Unsolicited Opinion from a 27-year member

Darth Lizard King

Just a couple of observations and comments. Thanks in advance for reading -

*I joined the club in the fall of 1993, after high school graduation, and it has been very, very good to me - from front-row tickets to my very first Pearl Jam show at the Masonic Temple in my native Detroit in the spring of 1994, to great seats as my wife and I followed them around the country during the 2006 Avocado tour, to the last time they played Detroit - 2014, at the old Joe Louis Arena. The fact that this club even exists blows my mind - what could I possibly have done to deserve such good fortune? Remain loyal, I suppose. I missed out on tickets for this upcoming tour because life, as it often does, became a distraction. I tried, like many of you, for the public onsale, only to be shut out of that silly dance, as well. I'll see what I can swing on the fan exchange, but if I miss out again, life will go on for me and I will wait until next time. However....

*...people who say they were "gutted," "devastated," "crushed," etc because they did not get tickets for the North American tour - these reactions may seem overly dramatic and over-the-top, but try to remember everyone leads a unique life with its own ups and downs, and its own anchor for salvation. Maybe Pearl Jam is all they have. I heard people bagging on Laker fans crying about Kobe outside Staples Center, and it's a similar thing. We haven't walked in those people's shoes, so please try to go easy on them. Yes, some of them may actually be entitled spoiled brats, but the point is, we don't know. We don't have to hold their hands and console them, but we don't have to punch them in the face, either. I don't believe social media and online communication has made us more cruel - it has just given a megaphone to our cruelty - so hopefully we can all do better, including and especially me.

*I sometimes wonder why the Ten Club even bothers with offering tickets to fan club members. It must be an absolute logistical nightmare. And then, after all the work, they get overwhelmed with forum posts and emails from people whose problem could likely have been solved had they just actually read the extremely thorough information that was sent out to them. As a paying customer, you have every right to demand quality service, but when I read some of the demands and complaints on this board, it worries me that one day they will just throw their hands up and decide it's not worth it anymore.

*I often read newer members say that just because they have only been in the club for x amount of years does not make them less of a fan than someone who has been in the club for a greater x amount of years. Wrong. That's exactly what it means. And that's why the club has bent over backwards to make seniority an important part of the overall equation. In fact, that is exactly what seniority means - it's a hierarchy based on loyalty towards brand and product. So when someone says - "But it's not my fault! I just discovered them a year ago and I deserve the same thing as the senior members," I have to just laugh and say "No, you don't...not on any level."

*Thanks for reading. Much appreciated. Enjoy the new tunes.

WMAmorican

Well said...

hedonist

I dig this post overall. More to add but typing a lot on the phone isn’t my thing.

*I also dig your Acocado tag

Darth Lizard King

Thanks, WMAmorican and hedonist! Much appreciated.

tinz.

Darth Lizard King said:

Just a couple of observations and comments. Thanks in advance for reading -

👌well spoken

TN49724

Great post.  Generally speaking, one of the benefits of age (you being a 27 year member) comes perspective.  You’re around long enough to see the errors of a certain viewpoint.  

Unfortunately, especially now, if an outcome isn’t beneficial for someone it automatically means the environment that created that outcome was flawed or unfair.  

A band rewarding seniority is awesome. 

ponner1us

👍

primussucks

Exactly!  I couldn't agree more! 

1ThoughtKnown

That about sums it up.  You crushed it with that post. I’m gutted that I couldn’t have put those thoughts so eloquently into words as you did.
However, I do like that the loyalty doesn’t apply to GA. It’s cool that a new fan can get in the pit and breathe some life into it. 

I’ve heard stories of fans turning their back on the band during Evenflow? Membership has its privileges but that’s brutal. 

rollings

*I often read newer members say that just because they have only been in the club for x amount of years does not make them less of a fan than someone who has been in the club for a greater x amount of years. Wrong. That's exactly what it means. 

No. It does not at all mean that.

