Really Angry At Fan Club!!!!! Post at Cher.com

[Susanelizabeth28]

Hi all,
I know a number of people were following the thread over at Cher.com titled "Really Angry At Fan Club!!!!!"
Wouldn't you know it, that thread was on the general forum and the entire forum was somehow deleted.
Since the thread represents the voice of the fans and addresses their problems it needs to be seen. Fortunately, it was preserved and will be available at this address until they can hopefully get their board and posts restored over at cher.com.

photobucket.com/albums/v427/CherPhotos/morefanclubproblems/

[c1]

I noticed complaints about the fan club over the years and one thing that stood out was, 'we send in the dues receive a starter kit, then never hear from the club again'. Seems a common complaint.

I agree with whomever said that Cher needs to take an interest in how the club is being run.

Her fans deserve better.

I'm also not happy with cher.com in general; no updates; nothing exciting. Some flaming on the forum; People have left- and have not returned. Says a lot.

Seems a 'who cares attitude'--- over there.

Again this needs to be addressed. Muchly needed.

[IryokuAtae]

*sigh* there really is no need to visit the cher.com forum anymore.. the only reason I kept going constantly was when the tour was on to search for updates.. and now it's nothing but bashing, and stuff no one (mainly me and anyone else who wants in) wants to read. The only decent post I saw was the announcement of Cher Gold. other than that it's pure garbage. I mean sure every now and then someone will post a good picture or so.. but it's all bashing and stupid >< I like it here better ^_^

[RomanKing82]

I agree, Cher NEEDS to take charge and play a much bigger role in the fan club.

I think it is unfair that you only reach out to the fans that put you where you are, only when you have something to sell, whether is a CD, a Tour, a Movie etc.

And although we are not obligated to do so, i've noticed that the minute one of Cher's projects flops or whatever, she starts complaining in interviews.

I think is unfair, and i've seen this in a number of Cher interviews. Cher talks about her success asthough it just happened by itself, she fails to realize that if it wasnt for US shelling out thousands of dollars to buy her cd, to see her movie, to see her shows. She wouldn't have what she has.

Having said that, is not like i want Cher to be constantly thanking us, and being corny, but a mention every once in a while, wouldn't hurt.

About Cher.com, it's all true. It's just there to be there. I deleted my account over there, i couldn't handle all the BS going on there.

I mean, every time you said something nice about an another artist, the same people, would reply with the most mindless, ignorant crap you could ever imagine.

So, i decided just to leave.

& Just to let you know, there are certain "Individuals" from Cher.com forum that come here and basically "Spy" on this forum, then go to cher.com and start with crap.

So be careful.

[Kat]

Thank you for posting this information. Cher.com returned the board. The person who started the thread said they finally heard from the club. Aparrently the way to get the club to react is to start speaking out about their behavior.
Years ago I was told they were out of Ringmaster posters. I then watched a guy now using "blondmaddy" on ebay (Who I later found out was John M. Torello one of the people running the fan club) auction poster after poster and making several hundred dollars from each poster. In my book that right there makes the fan club run by a theif. Those posters were meant for fans, not for Mr Torello to sell and line his pockets.
Speaking of illegal things: what ever happened with the tickets being scalped by the club? People would by them from brokers and it turned out they were from the club. Shouldn't someone be going to jail for something like that?
Peace,
Kat

[Kat]

I want to add, one of the official cher fan club suck ups is claiming it is under "new ownership" - but they say "jonathon" jonathan is not new, he is one of the people who has lied to people and harrassed them the most. He was the one that attempted to get personal information from people. The club thinks by claiming new ownership people will throw more money at them, they are so full of it.
sorry for my rant - thank you for listening
Kat

[p9]

And i'm sure it's Jonathan that runs cher.com Admin. very funny how board went down yesterday then it's back up and person that started post get an Email from fan club saying sorry.COME ON CHER WAKE UP.

