The "funnel" effect of getting squeezed through the line reminds me of 2 other events I was at. One was Paul McCartney in Berkeley. It wasn't really that scary because no one was rushing or pushing anywhere. It was just that the hallways in the football stadium were soooo crowded, that most people were getting lifted off their feet, and you could just feel yourself getting moved by the wave of pressure in the crowd. It was really freaky. The other time was at the WOMAD festival in San Francisco's golden gate park. It was the one with Peter Gabriel headlining and Ziggy Marley. I was with a group up in the front 2-4 rows. The festival had gotten so crowded, and when Ziggy was playing, there started to be waves of pressure rolling towards the front of the stage. Security was "fishing" people out of the crowds that were fainting from exhaustion and getting squished. Eventually, all the big guys near the front braced their arms against the front wall and we created kind of a wall of our own, where we were able to get women (and kids in some cases) some shelter and a way out. I'll never forget those waves of pressure on my back, and how easily 10-15 rows of people could have just piled up on us.
This is typical for a festival. No matter how long you wait, if you're the first in line, there's always going to be assholes who think they can get up there too. If you give an inch (most likely for your own comfort) they will take 2 feet. They will push, stand on top of you, try and make room for their friends when there is no room for them... I could go on and on. Festivals suck. Not because of the idea or the bands, but because of the people.
I swore of festivals a while back but decided to go to Lolla last year and it was more of the same. Unfortunately, other PJ 'fans' were some of the worst out of everyone there.
It's the way it is, it's the way it will be. It sucks and it takes away the fun and the experience. Fuck those people. The worst are the ones who force their way up there and then proceed to yell and berate others who do the exact same thing.
I know exactly what you mean. Reblfan is my husband, so I was the one with him the whole time. This bitch cut me in line, then proceeds to push on me the entire show. I overheard her say that she didn't know who Boom was. What???!????!?! How many years has he been with them now? Like 6?! And there was some super gothic girl with piercings in her neck and purple hair that started a huge fight. I am cool with diehard fans being there, but if you cared that much, you would have been waiting for 12 hours like the rest of us! We met so many cool people there, I still consider it the best time of my life.
My boyfriend, a friend and myself were among those first people. We were sitting right where the line curved away from the wall. I have never seen such ignorance in my life. I really could not believe the nerve of the people cutting in line. As soon as we saw some one new sauntering up like it was cool, we immediately asked them how long they've been waiting in line and they bold faced lied and said since two o'clock. I couldn't believe it! I said to one girl, "boy it's funny how you've been standing next to me all day, yet i don't recognize you." I do believe however though that the people who were cutting line, were definitely not true pj fans. The whole scene has turned me off about going to festivals. Then once we were inside, it was cool for a while. Then when they played crazy mary, all the front rows moved forward in hopes of a drink, when that happened all the people that cut in line started pushing. Why? It's not like you're going to get to the front by pushing the people in front of you. We just turned around and asked them to stop pushing. The one dude looks at me and says "this is a Pearl jam show, this is going to be a mosh pit". I almost fell over! I went off on him about rokslide and told him that he was an idiot." Well, it just got worse. The dude behind my boyfriend just kept pushing and when he(my bf) was trying to jump around and dance a little, the dude pushed him again and he fell back against the dude. Then the two of them were locked together face to face and while i was trying to push them apart, another dude was pulling at my bf's hair. It was ridiculous! I had to slap the second dude in the face to get them off of him. Security saw what happened and he called me over, i told him that it was the idiots behind us and he just said to keep it cool that there were just 3 songs left. I've only been to a dozen PJ shows, but nothing like this has ever happened before. After the incident, my bf and i decided to scoot back a little, but when we did that, the dudes kept looking back at us, so we just walked back to camp. I don't think i will ever go to bonnaroo again. I'm going to stick to regular pj shows from now on.
The best part of the night besides the show, was how all the fans that waited all day joined together and made sure no one was hurt. It was awesome to be part of that group of individuals. Thanks for a great time to all the wonderful fans we waited in line with - Jules, Dan from NY, the nice guy form bristol, liesel, and all the others. It was a blast! And thanks to the band for a great show!
