First GA Show

red518irish
red518irish Fairfax VA Posts: 27
in Given To Fly (live)
I have been to several Pearl Jam shows, but I just scored my first ever GA in St. Louis. I have never been that close before, but am wondering how early this means one must get to the show to get a good standing spot. Don't want to spend my night looking at the back of someone's head.
Pittsburgh 2000, Tampa 2003, Pittsburgh 2003, Washington DC 2006, Washington DC 2008,
Bristow VA 2010, Baltimore MD 2013, St. Louis MO 2014, Hampton 2016, Philly 2016

Comments

  • Wimsta
    Wimsta Posts: 25
    Good question, I'll be in the same boat in Memphis.
  • mrussel1
    mrussel1 Posts: 30,924
    My experience from the four shows I attended last fall is this:

    If you want to be in the first half(ish) of the GA, you need to be there early. Maybe not in line, but certainly heading in when the arena opens. The second half of the GA are the people that are not as intense about it and filter in between the time it opens and showtime. This was true for Philly(s) and CLT.

    C'ville was different though. We got to GA about 730 and were still in about the 3rd row, between Ed and Stone. This is because the arena did not sell a ton of GA tickets. if you look at video from that show, you'll see even during the concert, it was only a little over half filled back to the seated area. So a lot does depend on how many tickets the arena decided to sell for GA. JPJ in C'ville does not sell a ton of GA. I've been to several shows and it's always like that. Just the way they do it.

  • red518irish
    red518irish Fairfax VA Posts: 27
    Thanks for the info. I have never been on the floor and am super excited. Will be a whole new way to experience a show. Can't freaking wait.
    Pittsburgh 2000, Tampa 2003, Pittsburgh 2003, Washington DC 2006, Washington DC 2008,
    Bristow VA 2010, Baltimore MD 2013, St. Louis MO 2014, Hampton 2016, Philly 2016
  • mrussel1
    mrussel1 Posts: 30,924
    I'm in GA at STL also, so I'll be right next to you.
  • dissident52
    dissident52 Omaha, NE Posts: 33
    Not to hijack your thread, but i'm also attending my first GA show (Lincoln) and had a few questions. Are merch stands open all day? Because I want a poster and a shirt but I would really prefer to go put them straight in my car after purchase so I don't have to stand for the whole show watching out for a poster.

    And even if I have to get in to buy merch, can I leave to go put it in my car and then come back, or is it once I'm in, I can't leave?
    05/03/2010 Kansas City, Missouri
    10/09/2014 Lincoln, Nebraska
  • mrussel1
    mrussel1 Posts: 30,924
    The merch tents are open early, definitely before the arena opens. I would recommend getting your stuff out there, and then dropping it off at the car. I'm not sure when they open, but for sure by 5 or so. You can't leave and go back. I've never been to any event where that's allowed.

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