[Jan]

Tim Love your banner! But ok ok more impt..thanks to Sue for preserving the info that was on cher.com ! As u know I and "others" really don't post much any more on there since u left as moderator only when certain ppl bring things to my attention..and or if I feel in my opinion it's impt..i got a big NY mouth and am a Taurus like Lady Cher..what's on our chest is on our tongue! LOL..Interesting this thread u only posted today and already it has like over 70 VIEWS!!!! Hmmm..I agree w/RomanKing as do many other diehards..it's a shame Cher can't take charge.. I wish she would like I hear Madonna does her fan club:( And C1 we all agree w/you that her diehard fans deserve better..cos like u said it's the FANS who put her where she is..if FANS didn't buy the cds..dvds..the movies..the tours..well u know..it's the fans who bring the stars to the point they are u know? I remember once seeing Patti Labelle at Westury Music fair one yr for my b'day and fans wanted to bring flowers onstage to her and guards pushed them away and I'll NEVER EVER forget when she said to the guards..U LET MY FANS THRU THEY'RE THE ONES WHO GOT ME UP ON THIS STAGE!!!!!!! And each fan got to go up and got hugs from her and were able to give her their gifts..I loved her more ever since..thought that was so cool..So many fans have emailed me saying how they wanted to post not just on this thread but the cher.com one but were afraid..isn't it a shame a Cher fan has to be afraid to voice their opinions..? And when my good buddy Pam was alive she told me how the one thing she really remembered standing out on Dr Phils interview w/Cher was when they asked her the 3 things she looks for in a guy ...and #2 was "MORALS"..interesting..never really thought about it till Pam mentioned it when she compared it to the fan club..she used to say ..WOW Cher so represents what she believes and look how impt MORALS was up there for her to mention it on tv!!!!! She and I joked after that wow wonder how SHE would feel if she was an unfamous person and a huge fan of someone and was in OUR shoes! LOL..Gotta love our Pam! Anyways..As many of u know Pam fought to help change things.. it didn't unfortunately..and so it looks like Cher's camp is happy w/the present fan club..? Noone knows why.Gosh even one of her biggest fans I know Ward Lamb posted on cher.com I saw..calling it a Me First club..I love Ward...But if noone speaks up about it and or ppl are afraid to post nothing will be done..it's like everything in life u know? U gotta speak up..guess if there's anything myself Sue and Pam learned from Lady Cher it was JUST THAT! LOL..Don't know how many of u were online in prior yrs but the old Chertalk.com (not sure if there anymore)had over 500 or so threads just on this very topic I hear..but unfortunately I guess it was not enough..And if ppl just join just to so called get tickets and or get certain items..I dunno..Everyone's different..Like Pam said if the club was $2 I wouldn't renew..I got my pride and like Erick said u don't have to feel ppl will think u are any less of a Cher fan just cos ur not a mbr of Cher's fan club..Others complained who "got" tkts thru the fan club still never were put in seats like those friends of certain ppl in the fan club..that's their problem though..ur not happy...don't keep sending monies in..From traveling all over the globe on this tour and others too of Cher's I spoke to heard soooooooooooooooo MANY stories regarding this very topic..it was scary..more than I had ever imagined and even wanted to know:( Sad..really is..If u were someone famous wouldn't u want your fans to be happy? So many ppl in OTHER fan clubs of OTHER artists get like NITE AND DAY!!!!!!!!!! Literally..so many perks and benefits and everyone is treated fairly..even w/present club's contests..anyone know EXACTLY how they're run? Cos when I was a paying mbr I got my newsletter/flier saying for her MGM Believe tour in Vegas I'd be cheering Cher on in the 1st few rows..We got there and were 2nd level BEHIND the stage..hmm..so I wonder how the so called contests are even run..but even worse are all the ppl we met all over the US and stories I hear overseas of ppl who send monies in and get nothing! One time when Jonathan was a reg fan and not working for the fan club I was w/him in NY one time and he picked up his fan club packet w/Frank and I at the post office and his 8 X 10 was like crumpled like and he really got nothing..He was very disappointed..now that OTHER ppl getting similar and or nothing isn't that just as impt..Anyways..Jonathan was not the one (for me)on why I didn't renew like others nor was John Torello..I just feel ppl should be treated w/respect and fair..I like dave's idea of an OUTSIDE source running her fan club..but seems it will never come to pass ..Too bad!!!!!!! And like Oz once said I think Boston Q would run and incredible fan club! I get more info and updates from him than I ever did the Cher fan club and or on her main website of Cher.com! Literally...Sorry from writing this all ..hope all ur eyeballs not exhausted! LOL..I could go on but won't! LOL..Sorry! PS: MISS YA PAM BUDDY AND KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING DOWN ON THIS ONE!!!!!!! PS: To P9 guest...My other friends told me when the first post about the fan club was on cher.com they then MOVED it to OTHER topics??? Now tell me how THAT is OTHER TOPIC when that has to do w/CHER! LOL..the so called club is on her programs and cds and dvds and stuff so how is that OFF TOPIC! LOL

