Also PJ could divide up the GA space so that there is room for everyone. Similar to what U2 do on there tours. People who want there precious seat can request side stage seats. Everyone wins.
how do I win if the only chance I have at a actual seat is to sit side stage?
Also PJ could divide up the GA space so that there is room for everyone. Similar to what U2 do on there tours. People who want there precious seat can request side stage seats. Everyone wins.
Foo Fighters-GA
U2-GA
Queens of the Stoneage-GA
Smashing Pumpkins-GA
Rage-GA
All bands similar in age and aggression to PJ with similar fan bases. What makes PJ so different that we have to have Reserved seats on the floor?
yeah I mean I've seen Foo and u2 in arenas and I *most* of the seating assigned, you don't get to choose if you have floor or seats, it's whatever tickets are available.
and QOTSA doesn't play arenas. they don't count in this example.
GA is great for a club, but in an arena it blooooooows. When a band is big enough to play arenas, you inevitably attract enough steakheads to ruin it for everyone around them. A floor full of ten-clubbers might be one thing, but it's totally another when you mix in a bunch of brahs who heard a couple tunes on the radio and are looking to fuck shit up.
And I've seen about 50 shows a year for the past decade, so don't tell me that's over-exaggerated...I have enough of a sample size.
I haven't been to a concert where GA was dangerous, ( um my rock heyday was in the cough-70's- or at small clubs- except for PJ) I have been to see PJ at the Paramount in Seattle and been forced to stand with the back of my legs against the seat, cause the aisle monitors had a flashlight up their ass. grr-like I was gonna charge the stage?
I have also been to concerts where most tix were reserved & only floor tickets had access to the floor- which I preferred- even though I am 5'3".
When you are that tall- you don't have a lot of luck keeping people from getting in front of you, but you can sneak in front of them.
There are many perks to being a woman of a certain age, at the Showbox- guys who had to be 6'4" got right in front of me after I had been there the entire show, so I got in front of them, and danced around a lot to get more space No body was gonna say a thing.
At KOL, I was on the front rail, and someone let an 11 year old sneak in with his momma behind. ( It was summer) my lowish cut tank top was right at his eye level & as a mom I felt I should find some decorum- but as KOL's newest fan I said - I am not gonna move- for anything.
As a mom I was horrified however at how many people brought small children apparently without ear protection.
I do not care if you bring your kids- but for gods sake- there will be swearing- and loud cuss words at that- so be sure and bring ear plugs at least for the kids-
You must be the change you want to see in the world
-Gandhi
I can't believe crowd surfing and moshing still happens...I haven't seen it since 1994 except for 2 instances 1) those circle things at a bad religion show and 2) about 3 people tried to surf at foo fighters, which was GA on the floor, but nobody held them up and they were promptly removed by venue security after they fell on their heads.
THIS was 96
it was raining and muddy
the thing was it was my 1st show and this dude was totally ruining our vibe
so over the rail he flew
the thing was it was my 1st show and this dude was totally ruining our vibe
so over the rail he flew
I actually crowd surfed once in the early 90s. it was kind of fun to tell the truth, but I don't think I'll be doing it again even it comes back en vogue.
my daughter when she was 13 or so, went to her first concert at what was then the Offramp- with two friends ( boys) they saw Garbage & I don't know who else.
So I was a little nervous because they were going by themselves & then I was " so happy" to hear :rolleyes: that she crowdsurfed. ( she weighs about 115 now- then she was about 80 lbs)
There was somebody who was doing that at KOL, that didn't bother me as much as the 15 year olds who were smoking pot.
You must be the change you want to see in the world
-Gandhi
She was in front of me the whole night. Didn't push her way in at all. Problem was, everyone else was so hell-bent on getting up close that there wasn't 5 feet to move. I thought they oversold the Vic, but maybe those last 2 tickets were for me and my friend, so take that for what it's worth.
I'm not saying get rid of club shows... I'm not fear mongering... just bringing up the other side of the argument. I don't boycott GA shows (going to see the Drive-By Truckers next month at a small club around here) and I think they have their moments, but GA at a large venue these days is something I'd rather not have to fuck with, and *personally*, I'm glad PJ avoids it whenever possible.
:eek: the Vic was roomy!
it was in no way oversold: pissed me off I had friends outside when we could have all accommodated them with us at the front whilst being less packed that at any of the other 07 shows!
seriously you North Americans are woossies when it comes to GA.
