Msg Poster Debacle

wouldyouhitmewouldyouhitme Posts: 166
edited June 2008 in Given To Fly (live)
In case you werent there to share in the fun- heres how the msg night 2 posters worked.

We showed up @ 4:30 - 1 hour before gates opened. Sat in a huge line with about 500 other fans.

5:00- they hand out wristbands- not to get the posters but to differentiate between the people who waited 1 hour before gates open. You would assume they had an orderly way of doing this- you would be wrong. Everyone pushed and shoved to get the stupid bracelets.

5:30- They let people 50 at a time into the doors to go to the booths. Again- Madness ensues and the friends made throughout the hour become enemies- obstacles that stand in the way between you and a stupid poster. My friend was with me and couldnt get over how rediculous it was. People getting pushed/shoved.......

5:45- We get to the stand and people are cutting everywhere and jockeying for position. Lots of elbows and crying about being next in line.

5:50- The poster gates outside basically crash and a rush of people slam the merchant booths. I finally get to the stand with my buddy to get the 2nd wristband which allows me to get the coveted poster. I cant get out of line because everyone is busy pushing forward because bands are low. As I push my way out- 2 guys (people i was bullshitting and laughing with in line) freak out and push me back and ask me if i want to start something.

About 6:00 - Stand 1 sold out and a huge rush moves to stand 2 which sells out shortly after.

Fucking rediculous- Mean/Violent/Whiny.

Im embarrassed to be involved in the poster craze anymore- People could have been hurt- a woman about 5'1 was yelling help as a fellow fan pushed her aside to get his wristband.

STUPID FUCKING BULLSHIT-

Sidenote- I was offered $200 for my night 1 and 2 posters each and a beacon ticket for the night 2 poster- For the time and energy it took to get these - done expect anyone to hand them over anytime soon.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • AllieAllie Posts: 2,908
    that is so crazy and downright scary
    It seems like its created a monster and it's all about how much they are worth ($)
    I guess since I'm not oriented to think that way I can't understand what the big deal is and why anybody would go through that for a poster.

    And btw-$30 for a t-shirt!? That's pricey! The tote bags were a good deal for $5 though :D
    "...like a word misplaced, nothing said, what a waste.."
    "Sometimes life should be consumed in measured doses"
    6-01-06
    6/25/08
    Free Speedy
    and Metsy!
  • Biggest WaveBiggest Wave Posts: 686
    Wow! That's a horrific story. People pushing and shoving over a piece of paper with a picture on it. If you think think that's bad, you should have seen what people were texting up on the big screen. Terrible, terrible things were said and feelings might have even been hurt, yet here you are fighting for your life over a poster and you think it's news worthy.
  • DAMN! so glad i'm over the whole poster thing.
    "and onward goes this thing of ours."

    Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri
  • HermanBloomHermanBloom Posts: 1,764
    It was a nightmare plain and simple. Way worse than night 1
    SLC 11/2/95, Park City 6/21/98, Boise 11/3/00, Seattle 12/9/02, Vancouver 5/30/03, Gorge 9/1/05, Vancouver 9/2/05, Gorge 7/22/06, Gorge 7/23/06, Camden I 6/19/08, MSG I 6/24/08, MSG II 6/25/08, Hartford 6/27/08, Mansfield II 6/30/08; Eddie Albany 6/8/09, 6/9/09; Philly 10/30/09, 10/31/09; Boston 5/17/10
    I thought the world...Turns out the world thought me
  • Wow! That's a horrific story. People pushing and shoving over a piece of paper with a picture on it. If you think think that's bad, you should have seen what people were texting up on the big screen. Terrible, terrible things were said and feelings might have even been hurt, yet here you are fighting for your life over a poster and you think it's news worthy.

    Easy big fella- Alot of people were wrapped up in this stuff tonight. If you dont care- dont read.
  • AllieAllie Posts: 2,908
    If you think think that's bad, you should have seen what people were texting up on the big screen. Terrible, terrible things were said and feelings might have even been hurt
    :confused:
    really?

