My InDepth Guide to Boyband VIP
VIP events are becoming a prominent feature of the boyband concert experience. VIPS offer fans various opportunities to spend time with their favorite boybands and/or get a closer seat to the stage. Some VIPs go the extra mile with additional acoustic set performances, sound checks and photo ops. For this post, I’ve decided to break down the different VIPs I have done and provide additional details on what fans can expect from the following boybands: 98 Degrees, BBMAK, Chris Kirkpatrick, Dream Street, Joey Fatone and AJ McLean, LFO, Niall Horan, New Kids On The Block and O-Town. On this blog,
98 Degrees
Shows: 98 Degrees & Bell Biv Devoe, 2018 Christmas Tour
Included with the ticket? For the Christmas tour, VIP was included with the concert ticket. At the 98 Degrees and Bell Biv Devoe show, you need to buy separately on the band’s website. Going forward, 98 Degrees sells their VIP separately from the concert tickets.
Schedule: Before the Concert
Meet and Greet Photo Opportunity? Yes you get a group photo with 98 degrees. You don’t need to form a group with other fans unlike NKOTB. You have the option to take a photo by yourself with Nick, Jeff, Justin and Drew or with another friend. During the most recent tour in Foxwoods, I did the champagne VIP where I got to take selfies with each guy.
Professional Camera/Your Phone? During the Christmas tour, photos were taken with a professional camera. At the most recent tour, you give your phone to the security guard to take the photo. And they take multiple pictures and ask you if you want retakes! You have control of the results!
Time with the Artist? If you do the Platinum VIP, you spend about 45 minutes with the guys. About an hour and half if you do Ultimate VIPs
Gifts included? During the Christmas show, we got a tote bag and a snowglobe magnet. At the most recent show, we got a signed poster.
Extras? If you select Ultimate, you get to watch 98 Degrees rehearse during soundcheck. At the Foxwoods show, we got to see and hear their new song, “Got U” before the song was publicly released. The guys also answered questions from fans. Later, I got to enjoy some champagne and toast with Nick, Drew, Jeff and Justin and watch Drew open up a bottle. And I kept the cork!
Price Range: $150-$550
Worth it? Totally worth it. You get to spend a significant time with 98 Degrees. You also get an extra mini show with them performing soundcheck. The guys are really friendly and give the best hugs.
BBMAK
Shows: Pop2000 Tour, BBMAK
Included with the concert ticket? No. You need to buy separately on DayOne VIPs website.
Schedule: Before and After the Concert
Meet and Greet Photo Opportunity? Yes. You get to take an individual photo with BBMAK. If you opt for Champagne or Team Bullet Train, you get to take individual selfies with Mark, Ste and Christian.
Professional Camera/Your Phone? Your phone. You give your phone to the DayOne VIP team and they take multiple photos of you.
Time with the Artist? If you select Unpredictable, Unplugged and Upclose VIP, you get about 30-45 minutes. Falling Up Champagne gives you 1-1.5 hours. Team Bullet Train, you are with them almost half a day.
Gifts Included? You get an autograph signed photo of BBMAK. If you do Falling Up Champagne, you get a BBMAK tumblr. If you do Team Bullet Train, you get a small Team BBMAK travel bag.
Extras? During Unpredictable, Unplugged and Upclose VIP, BBMAK performs an acoustic version of one of their songs. Then they answer questions from the fans.
During Falling Up Champagne, you get to toast champagne and enjoy drinks with BBMAK and spend more time with the boys. You also get to watch Ste pop open up a bottle!
In addition, BBMAK offers several other VIP opportunities:
Spotlight Serenade - you get to come onstage and BBMAK serenades you with a BBMAK song of your choice. I did it on the Pop2000 tour at Cape Cod. I sat onstage and BBMAK serenaded me with my favorite song, “I Can Tell”. It was such a beautiful and surreal experience to be onstage with three very handsome British Blokes singing to you in front of a live audience. Also, DayOnes VIP films the entire serenade to make sure the moment it’s captured for the memories!
Still On Your Side Serenade - If you are uncomfortable with sitting in front of an audience, you can select a post-show serenade where BBMAK sings to you after the show in a more private setting. And yes DayOnes VIP films the entire serenade too and you also get a group photo.
Back Here Snap Session - This option also happens after the show if you just want to meet BBMAK and get a photo opp. You get to meet BBMAK postshow and chat with them a bit.
Team Bullet Train - Team Bullet Train is where you get to spend almost half a day with BBMAK and really get to know them. I did it during the Pop2K show in Rhode Island. I got to first meet the boys before the regular VIP. I sat in during their soundcheck and hang out and chat with them. Then I got to join the rest of the regular VIP during Unpredictable, Unplugged and Upclose and spend time with BBMAK after that VIP was over. Later after the show, I met up with the boys again for after show drinks and hang out.