Everyone acted like if they had seats to keep their space.
Both the Vic (with which I had the Astoria to compare) and Lolla (countless festivals) were bewilderingly tame.
we could not believe how people could stay so far apart at the front of a pit! seriously, it was insane (and I don't go to metal/punk shows or in South America!)
that's not elitist, it's a fact.
and PJ have no problem with GA: ALL of the shows last year were GA, as well as all but 1 of the Euro ones in 06.
it's the US PJ fans or the US promoters who seem to have a problem with it.
Call me crazy (I'm sure the usual suspects will ) but even if I was guaranteed front row every seated show (which I get every GA show.), I still would rather have GA!
and PJ have no problem with GA: ALL of the shows last year were GA, as well as all but 1 of the Euro ones in 06.
it's the US PJ fans or the US promoters who seem to have a problem with it.
hmmm, if that is the case, why does Pearl Jam choose to have non GA shows?
also..and i can't remember the source of this, so maybe I am just pulling this out of my a$$ but, I remember reading somewhere that the reason the Europe PJ shoes were GA is because that is how those venues operated. The GA PJ shows in the past few years in the US have all been at smaller venues, not arenas.
This is THE BAND"S CHOICE. we can go back and forth between which is better and bitch about the people who don't agree with us until we are blue in the face, ultimately, it's not up to us anyway....so thanks PJ, for making my fan club number mean something, and providing me with decent seats to so many shows. *crosses fingers hoping to be one of the front row lottery winner*
The SF shows in 2006 were GA, and they went *okay*. It was cool to some extent, but shitty in other ways.
I'm pretty mild-mannered, but I nearly got in fights on two of the three nights with people barging through late in the show when everybody had settled in. I just don't know what goes through people's minds where, two hours into a show, I GOTTA BE UP FRONT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T CARE HOW MANY PEOPLE I HAVE TO PUSH.
One of these was like a conga line of frat boys. As they shoved past, I grabbed the last dude's ball cap and just chunked it. It was kind of a dickhead move on my part, I'll admit. It was kind of just a reaction. Eight guys pushed me during like, Indifference, and I kind of blacked out and threw a dude's hat.
Anyway. GA shows were fun when I was 16. Now, I merely tolerate them. The fact is, as close as I got at the SF shows, I've been closer at other shows with seats ... and nobody to shove me around.
everybody wants the most they can possibly get
for the least they could possibly do
The SF shows in 2006 were GA, and they went *okay*. It was cool to some extent, but shitty in other ways.
I'm pretty mild-mannered, but I nearly got in fights on two of the three nights with people barging through late in the show when everybody had settled in. I just don't know what goes through people's minds where, two hours into a show, I GOTTA BE UP FRONT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T CARE HOW MANY PEOPLE I HAVE TO PUSH.
One of these was like a conga line of frat boys. As they shoved past, I grabbed the last dude's ball cap and just chunked it. It was kind of a dickhead move on my part, I'll admit. It was kind of just a reaction. Eight guys pushed me during like, Indifference, and I kind of blacked out and threw a dude's hat.
Anyway. GA shows were fun when I was 16. Now, I merely tolerate them. The fact is, as close as I got at the SF shows, I've been closer at other shows with seats ... and nobody to shove me around.
I went straight upstairs for the SF shows. I'd much rather have my own space.
I was at the '03 HOB and Borgata 2 shows and was on the floor for both of them. I admit the crowds weren't as raucous as some other shows I've been to but you still need to defend your territory. And if you're there with other people sometimes it's a challenge to stay together with the ever shifting crowed.
Yes, they were awesome venues but I must say that I have enjoyed the shows where I had my own space better.
I HATE GA....and im not an old timer...im not a small guy or a girl who gets pushed around....but I like my own space....it sure as hell doesn't prevent me from rocking out and having a great time....and I don't have to get beer spilled on me, take an elbow from some jerkoff, get landed on from a crowd surfer, or lose my spot if I have to go to the bathroom.....GA is the WORST...I'm so thankful that PJ has seating arrangements so I can actually enjoy the music instead of being pissed off at the inconsiderate assholes that plague GA shows....my 10c is far from being a "player" at 291xxx but I could care less about fighting for the shot at being up front for a show.