    Maybe I missed this? The ones I read didn't seem bad. There was even a marriage proposal!
    Are you talking about the person that said "Play Arms Wide Open?"
    "...like a word misplaced, nothing said, what a waste.."
    "Sometimes life should be consumed in measured doses"
    6-01-06
    6/25/08
    Free Speedy
    and Metsy!
  • Biggest WaveBiggest Wave Posts: 686
    DAMN! so glad i'm over the whole poster thing.

    I never quite got the whole poster thing myself, but to each their own as they say.
  • Biggest WaveBiggest Wave Posts: 686
    Allie wrote:
    :confused:
    really?

    Maybe I missed this? The ones I read didn't seem bad. There was even a marriage proposal!
    Are you talking about the person that said "Play Arms Wide Open?"

    I'm not going to get into this in this thread, but if you read back in my posts I think you'll see where I'm going with this.
  • Biggest WaveBiggest Wave Posts: 686
    Easy big fella- Alot of people were wrapped up in this stuff tonight. If you dont care- dont read.

    I'm truly hoping that you saw the sarcasm I was going for.
  • henchmanhenchman Posts: 172
    This might be a stupid question (and probably asked before) but ..

    ¿Why don't they print 5000 posters?

    I love posters but I would never fight or cry for one.
    1996: San Sebastian
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  • MattyJoeMattyJoe Posts: 1,424
    I think it's just fucking ridiculous how they were selling them. Sell them inside for fuck's sake, when the doors open!! People who are actually going to the show should have poster priority, not whoever the hell shows up in a fake line hours before the doors even open, and are in and out before the line to get in even starts forming!!
    I pledge to you a government that will not only work well, but wisely, its ability to act tempered by prudence, and its willingness to do good, balanced by the knowledge that government is never more dangerous than when our desire to have it help us blinds us to its great power to harm us.
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  • swallowedwordsswallowedwords Posts: 1,093
    henchman wrote:
    This might be a stupid question (and probably asked before) but ..

    ¿Why don't they print 5000 posters?

    I love posters but I would never fight or cry for one.

    If they made 5000, what would be special about them? The thing that makes these posters more than just posters, is that they are limited.
    Free the West Memphis Three
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  • DeLukinDeLukin Posts: 2,757
    If they made 5000, what would be special about them? The thing that makes these posters more than just posters, is that they are limited.

    TOO limited. Print more and watch the insanity magically disappear.
    I smile, but who am I kidding...
  • Mrs.Vedder78Mrs.Vedder78 Posts: 4,585
    In case you werent there to share in the fun- heres how the msg night 2 posters worked.

    We showed up @ 4:30 - 1 hour before gates opened. Sat in a huge line with about 500 other fans.

    5:00- they hand out wristbands- not to get the posters but to differentiate between the people who waited 1 hour before gates open. You would assume they had an orderly way of doing this- you would be wrong. Everyone pushed and shoved to get the stupid bracelets.

    5:30- They let people 50 at a time into the doors to go to the booths. Again- Madness ensues and the friends made throughout the hour become enemies- obstacles that stand in the way between you and a stupid poster. My friend was with me and couldnt get over how rediculous it was. People getting pushed/shoved.......

    5:45- We get to the stand and people are cutting everywhere and jockeying for position. Lots of elbows and crying about being next in line.

    5:50- The poster gates outside basically crash and a rush of people slam the merchant booths. I finally get to the stand with my buddy to get the 2nd wristband which allows me to get the coveted poster. I cant get out of line because everyone is busy pushing forward because bands are low. As I push my way out- 2 guys (people i was bullshitting and laughing with in line) freak out and push me back and ask me if i want to start something.

    About 6:00 - Stand 1 sold out and a huge rush moves to stand 2 which sells out shortly after.

    Fucking rediculous- Mean/Violent/Whiny.

    Im embarrassed to be involved in the poster craze anymore- People could have been hurt- a woman about 5'1 was yelling help as a fellow fan pushed her aside to get his wristband.

