For 200 to 300 euros, the VIP sound check promises closeness to the band – in concrete terms, it’s more of a kind of mini-concert. Is it really worth it?
Ticket prices seem to be rising more and more, VIP offers are no longer just for the very important people, and anyone who wants even the tiniest chance of getting seats in the front row has to stand in line for hours for their favorite band. Where does it all end?
With enough money on hand, you can apparently buy even more time, even more closeness and even more undivided attention. A new exclusive niche is opening up in the concert market: the VIP sound check. What’s really behind them – and are they worth the money?
In front of everyone else in the location – but how intimate is that really?
Are you allowed to get into the hall before everyone else and play mice at the sound check – maybe even have a relaxed chat with the musicians? The VIP sound checks are usually not that intimate and candid. First of all, fans of big artists usually have to shell out 200 to 300 euros for exclusive tickets. Of course, that depends on the artist in question, but those who receive high global streaming numbers – like Zara Larsson, BTS or FKA twigs – can ask for it for a few minutes of listening during the sound check. And the fans pay it. The sound check phenomenon is particularly well known in the K-Pop sector.
Not a real sound check – but an XS concert
But is this even a real sound check? Anyone who has ever been behind the scenes at a concert will first think of “one, two, three, check”, before a few songs are sung but not finished, a few buttons are adjusted and a lot of fine-tuning is done. Above all, a sound check requires patience and sensitivity – aren’t screaming fans just a disruptive factor?
Most of the time, the VIP sound checks only take place after the bands’ official sound checks. The so-called VIP sound checks are therefore more like mini-concerts of three to four songs in length, where only small groups of fans are present. The artists often interact with the fans, but filming is sometimes prohibited.
Plus: Due to the limited audience, the VIPs can usually stand directly in front of the stage.
The second benefit: goodbye to queuing
Another benefit that VIP sound check tickets often have: you can save yourself having to wait in line for hours in front of the hall. Many soundcheck tickets include the ability to remain standing after the small private concert – and are therefore almost guaranteed to be in the first rows in front of the stage.
This isn’t always the case, but earlier entry than general tickets is almost always part of the VIP package. However, if you give up your seat at the front, you often still have the opportunity to buy merch at your leisure before the most sought-after items are gone.
Well-known artists who have already offered VIP sound checks include Zara Larsson and Tate McRae. In contrast to her big show, the “Lush Life” singer, for example, is not full glam in a sparkly dress, but rather relaxed in jeans and a sweater. For their next show in Tokyo, there are VIP upgrades for the equivalent of around 126 euros – the general concert ticket is not included here, a standing room ticket, for example, would cost around 70 euros – a total of almost 200 euros. For the pre-show in Adelaide, Australia and Seoul, Korea, it is also just under 200 euros, and the concert tickets are included in the VIP offer.
In her sound checks, Tate McRae plays not only her own songs but also exclusive covers, including songs by SZA, Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Noah Kahan and many more. Part of her sound check concept are Q&A formats in which she answers questions from her fans. On her “Miss Possessive Tour” 2025 in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, the prices for an acoustic set including meet and greet were 384.50 euros.
Is it worth it – and at what price?
Overall, it’s an exclusive experience, but one that follows different rules from organizer to organizer and includes other benefits. If you want to experience a handful of songs in an intimate atmosphere in addition to a full-length concert, the high prices may be worth it. In any case, VIP fans also have an increased chance of getting good seats. At the same time, the division into different ticket categories reinforces an already absurd concert classism: people who can only afford general admission tickets literally have to take a back seat.
