signs!

dtr0624

Opinions on people who hold up signs at pj shows requesting songs? Mine would be inside job or its ok if i did it but i mean juat in general

AndySlash

requesting vant0037 to thread.

bootlegger10

It probably depends on the band. Springsteen seems to love and encourage it, so we probably should expect it.

I think it is rare that Ed changes a setlist for signs in the crowd, so probably a futile effort but more likely to exceed if you bring multiple shows in a row.

For me, I don't like signs at shows. Just listen to the music like the rest of the crowd.

Zod

Obviously you want a way to get the band to play your favorite song. Alternately it sucks to get stuck behind someone that holds it up the entire show and you can't see anything.

PJfanwillneverleave1

A sign held up at a PJ concert is as annoying as holding up a smartphone/recording device. It blocks the view of the fans and the music trying to be heard.

It is refreshing to see that at PJ concerts and EV solo concerts it is understood that bringing a camera or sign is not wanted.

PJ is performing for everyone not your stupid camera or your sign.

dtr0624

Lol thats what i figured. I feel it takes away from it. Gettin to finally see your favorite song after so many shows is amazing. If you.hold up a sign and they play it it cant nearly be as rewarding.

LukinFan

it reminds me of a WWE wresting event

djklambake

I remember a PJ show in Milwaukee in 2006 where someone in the front held up a giant sign with "Big Wave" written on it... I was further back in the seats and I could STILL read it... The person held it up the entire show...it was a little annoying to me and I was nowhere near the sign...Can't imagine what it was like for the people it blocked.

The band didn't play "Big Wave" that night, either.

I'd guess setlists are gospel by the time they hit the stage.

If you're on the rail and you can drape the sign over the rail, I'm cool with that... Just don't hold it up, ruining someone else's experience because you wanna hear that one song... It's disrespectful...

demetrios

Big signs & flag's should be banned, period, at musical events. Especially indoor shows. It should be the usher's given rule that if they see these in their section to tell the flag bearer to put that shit down.

If you think it's OK to wave those things during the whole show so you can get the bands attention while blocking many paying customers that are sitting / standing behind you that can't see anything on the stage by your stupid flag / sign you brought / made, then get prepared to get mouthed off & dropped kicked. :bz

vant0037

There are about 3 levels on which signs at shows pisses me off.

1. Put your sign, your phone, your drink etc down and be present. Enjoy what they are offering you. Stop looking for something other than what's in front of you.

2. Signs/requests are becoming a way for people to claim some faux-connection with the band. I've said it before and I'll say it again: most of us here need new heroes. The band playing whatever obscure B-side you think they should be playing (instead of the song that Ed - the professional - thinks should be played) is not only NOT the connection you think it is when the band does play it, but it's also disrespectful to the fans around you and the band. It's basically saying to the people around you "I don't give a shit about what kind of view you're having, I want my song played." It's basically saying to the band, "yeah yeah yeah, whatever you're playing isn't good enough. Play this instead." Listen closely when Ed says "we don't take orders." He's talking about you.

3. What are we, 12 years old? We need our favorite rock band to throw us a bone to feel like we're special? Sure, there are organic moments (Wrigley and "Come Back" for the guy who lost his wife) that are special. But what makes them special is not that they are routinely asked and granted from the distance of fan and performer. Those moments are special because they are rare, unexpected, and weighty. Your request for "Parting Ways" because its the last song of Binaural isn't the same thing.

All in all, I guess I just don't understand this need to be "connected" to the band, other than as a fan. You like their music, great. Beyond that, what are you looking for? And if you're hoping that a rock band can fill the void, all I can say is (and I mean this as respectfully as possible), you've got bigger issues than what a band can fix.

Empty Glass

^^^^ - perfect

Sign holders are selfish, in my opinion. It says, "hey, look at me".

buck502000

Rule #20 - no signs at concerts

locked

Anyone who has spent anytime on this forum knows there are better approaches to song requests at shows.
And I think the OP is grouping many if us "freaks / fuckers" ( Ed's term not mine) in with some inconsiderate people.
Some of the best "moments" in a PJ show have come from requests ..

vant0037

locked said:

Anyone who has spent anytime on this forum knows there are better approaches to song requests at shows.
And I think the OP is grouping many if us "freaks / fuckers" ( Ed's term not mine) in with some inconsiderate people.
Some of the best "moments" in a PJ show have come from requests ..

Yeah but just the idea of a request is pretty weird in itself. What they're doing on-stage isn't good enough? It's hard for me to understand how that's anything but saying "what you're doing right now isn't good enough. I'd prefer if you did something else."

djklambake

I saw Wilco a couple years ago, and on their website they had a survey for all fans/concert-goers, to jump on and vote for what song they'd most like to hear at the show they were going to. I, living in Arizona of course, chose "Hotel Arizona" - and wouldn't you know it, they not only played the song but they acknowledged how many times it was requested to be played through that survey portal on their site.