Price Range: $70-$750
Worth it? Yes! The time you actually spend with BBMAK is totally worth it. Aside from the acoustic set, you really spend the time getting to know them. BBMAK and their team also makes sure that you have a great time and get a lot out of the VIP. They are one of the nicest guys around, very humble and aren’t the type who let celebrity and fame get to their heads. I was most surprised at how much they want to get to know me and fans.
Chris Kirkpatrick
Shows: Pop2000
Included with the concert ticket? No. You would need to buy Chris’s VIP separately on the DayOnes VIP website.
Schedule: Before and After the show
Meet and Greet Photo Opportunity? Yes you take an individual photo with Chris.
Professional Camera/Your Phone? Your Phone. You give your phone to the DayOne VIP team and they take multiple photos of you. You control the outcome!
Time with the Artist? About an hour during the Pre-Show Meet and Greet. Chris takes questions from fans. According to friends who have done Chris’s VIP recently, he now does shots with fans. After the show, it’s a quick photo snapshot and chat with Chris.
Gifts Included? You get an autograph signed photo of Chris during the Before show VIP.
Extras? Chris’s dry sense of humor and being a total goofball. Seriously though, Chris is really friendly and tells it like it is.
Price Range: $75-$200
Worth It? If you are an NSYNC fan, the Chris VIP is definitely worth it. You get to spend time with Chris and he tells NSYNC stories and some anecdotes about the guys.
Dream Street
Show: BBMAK with Dream Street in Fairfield
Included with the concert ticket? No. You would need to buy Dream Street’s VIP separately on DayOnes VIP website.
Schedule: Before and After The show
Meet and Greet/Photo Opportunity? Yes you do get to meet Greg and Matt from Dream Street
Professional Camera/Your Phone? Your phone. If you do the before show VIP, you give your phone to the DayOne VIP team and they take multiple photos of you. You control the outcome! If you do the after show VIP, Greg takes your phone and takes multiple selfies of you with him and Matt.
Time with the Artist? About 40 minutes to 1 hour during the Before show VIP. After the show, it’s a 2 minute photo opp.
Extras? During the before show VIP, Matt and Greg performs an acoustic version of the Dream Street deep cut, “You’re Taking Me Over”. They also answer questions from fans.
Gifts? A signed photo of Matt and Greg
Price Range : $70 - $125
Worth It? Worth it if you are a Dream Street fan. Their Fairfield show was their first VIP event. However, it was a nice intimate setting especially with their acoustic set. I enjoyed getting to know Matt and Greg. I’m hoping one day Jesse and Frankie join them
Joey Fatone and AJ McLean
Show: Joey and AJ - A Legendary Night
Included with the concert ticket? Yes
Schedule: Before the Show
Meet and Greet Photo Opportunity? No. You have to buy VIP meet and greets with Joey and AJ separately.
Professional Camera/Your Phone? Professional Camera. Please and Thank You VIP will send you an email link to retrieve your photo.
Time with Artist? About 30-45 minutes during soundcheck and Q&A. Two minutes for Photo Ops.
Gifts Included? A signed photo of AJ and Joey. If you did a Photo Op with Joey, you get a tote bag with some pins. If you did Photo Op with AJ, you got an Ava Dean nail polish.
Extras? Joey and AJ performs two songs for the VIP - “Part Of Your World” from the Little Mermaid and “Always Something To Remind Me” by Naked Eyes. They also answer questions from fans. Also VIPers get to enter the venue first before general admission so they can snag spots closer to the stage.
Price: $200+
Worth It? Yes, especially if you want to be closer to the stage. It was also cool to see AJ and Joey in a more close knit and relaxed setting. Also Joey was really friendly to the fans and had a big smile on his face. He also gives big bear hugs.
LFO
Show: Pop2000, the LFO Story
Included with the concert ticket? No. You need to buy directly on the LFO website
Schedule: Before the Show and After the Show
Meet and Greet Photo Opportunity? Yes you take a selfie with Brad Fischetti
Professional Camera/Your Phone? Your phone. Brad takes your phone and takes the picture. He takes multiple photos so you have control on the outcome!
Time with the Artist? You get to spend about an hour with Brad either having lunch or coffee before the show. After the show, it’s a quick selfie snapshot.
Gifts Included? Yes you get a signed photo from Brad.
Extras? Brad offers two VIP upgrades in addition to the meet and greet:
Watergirl/Waterboy - You get to bring Brad’s water tumbler in the middle of the show after Brad sings “Every Other Time”. If there is significant space, you get to stay backstage and watch the show from there. Or you return to your seat.
Sneaker Keeper - During every show, Brad honors his late bandmates Rich Cronin and Devon Lima. As Sneaker Keeper, you get to bring Rich and Devon’s sneakers up onstage.
Price: $40 - $230
Worth It? The Watergirl/Waterboy and Sneaker Keeper is great to do once. Lunch and Coffee with Brad is definitely worth it. You get to know Brad on a personal level and spend quality time with him. He tends to include an ice-breaker game to make the VIPs feel more comfortable. Worth it if you are an LFO fan.
