Take food, water, fortitude, something to sit on, healthy dose of tolerance for assholes, appreciation for those who aren't, and maybe a change of underwear.
Sharpie too?
(sorry to say that when it comes to GA experience, I'm woefully unlike Hendrix)
I've only done it for one show (Vancouver 2013). By the time we got to the lineup at 2pm the GA lineup was already too long to get rail. We took off had a few beers and came back for doors at 6:30. I ended about having about 5 rows of people in front of me (and I was just to the right of dead centre). It was a great spot. From my experience it's not worth waiting a long time unless you really want rail. If you really want rail you probably have to camp out for a day....
I've only done it for one show (Vancouver 2013). By the time we got to the lineup at 2pm the GA lineup was already too long to get rail. We took off had a few beers and came back for doors at 6:30. I ended about having about 5 rows of people in front of me (and I was just to the right of dead centre). It was a great spot. From my experience it's not worth waiting a long time unless you really want rail. If you really want rail you probably have to camp out for a day....
This.
Unless you absolutely need the rail, don't waste a day in line. Maybe do the wishlist party, hang out and enjoy yourself.
Yeah if you want the coveted rail camp out the night before otherwise like most say enjoy the preparty meet some fans and stroll in at opening of gates ...
Show up a half hour before the show and enjoy the back of the GA pit. You will have a lot of personal space and you won't lose your spot when you need drinks, food...etc. You will still have an awesome view, too.
Show up a half hour before the show and enjoy the back of the GA pit. You will have a lot of personal space and you won't lose your spot when you need drinks, food...etc. You will still have an awesome view, too.
That's what I always do...and will do for my shows
Show up a half hour before the show and enjoy the back of the GA pit. You will have a lot of personal space and you won't lose your spot when you need drinks, food...etc. You will still have an awesome view, too.
That's what I always do...and will do for my shows
I'd like to try the rail once, but it would be a one and done for me and I would probably never go out of my way to do it. Back of the GA pit is where I dwell.
I love being rail but it's not really worth it from my experience.
I have 3 strategies and usually go for #1, then #2.
1) enter the venue 20 before Pearl Jam hits the stage, get a beer or 2 then find a spot at the back of the floor.
2) arrive an hour before gates open and typically I am about 3-5 rows back from the stage. Rows depend if you are behind Ed, Mike, stone etc.
3) Line up as early as possible and get rail.
Problem with #3 is there is no guarantee you'll get a prime rail spot. Being 3 rows in front of Ed as way better than rail in front of stone. More energy and better sight lines.
Going into the venue right before Pearl Jam hits the stage is great because I'm energized and depending on the venue the back of the floor has a lot of room to rock out, and the sound and sight is amazing as well.
I'm not saying I'll never try for rail but it's not worth it for me to line up for 12 hours to see Pearl Jam exhausted, hungry and thirsty.
It all depends on the situation and where you want to be. It's worth camping out if you ask me. I went to Milwaukee at 7pm the night before only to find out they weren't allowing people to camp out. Got a hotel room a block away and got up at 4am to get in line. There was about 10 people in front of me in line and probably 20 more that got there right after I did. Worked out perfect. My wife got there about 10am....I went back to the hotel, showered and changed clothes. As far as going to pre-parties and waiting in the merch line instead of waiting in line is pretty much the same thing.....we meet a lot of great people in line, had a great time. We were able to go to the merch because people we were in line with were cool as f and held our spots and vice versa. Being able to see a show from the rail it was worth it. I'd do it again
Like a word misplaced...nothing said...what a waste
Like a lot of others have already said, don't worry about getting there early and lining up. I never understood that. Enjoy the city - get some drinks. Have fun! I was in the back of the floor for Memphis in 2014 and had a blast. Lots of room to sing and dance along with the band.
www.RLMcDaniel.com
1996: Ft Lauderdale
1998: Birmingham
2000: Charlotte, Tampa
2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
2004: Kissimmee
2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
2010: MSG2
2012: Music Midtown
2014: Memphis
2016: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, JazzFest 2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1 2022: Nashville 2023: Ft. Worth II
1. get really drunk 2. sweat a lot 3. take your shirt off 4. sing REALLY LOUD during slow songs 5. fart a lot 6. pee in a cup and put it on the floor 7. mosh 8. smoke cigs all night 9. yell whoooooooo and high five your bro during slow songs 10. hold up a sign really high all show saying what # show it is and what you want to hear 11. film the whole thing with your cellphone 12. do you love eddie? SHOUT IT all night! 13. have a kid? then you get to go to the front! 14. if you are within 20 feet of a tambourine you hip check, push and dive. get it at any cost 15. call your freinds and facetime at the show! "look at me bro! thats stone over my shoulder!"
1. get really drunk 2. sweat a lot 3. take your shirt off 4. sing REALLY LOUD during slow songs 5. fart a lot 6. pee in a cup and put it on the floor 7. mosh 8. smoke cigs all night 9. yell whoooooooo and high five your bro during slow songs 10. hold up a sign really high all show saying what # show it is and what you want to hear 11. film the whole thing with your cellphone 12. do you love eddie? SHOUT IT all night! 13. have a kid? then you get to go to the front! 14. if you are within 20 feet of a tambourine you hip check, push and dive. get it at any cost 15. call your freinds and facetime at the show! "look at me bro! thats stone over my shoulder!"
