Final word on GA vs Seating - Mr Neil Young

lostalias

Im getting too old for general admission shows. You have to get there ridiculous early to get a good spot, and you can't move from that spot. I was at Music Midtown in Atlanta, and I was exhausted by the time Pearl Jam took the stage. Not to mention that I was completely useless the next day. I like not having to worry about all of that. You can go get a beer, or take a piss, and your seat is right where you left it.

ACCBootlegGoddess

lostalias wrote:

Im getting too old for general admission shows. You have to get there ridiculous early to get a good spot, and you can't move from that spot. I was at Music Midtown in Atlanta, and I was exhausted by the time Pearl Jam took the stage. Not to mention that I was completely useless the next day. I like not having to worry about all of that. You can go get a beer, or take a piss, and your seat is right where you left it.

That's why Bruce Springsteen's method is THE BEST! You get numbered wristbands between like 2 and say 4:30pm. At 4:30pm they draw a random number and THAT person is first in line and the line starts after that.
For example - If they draw 250 they are first in line 251 is second, etc. and 249 is last.
No need to wait out all day...you get your wristband and go drink or whatever until the draw.
They line you up properly after and bring you inside...then check the wristbands again. Then we are WALKED down the to floor. No stampede. It's AWESOME!

callen

Seen lots of people in VIP or expensive seats rock their asses off. Deluna fest prime example. Most of the PJ seated concerts I’ve attended appeared the front always rocked their asses of as well. Have average PJ number so halfway back so haven’t been there but this doesn’t seem to be a big of a deal at PJ shows.
Premium seating doesn’t always relate to someone with money, some would rather spend the money on great seats/VIP area than $1000 per year on a fancy phone so they can be validated every 5 minutes by “friends”. Priorities.
Been crushed at many GA shows and now at the age that I don’t want to be rubbed and crushed on all sides by drunk, sweating idiots for 6 plus hours. Hope PJ can relate.

demetrios

What the hell does Rock N Roll have to do with GA / Reserved Seating?

Have you never been to a theater before and seen a Rock N Roll show where it's all "reserved seating"? Never been to a amphitheater where it's "reserved seating" to see a Rock N Roll show? A gym or hockey arena where it's all "reserved seating" to see a Rock N Roll show? If you think "Rock N Roll" is only for the GA audience, then you need to get your head fixed.

Leezestarr313

I have seen PJ in seated and GA shows, and I think I had most fun at the GA shows. I see the advantages of having your spot that allows you to store your merch and stuff and to still have your spot after going to the toilet. But I had much more fun rocking out with my friends around me. My member number isn't that low, so I always end up rather far away. In Toronto, I could see well and the sound was awesome too, but the people around us sometimes weren't too energetic and it felt awkward to be the only ones who rock out in a row.
In Berlin, we didn't line up in the queue. We got in with early entry wristbands and sat down on the floor with everyone else. We stored our backpack with the merch at the dressing room for cheap. We were in 8th row on the first night and a little farther back on the second night. Whenever one of us needed to go somewhere for getting beer or bringing beer away, there was no problem of getting back at our spot. We had a fantastic time dancing and singing and just having a party with everyone around us. When it became too stuffy, we just went to the side or a little farther back. It was still an awesome show.

As for the people who are in front line just taking pictures, I hate it when they cannot put their cameras or phones down for one second. When I was at the qotsa gig in London, I was in second row on the side (also GA) and a lot of times during the night, I had to see the show through the phone of a woman who was standing in front of me. It was fucking annoying.

I feel for Mr Young.

dimitrispearljam

Leezestarr313 wrote:

. But I had much more fun rocking out with my friends around me. .

this is ROCK N ROLL........

callen

dimitrispearljam wrote:

Leezestarr313 wrote:

. But I had much more fun rocking out with my friends around me. .

this is ROCK N ROLL........

Always make great freinds with Fello PJ fans at Seated shows and we rock together.... this is also rock n roll.

Zod

I like GA floor shows.

If you're at an arena show and the floor is GA but the stands are seated. I like that combo. When the whole venue is GA, then it's a bit of a gong show.