Niall Horan
Show: The Show Live On Tour
Included with the concert ticket? Yes for the first 10 rows
Schedule: Before the show.
Meet and Greet Photo Opportunity? None. Niall does not do any meet and greets.
Gifts Included? I received a case box with Niall Horan - The Show written on it and inside was a vintage concert ticket. I thought it was pretty cool and I use it now as an extra glasses case.
Extras? You get to enter the venue earlier than general admissions. You get first access to buying merch. Food and Drinks are available to purchase. Also, there are photo booths to take pictures for your social media. There is also a corner where fans write letters to Niall. Another for friendship bracelet making.
Price: $300 and above
Worth It? Only worth it if you want a seat closer to the stage and want a better view.
New Kids On The Block
Show: Magic Summer Tour 2024
Included with the concert ticket? Yes for the first 10 rows of the venue.
Schedule: Before the Concert
Meet and Greet/Photo Opportunity? Yes. The group photo is with Donnie, Danny, Jon, Joe and Jordan and 10 fans (each New Kid stands with 2 fans). You need to form your group in advance (like months) before the concert. Otherwise you will be scrambling at the last minute to find people to fit your group (and it’s always for Danny!) NKOTB also offers a limited number of Ultimate VIPs where one fan gets to take multiple photos with the New Kids.
Professional Camera/Your Phone? Professional camera. The VIP team sends you a website link to where you get your photos.
Time with the Artist? Two minutes unless you also do Ultimate VIPs and Magic Seats
Gifts included? A padded fan with your favorite guy’s face on it!
Extras? You get to enter the venue before general admission. You also get first dibs at the merchandise table which was helpful! Cause we got a unique Boston-based tour T-shirt and the shirts ran out once general admission was allowed in.
I also paid extra for Magic Seats during the Magic Summer Tour where you get to stand on the side of the stage for the first five-six songs of the show. You also get to do a group huddle with Donnie and Danny and take selfies with Danny. As a Blockhead, it was such a fun experience and surreal to be that up close to the New Kids. I advise you to only do it once!
Price Range: $700 and above
Worth it? VIP Meet and Greet and Magic Seats are good to do once. Though, I’m not sure if NKOTB plans to do Magic Seats in the future. If you are a huge Blockhead, you should definitely splurge on the VIP Meet and Greet during one of their concerts. Even though it’s a short time, you get to hug the New Kids and say a few words to them. Jon gives the best ones by the way. Donnie is especially friendly and Joe too.
O-Town
Show: Pop2000 and O-Town Boston show
Included with concert ticket? No. You need to buy the VIP on O-Town’s website
Schedule: Before and after the concert
Meet and Greet/Photo Opportunity? You get to take a photo with O-Town during the VIP before the show. In the after show VIP, you take selfies with each O-Town member.
Professional Camera/Your Phone? Your phone camera. In the Before Show VIP, you hand your phone to Joel, the tour manager. He takes multiple photos and you control the outcome of the photos!
Time with the Artist? When I did VIP with O-Town before the show, fans were treated to acoustic performances of their songs. In the past VIPs, they have performed “Love should Be A Crime”, “Over”, “Baby I Would”, “Suddenly”, “Been Around The World”, and “The Joint’. Prior, VIP used to include O-Town’s soundcheck. After the acoustic set, O-Town would take questions from the fans. Then take a group photo. If you opt for the Ultimate VIP and All-Access VIP, you get to spend more time with O-Town in their dressing room and take selfies. For All-Access VIP, you also get to help with setting up for the show and meet up with O-Town after the show. I also got to go onstage and watch O-Town perform “These Are The Days” from the stage. It’s really cool.
Gifts included? I did not receive any gifts. However, now with the new VIPs, fans receive a bag of goodies.
Extras? Most recently, O-Town has changed their VIP offerings. Here are the VIPs they now offer:
Photo VIP - Individual Photo with O-Town
Ultimate VIP - Individual Photo with O-Town, Hang out with O-Town for 15 minutes before the Show.
All Access VIP - Individual Photo with O-Town, Hang out with O-Town for a longer time with a smaller group
Spotlight VIP - You are invited to join O-Town onstage , take pictures, video and sing along. Spotlight VIP includes All Access VIP.
Price Range: $200-$800*
*This is new price listings for O-Town VIP as of 2025.
Worth It? Honestly No. Not with the new price structure. Don’t get me wrong. I love O-Town and the guys are great. But they aren’t as big a VIP as New Kids or 98 Degrees, I’d be willing to pay to spend time with and all I get is a photo with a bag of stickers. The pricing was worth better in the old pricing structure as you got to spend more time with O-Town and be part of the show.
Note: O-Town does offer after show meet and greets that you can purchase at the concert.