[Susanelizabeth28]

Yes Jan I've said it before BostonQ would be a great fan club man! When I first got online he was one of the first people I dealt with. He was so kind and informative that at first I thought he WAS connected to the fan club. Then I realized kind and informative had nothing to do with the Official Cher Fan Club (although it should).
Sadly one of these days someone will take legal action against them and then Cher will realize what a liablility they are.
Let's face it, Jonathan wanted my SS # and questioned me about the kind of credit cards I used. He took how many of our phone numbers and called us at home. That right there is cause for watching.
The thing that really put me on freak alert with him was when he said to me "what are we gonna do when Cher dies?" "are you gonna cry? I bet everybody will cry" I cut him off and said that was not even something we needed to discuss.
It is very curious that they are still around after all the problems they have caused. It really does almost appear as if someone is covering up their little piles of crap instead of dealing with them the way they should be. The whole situation is pathetic. A star of Cher's stature should either have a fan club run by respectable people, or not have one at all. A fan club should not be an embarrassment or a liablility.
Susan

[c1]

Amen Jan, Amen Susan.

Long ago and I've been around a while, Cher and Sonny & Cher were some of the few in Hollywood kind enough to acknowledge their following. Had answering services and such. But today I think much of the problem has to do with just who Cher/staff might be entrusting to take care of these matters. Cher herself has been very kind to fans when meetings occur. So I'm thinking it's some of the outter shell. I remember people really liked Billy/Bumper. But he's long gone. Seems to me that since Cher is not hanging up her dancing shoes at this time..hope not for a very long time. That this needs a SERIOUS address, of just who is representing her to us, her fans, many of us grew up with Cher . It's been fun,,though the years. Can it be fixed? throw in a crank for the official website too. We have cherconnection ;DT.G,, shows how something handled with care, love can be. I degress.

[Jan]

We agree w/u C1 but as u see although this post has many many views in over a day only being up..ppl are afraid to post and speak up about it..and ain't that a shame? Scary I know..if ppl just complain but don't speak up nothing gets done..But we def. agree w/ ya..!! And whoa Sue Jonathan said the dying thing to u about Cher? Eek..scary for one who runs a fan club of hers..I am kinda surprised he'd say that..whoa..When I was at the convention many had approached me asking why NONE of Cher's fan club ppl who run it ever attended one of her conventions..and ppl even emailed me recently about it when they saw this thread up..and others complained privately..I can't post this one's story and that one's story though..Sorry guys..if it so called "happened" first hand to u..I can't speak on behalf for someone else regarding the club issues u guys had..Cos then they think it's only Sue me (and well pam when she was here that think there is a problem..)..so if u had a problem..do Cher..but let it come from u..we're kinda done speaking for others at this point..been there done that..but u do have our sympathy..and yea I had met Billy Sammeth in the past..nice guy but I don't think even when he was in charge as nice as he was he ever helped w/ the situation unfortunately..cos one time at her L Hurts tour my friend Maria and I told him how much OUR tickets were and he was like WHOA..wayyyyyy too much and I told him how hard it was for diehards to get cher tkts without taking out a second mortgage (and I know ppl who have had to do this to see their idol up close)...All a shame really is..But ppl are afraid to speak up so nothing unfortunately will ever change..

[robr]

I always had to get my tickets day of show because I could never get good tickets. I am a long time fan and its an aweful shame. When I joined fan club I could never log in.

