For Queen fan Club members only!

It all just further illustrates the fact that QPL cares not a jot about what they are doing.

Basically I and most general people will join a fan club when they get something out of it.
For the past few years as a member of the qfc you would have had four magazines a year filled with crap about we will rock you. I have no interest in that whatsoever.

I would join if i got good tickets out of it, and maybe some exclusive material too.
I wouldn't spend even as little as £15 when i get nothing out of it. Hence Queen have missed a chance of people joing the club here.
I was a member back in 2001 for the Freddie Tribute, but knew nothing like that was likely recently.

To be fair: this is not the fault of the fan club. I am sure Jacky is just as gutted about the whole ticket issue as you, maybe even more because this can well be the end of the fan club. From the FC website you can see that priority tickets for other concerts will also be available via QOL. It's a rare display of ingratitude on the side of QP towards a loyal person who kept the fan base together for so many years, no matter what you personally think about the fan club.

It's the fault of the fan club if they associate themselves with it. Sounds to me like a ploy to generate increased membership in the hope that people think "God, if I join now, maybe I'll be in with a shot for another show like this one".

We all know that mmbership numbers have been falling for the last 10 years and that there is only a certain time left during which people will pay for a t-shirt selling service. Still, so long as enough people are members to pay for Jacky's holiday to Spain every year, all's well.....

I don't blame the fan club either (I mean I do blame them all the time but not today :-) This looks like a QP/QOL marketing strategy which was obviously a big mistake.

I've nothing bad to say against the club, it was in an impossible position for years, maybe if the band starts up again it will be okay.
I think QP have done what they thought would be good, but is totally flawed.

Eggy,

Why was their position impossible?

1 - they were the first people to announce the box sets as being set for release.
2 - they were the people that PROMISED the broadcasting of a 6-part radio series that failed to materialise.
3 - they were the prople that CONSISTENTLY asked for suggestions as to how to improve the club and failed to do anything about any of them
4 - they have agreed that the OIQFC database can be used for this ballott - allowing people's personal details to be used before even ASKING.

Jacky's just a fan that has managed to keep her position in the organisation (such as it is) which allows her the access she craves - good luck to her.

I agree with the Valentines's point about the FC not being at fault. Jacky was kept in the dark about this whole just as much as we were. Remember folks, the FC is NO LONGER personally involved with QP as it ONCE was. It's a damn shame, but it's reality which is too bad in a situation like this where the the Club can really use that connection right about now.

I am sure Jacky is just as pissed about this whole fiasco as we are...she is plainly in the same boat as we are.

In regards to the Club, they do the best they can with what little they have left now and you have to appreciate that on some level. True, the past few years have not been good to the Club and after this Tour i don't see how it can go on much longer. All we seem to have here is a place to send money just to insure we have the "privilidge" of attending a Convention every year and that's it really. A real shame, as things were exciting and fun in the past. When the Band had any kind of event at all, you were pretty much quarenteed a good shot at some nice tickets.

Now things seem to have dried up, but when you think of it, Queen has in itself until very recently. WWRY definately revived them, no doubt at all about that in my mind. WWRY is directly responsible for motivating Brian and Roger to get up off their rears and perform live again together. This in itself should be hailed as momentous, regardless of who is singing lead.

Queen are BACK in a glimmer....let's hope it lasts.

And let's hope the FC lasts too.

Oh dear I see a few none fan club members having a dig here not surprised really! I have been a Fan Club member since 1974 and it would have been a nice touch for the lottery to be for those most loyal of fans. Yes the fan club isn't as relevent now as it once was, not the fan clubs fault more a shift in technology and a lack of real Queen activity in the last 10 years. However now we have some activity just like in the old days when a tour was announced there were always fan club priority tickets available. Sad that this first "Queen" tour since Freddies sad demise couldn't have had one show totally exclusive to those people who have stayed truly loyal to Queen and kept the fan club going.

Mr Scully I respect your views although for some reason I sense a hint of bitterness but I do not agree with you I think Jackie & Val do an excellent job and it is very easy to knock people in there position but offer no alternative. For us who are members, the fan club gives us, still after all these years, a sense of belonging and in some small way a sense of being part of the Queen empire whatever that may or may not include!

Well said "Rich Tea", you've hit the nail on the head!!

Yes, some good points made here.

I am a member as well, and have enjoyed my time with the Club.

This event has me wondering though...but it's early yet. I'm sure the Club will try to organize something for the longtime Members in the end before all is said and done.

Who knows, if this tour is a huge hit (which i'm sure it will be at least from a ticket selling standpoint) we shall see another one shortly thereafter? It has been done before...particually by Brian's first solo tour(s) so you just never know.

I have not lost total faith in the FC...but i do wonder sometimes.

I can understand the frustration of Fan Club members. I was a member for 12 years until 1993, but due to the lack of new material and the obvious halting of touring my membership slipped.

As stated previously, being a Queen fan isn't only about being a member of the Fan Club.

I never stopped being a Queen fan as I have still seen Brian live and also went to Astoria for the 10th Anniversary of Freddies passing, and recently went to London when I found out the Brian was appearing at Virgin.

Any way hoping that all Queenies, whether they belong to the QFC or QOL get to see the tour - and hoping the bastard touts do not get any tickets !

Benn, what would have been the alternative for the fan club? The handover of the fan club data base is only a result of the helter-skelter organisation of this gig and the whole tour, apparently. Jacky could either go with the flow or alienate the members even more. It's very obvious that she had nothing to say in the planning of the fan-only concert.

To avoid a misunderstanding: I was never a fan club member but that does not mean I cannot see the very unfortunate situation for the fan club.

"I think Jackie & Val do an excellent job and it is very easy to knock people in there position but offer no alternative"

Where's the online membership? The FC website is still useless. I know you've been in the fan club for a long time so you probably feel being part of a family... but for the money it's senseless. Many websites offer much more info for free. The fanclub COULD do it in a similar way - offer online membership with exclusive photos or articles from the past. Don't know if it would be successful but it would be better than nothing. If they want to survive, it's their only chance anyway.

I'm pretty sure I can knock Jacky & Val - I'm investing into my Queen site more time that these two ladies invest into the fan club - and I'm not paid for it. Two reasons why I can criticize.

This was one of their things in the past - they requested suggestions as to how to improve the servise and did absolutely nothing. I suggested that they use the technology at their disposal and was told that "people like to have a magazine delivered" as a reason why they would not go for on-line membership. Frankly, that's fucking stupid. I also suggested having separate "types" of fan-club membership - onl-ine and traditional, but again was told that it would be too difficuly to arrange.

Every suggestion that was made was turned down.

The Reason: Jacky and Val need to preserve their own jobs and therefore will not do anything that may reduce the number of people needed to fill envelopes 4 times a year.

I was a member for 15 years '84 - '99 and frankly ended up hating the whole thing.