    STUPID FUCKING BULLSHIT-

    Sidenote- I was offered $200 for my night 1 and 2 posters each and a beacon ticket for the night 2 poster- For the time and energy it took to get these - done expect anyone to hand them over anytime soon.


    Sounds like MSG 2003 all over again! :rolleyes: ... what a shame
    "Without the album covers, where do you clean your pot?" - EV
  • edvedderrocksedvedderrocks Posts: 1,001
    it was so ridiculous & dangerous! Got there at 4:30 to hand out & saw a few people getting wristbands. Found out they were to get to be able to get in line to get another wristband. Anyway, what a mess! Didn't let us know if they gave out only enough wristbands as there were posters or what/ That would have been the logical thing to do, if people would've known that the wristband=poster purchase up front, they would not have felt the need to push & almost run over everyone in line.

    There were people in the middle of all the chaos who didn't have the first band & stood there all that time & they weren't able to purchase a poster. I felt like I was in a herd of cattle & couldn't have exited if I wanted to. This girl & I were waiting next in line against the rail & the opened it up to let 50 people in & the guys were pushing us into the rail - we really could have gotten hurt. Embarrassed at the nature of the fans - never witnessed anything so idiotic in my life.

    BTW - some poor guy finally got up to buy his poster & tore off his own wristband & the guys behind the counter wouldn't sell him a poster. He went nuts. I would've been pissed too, but they told us not to do that.....wonder if he ever got one, he put up quite a fight!
    "I knew all the rules, but the rules did not know me. Guaranteed."

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    ED Solo - 2008 Washington DC, 2009 Philly, PA(nights 1&2)*Met Eddie =)
  • memememe Posts: 4,695
    STUPID FUCKING BULLSHIT-

    And that would be why I shook my head when I saw the mayhem and went home to rest before the show :)
    ... and the will to show I will always be better than before.
  • it was so ridiculous & dangerous! Got there at 4:30 to hand out & saw a few people getting wristbands. Found out they were to get to be able to get in line to get another wristband. Anyway, what a mess! Didn't let us know if they gave out only enough wristbands as there were posters or what/ That would have been the logical thing to do, if people would've known that the wristband=poster purchase up front, they would not have felt the need to push & almost run over everyone in line.

    There were people in the middle of all the chaos who didn't have the first band & stood there all that time & they weren't able to purchase a poster. I felt like I was in a herd of cattle & couldn't have exited if I wanted to. This girl & I were waiting next in line against the rail & the opened it up to let 50 people in & the guys were pushing us into the rail - we really could have gotten hurt. Embarrassed at the nature of the fans - never witnessed anything so idiotic in my life.

    BTW - some poor guy finally got up to buy his poster & tore off his own wristband & the guys behind the counter wouldn't sell him a poster. He went nuts. I would've been pissed too, but they told us not to do that.....wonder if he ever got one, he put up quite a fight!


    I talked to him later and his persistance paid off. He got the coveted poster!!!
  • inmyrvminmyrvm Posts: 933
    why would the 10c/band/mgmt be so stupid to set the booths up outside? and tim wonders why people get pissed, it's shit like this that causes it.
    "Fuck the talkin' let's start rockin" - Eddie Vedder 9-5-00 Pittsburgh
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  • That is just insane. Why is the band interested in creating collectables? just make more for such big shows. Put them online if they don't sell.

    Oh, and the people that rush over and hurt other people are just ridiculous. It's a poster FFS. Enjoy the music, if you score a poster it's a bonus.
    9/7/98, 8/3/00, 9/4/00, 4/15/03, 7/1/03, 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 5/24/06, 5/25/06, 6/17/08, 6/22/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 5/17/10, 10/15/13, 10/16/13.
  • MayDay10MayDay10 Posts: 11,728
    I would have been extremely frustrated if I was there and really wanted a poster.