[Susanelizabeth28]

Well said c1 and all. I truly do not think Cher is aware that these problems have not been dealt with. She might be going by what the person who is in charge of that area tells her and perhaps that person has glossed over or hidden many of the complaints and problems.
Cher is good to her fans, and I bet she would really feel bad if she knew all the hurt, disappointment and distrust the people who run her fan club generate.
Telling the people currently in charge of the official Cher fan club to shape up would not even work. They are untrustworthy. From Tickets, to Lithos on down. Cher deserves better and so do her fans!
Susan

[Jan]

Ditto Sue..and I just noticed I don't see her fan club listed inside the new Cher Gold Cd..maybe I missed it..saw only her main website listed..but maybe I just missed it..I'll tell ya when I traveled over the last few yrs..esp on this tour and the last Believe one and heard more and more stories I was not even aware of....geessh pretty scary..shame..really is! Cher and her fans deserve better I agree

[Susanelizabeth28]

jan said:

And whoa Sue Jonathan said the dying thing to u about Cher? Eek..scary for one who runs a fan club of hers..I am kinda surprised he'd say that..whoa..When I was at the convention many had approached me asking why NONE of Cher's fan club ppl who run it ever attended one of her conventions..and ppl even emailed me recently about it when they saw this thread up..and others complained privately

Yes, Jan he did. And he said it like "let's gossip about it" it was not like it was really a subject that bothered him.
He also tried to get me to say mean stuff about people on the Cher.com forum. Many of you know Mike (he also likes Gloria Estefan) Jonathan called me up and told me I should tell Mike to take his banner down because it had Gloria too, and because it was red (he didn't think the red looked good) I told him there was nothing wrong with Mike's banner and it was a good job for a young kid (I think Mike was 14 at the time).
I realized the Jonathan/Cherconfederation/MandarinCher link when one of Johnathan's alter egos started to post complants bashing me and picking on Mike's banner in the same exact wording he had used with me on the phone - DUH!
That was around the same time Jonathan was posting under one of his assumed names and posted a "where do I join the fan club question" one night (probably to get people interested in the club). I posted a reply something to the effect of " why are you asking us? You should know all about this since you are involved with the fan club", and I called him by his name.
He got all flustered and posted that I must have him confused with someone else. Even though it was nearly 2am I walked into the next room and said "the phone will be ringing" before I was back in my room the phone had rung and someone was asking for me. He was told it was 2am and not to call that late again. He said he was from the west coast and didn't realize. That was a line of bull. Jonathan was in the same time zone I was.
One more tid bit I know you will all find amusing. I had just posted that Cher was going to continue her tour beyond Miami and the taping and the airing of the taping. I don't remember the source for the posting, but it was credible or I wouldn't have posted it.
Jonathan called and said he had "inside news". It was that Cher was not going to air the concert until the tour was over. I just let him talk, because I knew he was trying to get me to post false info.
Well, I stuck to my original posting because I knew that an airing would only stir more interest which was what I figured Cher and her people thought would happen too.
Long story short, we all know how many arings the concert had on tv before the end of the tour. ;D
Susan

[Jan]

Just unbelievably all so sad Sue..really is..Just speechless..this is not a Lindsay Lohan fan club (no offense to her fans)this is mega star... Grammy and Oscar Winner Cher's club..Just sad

[Elsa]

Hey, Susan, do you still have Jonathan's number? I'm sure we could have quite some fun with that.
I'm sure that Cher has no idea. We all know how much she loves her fans, and I'm sure if she knew about how poorly the club is run she's flip nuts. We can't really blame her.

And, hey, Jan, I like Lindsay Lohan!

[Jan]

Yea no it was nothing personal against L Lohan Elsa..I like her too..I just meant Cher is a MEGA star like u know? She deserves more!

[Susanelizabeth28]

Hi Elsa, Good to see you
Actually I don't have his number - but we wouldn't want to stoop to his level anyway. Harassing people and pulling crap is HIS job and apparent purpose in life.
And not to focus just on him, all the people running the club pull their share of crap. He just happens to be the one that is better at computers and therefore has more communication with people.

[Elsa]

I got a better comparison: Cher = star, Jonathan = talentless loser. THIS IS NOT A JONATHAN FAN CLUB!

