Do meet-and-greets even exist anymore?

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the golden era of MagCon and the Girls Night In Tour—even the massive meet-and-greet setups for Taylor Swift or, wilder yet, The Wiggles. You just never see them anymore.

Whenever I see a “VIP Ticket” go on sale, I immediately assume it includes a meet-and-greet. But the second I click on the details, I realize it’s a total illusion. Instead of actually meeting the artist, you’re paying a premium just for early venue entry, a laminated lanyard, and the right to buy merch twenty minutes before everyone else.

Have we completely lost the plot? Is the classic, chaotic art of the meet-and-greet officially dead?