Peace and Love!
Hey, aren't you the girl that was helping my girlfriend all night?? When her feet were about to explode and she sat on your blanket for a little bit??
I wondered where you guys went...I wanted to beat those fuckers behind you that were pushing and shit.
Anyway, I caught the pick from Mike....was gonna give it to you guys after the show but you were gone.
Send me a PM and I'll mail it to you. I felt really bad that you guys left. You were the nicest people in the bunch and really looked out for Holly. So let me know where to send it and it'll be in the mail.
why not stand a few rows back and just enjoy the show? you have to know you are going to deal with assholes when trying to get front row at a huge festival.
just chill in the middle with me! no problems there.
why not stand a few rows back and just enjoy the show? you have to know you are going to deal with assholes when trying to get front row at a huge festival.
just chill in the middle with me! no problems there.
Like someone else said, at a normal Pearl Jam show, there would be no chance I would be in the front with my membership number. I went through a lot to get there and it was worth it.
Yep, that was me! I was so worried about Holly. I'm so glad i know her name now. How are the feet and ankles doing? I know she didn't want to leave and miss the show, but i know she was miserable. I couldn't stand to see her suffer. At one point when i was passing "something" to her, her little hands were trembling! I told her that it wasn't worth it to hurt herself. I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, and it's a good thing she got out of there before all the chaos started. She may have been hurt by the assholes behind us. Please tell her that i asked about her and that i hope she feels better. That was extremely nice of you to want to give me your mike pick, but definitely not necessary! I'm glad you got it!! Where are you guys from? Thanks for saying that we were the nicest people there, i thought the same of you two as well. I'm just glad that i could make Holly a little more comfortable at a very uncomfortable moment. PM me anytime, maybe we will see eachother again at another show!!!
Please take care and have a beautiful day!
Hey, aren't you the girl that was helping my girlfriend all night?? When her feet were about to explode and she sat on your blanket for a little bit??
I wondered where you guys went...I wanted to beat those fuckers behind you that were pushing and shit.
Anyway, I caught the pick from Mike....was gonna give it to you guys after the show but you were gone.
Send me a PM and I'll mail it to you. I felt really bad that you guys left. You were the nicest people in the bunch and really looked out for Holly. So let me know where to send it and it'll be in the mail.
I would rather you guys keep the pick and when you look at it you will think of us and remember that night! That means so much more to me! Thanks for being such good people! I'm going to cry!!!
Hey, aren't you the girl that was helping my girlfriend all night?? When her feet were about to explode and she sat on your blanket for a little bit??
I wondered where you guys went...I wanted to beat those fuckers behind you that were pushing and shit.
Anyway, I caught the pick from Mike....was gonna give it to you guys after the show but you were gone.
Send me a PM and I'll mail it to you. I felt really bad that you guys left. You were the nicest people in the bunch and really looked out for Holly. So let me know where to send it and it'll be in the mail.
Shoving your way to the front is a time honored tradition of opening seating. If your willing to wait on line all day at a festival, your probably too old to be there and are creating a dangerous situation.
Those are the rules. Its also a rule to stop shoving when you see some one on the ground and to help them up.
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Shoving your way to the front is a time honored tradition of opening seating. If your willing to wait on line all day at a festival, your probably too old to be there and are creating a dangerous situation.
Those are the rules. Its also a rule to stop shoving when you see some one on the ground and to help them up.
All I can say is thank God you've only posted 3 times on here....
We have lines for a reason. Not so the biggest or strongest can get to the front.
And let me tell you this, it's MUCH harder to wait for 12 hours in the Tennessee weather than to arrive right before the show and sneak into the line like a little fucking weasel. So fuck your "too old" comment. The only people creating a "dangerous situation" are fuckers like you that don't respect the line and the order of things.
Shoving your way to the front is a time honored tradition of opening seating. If your willing to wait on line all day at a festival, your probably too old to be there and are creating a dangerous situation.
Those are the rules. Its also a rule to stop shoving when you see some one on the ground and to help them up.
You know what else is a time-honored tradition? Waiting your turn, in line. Maybe you weren't taught that in kindergarten?