Would be kinda cool if Pearl Jam did that, too :-)

northerndragon

I wonder if any of the persons disparaging of signs in this thread participated in the 'Breath' sign campaign???
Signs are not a sign that the band is not giving us what we need. They are just a show of appreciation for a particular song that means something to that person or group. That being said folks should show some sign etiquette and only hold them up in between songs and always be careful of your neighbours.

vant0037

northerndragon said:

I wonder if any of the persons disparaging of signs in this thread participated in the 'Breath' sign campaign???
Signs are not a sign that the band is not giving us what we need. They are just a show of appreciation for a particular song that means something to that person or group. That being said folks should show some sign etiquette and only hold them up in between songs and always be careful of your neighbours.

See but that's my point. If PJ means that much to you, why isn't being at the show enough?

hedonist

vant0037 said:

northerndragon said:

I wonder if any of the persons disparaging of signs in this thread participated in the 'Breath' sign campaign???
Signs are not a sign that the band is not giving us what we need. They are just a show of appreciation for a particular song that means something to that person or group. That being said folks should show some sign etiquette and only hold them up in between songs and always be careful of your neighbours.

See but that's my point. If PJ means that much to you, why isn't being at the show enough?

Yeah, I agree with this nugget more than anything.

I wonder if it's part of this newish I-me-mine mentality at the cost of consideration toward others. Not all, but certainly much of it.

(I don't think I've ever seen someone holding/carrying/whatever'ing a sign at a Tool show)

Empty Glass

hedonist said:

vant0037 said:

northerndragon said:

I wonder if any of the persons disparaging of signs in this thread participated in the 'Breath' sign campaign???
Signs are not a sign that the band is not giving us what we need. They are just a show of appreciation for a particular song that means something to that person or group. That being said folks should show some sign etiquette and only hold them up in between songs and always be careful of your neighbours.

See but that's my point. If PJ means that much to you, why isn't being at the show enough?

Yeah, I agree with this nugget more than anything.

I wonder if it's part of this newish I-me-mine mentality at the cost of consideration toward others. Not all, but certainly much of it.

(I don't think I've ever seen someone holding/carrying/whatever'ing a sign at a Tool show)

Signs that say "Stinkfist" draw weird looks

bootlegger10

For a lot of people it seems the music is not enough. They have to be front row at every show, and if they are fortunate enough to add a show after already seeing 8 shows they have to have front row to that show too. Wouldn't want to give others a chance at a scarce GA ticket and being up front.

Cosmo

I'm just glad the Westboro Baptist Church aren't Pearl Jam fans. Their sign would bum me out, heavy.

hedonist

Empty Glass said:

hedonist said:

vant0037 said:

northerndragon said:

I wonder if any of the persons disparaging of signs in this thread participated in the 'Breath' sign campaign???
Signs are not a sign that the band is not giving us what we need. They are just a show of appreciation for a particular song that means something to that person or group. That being said folks should show some sign etiquette and only hold them up in between songs and always be careful of your neighbours.

See but that's my point. If PJ means that much to you, why isn't being at the show enough?

Yeah, I agree with this nugget more than anything.

I wonder if it's part of this newish I-me-mine mentality at the cost of consideration toward others. Not all, but certainly much of it.

(I don't think I've ever seen someone holding/carrying/whatever'ing a sign at a Tool show)

Signs that say "Stinkfist" draw weird looks

Ha! Or Maynard's Dick >:)

Cosmo, I can only imagine. I think I love their "God Hates the USA" sign most of all - I mean, the irony of these fuckwads displaying such hate in a country where one actually has the freedom to do so.

Johny Guitar

Play leash you p***ies...best sign ever...MSG 7/9/03 encore 1

Cosmo

hedonist said:

Cosmo, I can only imagine. I think I love their "God Hates the USA" sign most of all - I mean, the irony of these fuckwads displaying such hate in a country where one actually has the freedom to do so.

...
I was going to change their signs to say shit like, 'GOD HATES CORDUROY' or 'SWEET LEW' or 'Play FOXY MOP you Pussies'...
but my laziness kicked in.

mcgruff10

The breath campaign was an 8x11" sheet of paper that was held up after the first encore. Besides that you barely saw them throughout the entire three shows.

hedonist

Ah, the great Breath Sign Campaign! Nah, I wasn't part of it.

I get going to a show hoping, HOPING, to hear a song that has personal meaning. When I popped my PJ cherry in 2000, I wished for In My Tree and fuck me if they played it. We were over the moon. But, had they not, it wouldn't have taken one iota of joy from my experience.

It just seems strange to me to...not sure of the term I'm searching for here...demand, maybe, benevolent as it seems?...what you want to hear.

northerndragon

For some making the sign and taking it to the concert is part of the experience. Who are 'we' to say what is ok at a concert - please see rule 19 thread - if that is what someone wants to do then it's fine. I can hope they follow some common etiquette rules and don't hold the thing up all concert but I'm not going to bag on what brings someone else joy.
There are no demands, as we are all well aware the band will play what they damn well want but sometimes it works a la Spokane. Or even in Van when I had to suffer YL instead of getting Indifference because some kid had a sign. The band seems to enjoy reading the more original ones and they love the flags.
I personally have never taken a sign to any concert but if I ever want to I have that right without being looked down on. I love watching the vids/hearing the boots with some of the more memorable signs, flags, license plates etc. interactions.
Signs not your thing fine.
You want to take a sign fine.

buck502000

I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes!!!!!

http://youtu.be/D5fRVm3k1aY