As Posted On MySpace . . . www.myspace.com/wordsonwings

expressed some concern in a previous blog about Fan Clubs. I'm highly upset right now. Two of my favorite artists have let me down tremendously. Anyone who has read my blogs and or followed me on Twitter may have gotten the gist of some of that.

I will try not to get too wordy with this. If you've seen my profile, you know who my favorites are. I'll start with the band I've supported the longest: Bon Jovi.

Like MANY of you, Bon Jovi has been a source of joy in my life since I was 16 years old. Jon has always been my favorite, but there isn't a guy in that band that I haven't grown to love. I am a grown woman of 38, and Jon Bon Jovi has never not looked down from me on some corner of my wall. Their music and the kind of men they have grown into has made me proud to be a fan all of these years; you can't get much classier than Jon Bon Jovi. I have met him a few times, and the rest of the guys very briefly. I have had some personal experiences with Carol Bongiovi, but I am not the type to sit here and give out infomation or brag because it doesn't make me special. I'm no better or worse than any other fan out there.

I've been in the fan club since 1989, when Mrs. B started it from her kitchen. There is never a time I was NOT in the fan club. I didn't always agree with what was said and done, but I stuck it out. Their membership dues stayed pretty much the same and was affordable for a number of years. Their ticket prices, as well, have also been affordable - up until the Lost Highway tour.

I was floored by the price of the new Fan Club packages. FLOORED. I won't go into detail about that because anyone can go to their site and see what I'm talking about if you don't already know and care to know. I had a horrible time with trying to renew early, and SpartArt is the new company that has taken over the Fan Club only. Their merchandise is still run by Brothers Entertainment, and THEY are a nice bunch of folks there. They actually answer their phone and listen to your concerns, and answer your questions. I am so glad that they are still in charge of merchandising. The two gentlemen that I had talked to: Sergio and Tony - I am thankful to them for their help and information that they provided.

In a nutshell, I tried to renew early and that got me into a lot of trouble with my expiration date. My old membership expired February 2010. I renewed September 23, 2009. The correct expiration would have been February 2011. However, it took several tries to do this. They first had it September 23, 2010, which took away my five previous months that I paid for. Then they extended it to February 2010, which took away the year I just paid for. They finally got it right, and evidently, there was a tie-in with fans accessing Jon Bon Jovi Soul's membership (which I wasn't even aware), which fans could not access, so they are extending the membership a month. After FINALLY, with persistence, TALKING with someone at SparkArt, I was able to get this fixed.

What I would say to the men in Bon Jovi is a heartfelt plead: PLEASE keep your fans in mind when it comes to your prices for your tickets and fan club membership. WE are going through hard times, too. Many of us have been supporting you for a long time. You understand the poverty-stricken; please understand your fans. Many of them are good people - I know because I've met some of them and been lucky to call them friends, and I hope to meet more. You couldn't have a better support system of people. Please keep this in mind. The fan club membership is too expensive and I will not be able to continue to be in this club that I've been in since being a teenager. If the ticket prices won't come down, I will not be able to attend your shows, either. I have to look out for myself. As good people as the guys in Bon Jovi are, I'll have to withdraw a bit to keep myself afloat and be choosy about what I put my money out for and what I don't.

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The second part of this is about a certain magician. I cannot say I've followed Criss Angel as long as Bon Jovi because he hasn't been around that long. I have been in his club now, going on three years. That might not make me here as long as some, but I'm not new either. This man came into my life when I needed the lift the most. I don't have a claim to meeting him like many others have been able to do. If God wants me to meet him, and it will be a beneficial and pleasant experience for me, then it will happen with the right people at the right time, just like it did with Jon.

Like Bon Jovi, Criss has a die hard following that I haven't seen with many artists. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of cross-over fans in both camps. I have crossed paths with people that like both. The Criss Angel fan isn't much different than the Bon Jovi fan. They aren't a bunch of levitating zombies, putting popcorn into their eyeballs and pulling a threaded needle out of their bellybuttons (we leave that to the Mindfreak in question). They are not a bunch of folks that bite the heads off of babies and worship the devil. They're pretty normal folks. Like the Bon Jovi fan, there are those fans that are delusional, or act obsessed, or act like they are above the rest of the fans - that they are somehow "special". I've seen it with Bon Jovi over these 20 years, and Criss has a few in his group, too. It happens to anyone with a following. God, how this unpleasant stuff comes back to me; its like a circle.