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Yep, that was me! I was so worried about Holly. I'm so glad i know her name now. How are the feet and ankles doing? I know she didn't want to leave and miss the show, but i know she was miserable. I couldn't stand to see her suffer. At one point when i was passing "something" to her, her little hands were trembling! I told her that it wasn't worth it to hurt herself. I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, and it's a good thing she got out of there before all the chaos started. She may have been hurt by the assholes behind us. Please tell her that i asked about her and that i hope she feels better. That was extremely nice of you to want to give me your mike pick, but definitely not necessary! I'm glad you got it!! Where are you guys from? Thanks for saying that we were the nicest people there, i thought the same of you two as well. I'm just glad that i could make Holly a little more comfortable at a very uncomfortable moment. PM me anytime, maybe we will see eachother again at another show!!!
Please take care and have a beautiful day!
You guys rock. I just called Holly and read this post to her and she's so grateful for all you did.
We're from Salt Lake City....and rarely make it to the Eastern or Southern shows. West coast for us is sooo much easier. But hopefully we'll see you guys again.
Oh, and her feet are doing much better...thanks again!
You guys rock too!! Tell her that there is no need to be grateful. i'm grateful that i could help her out. Isn't that what it's SUPPOSED to be about? It's so heartwarming when i meet people like you guys. I just wish the whole world was all like PJ fans, it would be such a better place. I swear that meeting new people and bonding because we have the same interest in a band is definitely better than the actual show! My bf(Dale) is new at this whole PJ thing, and when i told him about the posts and the nice things you wrote, he was somewhat shocked, but definitely in a good way. I think at that moment he began to understand why i love this band and their fans so much! Thanks for that too! I may have given Holly a blanket and made sure she didn't get trampled, but you guys have given me SO MUCH MORE!
I do hope that we get to see you guys again sometime. Dales mom lives in Washington, so you never know we may catch a west coast show sometime.
The gorge is a dream of mine!! Please take care of eachother and PLEASE keep in touch! PM me anytime and tell Holly the same! I love you guys!
Peace and Love!!
You guys rock. I just called Holly and read this post to her and she's so grateful for all you did.
We're from Salt Lake City....and rarely make it to the Eastern or Southern shows. West coast for us is sooo much easier. But hopefully we'll see you guys again.
Oh, and her feet are doing much better...thanks again!
All I can say is thank God you've only posted 3 times on here....
We have lines for a reason. Not so the biggest or strongest can get to the front.
And let me tell you this, it's MUCH harder to wait for 12 hours in the Tennessee weather than to arrive right before the show and sneak into the line like a little fucking weasel. So fuck your "too old" comment. The only people creating a "dangerous situation" are fuckers like you that don't respect the line and the order of things.
Oh almost forgot, I loved this post!! I laughed my as off when i read it!!!
Way to go dude!!!!!!!
As a person who stood in line for over 10 hrs to get front row on Stone's side- all I have to say is, "STEVE! STEVE! STEVE!" He, along with a few others of us kept the integrity of the line going. What an amazing show that was!
I will not lose my Faith, it's an Inside job today....
As a person who stood in line for over 10 hrs to get front row on Stone's side- all I have to say is, "STEVE! STEVE! STEVE!" He, along with a few others of us kept the integrity of the line going. What an amazing show that was!
Are you talking about Steve with the dreads?? If so, he was awesome. I am trying to get his e-mail and keep in touch with him. Good for you waiting and being on front row!! Makes all that shit worth it.
When I finally made it up to the gate, I was stopped. My heart almost sunk in my chest, as I thought I was going to be the cut off point. Then a security guard said the count was at 630, and they were cutting it off at 700. So luckily I made it in, just barely.
I waited all day and when I finally got to the front of the line I guess I was 701 cause they didn't let me in.
I had to beg the security guard to let me in and after a couple minutes he finally did. I gave the dude a big f'n hug and got to see the Mighty PJ in the 5th row right in front of Mike.
What an awesome experience!
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Are you talking about Steve with the dreads?? If so, he was awesome. I am trying to get his e-mail and keep in touch with him. Good for you waiting and being on front row!! Makes all that shit worth it.
