I don't muck around. Lady Gaga "Fame" EDP and Soap.

What is this? Sandi writing a beauty blog?

Can't be.

Well. Yes. Shut your surprised traps! ; )

I bought a new mineral foundation the other day to try and tide me over until I can afford to buy my favourite Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish (it's expensive and I'm trying to hold off buying it until next year) - and this looks like it will do the trick.

Thin Lizzy (in Minx) - don't mind the large wrinkles on my face. Gotta love the small signs of ageing.

The slight colour on my cheeks is brought to you by Too Faced - Chocolate Bronzer. (Purchased from Mecca Maxima) - and it is my new favourite thing. It actually has chocolate in it! 

Also, I know I'm really far behind the times - but I finally got to experience the Lady Gaga - Fame perfume in all it's delicious glory. The black fluid is amazing, and it smells absolutely divine. Spray it on your skin and it gradually changes throughout the day.

Gaga, you have done well.

Lady Gaga/Live Nation - They at least tried @LadyGaga

So after two weeks of battling with LiveNation about the Lady Gaga insident at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre - I finally go the chance to speak to a representative while I was in Melbourne. (They called me while I was en-route to meet my host in Melbourne on Wednesday 27/6).

First off, this person more or less wanted to try and help - but then turned around and semi-accused me of making up the situation because I was still basically the only one complaining about it. Yes, you read that correctly. I swiftly passed on a couple of other little monsters names to assure him that no, I was not the only one who was still complaining. Then after talking until I had almost lost my voice, he told me that he couldn't just give me a ticket - that the shows were sold out, and he would have to source one, and that I would have to pay for it. Yep. You can imagine how annoyed I was with that.

On the Thursday, by around lunch time I had come to the harsh reality that I didn't think I was going to get the opportunity to go to the show. I had made my peace with it. Then, at around 5pm LiveNation emailed me saying that they had a ticket for me. I did not receive this email until after 6pm, I was an hour away from the venue, I hadn't showered and by the time I had gotten myself together, I wouldn't have made the Monster Pit allocation anyway... which was the whole purpose of this exercise. 

Upon emailing them to tell them that I couldn't and wouldn't be able to make that show, they wanted to try and get me to another show - however the fact of the matter was that I was in Melbourne for other reasons, and had already pre-purchased tickets to several events. I had informed LiveNation previously that I was only available on the Wednesday and the Thursday.

That was the last I heard from them.

I think this proves that if you are wronged, please fight for what you believe in. You may not get the outcome that you want, but at least your voice will be heard - and you will make sure that it doesn't happen ever again. Although from what I'm hearing... it's still happening. (Read Melbourne's MX front page story from Wednesday 27/6/2012).

I have so much to update my blog with... including Gaga, OzComicCon, Mitch Pileggi, my wedding and my birthday - but it's EoFY and work is just well... shit. I promise to start my blogs when I get home tonight - beginning with LiveNation and their attempt at fixing the Born This Way Ball experience.

Let the documentation of several fiascos begin.

I've received two emails today from LiveNation - the first saying that they will follow it up again, the second saying they didn't mind the pressure. So... LiveNation said it was okay that I keep contacting them regarding this 'Lady Gaga' matter. Part of me thinks that they are just appeasing me. The other part thinks that they are fobbing me off.

Time to step it up.

Time to bring in the big guns.

Emails... (Click picture to see larger)

I've spoken to Live Nation.

There is hope for wronged little monsters.

They have assured me that they are working on the problem and will be in contact with me about it as soon as they have a solution. Here's hoping that solution comes before Lady Gaga leaves the frigging country.

It's been a week of mixed emotions. Ultimate highs, and then ultimate lows.

At the beginning of the week I was two days out from the biggest concert event of the year, the Born This Way Ball at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Wednesday's event came and went with less than desireable results (the show was amazing, the situation about the Monster Pit was not), and now, I've been suffering from some pretty severe lows.

I feel like I'm being a bit silly about it, because after all - Monsters in Jakarta didn't get to ball at all... but that being said, Brisbane Monsters who were in the back of GA were completely robbed of their opportunity to enter into the Monster Pit... after waiting all day, being dressed to ball and being way more than patient.

I'm not going to lie. Things have been terrible. I've been sick, I've been shaky. I've been told that I'm in shock.

