GA Line etiquette

Poncier

100 Pacer said:

You gotta scheme if you want an Ed tambourine!

You gotta plot of you want a prime Mike pick spot.

Get_Right

I would be upset if people who had not been waiting got in line ahead of me.  Cutting the line is not cool. Period.

faithful2you

helplessdancer said:

nothing matters unless you have a number on your hand

Exactly.   But this is exactly why there starts to be clicks making rules and creating a "list" for the GA line.  It's just like everything else on this board; everyone thinks they can make the rules from GA lines to what the band should be playing to how they should be playing to who should sit and who should stand.   Go to the fucking show and worry about yourself without being an asshole instead of telling everyone what they can and cannot do.  If you don't like it when things aren't exactly they way you think they should be stay the fuck home.      

mattsavard

steved said:

LV129547 said:

I see nothing wrong with holding a place for the person you are going to the show with if you can get there early.  Not everyone has an entire day free.

The closer to the front you are the more strict the unwritten rules are. In the first 50 people or less your spot is when you arrive, period. The only exception would be holding the spot for your plus one for maybe a half an hour or so. (They are in the cab / uber) on their way or dropping your stuff off at the hotel.

I will give you an example. My wife arrived Sunday for the Wednesday Seattle show, I arrived Monday. She was #4 in line, I was around #30. We hung together in the #4 spot and slept in the same spot but when it was gates open I went in in the #30 spot, she went in the #4 spot.

#5 thru #29 would not have been cool with me going in with her. Not at all! I met up with her once inside and we watched the show together. You can always be right behind the person you want to watch the show with, but entering the venue is the spot where you arrive.

Night two we went right from the first show to get on line. Some of us made it out of the venue before our partners. It was only a couple of minutes. That was no issue. There were a couple of people that had arrived and wanted to hold spots for their other 3 friends. That didn't fly. They could hold the spot for one person, and the other 2 were in the place in line where they arrived.

This is consistent with about a dozen shows I have camped out for PJ shows.

Again, as you go farther back people are less strict about it in my experience. The issue is you only need one person right behind you but before your friends spot to get upset. Then it is unfair to push them back.

If everyone could hold a spot for their plus one you could be #25 in line and now you are #50. That is the difference between being on the rail or not. Seeing as that is many people camp out, it is just not fare to them.

This Is the answer. Well said. 

To the “NO GA” people:
If you don’t like GA protocol, there is an option to buy Reserved seats. LOTs of PJ fans love GA, hence why they are the MOST sought after tickets every show. You can’t dispute that.

Choice is good. GA folks get their wish. Reserved folks get their wish. Everyone wins. 

MayDay10

pjl44 said:

kid canada said:

Vedd Hedd said:

(quietly votes for seats upfront instead of a ga pit)

(quietly agrees, loved the setup for Fenway 2016 with all seats on the field level)

I'll third that. When I've had GA, I go in well after doors. The lining up and the holding territory is way too much stress.

I prefer no GA myself.  I wouldn't even mind them randomizing a lot of prime seats to mix it up.  People are now waiting numerous days in line, on city streets.  This opens the door for potential issues.  Not to mention, there is going to be a fist-fight before long. Waiting in line to reserve and preserve a "spot" in the GA area is a little strange and almost defeats the purpose and function of GA.

I am also seeing a lot of the same faces at the front of the GA line (based on FB pics) for many-a-show.  Not sure how people acquire the quantity of GA tickets, nor do I know how people have the time to spend in lines for days on end.  


As far as getting in line 1st and a person joining you a little later.... everyone has covered the bases already.  Its not awful.  Especially being far back like noon on show-day.  If everyone does it it would suck. 

MayDay10

mattsavard said:

steved said:

LV129547 said:

I see nothing wrong with holding a place for the person you are going to the show with if you can get there early.  Not everyone has an entire day free.

