I found a VIP ticket for a festival here in Rio for about 500 reais more than a regular half-price ticket. It promises priority queue, open bar, and exclusive areas. Has anyone paid for that? Is it really worth it or just marketing?
Don't fall for the trap of thinking the open bar alone justifies the extra 500 reais, because usually the drinks are weak and there's still a minimal line anyway. It's only worth it if you really hate waiting in line, want areas with fewer people, and the open bar is decent (ask someone who's already been there to tell you the truth about it). If it's a small festival or in a cramped venue, maybe it makes sense; but if it's a big open-air festival like those normal ones in Rio, honestly the VIP crowd gets just as squeezed as everyone else and you just spent more money.
It really depends on which festival it is and how you like to enjoy the event. If it's a show with a band you love and you know it's going to be packed, preferential seating can be worth its weight in gold - imagine spending 2 hours in the bathroom line or waiting to get a drink while you're missing the coolest half hour of the show. Now, if it's a more laid-back festival where you can move around without any issues, then those 500 reais are just thrown away.
About the open bar, I agree it's usually weak, but I don't completely rule it out. It depends on the festival - some actually serve decent spirits or good beer, others just have that generic cachaça that burns. The exclusive area also varies a lot: sometimes it's a lounge with a couch and wifi (cool if you want to take a break), sometimes it's basically nothing. My advice is to look for reviews from people who went last year, check out photos of the VIP areas, or ask in the festival's Facebook group. If you find people saying it was actually worth it, then I'd consider it. Otherwise, just go with the regular half-price ticket and spend those 500 reais on actual good beer inside.
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