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

A. Men.

--- In u2tour@yahoogroups.com, "DCuthrell" <dcuthrell@...> wrote:
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> Ok my friends, let's calm down a minute and think about this. First I've done a number of GA lines and found it to be the best possible system out there. Following the "rules" set I've gotten so close to the boys and it has been the greatest concert experiences of my life.
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> Here's something to think about: What else should be done?
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> 1) Abolish the GA. Yes! Let's let the only way to get front row is to spend thousands of dollars as you do for any other top tier band playing today. Survival of the richest I say!
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> 2) Pay attention to the stadium rule of when to arrive (usually 6am). Really people?? So hundreds of us show up earlier, lurking around stadium, and some sort of mad sprint to the line? Fact is, some sort of line will always develop. Have you all heard about South America where the line starts 2 weeks in advance?????
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> 3) When you show up you have to stay put! Ok, what's the rules then? No leaving the line for any reason even for the bathroom? Ok, what's the time limit then? 5min? 10min? 1 hour? 2 hour? See what I'm getting at? The fans (and they are fans) have set up a system that allows for some great leeway. Check in and come back at certain intervals. While there have certainly been cracks in that system (though I never witnessed any), it works great. I have checked in the night before and been back very early (always jumping up 10 spaces or so when other don't show up). Early enough that you will be called crazy by any sane non U2 fan around. I've then gone to lunch, took a nap in my car, saw some sights, all without being gone very long and been back in time for check in and other things related to keeping the line orderly. In Philly two guys who were with friends had to go to work for a few hours, they were in front of me and I said "don't worry about it, see you when you get back" which they did around three. We had some laughs and they even gave me some beer for being cool. We are all fans here right?
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> 4) Let the stadium security handle it. Really? Really? Trust them? 1991 - camping overnight for tickets ZooTV indoor broadcast. In the middle of the night someone started a panic and moved the line. Security tells us to go back. Was 50th in line now 500th, got tix behind the stage. If we fans were "nazi's" and made a numbering system, wouldn't have happened. The biggest problems with the GA lines have been when stadium staff screw up. Period.
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> 'But it's not fair! I have to work." Sorry, but the fact is not all of us can be in the front row. Even if everything was equal, we all can't fit at the front of the stage, The fact that there is a system that allows us to even have the chance of being up front without spending thousands (even hundreds) or without winning a lottery (though Vertigo GA was sort of a lottery, but only for inner circle - could get on outer rail), is great to me. The fact that GAs tickets are less then a hundred bucks is great too. Yes, we all want to be pulled up on the stage, but Bono has only seen fit to do that with a few. Done it for one fan(a member of the fan "syndicate") more then once. Fair? Is Bono unfair? Is he the ultimate U2 nazi? Personally, I'm happy for him. He has a situation that allows him to go to many many shows and he has been rewarded further by the Bono. I don't have that situation, but I take nothing from him. Seems like a very nice guy to me (In Philly I said to him "Again? Really? Really???", and he even seemed a bit embarrassed)
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> So, in conclusion, THANK YOU to the hard working fans who take care of the line and set very reasonable rules for us to follow. I've always found them to be nice and personable and they work hard and have to put up with some very, in my mind, irritating fans who, in my mind, are just upset to find out they didn't get there early enough,and who by the way, STILL get great spots! I always go on the outer rail and I always have someone next to me who got in line in the afternoon. But I can care less, as long as I got my spot to hear THE GREATEST BAND ON THE WORLD!!!!
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> This ends my manifesto....at least until I think of another reason to go off! Typing this, I am soooooo freaking sad I'm not in line right now in Moncton!!!
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> Derek C
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