[BelieveInMe]

So I just have to make a post about this because I am sure many people feel the same way that I do.

I was a member of the paying Fan Club as a "Loyal Freak" and later an "Ultimate Loyal Freak" since it launched in 2007. It was a great place for Loyals to talk to each other and get exclusive Criss content like the membership packages and so on.

Over time, certain aspects of the Fan Club were poorly managed, that much is clear. Perhaps paying members not renewing their memberships, coupled with the poor management from Clique/SparkArt, caused a decision to be made to stop the Fan Club altogether with the site relaunch.

I'm quite sad about this, actually. I really, really thought that Criss / the CA team was preparing something special for the Fan Club, based on the News post that was posted on the old CA.com earlier this year.

I guess this is my Fan Club mourning post. I am sure everyone has their own memories about the Fan Club and what they loved about it. I will miss it!

--Jessica

[LoyalLee]

Ditto to everything u said Jessica. Very sad for those of us who were there from Day 1 of the fan club.

[Kris]

You can join my New Facebook Group for Criss's Fans called Criss's Fans. Here is the Link https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/195115190559782/

To Join: If you have a TOTALLY FREE TO JOIN Facebook Account, then click the Link. Then click "Ask to Join". Then someone who is already a Member will need to accept you. Which anyone who already is a Member can do. So the wait shouldn't be long. Facebook lets you know when you have been accepted.

[CALoyal]

I totally agree Jessica. Although I was not a member from the beginning (I never needed Criss until about a year and a half ago) I too thought something special was being brewed for ULF's. I know there were always complaints about the paying members having more benefits, but it is the same with every fan club. Some you can't even join without paying. I have also been wondering whether there will still be a Loyal line at signings??? I mean those of us who were ULF's have our cards, but they are obviously not giving anyone on here a card??

[JennyBenny318]

I was sad too. As I was there from the very beginning. But I guess they had to stop it because of the recession. If it were still around, I wouldn't be able to afford it. (Well I would, but I would just want to save money.)

[Snucks]

I'll definitely miss the Loyal line at signings... that was such a wonderful benefit. The VIP cards were still being honored to gain access to the Loyal line at the July 2nd M&G... I hate to think that was the last time they might be used The other feature that I enjoyed taking full advantage of was the membership's 35% discount on BeLIEve tickets. I wouldn't have been able to see the show nearly as many times without that.

I haven't seen any kind of formal announcement about the fan club's demise. Was there one and I just missed it?

I'm mourning the loss too.

[loyaljojo]

Although I never joined the Fan Club I can understand the feelings of those who did.But I also believe that the creation of the new CA website here should be considered a true loyal site. Why should we be segregated into groups? What makes one loyal different from the rest ; besides the fact that some paid to be a ULF or LF.?

Please remember there are thousands of loyals world wide and many are most likely unable to pay to join such websites. I find that somewhat unfair. If Criss wanted it this way rather than the way it was; then I would be more inclined to believe he seen this and therefore made the change. Just my observation.

I've been a loyal for several years and I can honestly say I could never afford to join the ULF or LF fan site then and I wouldn't join if they were brought back to life today.I have my own reasons for that ; which I prefer not to discuss here.

Whether you're a loyal from the ULF or LF site or you're a ''new'' loyal who never heard of those sites makes neither better nor more special than the rest.I feel lucky that I am able to converse with other loyals around the world and have the chance to get to know them here.I'm sure there will be VIP contests or something of that nature for all to enter or have a chance to be a part of.There shouldn't be any sad faces here. Who knows; I could be totally wrong and maybe there will be another ULF/LF site. If there is one in the making; happy trails to those who join.Cheer up ladies.

[debbieanne226]

I'm sad to see it go too!!

[MsMerlina]

Yeah, I was there at the fan club from the beginning and it was a place of much anticipation and promise. The updates dwindled and people went to Twitter...not the same at all. You have to scroll too much with Twitter to talk with people unless you send dm's and then that's not a forum.

I should have saved blogs from the old fan club site...or we should have been given advance notice the site was closing instead of just losing everything there imo.

I'm beginning to think there's a lack of focus not by Criss but by many people involved, trying to cover all the bases with Criss Angel related subjects and all that's happening is people are lost in the transition. That's a sign of the times tho. Back in the day there was one website per celebrity and things were easier, everyone met there. Now there's Twitter, Facebook, websites, and other places to look. You can't cover all the bases. Also I liked the humility of the old Criss Angel places...not everything has to be the 'best selling' the 'most popular' etc. What drew me to CA...he didn't care about statistics, just did what he wanted. That was cool. Everything is sales pressured and pretentious everywhere in this world, it was nice to see someone who didn't seem to care about that so much.

I just hope we get back on track and find the true magic again.

ahem, steps off soap box now lol!

[Loyal Jenn]

Before I get into my post I just want to say that I have been waiting so long for someone to start a "mourning" thread like this one. I have always felt this way but I wasn't sure if anyone else did which is why I didn't start the thread myself in the first place. So thank you so much Believe for starting this, I, and I'm sure many other Loyals who were paying, appreciate it.

I have been an "Ultimate Loyal Freak" since the beginning. Although it was a large amount of $100 a year to be a ULF, I loved every minute of it. I LOVED getting that yearly package of Criss Angel merchandise. It honestly made my year because it came with amazing stuff. It came with t-shirts, sweaters, a letter from Criss, an 8x10 photo, necklaces, and so much more. I absolutely loved it and I am incredibly sad to see the package and the whole fan club go.

Although many people say it was poorly managed in most cases, I can't say the same. That fan club got me my one shot to meet Criss personally and privately and I owe a great big thanks to the Fan Club team. After all of the years of being a ULF I never, ever thought it was even possible to meet Criss. I mean, heck, I live in a small town over here in Canada and Criss is all the way in Las Vegas. A 4 and a half hour, expensive plain ride. I never thought I would have met him. But thanks to that Fan Club, they came out with a contest called "The Criss Angel Referral Program" which was a big contest with a big prize - a private meet and greet with Criss after Believe, a phone call from Criss, signed merchandise, and two free tickets to Believe. With a prize like that, I knew it was a hard contest to win. In order to win, you had to refer 50 people to a paying membership on the old CrissAngel.com Fan Club. And so, that's what I did. I went door to door to my friends, family and my neighbours, even to some people who I barely knew and got them to sign up to Criss' Fan Club and I got my one shot to meet Criss which was the best day of my life.

I had made Criss a DVD describing how much he has changed my life and just how much he means to me. I really, really wanted him to see it. So I brought my portable DVD player backstage and Criss and my family and I watched my DVD together on the couch and he ended up tweeting about it and giving me his hat.

Without that fan club, I wouldn't have ever met Criss. I miss that Fan Club so, SO much and I would give anything to have it back because it made my dream of meeting Criss come true. I owe them a big thank you and I can't believe it's gone.

Sorry for my long post, but yeah, I just really, really miss that Fan Club.

Regards,

Jenn, a mourning ULF.