The Criss Angel Fan Club (also run by SparkArt) isn't really out of the ballpark in price except the Ultimate Loyal package is a little higher than it should be for what you get for it. However, the other packages are more than reasonable. My problem is with the Criss Angel merchandise (again, SparkArt). I have to admit, he's got the coolest duds on that site. Really, the stuff is cool. However, all the stuff isn't made the best. I've had jewelry that's broken within the first day I wore it - one piece, the first HOUR. It looks cool, but not durable. I have two pieces that lasted longer than a year that I still have; one looks like crap; the other looks awesome because its real silver. Everything else I lost because it broke. It may not have been super expensive, but it wasn't cheapo jewelry, either, and you should get more bang for your buck than scrapping everything in the trash less than a year later.

I've never had any problem with posters, DVDs, CDs, mugs, etc. Apparel, I've only had a more recent problem. I normally buy the Unisex/Men's clothing. However, I've gotten more girly, and started ordering some things from the women's line. I ordered a short-sleeved glitter shirt, and a decorated hoodie. The shirt, I had no problem with it. The hoodie, however, I did. First, it did not look like its size. I figured out that this was not a "Jacket" hoodie, but a "Shirt" hoodie. Still, it fit a little weird. What I mean by that is, though it fit to an extent, what made it not-too-comfortable was the fact that it was short - and I'm not a tall person. The pockets came under my boobs, and the shirt hiked up every time I raised my arms. SparkArt, however, gave me a problem about returning this item due to "policy". They've ALWAYS had this policy, yet I've been able to exchange a shirt for a bigger size once before, and they always replaced my defective jewelry. All of a sudden, this policy was strictly enforced.

I tried this on for some people, and just about everyone said it looked good, but no one thought it was the size it was - they all said the same thing, "If that is an XL, what does a SMALL look like". So, I wore it - yesterday to be exact. After taking it off, I noticed several of the "gems" were missing from both the front and back design. I thought, "You've GOT to be KIDDING me. I just wore this a DAY! THIS is what I get for $79!?" Well, I wondered what would happen if I washed it. I found out - Half the gems fell off. I washed it as instructed (delicate cycle, inside out, warm wash). It wasn't put in the dryer, but air dried flat on a clothes wrack. I had these gems all over my bed and floor. This was after ONE WEARING AND WASHING. So, this is what fueled me to contact SparkArt once again. I mean, this was too much. This wasn't a $10 hoodie from Walmart - this was an $79.

What really disturbed me was how I had to wrestle to return this item and get my money back. I don't WANT another one. What for? For it to fall apart on me again and have to go through this again? The girl at SparkArt tried to get me to believe it was unsanatory to return clothing. GIVE ME A F'IN BREAK. Then EVERYONE who sold clothes would say that. YOU ARE AN ONLINE STORE AND I CANNOT TRY ON THE CLOTHES. Many of the items of clothes - especially those in the woman's line - FIT differently, depending upon the material and the cut. The picture that is given doesn't give you the full story. There are no measurements on the site. Even if there were, its still hard to judge - that is why department stores have fitting rooms. Even though they DO have fitting rooms, I have yet to have a store tell me that I cannot return an item if I don't like it or it doesn't fit.

Besides the Bon Jovi and Criss Angel fan club, there is one other fan club I am in; Kasey Kahne's fan club, who is a NASCAR driver. Like Jon's mother used to, his mother, as well as his grandmother, runs his fan club and store. I called up both the Kasey Kahne store, AND Brothers Entertainment (who are Bon Jovi's Merchandise dealers), and they both told me that they ABSOLUTELY take back merchandise, including clothing, as long as it isn't worn and returned within 30 days. Wow. How NORMAL is that? So, I will continue to buy Bon Jovi and Kasey Kahne merchandise, but not from Criss Angel, unless HE wakes up and changes his stupid No Return Policy. YES, I said HIS, because the unnamed supervisor who spoke to me at SparkArt told me that they are following orders on what was agreed upon between SparkArt and CRISS ANGEL'S MANAGEMENT. So, you see, Criss DOES have a say in such matters.

I Twittered him. He claims he cares about his fans and reads his Tweets. I think its great that he mixes with his fans through Twitter and meets them via mMet and Greets. I think its very awesome. Though I haven't had my own experiences, I have asked other fans about theirs, and I have looked at their photos and I haven't heard a person say a bad thing about him. That says a lot about his fan-friendliness. I think that is awesome. However, sometimes the Tweets to him are not going to be some obsessed person slobbering over him or one of his other fans just having fun and joking with him. Sometimes he does have someone who is upset about something, and it IS VALID and it IS SOMETHING HE CAN DO ABOUT IT. You read your Tweets, huh? Well, I don't BeLIEve (it was YOU, Criss Angel, who pointed out LIE in the word BeLIEve, right?). Yes, I've seen you answer some, and I know you've said you read, but not when someone has a problem, right?