I'm also determined not to give up on this and to try and right the wrongs. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this, but I've written several emails... and have definitely let the higher powers at be know that this has happened - just so that it doesn't happen again to other Monsters who want to enjoy the Monster Pit experience at the BTW Ball.

I'll be in Melbourne while Gaga is in Melbourne (for OzComicCon) - perhaps this will be my opportunity to make things right?

My emails to Live Nation - BTW Ball Stuff Up. #LadyGaga

From:	Sandi Hicks (sandihicks_aus@live.com.au)
Sent:	Friday, 15 June 2012 9:39:31 AM
To:	info@livenation.com.au
Cc:	bec@brisent.com.au

To whom this may concern,

Further to my email sent Thursday 14th June 2012, I would like to provide you a detailed account of what happened at the 'Born This Way' ball when hundreds of fans were denied the opportunity to be a part of the exclusive 'Monster Pit'.

On Wednesday June 13th I arrived  at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and joined the queue with other Lady Gaga fans who were all holders of 'General Admission' Tickets. We waited patiently from 8am, until 5.30pm. Throughout the day, security gave us updates on how the monster pit selection would work, saying that we would receive wristbands for the pit at the doors to the arena. At no time did they make mention that only doors four and eleven would be receiving entry into the monster pit. I was 7th in my line at door 10. After seeing that people were walking past us with pit allocation wristbands, we started asking questions of staff to try and find out why we had not been allocated yet. They kept telling us that they had no information and would get back to us, or sent us to the administration window that would not help either. Ultimately the doors opened and we were told that the tickets had all been allocated.

We entered the doors and a few of us at the front of the line demanded to speak to a supervisor. We were virtually screamed at by event staff telling us that we were wrong, and ultimately the supervisor, saying that it did not say on our tickets that we were in the monster pit. And that pit allocation only happened at doors four and eleven. We tried to reason with the staff explaining that all general admission should have had the opportunity as it said on Lady Gaga's website, to be told repeatedly that "We were wrong."

Meanwhile, everyone that was behind us in the queue was already in front of us in the general admission area - and we were now forced to stand at the back of the general admission area, after we had waited out the front of the entertainment centre all day.

I have worked in the customer service industry (in both hospitality, administration and even very briefly in PR) and have never been treated as poorly as I was at that moment by the Brisbane Entertainment Centre staff (who are representing Live Nation in this case) as hosts of the Lady Gaga event.

Everyone who was in the back General Admission area, paid just as much as everyone that was in the front. They cannot help that they were allocated in the back. At $180 per ticket, this is not something that many people can afford to do more than once. Certainly not myself, as I currently have a mortgage and am saving up to get married. Personally I don't know that this situation can ever be corrected.  It has left me with a very horrible taste in my mouth, and I know that myself and many others will be thinking twice before they attend any future events that Live Nation put on as this is completely wrong.

I know that I'm just another fan, writing with a complaint. And I'm sure you have received plenty of complaints in this regard. I know her event PR would not be happy with this information, and I definitely know that Ms Germanotta would not appreciate how her fans have been treated in this instance. The whole reason that she puts on these shows is to bring her fans together, to celebrate all things that make our lives special. I know I should be appreciating the fact that I've got to see the most amazing performer in the world put on such a spectacular show - but to be honest, I don't remember what actually happened during the show because all that had been playing on my mind is the 12+ hour wait, and then to be screamed at by staff, and then having to stand at the back of the general admission area because we tried to find out why we had been lied to.

I would appreciate you to contact me in regards to this matter. I can be contacted on mobile 04********.

I await your reply,

Sandra (Sandi) Hicks
sandihicks_aus@live.com.au

---

From: sandihicks_aus@live.com.au
To: info@livenation.com.au
Subject: Formal Complaint: Born This Way Ball Brisbane (June 13 2012)
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:34:10 +1000

To Whom this may concern,

I am one of hundreds of Lady Gaga fans who waited all day (12+ hours) outside the Brisbane Entertainment Centre to line up for the Monster Pit for the Lady Gaga 'Born This Way Ball' - I had a General admission ticket for section 10, and was 7th in line and would have been guaranteed a wristband for the pit. I had dressed all day for it, and abided by the rules - only to be told that there were no wristbands for us, and that we would be at the back of the general admission area as ticketed.