I also prefer GA when I'm at concert with friends. I prefer seats when I'm with my wife. Mainly because I don't want to be that asshole who takes his significant other into the heart of the pit and punches/elbows people to try and create a safety bubble around her. I really hate it when people do that, so there's no way I'd do it.

With Pearl Jam I know my fan club tickets usually get me around row 15-20 on the floor. I'd probably get closer if it were GA. With non PJ bands I can usually score better tickets (usually front 10 rows) in which I don't mind seats

I think I could go on all day about the pros and cons. I don't really think Mr. Young's words is the Final Word.

It is nice not to get decapitated while sitting close (I hate crowd surfers more than the pit itself. Probably because I'm 6'2 and my head gets leveled from them).

For me my preference of GA rests on which band I'm seeing, who I'm going with, what my odds of getting good seats would be, the venue, etc.....

Better Dan

demetrios wrote:

What the hell does Rock N Roll have to do with GA / Reserved Seating?

Have you never been to a theater before and seen a Rock N Roll show where it's all "reserved seating"? Never been to a amphitheater where it's "reserved seating" to see a Rock N Roll show? A gym or hockey arena where it's all "reserved seating" to see a Rock N Roll show? If you think "Rock N Roll" is only for the GA audience, then you need to get your head fixed.

Yes, I've been to plenty. I think the GA shows can be a lot more fun and if you go through the effort your usually with bigger fans who are more into the show while at some seated shows I get told to sit down by the people behind me.

josevolution

I really hope this is the final word on this topic :roll: :roll: , it's all about the liability factor here in the States ...

dimitrispearljam

josevolution wrote:

I really hope this is the final word on this topic :roll: :roll: , it's all about the liability factor here in the States ...

now,tell me when i see u again??is all matters

josevolution

dimitrispearljam wrote:

josevolution wrote:

I really hope this is the final word on this topic :roll: :roll: , it's all about the liability factor here in the States ...

now,tell me when i see u again??is all matters

Next yr here come you have a place to stay

dimitrispearljam

josevolution wrote:

dimitrispearljam wrote:

josevolution wrote:

I really hope this is the final word on this topic :roll: :roll: , it's all about the liability factor here in the States ...

now,tell me when i see u again??is all matters

Next yr here come you have a place to stay

thank you sir..

Jeanwah

The problem with GA is that you have to be completely physically able to stand for hours and withstand the heat, pushing, shoving, not always being able to see (if you're under 6' tall), and you can't leave to go to the bathroom, so you can't drink anything.

As someone who's not only very short, I have bad legs caused by a car accident. Why do only those who can physically withstand the conditions of being in front at a concert be catered to? That's why I like the seats (and the lottery).

I love Uncle Neil, but if he really cared about the wealthy not being in front, perhaps he shouldn't charge $200+ per ticket. (that's what he charged locally 2 years ago).

Ana2112

Hinn wrote:

I like to play to an audience that is into it. I dislike people sitting in the front rows talking on cell phones. Of course, these people are sitting in the most expensive seats, the ones they get through ticket scalpers and other services that somehow corner the market on the seats. Capitalism collides with music in this area. It was not like that when I started. The people in the front were music freaks, the real music fans, who knew every song, every lyric, every piece of information about the band that they could find. They were stoked to be there in front of the stage, and they were ready to rock. So these cell phones and rich folks who can afford the big bucks for prime seating distract me from what I am doing and make me feel like I am on display in a museum. It is not good for the music, which a lot of times feeds on the energy of the crowd.

Only a certain amount of people can get into that area, and it is not more expensive. It is general admittance. First come, first served, as far as proximity to the stage goes.

I really love the fact we have this in Europe.

morello wrote:

We never have seated rock shows here in NZ so I can't imagine what it's like to have a fucken seat, or rows of seats, between me & the band. I think it would drive me barmy not being able to push through the seats to get closer. The sitting around on the pavement, getting your spot in the line, hanging out with other fans all day + being squished up against people in the pit is absolutely part of the fun. I agree with Neil.

Better Dan wrote:

I definitely support GA floors for arena shows. This is a rock concert! Plus, it allows people to enjoy the show with their friends. There are always seats away from the floor for those who don't want to do GA.