The closer to the front you are the more strict the unwritten rules are. In the first 50 people or less your spot is when you arrive, period. The only exception would be holding the spot for your plus one for maybe a half an hour or so. (They are in the cab / uber) on their way or dropping your stuff off at the hotel.

I will give you an example. My wife arrived Sunday for the Wednesday Seattle show, I arrived Monday. She was #4 in line, I was around #30. We hung together in the #4 spot and slept in the same spot but when it was gates open I went in in the #30 spot, she went in the #4 spot.

#5 thru #29 would not have been cool with me going in with her. Not at all! I met up with her once inside and we watched the show together. You can always be right behind the person you want to watch the show with, but entering the venue is the spot where you arrive.

Night two we went right from the first show to get on line. Some of us made it out of the venue before our partners. It was only a couple of minutes. That was no issue. There were a couple of people that had arrived and wanted to hold spots for their other 3 friends. That didn't fly. They could hold the spot for one person, and the other 2 were in the place in line where they arrived.

This is consistent with about a dozen shows I have camped out for PJ shows.

Again, as you go farther back people are less strict about it in my experience. The issue is you only need one person right behind you but before your friends spot to get upset. Then it is unfair to push them back.

If everyone could hold a spot for their plus one you could be #25 in line and now you are #50. That is the difference between being on the rail or not. Seeing as that is many people camp out, it is just not fare to them.

This Is the answer. Well said. 

To the “NO GA” people:
If you don’t like GA protocol, there is an option to buy Reserved seats. LOTs of PJ fans love GA, hence why they are the MOST sought after tickets every show. You can’t dispute that.

Choice is good. GA folks get their wish. Reserved folks get their wish. Everyone wins. 

If there was an option for "reserved" and "reserved first 24 rows", just as many would choose the 2nd option as they choose GA.

opsopcopolis

mattsavard said:

LOTs of PJ fans love GA, hence why they are the MOST sought after tickets every show. You can’t dispute that.

They're the most sought after ticket because it's the floor. I don't think you'd have those same people looking for lowers if the floor was reserved. People want to be close to the band and GA is the closest

kaseylily

faithful2you said:

helplessdancer said:

nothing matters unless you have a number on your hand

Exactly.   But this is exactly why there starts to be clicks making rules and creating a "list" for the GA line.  It's just like everything else on this board; everyone thinks they can make the rules from GA lines to what the band should be playing to how they should be playing to who should sit and who should stand.   Go to the fucking show and worry about yourself without being an asshole instead of telling everyone what they can and cannot do.  If you don't like it when things aren't exactly they way you think they should be stay the fuck home.      

+1

bbiggs

How much of a difference would be expected between lining up at 10:00 or 11:00 am on show day as opposed to going in right at 5:00?  I know no one has the crystal ball, but roughly, assuming more towards Mike or Stones side. Less than 10 rows deep by lining up in the morning and 10-15 deep going in at 5:00? 

mace1229

I can't believe people line up 3 or 4 days early.
If I was homeless I guess I'd consider it.
Only did GA once, Wrigley 13, got there maybe 2 hours before the show and only had about 15 people between the stage and me, that isn't worth giving up several days in a cool city.

Just get there with your friend, its not worth the wait or worth pissing off the people who did get there early.

KC138045

If you end up off to the side in GA where there is more room to roam is the angle/view that bad?  

faithful2you

bbiggs said:

How much of a difference would be expected between lining up at 10:00 or 11:00 am on show day as opposed to going in right at 5:00?  I know no one has the crystal ball, but roughly, assuming more towards Mike or Stones side. Less than 10 rows deep by lining up in the morning and 10-15 deep going in at 5:00? 

Wrigley 2016:  I had friends that walked in the GA gate right before show time and were 8-9 rows back from the rail.   

bbiggs

faithful2you said:

bbiggs said:

How much of a difference would be expected between lining up at 10:00 or 11:00 am on show day as opposed to going in right at 5:00?  I know no one has the crystal ball, but roughly, assuming more towards Mike or Stones side. Less than 10 rows deep by lining up in the morning and 10-15 deep going in at 5:00? 