I HATE GA....and im not an old timer...im not a small guy or a girl who gets pushed around....but I like my own space....it sure as hell doesn't prevent me from rocking out and having a great time....and I don't have to get beer spilled on me, take an elbow from some jerkoff, get landed on from a crowd surfer, or lose my spot if I have to go to the bathroom.....GA is the WORST...I'm so thankful that PJ has seating arrangements so I can actually enjoy the music instead of being pissed off at the inconsiderate assholes that plague GA shows....my 10c is far from being a "player" at 291xxx but I could care less about fighting for the shot at being up front for a show.
The Vic was NOT roomy at all (maybe you were being sarcastic and that went over my head). It was packed. I could barely move half a step to the right or left front or back.
I may be wrong, but I thought you told me that you were on the rail at Wembley and a Vic? If so, that would explain why it was bearable for you despite being 5'5" Being on the rail is generally the only place you can be at a GA show where you don't have to fight for your space...
taking half a step in a GA show is roomy by Euro standards! certainly at the front.
Barrier just means you can breath easily upfront, not that you have room (you don't! neither on the side or in the back.. I got bruises out of many a barrier show including Munich, let alone Katowice, which even by my standards was hell).
hmmm, if that is the case, why does Pearl Jam choose to have non GA shows?
also..and i can't remember the source of this, so maybe I am just pulling this out of my a$$ but, I remember reading somewhere that the reason the Europe PJ shoes were GA is because that is how those venues operated. The GA PJ shows in the past few years in the US have all been at smaller venues, not arenas.
This is THE BAND"S CHOICE. we can go back and forth between which is better and bitch about the people who don't agree with us until we are blue in the face, ultimately, it's not up to us anyway....so thanks PJ, for making my fan club number mean something, and providing me with decent seats to so many shows. *crosses fingers hoping to be one of the front row lottery winner*
it's bull.
I've been to all seated shows at Wembley. the venues can and do them.
But they only happen for quieter acts that play to older audiences (and those stupid audiences do bloody SEAT :mad: ).
ROCK bands play GA shows..that's what they want, that's what their audience wants (the older people can get seats too, only the floor is GA).
If PJ had wanted they could have had seated shows in Europe..they would have been laughed at though, as an old people band...and we would not have been happy!
Don't get me wrong ... it was still a good time ... there was a survivor aspect to the whole thing.
And I'd say 98 percent of the time you kinda did have your own space. It's only when some b-bag decided he didn't like his own space that there were problems.
everybody wants the most they can possibly get
for the least they could possibly do
:eek: the Vic was roomy!
it was in no way oversold: pissed me off I had friends outside when we could have all accommodated them with us at the front whilst being less packed that at any of the other 07 shows!
I'm not sure what Vic Theater show you were at, but that shit was absolutely PACKED.
seriously you North Americans are woossies when it comes to GA.
Everyone acted like if they had seats to keep their space.
Both the Vic (with which I had the Astoria to compare) and Lolla (countless festivals) were bewilderingly tame.
we could not believe how people could stay so far apart at the front of a pit! seriously, it was insane (and I don't go to metal/punk shows or in South America!)
that's not elitist, it's a fact.
OK, OK, OK... we get it. The European fans are hardcore and seats are for old people.
it's the US PJ fans or the US promoters who seem to have a problem with it.
I doubt this. Probably has more to do with the venues being set up for GA only than anything else. If they want to play in those cities, it's something that the band has to deal with. I'd bet a couple bucks that given the choice between GA and reserved seating, they'd choose the seats. I don't blame them... especially at the large festivals. Why take the chance? People get crazy and shit happens (Roskilde and Castle Donington back in '88 come to mind), but when the venues are set up like that you have no choice.
Call me crazy (I'm sure the usual suspects will ) but even if I was guaranteed front row every seated show (which I get every GA show.), I still would rather have GA!
And I'm gonna call straight, unadulterated BULLSHIT on that one...
some 6'4" baboon motherfucker always shoves his way to stand in front of my 5ft tall wife.... uncouth, disrespectful ignorant fuck will go down w/in 2 songs as I flick my hot cigarette ashes on the back of his neck.....