[Susanelizabeth28]

Now, Elsa Dear,
Let's not bash...We just need to state the truth and it paints a pretty pathetic picture.
So go start a thread and update us on how your life has been The last you mentioned you were doing "Fiddler" at school, and I know that has been awhile!
Susan

[Jan]

Yeah I agree w/Susan here Elsa..sorry just being honest..For myself personally Jonathan nor John were not the cause of myself leaving the fan club..it was other issues..Unfortunately not enough ppl want to speak up as they are afraid too and or just feel Cher's camp does not care how fans are treated by the fan club so many have "given up" on it..I know how they feel I am in the later part..it's just a shame..was just reading some of the cher.com posts today and the last guy who posted just said too how he paid his dues and got crap..just sad that's all for a mega star like Cher..Wish lady madonna would show her how HER club is run..cos I am not in it but from what I hear she's real hands on and it's excellent..as some of the other artists out there's fanclubs..if u see my Just Talking thread re: Dann's thread on Donna Summer even u will see what I mean! Oh well..lost cause

[Susanelizabeth28]

What's also odd about that Jan, is Madonna and Cher are both have the same publicist (Liz R.) The Madonna fans talk about how wonderful Liz is and that she is always there for them and involved with things. A couple of us have contacted Liz over the years and she totally ignores. She is reportedly very close to the fan club - it is almost as if someone in the fan club has a famous or wealthy relative and therefore people are afraid of them. Someone of Liz's experience and Cher's and Ebar's for that matter should be able to spot their suck up ways a mile away. How many times have I heard how the fan club girls were falling all over Ebar, etc. If a fan can walk into a venue and spot the "cling - ons" (and no, I'm not talking about Star Trek) right off the bat, wouldn't you think the "professionals" would be wise to them too?
And this is the same group of people that when out among the fans don't want anyone to know they run the fan club. This has been stated to myself and others. Why? Afraid of the feedback? or they will have to talk to people and it will take time away from their concert outing?

[Jan]

I hear ya sue..So did Pam when she was here babe..It's just sad..really is...Probably a connection I suppose to one of the girls..but noone cares how her club is run so it seems like a lost cause..and the others that are afraid to post but just complain privately will get nothing done..but looks like a lost cause even if they did..Shame

[Elsa]

Man, Susan, I was doing Fiddler the last time I was here? That was nearly two years ago!

It is a bit surprising that Cher doesn't have a clue -- or if she does, doesn't care -- about how her club is run. You'd think somebody would have mentioned it to her by now! *glares at Jan who's met Cher four million times.*

[Susanelizabeth28]

Elsa, You've been here since Fiddler, but never told us how your life was going. ;D
As for the club stuff, here's what I think is happening. And mind you it is just my hunch. Either Cher has never heard anything about the club, or Cher has and counted on people to take care of the problem and the people she counted on never really took care of the problem or are covering for the club. Anyone above board who was told to take care of a problem like the club would have gotten rid of them by now. The question is to ask yourself exactly who the weakest link is.
Susan

[mucher1]

I brought the issue of Torello selling on eBay (and other matters) to the attention of Cher's management months ago. However, the prevailing attitude seems to be that the fan club is run independently from her management, so there's not much they can do.

Translated: Scott & Davies are businessmen. The fan club saves them work and costs them close to nothing, so what's the problem?

-Mark

[Susanelizabeth28]

Sad. How about this twist? If WB and/or Cher's management and/or staff are giving the official cher fan club premiums to give to fans and they are selling them on ebay instead, -as we know they did the Ringmaster lithos- is that classified as stealing from the fans or WB and/or Cher's management and/or staff?
And may I just predict that since this information is now visible to the public (instead of swept under the rug) there will now be a sudden rash of premiums the club will suddenly have to give to fans. This of course will be done to try to discount this post and to try to save face.
Been there, seen it.

[mucher1]

Your prediction could turn out to be right, Susan. Unfortunately, certain things can be difficult to prove. If you ask Torello, he'll tell you that he's sharing eBay alias with (or selling on behalf of) family & friends. Still very fishy, but not necessarily punishable. Perhaps we would be getting somewhere if it could be established (a) which litho #'s were allocated to the fan club and (b) which #'s were sold on eBay. I guess that would "only" require (c) that sufficient information still exists and (d) an insider with an inclination to investigate...

-Mark

[Jan]

Bottom line is other artists have great fan clubs and Cher unfortunately does not:( John and Jonathan don't actually have as much pull as the others who supposedly run her fan club..u just don't hear of them..Ppl who wanna suck up their pride and support them that's their decision and ppl who complain and are afraid to post and tell their plights will get nowhere..so fans basically get screwed..it's a shame..