This is what I BeLIEve: I know the Entertainment business is a Business. I know that the draw of fame is fortune means a lot to many. However, which of YOU, as celebrities, are different? Are you JUST in it for the money and fame. Who of you are Attention Junkies? Who of you are in it for more? Does it make YOU smile to make someone else smile? How does it make you feel to make someone who loves you, supports you, or looks up to you, cry? How does it make you feel to make them feel used - or a means to an end? If YOU were a fan of someone's - and MANY celebrities, before THEY became big themselves, LOOK-UP TO or ADMIRED someone - feel? How would you feel if you were just a number, just a dollar sign, or just a Little Person looking up helplessly at the Big Person?

Now, this is the kind of fan I am, and this is what I BeLIEve: You and I are THE SAME. YOU are not SOMEBODY and I am not NOBODY. THAT, MY FRIEND, is an ILLUSION of this EARTHLY PLAIN. If you've ever been to my Profile, you'll may notice who my Top Friend is. Who is it? Well, if you haven't seen, I'll tell you - It's Jesus. There is a page here on Myspace dedicated to Jesus. Does that mean I'm a religious freak? Not in the least. I believe in God, and I believe in Jesus - and there are times where I lose my faith in God and really let him have it. I know, though, that I don't have to worry about explaining my outburst, or trying to fit in with the crowd, or trying to prove myself - He already knows. I haven't went to church in years, and maybe one day I'll go back, but I'm a Spiritual person. Religion can be good, but it can be dangerous, as well, but that's a subject for another blog. THAT is the real Rock Star/Magician/Super Hero right there. The rest of you - you're all Human Beings.

Guess what folks? What do you think happens to the Rock Star who bleeds? Why, he/she bleeds red like the rest of us do. Do you think a Celebrity Magician takes a dump and it smells like Paco Raban? Uh . . .no (and we won't go there, but it's all the same for us all). Anyone who is a celebrity is the same as the rest of us - they just have the talent, and in some case, luck, to get to where they are. Some of them have arrived with little effort, and others have busted their asses with their strong work ethic to realize their dreams (for the sake of this blog, the aforementioned celebrities are in the Ass Buster category, just to be clear).

I am someone you want in your corner, celebrity or no. I am an honest, real person. I don't believe fake and petty. I'm not high-maintenance. I'm a very down-to-earth girl. I'm sensitive and emphatic. I'm in your corner because you have inspired me in some way with your craft, or you have made me laugh, or I relate to you. I feel you are a real person, one of the "good people", who has a deep soul under the glitz. I am "Loyal", "Faithful", and will defend you if it calls for it. However, if you are wrong, I will not defend, and let the chips fall where they may. We all have our lessons to learn, including all of the Celebrities out there. I may get angry at you, just like I get angry at a beloved family member or dear friend. YOU should take that as a compliment because that means I care. I will offer support and love, just like I would a friend, but I won't worship the damn ground you walk on. I'll tell you when I'm mad, and I'll shower support on you when it calls for it. I'll tease you and kid with you - BUT I WON'T FUCKING BOW DOWN TO YOU. I may get a little fiery and feisty at times, but I'm on my own journey becoming the Best Me I Can Be, too. I'm not perfect. The tough exterior hides the soft interior. We all have our story and my path has made me be the way I am.

A celebrity has TWO mediums he/she owes his/her graditude to: The first is TV. Most celebrities wouldn't even be celebrities without TV and the media. Two, would be your fans. If no one cares about you, or you're being booed off a stage, you're going to be performing for yourself.

Remember, I'm JUST LIKE YOU - I'M JUST NOT RICH AND FAMOUS - YET (Ha!). The fame and money you can't take with you when you die. People are going to remember HOW YOU MADE THE FEEL. So, what kind of STAR are you? Are you making a difference when you can? Do you cause a heart to leap for joy or shatter with pain?

Think about it.

To Bon Jovi - I Luv Ya, but please keep your fans in mind. You mean the world to them. Do they mean the world to you? Pretend you're not wealthy for a minute and put yourself in their shoes.

To Criss Angel - I Luv Ya, too, BUT I'm Fucking MAD at you right now because YOU can make a positive change, and you brush it aside. YOUR Fan Club, YOUR Store - start paying attention. I know you have a LOT on your plate, but without me and the thousands who are like me, you wouldn't be where you are and you KNOW that. I KNOW you do. Now, fix your policy at your store or I won't be able to buy your Kool Ass Duds anymore. Mm'Kay? OY!

Enough Said. PEACE, LOVE, and HEALTH to all. Those that have said kind things to ME and supported my words - LUVZ YAZ MUCHLY.

MUAH!

Diane