    But early on I would have given up, gone elsewhere and enjoyed myself. Its not worth it.
  • i got there at like 4:45, saw the giant line (or herd of 10 clubbers and a few homeless guys) and threw in the towel - if i really need an msg poster it'll be worth the extra 50 bucks on ebay not to have had to get involved in that whole cattle system - congrats to those who survived - posters should be made available online from now on - too stressful

    msg staff must just LOVE when PJ comes to town !
  • evenflowmanevenflowman Posts: 1,347
    Man sounds like complete madness. Seems liek nowadays it is easier to just get them from the 10c or ebay allmost worth the money.
  • It sucked...but I actually met some cool people through the whole debacle....and I got a poster.
  • thats a lot of work and trouble for that ugly piece of shit poster. what a hidious chud of an ames brothers mess. i wouldnt hang that thing in a prison cell. someone please revoke ames bros artistic license? haha
  • Uncle NeilUncle Neil Posts: 176
    If they made 5000, what would be special about them? The thing that makes these posters more than just posters, is that they are limited.

    I don't care how limited they are, they can print 10,000 per show and it makes no difference to me. I just want them to hang up in my apartment as a souvenir from the show and a cool piece of art.

    In short, I agree, print more posters.
  • sky08sky08 Posts: 43
    The Director of Merchandising at MSG, Brian Holt just received the following email from me. (FYI, here's the address: brian.holt@thegarden.com). Hopefully they will consider making some changes ...

    Dear Brian,

    This is to request that the Garden consider revising the way posters are sold. The bracelet system is a good one, but the operation should be moved inside. Having attended both the 6/24 and 6/25 Pearl Jam shows, I was unable to get a bracelet for either one.

    If the Garden chooses to make posters/bracelets available to anyone who wants them, regardless of whether they have tickets or not, then MSG should ensure that there are enough posters available inside for ticket holders. If there are not, then the posters should only be sold inside. Further, it was disappointing to see some MSG employees outside the Garden before the show holding their own rolled up posters before fans were even permitted to get them.

    Most importantly, the crowd situation in the mall was dangerous. It caused unnecessary pushing, and set up a generally unpleasant atmosphere before what should have been a fun event. Please find a way to address this matter for the future. Thank you for your consideration.
  • tombellancatombellanca Posts: 120
    henchman wrote:
    This might be a stupid question (and probably asked before) but ..

    ¿Why don't they print 5000 posters?

    I love posters but I would never fight or cry for one.

    I agree. I could care less they are "limited". They are momentos of the concert. That obviously TONS of people are interested in buying.
    10c/Ames Bros. is shooting themselves in the feet on this one two-fold - there's a lot of missed income from folks not being able to buy posters and in addition, a lot of bad-will generated.

    I might have emailed 10c about it in the past, I think I'll try again.
    6/24/95, 11/4/95, 11/7/95, 7/10/98, 7/12/98, 7/13/98, 10/24/00, 10/25/00, 10/27/00, 6/2/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 7/7/06. 7/9/06, 7/10/06, +++ most socal pjam shows since...
  • DanimalDanimal Posts: 2,000
    sky08 wrote:
    The Director of Merchandising at MSG, Brian Holt just received the following email from me. (FYI, here's the address: brian.holt@thegarden.com). Hopefully they will consider making some changes ...

    Dear Brian,

    This is to request that the Garden consider revising the way posters are sold. The bracelet system is a good one, but the operation should be moved inside. Having attended both the 6/24 and 6/25 Pearl Jam shows, I was unable to get a bracelet for either one.

    If the Garden chooses to make posters/bracelets available to anyone who wants them, regardless of whether they have tickets or not, then MSG should ensure that there are enough posters available inside for ticket holders. If there are not, then the posters should only be sold inside. Further, it was disappointing to see some MSG employees outside the Garden before the show holding their own rolled up posters before fans were even permitted to get them.

    Most importantly, the crowd situation in the mall was dangerous. It caused unnecessary pushing, and set up a generally unpleasant atmosphere before what should have been a fun event. Please find a way to address this matter for the future. Thank you for your consideration.