Now that was funny and sad at the same time
"The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera." - Yusuf Karsh
Here's some shots of Denver... Rather large GA area for that show.
Tulsa 2104
Extreme GA?... Amsterdam.. Walked around and took images as the Ziggo Dome filled. At this point remember saying " Look plenty of room to long in the back of GA"..
Ziggo Before
Ziggo After
Post edited by myoung321 on
"The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera." - Yusuf Karsh
Comments
Sharpie too?
(sorry to say that when it comes to GA experience, I'm woefully unlike Hendrix)
Good luck to you!
Unless you absolutely need the rail, don't waste a day in line. Maybe do the wishlist party, hang out and enjoy yourself.
Wrigley Earthcam/Hartford 2013
I have 3 strategies and usually go for #1, then #2.
1) enter the venue 20 before Pearl Jam hits the stage, get a beer or 2 then find a spot at the back of the floor.
2) arrive an hour before gates open and typically I am about 3-5 rows back from the stage. Rows depend if you are behind Ed, Mike, stone etc.
3) Line up as early as possible and get rail.
Problem with #3 is there is no guarantee you'll get a prime rail spot. Being 3 rows in front of Ed as way better than rail in front of stone. More energy and better sight lines.
Going into the venue right before Pearl Jam hits the stage is great because I'm energized and depending on the venue the back of the floor has a lot of room to rock out, and the sound and sight is amazing as well.
I'm not saying I'll never try for rail but it's not worth it for me to line up for 12 hours to see Pearl Jam exhausted, hungry and thirsty.
Wrigley Earthcam/Hartford 2013
2016: Lexington and Wrigley 1
1996: Ft Lauderdale
1998: Birmingham
2000: Charlotte, Tampa
2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
2004: Kissimmee
2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
2010: MSG2
2012: Music Midtown
2014: Memphis
2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1
2022: Nashville
2023: Ft. Worth II
2. sweat a lot
3. take your shirt off
4. sing REALLY LOUD during slow songs
5. fart a lot
6. pee in a cup and put it on the floor
7. mosh
8. smoke cigs all night
9. yell whoooooooo and high five your bro during slow songs
10. hold up a sign really high all show saying what # show it is and what you want to hear
11. film the whole thing with your cellphone
12. do you love eddie? SHOUT IT all night!
13. have a kid? then you get to go to the front!
14. if you are within 20 feet of a tambourine you hip check, push and dive. get it at any cost
15. call your freinds and facetime at the show! "look at me bro! thats stone over my shoulder!"
'06: Irving Plaza, East Rutherford 1 & 2 '07: Lolla '08: Camden 2, MSG2, Beacon
'09 :Philly 1 & 2 '10: Buffalo, Newark, MSG1, MSG2
'11: PJ20 1 & 2 '12: Missoula '13: Wrigley, BK2, Philly 1 & 2, Hartford
'14: Ams 1 & 2, Cincy, St Louis, Detroit, Moline '15: Central Park
'16 Philly 1 & 2, MSG 1 & 2, Toronto 1 & 2, Fenway 1, Wrigley 1
'17 Brooklyn hall of fame ‘18 Fenway 1 '21 Jersey Shore '22 MSG '24: MSG1, MSG2
DC 2003
DC 2004 (VFC)
DC 2006
Pittsburgh 2006
Bonnaroo 2008
Virginia Beach 2008
DC 2008
Philly (Spectrum) 10/31/2009
DC 2010 (Jiffy Lube Live)
PJ 20 night 1
PJ 20 night 2
Phoenix 2013
LA 1 2013
Memphis 2014
Jacksonville 2016
Greenville 2016
Hampton 2016
Columbia 2016
Fenway 1 2016
Fenway 2 2016
Wrigley 1 2018
Wrigley 2 2018
Fenway 1 2018
Fenway 2 2018
Sea Hear Now 2021
Nashville 2022
Louisville 2022
'06: Irving Plaza, East Rutherford 1 & 2 '07: Lolla '08: Camden 2, MSG2, Beacon
'09 :Philly 1 & 2 '10: Buffalo, Newark, MSG1, MSG2
'11: PJ20 1 & 2 '12: Missoula '13: Wrigley, BK2, Philly 1 & 2, Hartford
'14: Ams 1 & 2, Cincy, St Louis, Detroit, Moline '15: Central Park
'16 Philly 1 & 2, MSG 1 & 2, Toronto 1 & 2, Fenway 1, Wrigley 1
'17 Brooklyn hall of fame ‘18 Fenway 1 '21 Jersey Shore '22 MSG '24: MSG1, MSG2
Tulsa 2104
Extreme GA?... Amsterdam.. Walked around and took images as the Ziggo Dome filled.
At this point remember saying " Look plenty of room to long in the back of GA"..
Ziggo Before
Ziggo After