Music: Re: [u2tour] GA procedure, my experience in Pittsburgh

Just some thoughts off the top of my head regarding this discussion.

I can see valid points on both sides of the discussion and I have been party to both types of lines (the ones where you have to stay and the ones where you don't). Personally I'll take the ones where you don't. I'd much rather sleep in a bed and have some energy to actually enjoy the concert!

Now, is it easier for people who work and have kids to stop by the stadium a day or 2 before the show, get their numbers and have to check in a couple of times or to show up 2 days before the show and have to stay the whole time? I'm thinking the 1st choice (but maybe I'm wrong). If you can't do either, you do what you can and not freak out about people who are in a different place in their life than you are..

Now I have been a fan through a few different tours and my ability to do GA changes with each tour depending on the ages of kids, working situation etc. That's life. In 1997 when my kids were 6 mos and 2 1/2 yrs I went to one show the whole tour in seats, in 2001 I got to 2 shows but didn't get there till 4pm and I still got into the Heart both nights. In 2005, the kids were older so I was able to do more, etc. I'm sure you get the picture.

My understanding is that the system came about because the stadiums do not want 200 people on their property for 2 days before the show. You can tell people all you want not to come till 6am the morning of the show but they will always come earlier. Or when 200 people do all show up at 6am the morning of the show, how do you manage that crowd? How do you put them in number order? That's recipe for problems right there, in my opinion.

Next tour will be arenas and maybe the system will go back to like it was during the Vertigo tour. However, I am from the Boston area and the Garden handled things differently than other cities did (and i wish more would follow suit) in that the Garden security would come out at 8am and wristband everyone and send them on their way (they didn't want people hanging around all day ) and come back at 5pm and get back in line in order of the number on their wristband. People could show up, get a nbr and still go to work, go home or school, etc. It was great!

Just my 2 cents.

NancyW

--- On Fri, 7/29/11, Joanne Gonzales <jjesgonzo@cox.net> wrote:

From: Joanne Gonzales <jjesgonzo@cox.net>
Subject: Re: [u2tour] GA procedure, my experience in Pittsburgh
To: u2tour@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, July 29, 2011, 11:26 AM

It's so nice to finally see everyone discussing the line organizers. They're the same people every time who DO use intimidation and bullying when they don't get what they want. They act as if they have an authority that they DON'T actually possess. We all need to start standing up to them and not putting up with their antics. If they weren't bullies I wouldn't have a problem with them. But they are bullies and they create systems that aren't plausible for people who work, have kids and can't spend 36 in front of an arena to see a band that they love just as much as them. Telling people that they have to "check in" the night before a concert to get their number is outrageous. Especially when you take the time to just realize that it's just some random U2 fan who created that "rule" NOT the venue and NOT U2. The rest of us really need to question their authority more frequently and not allow them to set the rules across the country.

One more note, U2 would be disgusted with them if they saw how they acted with other fans in the line. The kindness towards their fellow man that U2 is all about is NOT what those people show to those around them. They act entitled, arrogant and elitist...everything that U2 despises.

Joanne

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----

From: Ralph Lusby <claytonmills49@gmail.com>

Sender: u2tour@yahoogroups.com

Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:03:45

To: <u2tour@yahoogroups.com>

Reply-To: u2tour@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [u2tour] GA procedure, my experience in Pittsburgh

"Elite" is way too kind of a term! Line Nazis are what we've called them.

As fans we've been lucky that U2 has kept their floor tickets as GA for the

past three tours (and thereby keeping those prices down). It's discouraging

to see that the same shenanigans have been going on since 2001. If you'll

recall, a group of fans at the June 2001 Boston shows were so upset that the

production crew tried to mix up the fans at the front for the DVD recording

that they staged a sit-in protest in the back of the heart that is plainly

visible on the Elevation 2001: Live from Boston film. Later that Fall in

Philadelphia my buddy and I got to the line early and got numbered, never

left the line and found out later that the line-keepers gave our numbers to

some of their friends. We stuck to our guns and ignored them and got our

spot on the rail in front of Adam.

Like any group I'm sure there are lots of early arrivers/line organizers

with nothing but the best intentions who are spending their time trying to

help keep the line experience a positive one. Unfortunately there are

plenty of bad eggs in the bunch that have a history of abusing the system to

the benefit of their friends. Venue-run lines seem to be the only fair

alternative.

On Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 8:42 PM, Peter O'Malley <PeterOmalleyIV@gmail.com>wrote:

> **

>

>

> If they go back into arenas, I hope they scan tickets again to keep it

> fairly random up front... "elite U2 society" is a perfect way of putting

> it..

>

> On Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 8:33 PM, Nick Walker <walkervox@gmail.com> wrote:

>

> > **

>

> >

> >

> > We feel your pain. We fought it, but finally had to just let it go. It

> > sucks. Sorry.

> >

> > On Jul 28, 2011 7:29 PM, "blessedpoverty" <contramundo@bellsouth.net>

> > wrote:

> > > OK, the Pittsburgh show was AWESOME. But the GA line "system" was a

> major

> > downer. We got there at 4am, ready to stay until the show. There were

> about

> > 20 people there, so we thought we were in good shape. The list holder

> gets

> > our names down and it turns out I'm number 250-something! So where are

> the

> > other 230 people ahead of me?! In bed, at breakfast, anywhere but waiting

> > in

> > line! What happened to coming to the GA line and staying to hold your

> > place?

> > Where do you get the secret information to "check in" on the list and

> then

> > take off? Of course, there's nothing to do about it. No offense to anyone

> > who actually waited in person, and I would have been happy to be in the

> > 200s

> > if 200 people were actually there, but I'm pretty tired of the elite U2

> > society using unfair tactics to crowd the front of the pit and exclude

> > those

> > of us who are out of the social loop but putting in the effort fairly to

> > get

> > close to our favorite band. When Bono said "I see so many familiar faces"

> I

> > just sort of cringed--from the back of the circle.

> > >

> > > I won't even bother waiting in line in Moncton. Now I know there's

> > probably already a list up to the hundreds consisting of people who

> aren't

> > even in New Brunswick yet. Maybe I'll start using the tactics of the

> drunks

> > who come in late and push their way to the front. Is that really any

> > different than putting your name on a list the night before the show and

> > going back to bed?

> > >

> > > Kate in NC

> > >

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> >

> >

> >

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

>

>

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