I would like a formal explanation - and I would like some form of renumeration as I had to take the day off work to do this - and cannot do this again, nor can I replicate lining up for 12 plus hours.

If you are offering tickets to a future show - I will be in Melbourne during Gaga's performances (except June 30).

It was extremely disappointing to abide by the rules, and to then have it not come out right. And I know that Lady Gaga would be disgusted to know that those who did the right thing, missed out on a technicality.

I have also attached photographic proof of my ticket, and costume from the day.

I look forward to hearing from you.

If you wish to contact me, please do so via return email - or via mobile 04********.

Sandi Hicks

Section GA 'Door 10'

[ Fandom ] Born This Way Ball - Lady Gaga

No one quite puts on a show like Lady Gaga.

Her Born This Way ball show was amazing. AMAZING. I don't want to go into great details because I have a number of friends that are going to see the show, and I don't want to spoil it for them. I will say that they will NOT be disappointed. After waiting months for this since the tickets went on sale, it was totally worth the wait.

However - Regarding The Monster Pit:

After spending 12+ hours waiting out the front of the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for the General Admission Monster Pit selection, I didn't get in. Yes, even though I was one of the first 100 there, waited all day, and dressed to ball - I didn't make it in. Why? Because I was in the BACK General Admission Area (Door 10). What they don't tell you in that press release, is that you have to be in the FRONT general admission area (Doors 4 and 11) --- and if you're not, then you don't even get a look in.

So be advised if you were hoping to get into the pit, but you don't hold front General admission tickets - my advice to you is to stay at home, and to go later in the day.  It'll save you sitting on your butt in a skimpy costume in the cold, only to be told that you didn't stand a chance in the first place. This is not mentioned on the official pages - and I feel that all Little Monsters have a right to this information.

How would you feel if you were told by BEC Staff that you were pretty much guaranteed a monster pit wristband if you waited all day, to then be told otherwise as you are going into the arena? Tired, Pissed off, Livid? Yes. I was all of the above, and while I still enjoyed the show immensely - danced my ass off, screamed, sang, laughed and cried - I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment throughout the whole show - because really, monsters in the back general admission that waited all day had just as much a right as those that had front general admission.

'Ready To Ball' outside 'The door that let me down'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



TICKETS:
http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=LADYGAGA12

Monster Pit details:
- due to venue capacity issues, only those with GA floor tickets will be eligible to earn Monster Pit access
- for safety & security reasons, fans won’t be permitted to line up at the venue before 8am local time the day of the show; those with GA floor tickets can line up in the Monster Pit eligibility line. The afternoon of each show, Monster Pit access wristbands will be distributed to GA floor ticket holders who have arrived first, waited the longest, and dressed to “Ball”
-ANY FANS THAT ARRIVE AT THE VENUE PRIOR TO 8:00 A.M. ON THE DATE OF ANY SHOW WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED FROM POSSIBLY BEING SELECTED TO ENTER THE MONSTER PIT FOR THAT SHOW.
- a very limited amount of Monster Pit passes will be held and distributed at random each night for those who do NOT have GA floor tickets; these will be awarded at random to fans who have arrived first, waited longest, + dressed to “Ball” but do not have GA floor tickets
- To give as many fans as possible a chance to win, no fan can be the Monster Pit key holder more than once.

[ Fandom ] Paws Up

I am so excited. Lady Gaga's Born This Way ball is on Wednesday night. I've been painting my costume like crazy... It'll be finished in the nick of time. Had a makeup trial tonight... Just hope I can do it at 5am.

[ Fandom ] Born This Way Ball

How is everybody today? So rad Jakarta is selling like crazy. Can't wait to meet all the new monsters in places I haven't been yet. I never dreamed this new tour would explode with love like it is. Thanks for always having my back. Wait till you see the music come to life. The new show is easily the most fun I've had on stage in ages, + YOU'RE not even there yet! IM GONNA DIE OF EXCITEMENT. Throw ice if i do. - Lady Gaga (Facebook)

[ Fandom ] *Paws Up*

@ladygaga 'Born This Way' Ball tickets are in hand. Excited!!!!!! Just danced at the post office to 'Alejandro' as I signed for them. #epic

— Sandi(@sandiscully) February 28, 2012