    Ummm I could be wrong here but.....what does MSG have to do with posters?
    "I don't believe in PJ fans but I believe there is something, not too sure what." - Thoughts_Arrive


  • tombellancatombellanca Posts: 120
    here's my email to 10c:

    Heynow!

    I may have written about this in the past, but hearing about the nightly debacles related to the poster sales encouraged me to write again.

    There are too few posters being made. Plain and simple. The "limited" nature causes people to spend hours in line to get one wasting time that could be much better spent doing more entertaining things. And even if you wait in line, you are not guaranteed a poster. If enough posters were made for everyone who wanted one, the fever and all related angst would vanish. They are a great concert momento that even the casual fan would enjoy, but in the current state only the most dedicated are given the opportunity to buy.

    One possible solution would be to offer the poster at the time of ticket purchase from the 10c. When you pick up your ticket, you get a voucher for poster to pick up after the show. Boom, the majority of big fans are taken care of and the artist will have a pretty good idea of demand and know how many posters to produce.

    I think you're shooting yourself in the foot in the current state two-fold - there's a lot of missed income from folks not being able to buy posters and in addition, a lot of bad-will generated.

    I think the wristbands are a great idea. Not having to carry around and potential have the poster damaged is a big plus - thank you for that!
    Now if we can just get the posters to everyone who wants one, we'll be really rolling.

    Thank again for all your great services!
    Can't wait for a west coast tour.

    Tom

    PS - Please don't play Cox Arena in San Diego, the sound is horrible. The Sports Arena is much better suited for Pearl Jam, IMO. Or how about, the SDSU Open Air Ampitheater. One can dream!
    6/24/95, 11/4/95, 11/7/95, 7/10/98, 7/12/98, 7/13/98, 10/24/00, 10/25/00, 10/27/00, 6/2/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 7/7/06. 7/9/06, 7/10/06, +++ most socal pjam shows since...
  • sky08sky08 Posts: 43
    This is the reply from the MSG merchandise director, who seems to have done the best he could (I left off from this post the list of other MSG people to whom he cc'd my email and his reply). So perhaps it's up to the band ... (But I still know I saw MSG staffers with posters.)


    Let me start by saying thank you, for taking the time to make your
    concerns known to us here at the Garden. I have forwarded your email to
    our guest relations department, so that they too can be aware of your
    concerns.

    Unfortunately concert merchandise is not owned by the Garden and is
    provided to us by the band or the bands merchandising group on a
    consignment basis. Likewise we are obligated contractually to adhere to
    the wishes of the group with regard to how certain pieces of merchandise
    are to be sold, which was the case with the poster. The bands
    merchandising group only brought 466 posters for each night, and
    mandated that they be sold via the wristband system.

    I am in agreement with you that the wristband system is quite difficult
    to deal with, and I made my concerns known to the group. However they
    insisted that the poster be sold in this fashion due to some concerns
    they had with the possibility of the product ending up on Ebay.

    With regard to where the posters were sold, again a decision the was
    made directly by the groups merchandiser. As they were adamant about
    using the wristband system, and that the poster only be given out at the
    end of the event, The Mall area was the only option for distribution as
    it is the only point in the arena that everyone would have to walk by on
    the way out of the building. Moving the posters inside would have only
    caused confusion, and possibly more problems with regard to
    distribution.

    Lastly, I can personally guarantee that no one on the MSG Staff got a
    Poster before the event. In fact only 3 MSG Staff in total were allowed
    to purchase the poster as they had to check with me before they could
    make the purchase, and they were given there posters after the last
    guest had been helped at the end of the event.

    I can appreciate your irritation and frustration at this situation. In
    an effort to curb future occurrences of similar instances, I will speak
    to security, and guest services to hopefully come up with a better plan
    for these type of merchandise sales. Unfortunately in most of these
    cases we are at the mercy of the group, as we can not dictate what
    quantities to bring or ultimately how to sell those quantities.

    My thanks again to you for expressing your concern to me on this matter.

    Best
    Brian
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