feel entitled to get Jon's old clothes or whatever. Granted, when Mrs. B. ran the club it was a LOT different (from what I understand). But the sense of entitlement I see in some of the fandom is staggering. All they owe us really is our money's worth at a show. As for the $50 for the FC membership; you get shots at tickets and special events the GP doesn't get, you can get merch we don't, pics and vids that we don't have access too, periodic chats with da man.... $50 barely buys decent shoes, I'd counter with what do you expect to get for your $50? And that's not even being snide. I've never belonged to any official fan club, so I have nothing to compare BSWJBJ against. What do other FCs give you for their fees? Do all FCs even charge fees? And, I've gone by myself to shows. Sure, it's more fun going with friends, but I've never met a Jovi fan who wasn't a friend. Hell, I met a girl on the train going to the same show I was at Newark, and we're still friends. My problem was the one concert ticket. I was going to rejoin during the HAND tour, but didn't because of that. Two tickets is all I ask. The fan club events could be cheaper, how rich do the boys need to be? Alabama's group for years was free, now due to cost, it's $20. They also use to give you a free T-shirt and photo for joining and 4 times a years a newsletter with photos. Not sure if they do that anymore. Fan club membership should get you two tickets. That is all I want and expect. I don't expect to meet the boys, get any of their clothing, or any crap like that. If they have changed it back to two tickets per membership then I will rejoin and I'm fine with the fanclub. I did e-mail them several time and never got a response, to ask about tickets. Maybe, they need to hire Matt more help. I do think you are right Hath, people do expect too much. Lily |
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Post by Rike on May 1, 2009 9:50:05 GMT -6
the R.E.M fanclub cost 25$ and you get a welcome package with a letter and a t-shirt. you get every christmas a present and you can buy the tickets for the shows and get the wristbands for th pit.
Metallica offers you a t-shirt and you can apply for a meet and greet during the tour. they doing this at every concet place and when you get the luck once you have to wait 12 months for the next one.
And as a fanclub member you have one free download for a show.
and btw, at backstage we had only 2 chat with JBJ. when Mrs.b was running the FC Jon was writing some letters, but since Matt is doing this job there are only 2 letters. But I'm not complaining. We could buy our tix and here in Europe we have our own system for line up, it works and Matt accepted it.
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Post by norwichliz on May 1, 2009 10:42:23 GMT -6
Ok, as for the number of tix...that doesn't bother me. I go to shows alone - none of my friends are fans - and like Hath said, I've met some really great people.
To be fair to Matt....we don't know whether he's asked for things like the newsletters they used to do, or whatever, and Jon's said no. I've heard Jon complain that his mother gave too much away when she ran the club (although I always assumed that he meant personal information about him).
When I first joined....quite a few years ago now, we got guitar picks embedded with Jon's signature.
I don't belong to any other fanclub, so I also have nothing to compare it to.
As for the $50.....I don't think that's outrageous, and considering the experiences I had last tour, definitely worth it.
I don't do the FC events because they're too expensive, and as much as I love Jon, if I'm going to pay that kind of money I'd rather see all of them
Could it be better? Probably, we all have wish lists, but I've been satisfied with what I've gotten out of it.
But that's just me.
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Post by lisamarie on May 1, 2009 12:44:27 GMT -6
Well, I am a very happy member of the club and will continue to be. At first I think it was run rather roughly when Matt took over. But it is really improving quickly. And I am thrilled. I would love more chats with JOn, sure. But hey, it is fine. The $50 is not that much to me. IT is worth it. I have to watch my pennies like everyone else. And I like the chance at fan club tickets. You can buy two now. And even that is changing for the better it seems, doing it through Ticketmaster. I could have never made it to the fan club concert most likely unless I was a member and it was one of the best nights of my life. Once in a lifetime experience. Was it a bit pricey, yes. But to me it was worth it. I know some bands may do things differently and charge less. But gosh, Prince now charges $77. This is Bon Jovi, not the Jonas Brothers or something, you know? If anyone is thinking of joining, I don't think you would be sorry. There are a few fans that seem to still expect the world and have this sense of entitlement. And they complain. Oh, do they complain. But even that has gotten better over the last couple of months. I don't know, I am proud to be a member of the fan club. They have really been on top of things.
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