I went to all 3 San Francisco shows during the last tour. I was really excited to see PJ with standing room early on the show. There were a few real assholes that took away from the show. Of course they were the ones that werent true PJ fans. However, chairs arent going to keep me from jumping up and down. Chairs are just going to keep me from getting crushed up against the rail
2003 - Houston, Dallas, San Antonio | 2006 - Bridge School, Las Vegas, San Fran(x3) | 2008 - EV Santa Cruz, Berkeley, MSG 2 2010 - Bridge School | 2012 - EV Austin | 2013 - Dallas | 2018 - Rome | 2022 - Oakland Night 1
If PJ had wanted they could have had seated shows in Europe..they would have been laughed at though, as an old people band...and we would not have been happy!
well it's just not seen the same way here. arena shows have always been mostly assigned seating throughout the history of rock in this country. cultural differences, period.
yeah I mean I've seen Foo and u2 in arenas and I *most* of the seating assigned, you don't get to choose if you have floor or seats, it's whatever tickets are available.
You can choose to get seats on the side rather than GA tickets on the floor when ordering tickets (for Foo Fighters at least). I just ordered tickets for the Foos in Pittsburgh. Best available (and most expensive) tickets were GA/Floor tickets. I went back and chose the next price level and got tickets in a side section.
My wife can't stand being in a GA section of a large arena due to some bad experiences. One at a hippie show (I think it was Phil Lesh) where she was getting crushed between people and a barrier, and antoher with me at a Weezer show when people looked like they were gonna go down like dominos on top of each other (we moved farther back after that). I also prefer to have my own personal space at a concert so I always opt for the reserved seat if it is an option, even when that seat is farther from the stage than the front of the floor (where I know we couldn't stand to be anyway).
Comments
how do I win if the only chance I have at a actual seat is to sit side stage?
yeah I mean I've seen Foo and u2 in arenas and I *most* of the seating assigned, you don't get to choose if you have floor or seats, it's whatever tickets are available.
and QOTSA doesn't play arenas. they don't count in this example.
And I've seen about 50 shows a year for the past decade, so don't tell me that's over-exaggerated...I have enough of a sample size.
I have also been to concerts where most tix were reserved & only floor tickets had access to the floor- which I preferred- even though I am 5'3".
When you are that tall- you don't have a lot of luck keeping people from getting in front of you, but you can sneak in front of them.
There are many perks to being a woman of a certain age, at the Showbox- guys who had to be 6'4" got right in front of me after I had been there the entire show, so I got in front of them, and danced around a lot to get more space
At KOL, I was on the front rail, and someone let an 11 year old sneak in with his momma behind. ( It was summer) my lowish cut tank top was right at his eye level & as a mom I felt I should find some decorum- but as KOL's newest fan I said - I am not gonna move- for anything.
As a mom I was horrified however at how many people brought small children apparently without ear protection.
I do not care if you bring your kids- but for gods sake- there will be swearing- and loud cuss words at that- so be sure and bring ear plugs at least for the kids-
-Gandhi
THIS was 96
it was raining and muddy
the thing was it was my 1st show and this dude was totally ruining our vibe
so over the rail he flew
I actually crowd surfed once in the early 90s. it was kind of fun to tell the truth, but I don't think I'll be doing it again even it comes back en vogue.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/No_moshing.jpg/450px-No_moshing.jpg
So I was a little nervous because they were going by themselves & then I was " so happy" to hear :rolleyes: that she crowdsurfed. ( she weighs about 115 now- then she was about 80 lbs)
There was somebody who was doing that at KOL, that didn't bother me as much as the 15 year olds who were smoking pot.
-Gandhi
it was in no way oversold: pissed me off I had friends outside when we could have all accommodated them with us at the front whilst being less packed that at any of the other 07 shows!
seriously you North Americans are woossies when it comes to GA.
Everyone acted like if they had seats to keep their space.
Both the Vic (with which I had the Astoria to compare) and Lolla (countless festivals) were bewilderingly tame.
we could not believe how people could stay so far apart at the front of a pit! seriously, it was insane (and I don't go to metal/punk shows or in South America!)
that's not elitist, it's a fact.
and PJ have no problem with GA: ALL of the shows last year were GA, as well as all but 1 of the Euro ones in 06.
it's the US PJ fans or the US promoters who seem to have a problem with it.
Call me crazy (I'm sure the usual suspects will
and I'm a 5'5, 36 year old woman..
hmmm, if that is the case, why does Pearl Jam choose to have non GA shows?
also..and i can't remember the source of this, so maybe I am just pulling this out of my a$$ but, I remember reading somewhere that the reason the Europe PJ shoes were GA is because that is how those venues operated. The GA PJ shows in the past few years in the US have all been at smaller venues, not arenas.