This. I completely agree with morello and Better Dan.

dimitrispearljam wrote:

p.s...im in good mood and ill not say anything for those frikkin Italians.. :wave:

Yeah there were really annoying moments in Berlin this year. But I would call that a minor glitch. Really can't imagine being still and not feeling the fuss and having to be in my seat like I'm listening to Mozart's Requiem in a theater. Not saying people should hurt, kick and kill eachother in a moshpit, but it really adds up to the atmosphere to feel the energy created by a group of people jumping together, rocking out and feeling the heat.

Kathi wrote:

spent the whole show trying not to faint cause "he's sooooo hot"

Well, he is, what can one do.

Hinn

josevolution wrote:

I really hope this is the final word on this topic :roll: :roll: , it's all about the liability factor here in the States ...

Which is why I lifted Neil's words, because he shows it doesn't have to be. His format isn't a whole GA floor, but a front critical mass of 'festival seating' to ramp up the energy that drifts onto the stage, for the band to feed off. Behind the floor are still seats. It's a true iconic rock figure telling us that, yes, a jumpin' freaky crowd is better than one that just stands there taking photos, and yes, it does impact on the performance, so for performances to be consistently ramped up, there is a way.

It's the final word as far as I'm concerned, because here's the truely iconic rock figure saying what it means, from his side, to have people up front who truly, REALLY give a fuck. Nothing I say will ever carry so much weight on this subject, so personally, I'm just gonna stop now after bringing up his words. It's like sport fandom - can't be arsed explaining myself anymore, I just say, go read Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby.

The book, it's just full of this RnR spirit.

More:

I am not interested in form for form's sake. So if you are having trouble reading this, give it to someone else. End of chapter.

Buy the damn book, fuckers.

josevolution

Hinn wrote:

josevolution wrote:

I really hope this is the final word on this topic :roll: :roll: , it's all about the liability factor here in the States ...

Which is why I lifted Neil's words, because he shows it doesn't have to be. His format isn't a whole GA floor, but a front critical mass of 'festival seating' to ramp up the energy that drifts onto the stage, for the band to feed off. Behind the floor are still seats. It's a true iconic rock figure telling us that, yes, a jumpin' freaky crowd is better than one that just stands there taking photos, and yes, it does impact on the performance, so for performances to be consistently ramped up, there is a way.

It's the final word as far as I'm concerned, because here's the truely iconic rock figure saying what it means, from his side, to have people up front who truly, REALLY give a fuck. Nothing I say will ever carry so much weight on this subject, so personally, I'm just gonna stop now after bringing up his words. It's like sport fandom - can't be arsed explaining myself anymore, I just say, go read Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby.

The book, it's just full of this RnR spirit.

More:

I am not interested in form for form's sake. So if you are having trouble reading this, give it to someone else. End of chapter.

Buy the damn book, fuckers.

I hear you but here it's all about the law suits when people get hurt they sue it happens all the time ...Arena's do not wan't to have another potentially dangerous situation where they can be held responsible for ...

Kathi

Jeanwah wrote:

The problem with GA is that you have to be completely physically able to stand for hours and withstand the heat, pushing, shoving, not always being able to see (if you're under 6' tall), and you can't leave to go to the bathroom, so you can't drink anything.

As someone who's not only very short, I have bad legs caused by a car accident. Why do only those who can physically withstand the conditions of being in front at a concert be catered to? That's why I like the seats (and the lottery).

I love Uncle Neil, but if he really cared about the wealthy not being in front, perhaps he shouldn't charge $200+ per ticket. (that's what he charged locally 2 years ago).

There'll always be seats at arena shows, there are in Europe as well, it's just the floor that is GA.

dimitrispearljam

Kathi wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

The problem with GA is that you have to be completely physically able to stand for hours and withstand the heat, pushing, shoving, not always being able to see (if you're under 6' tall), and you can't leave to go to the bathroom, so you can't drink anything.

As someone who's not only very short, I have bad legs caused by a car accident. Why do only those who can physically withstand the conditions of being in front at a concert be catered to? That's why I like the seats (and the lottery).

I love Uncle Neil, but if he really cared about the wealthy not being in front, perhaps he shouldn't charge $200+ per ticket. (that's what he charged locally 2 years ago).

There'll always be seats at arena shows, there are in Europe as well, it's just the floor that is GA.

tada!

dimitrispearljam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-og87crqsCE