Wrigley 2016:  I had friends that walked in the GA gate right before show time and were 8-9 rows back from the rail.   

Thank you. Do you know if they ended up on the far sides? 

helplessdancer

MayDay10 said:

I prefer no GA myself.  I wouldn't even mind them randomizing a lot of prime seats to mix it up.  People are now waiting numerous days in line, on city streets.  This opens the door for potential issues.  Not to mention, there is going to be a fist-fight before long. Waiting in line to reserve and preserve a "spot" in the GA area is a little strange and almost defeats the purpose and function of GA.

i think people who wait in line for 2 days to see a rock band from an up close advantage spot is totally whacked
but there are some who would say that me going into the show an hour before start time for ga is also whacked

faithful2you

bbiggs said:

faithful2you said:

bbiggs said:

How much of a difference would be expected between lining up at 10:00 or 11:00 am on show day as opposed to going in right at 5:00?  I know no one has the crystal ball, but roughly, assuming more towards Mike or Stones side. Less than 10 rows deep by lining up in the morning and 10-15 deep going in at 5:00? 

Wrigley 2016:  I had friends that walked in the GA gate right before show time and were 8-9 rows back from the rail.   

Thank you. Do you know if they ended up on the far sides? 

faithful2you

bbiggs said:

faithful2you said:

bbiggs said:

How much of a difference would be expected between lining up at 10:00 or 11:00 am on show day as opposed to going in right at 5:00?  I know no one has the crystal ball, but roughly, assuming more towards Mike or Stones side. Less than 10 rows deep by lining up in the morning and 10-15 deep going in at 5:00? 

Wrigley 2016:  I had friends that walked in the GA gate right before show time and were 8-9 rows back from the rail.   

Thank you. Do you know if they ended up on the far sides? 

bbiggs said:

faithful2you said:

bbiggs said:

How much of a difference would be expected between lining up at 10:00 or 11:00 am on show day as opposed to going in right at 5:00?  I know no one has the crystal ball, but roughly, assuming more towards Mike or Stones side. Less than 10 rows deep by lining up in the morning and 10-15 deep going in at 5:00? 

Wrigley 2016:  I had friends that walked in the GA gate right before show time and were 8-9 rows back from the rail.   

Thank you. Do you know if they ended up on the far sides? 

They were in between center and Mike.  I've only done GA a couple times but everything I've seen and heard as soon as you get 5+ rows back it's more lax....always going to have assholes but generally it's not bad

MayDay10

helplessdancer said:

MayDay10 said:

I prefer no GA myself.  I wouldn't even mind them randomizing a lot of prime seats to mix it up.  People are now waiting numerous days in line, on city streets.  This opens the door for potential issues.  Not to mention, there is going to be a fist-fight before long. Waiting in line to reserve and preserve a "spot" in the GA area is a little strange and almost defeats the purpose and function of GA.

i think people who wait in line for 2 days to see a rock band from an up close advantage spot is totally whacked
but there are some who would say that me going into the show an hour before start time for ga is also whacked

I just mean in general.  You are basically establishing a hierarchy to 'claim' 'reserved' spots in the GA section... in which there are no written rules regarding said claimed space.  There was some talk in Seattle that people were getting pretty huffy toward others when they were returning from the bathroom and such.  

I did do an overnight for a show once before the arms race for rail got out of control spilling into multiple days.  It was cool and worth getting rail for my 1 shot, probably ever.  I was completely drained though.  Was running on fumes for the show itself.

For seattle, people lined up days early, and immediately hit the line to camp out another 2 days.  I saw pictures with the same faces (some I recognize from other shows/line/rail pics).  No idea how they do it (let alone snag GA tickets in the lottery).  

JojoRice

Rule #1: Don't be a dick
Rule #2: Refer to Rule #1