This is THE BAND"S CHOICE. we can go back and forth between which is better and bitch about the people who don't agree with us until we are blue in the face, ultimately, it's not up to us anyway....so thanks PJ, for making my fan club number mean something, and providing me with decent seats to so many shows. *crosses fingers hoping to be one of the front row lottery winner*
I'm pretty mild-mannered, but I nearly got in fights on two of the three nights with people barging through late in the show when everybody had settled in. I just don't know what goes through people's minds where, two hours into a show, I GOTTA BE UP FRONT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T CARE HOW MANY PEOPLE I HAVE TO PUSH.
One of these was like a conga line of frat boys. As they shoved past, I grabbed the last dude's ball cap and just chunked it. It was kind of a dickhead move on my part, I'll admit. It was kind of just a reaction. Eight guys pushed me during like, Indifference, and I kind of blacked out and threw a dude's hat.
Anyway. GA shows were fun when I was 16. Now, I merely tolerate them. The fact is, as close as I got at the SF shows, I've been closer at other shows with seats ... and nobody to shove me around.
for the least they could possibly do
I went straight upstairs for the SF shows. I'd much rather have my own space.
I was at the '03 HOB and Borgata 2 shows and was on the floor for both of them. I admit the crowds weren't as raucous as some other shows I've been to but you still need to defend your territory. And if you're there with other people sometimes it's a challenge to stay together with the ever shifting crowed.
Yes, they were awesome venues but I must say that I have enjoyed the shows where I had my own space better.
Exactly!
Barrier just means you can breath easily upfront, not that you have room (you don't! neither on the side or in the back.. I got bruises out of many a barrier show including Munich, let alone Katowice, which even by my standards was hell).
it's bull.
I've been to all seated shows at Wembley. the venues can and do them.
But they only happen for quieter acts that play to older audiences (and those stupid audiences do bloody SEAT :mad: ).
ROCK bands play GA shows..that's what they want, that's what their audience wants (the older people can get seats too, only the floor is GA).
If PJ had wanted they could have had seated shows in Europe..they would have been laughed at though, as an old people band...and we would not have been happy!
Don't get me wrong ... it was still a good time ... there was a survivor aspect to the whole thing.
And I'd say 98 percent of the time you kinda did have your own space. It's only when some b-bag decided he didn't like his own space that there were problems.
for the least they could possibly do
Nuclear fission
Well said.
I'm not sure what Vic Theater show you were at, but that shit was absolutely PACKED.
OK, OK, OK... we get it. The European fans are hardcore and seats are for old people.
I doubt this. Probably has more to do with the venues being set up for GA only than anything else. If they want to play in those cities, it's something that the band has to deal with. I'd bet a couple bucks that given the choice between GA and reserved seating, they'd choose the seats. I don't blame them... especially at the large festivals. Why take the chance? People get crazy and shit happens (Roskilde and Castle Donington back in '88 come to mind), but when the venues are set up like that you have no choice.
And I'm gonna call straight, unadulterated BULLSHIT on that one...
ha
pulled this one of the doors in portland
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b204/wickedmonkeyz/04-02-08_2232.jpg
***GOT EM***
fuck GA shows and fuck you if you are for them.
2010 - Bridge School | 2012 - EV Austin | 2013 - Dallas | 2018 - Rome | 2022 - Oakland Night 1
I can't believe that, lol.
well it's just not seen the same way here. arena shows have always been mostly assigned seating throughout the history of rock in this country. cultural differences, period.
You can choose to get seats on the side rather than GA tickets on the floor when ordering tickets (for Foo Fighters at least). I just ordered tickets for the Foos in Pittsburgh. Best available (and most expensive) tickets were GA/Floor tickets. I went back and chose the next price level and got tickets in a side section.
My wife can't stand being in a GA section of a large arena due to some bad experiences. One at a hippie show (I think it was Phil Lesh) where she was getting crushed between people and a barrier, and antoher with me at a Weezer show when people looked like they were gonna go down like dominos on top of each other (we moved farther back after that). I also prefer to have my own personal space at a concert so I always opt for the reserved seat if it is an option, even when that seat is farther from the stage than the front of the floor (where I know we couldn't stand to be anyway).
yes yes yes
Roskilde
dude, that's not the *one* reason. I saw them years before rokslide, and yes, there were chairs.
no one has mentioned that many of the shows on this tour are in outdoor sheds...the chairs are THERE. fastened into the floor. they are ampetheaters.
I hate shed shows, but um, nonetheless, of course it's not GA.