This Steve didn't have dreads...he was a bigger dude and had a partly shaved head...was right at the front of the line on Stone's side.
I will not lose my Faith, it's an Inside job today....
Comments
Ha! Funny.... but no, that's not him.
The "funnel" effect of getting squeezed through the line reminds me of 2 other events I was at. One was Paul McCartney in Berkeley. It wasn't really that scary because no one was rushing or pushing anywhere. It was just that the hallways in the football stadium were soooo crowded, that most people were getting lifted off their feet, and you could just feel yourself getting moved by the wave of pressure in the crowd. It was really freaky. The other time was at the WOMAD festival in San Francisco's golden gate park. It was the one with Peter Gabriel headlining and Ziggy Marley. I was with a group up in the front 2-4 rows. The festival had gotten so crowded, and when Ziggy was playing, there started to be waves of pressure rolling towards the front of the stage. Security was "fishing" people out of the crowds that were fainting from exhaustion and getting squished. Eventually, all the big guys near the front braced their arms against the front wall and we created kind of a wall of our own, where we were able to get women (and kids in some cases) some shelter and a way out. I'll never forget those waves of pressure on my back, and how easily 10-15 rows of people could have just piled up on us.
I know exactly what you mean. Reblfan is my husband, so I was the one with him the whole time. This bitch cut me in line, then proceeds to push on me the entire show. I overheard her say that she didn't know who Boom was. What???!????!?! How many years has he been with them now? Like 6?! And there was some super gothic girl with piercings in her neck and purple hair that started a huge fight. I am cool with diehard fans being there, but if you cared that much, you would have been waiting for 12 hours like the rest of us! We met so many cool people there, I still consider it the best time of my life.
I wondered where you guys went...I wanted to beat those fuckers behind you that were pushing and shit.
Anyway, I caught the pick from Mike....was gonna give it to you guys after the show but you were gone.
Send me a PM and I'll mail it to you. I felt really bad that you guys left. You were the nicest people in the bunch and really looked out for Holly. So let me know where to send it and it'll be in the mail.
glad the rest of your time was good tho
just chill in the middle with me! no problems there.
Like someone else said, at a normal Pearl Jam show, there would be no chance I would be in the front with my membership number. I went through a lot to get there and it was worth it.
Please take care and have a beautiful day!
Those are the rules. Its also a rule to stop shoving when you see some one on the ground and to help them up.
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We have lines for a reason. Not so the biggest or strongest can get to the front.
And let me tell you this, it's MUCH harder to wait for 12 hours in the Tennessee weather than to arrive right before the show and sneak into the line like a little fucking weasel. So fuck your "too old" comment. The only people creating a "dangerous situation" are fuckers like you that don't respect the line and the order of things.
You know what else is a time-honored tradition? Waiting your turn, in line. Maybe you weren't taught that in kindergarten?
R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
R.i.p. Black Tail (cat) - Sept. 20, 2008
We're from Salt Lake City....and rarely make it to the Eastern or Southern shows. West coast for us is sooo much easier. But hopefully we'll see you guys again.
Oh, and her feet are doing much better...thanks again!
That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Too bad 50% of the cool people don't kick that 5% square in the ass.
I do hope that we get to see you guys again sometime. Dales mom lives in Washington, so you never know we may catch a west coast show sometime.
The gorge is a dream of mine!! Please take care of eachother and PLEASE keep in touch! PM me anytime and tell Holly the same! I love you guys!
Peace and Love!!
Oh almost forgot, I loved this post!! I laughed my as off when i read it!!!
Way to go dude!!!!!!!
Are you talking about Steve with the dreads?? If so, he was awesome. I am trying to get his e-mail and keep in touch with him. Good for you waiting and being on front row!! Makes all that shit worth it.
I waited all day and when I finally got to the front of the line I guess I was 701 cause they didn't let me in.
I had to beg the security guard to let me in and after a couple minutes he finally did. I gave the dude a big f'n hug and got to see the Mighty PJ in the 5th row right in front of Mike.
What an awesome experience!
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This Steve didn't have dreads...he was a bigger dude and had a partly shaved head...was right at the front of the line on Stone's side.