Actually, neither you nor I have been given the power to judge what makes a person "more" of a fan. .... especially if you limit this supposed judgment to one factor only.

To the contrary, time often serves to diminish the intensity of fandom. When I first started getting into Pearl Jam was when I was more of a fan, not less, 

KC2917

Hey op, I like you man. What part of the country are you in? I might have an extra ticket for Oakland 1. 

hedonist

rollings said:

*I often read newer members say that just because they have only been in the club for x amount of years does not make them less of a fan than someone who has been in the club for a greater x amount of years. Wrong. That's exactly what it means. 

No. It does not at all mean that.

Actually, neither you nor I have been given the power to judge what makes a person "more" of a fan. .... especially if you limit this supposed judgment to one factor only.

To the contrary, time often serves to diminish the intensity of fandom. When I first started getting into Pearl Jam was when I was more of a fan, not less, 

Hiya, rollings!

i see that only in terms of seniority (ie, opportunity for better seats when purchased through the 10C), not level of fandom. Agreed it’s not anyone’s to decide. 

lastexitlondon

This is a much better post than most about tickets.
I used  to go to lots of shows. I now no longer can and i feel sad inside but i would no way start a thread about me not being able to go anymore and how i cant  even afford a ticket if i could go. 
Thats the difference  older  . Wiser fans just take the rough with the smoothe. I am lucky thats what i tell myself. Ive been and seen and done pj things i could never  even imagined.  Not because im more or less of a fan but because  i wanted to and made it happen.
This  time i will watch the sets  come  to life on given to fly and  probably  shed a tear of joy for my good friends  still  on the ride.!

ForceofNature101

Darth Lizard King said:

*I often read newer members say that just because they have only been in the club for x amount of years does not make them less of a fan than someone who has been in the club for a greater x amount of years. Wrong. That's exactly what it means. And that's why the club has bent over backwards to make seniority an important part of the overall equation. In fact, that is exactly what seniority means - it's a hierarchy based on loyalty towards brand and product. So when someone says - "But it's not my fault! I just discovered them a year ago and I deserve the same thing as the senior members," I have to just laugh and say "No, you don't...not on any level."

I am fine with seniority in terms of the seating however let's just say I am really happy fans of all ages have an equal shot at scoring tickets in the first place - I think that is a fair way to incorporate the concept of seniority into it.  If seniority equated into better chances scoring tickets, I think that would be a real problem

But I disagree with less time = lesser fan from a philosophical standpoint

NewfieintheUSA

I agree mostly, but not everyone had the means or were in situations that prevented them from maintaining their TC membership over the years. Please don't start with I've been a TC member longer so I'm a bigger/better fan. 

turbomav

Darth Lizard King said:

Just a couple of observations and comments. Thanks in advance for reading -

*I joined the club in the fall of 1993, after high school graduation, and it has been very, very good to me - from front-row tickets to my very first Pearl Jam show at the Masonic Temple in my native Detroit in the spring of 1994, to great seats as my wife and I followed them around the country during the 2006 Avocado tour, to the last time they played Detroit - 2014, at the old Joe Louis Arena. The fact that this club even exists blows my mind - what could I possibly have done to deserve such good fortune? Remain loyal, I suppose. I missed out on tickets for this upcoming tour because life, as it often does, became a distraction. I tried, like many of you, for the public onsale, only to be shut out of that silly dance, as well. I'll see what I can swing on the fan exchange, but if I miss out again, life will go on for me and I will wait until next time. However....

*...people who say they were "gutted," "devastated," "crushed," etc because they did not get tickets for the North American tour - these reactions may seem overly dramatic and over-the-top, but try to remember everyone leads a unique life with its own ups and downs, and its own anchor for salvation. Maybe Pearl Jam is all they have. I heard people bagging on Laker fans crying about Kobe outside Staples Center, and it's a similar thing. We haven't walked in those people's shoes, so please try to go easy on them. Yes, some of them may actually be entitled spoiled brats, but the point is, we don't know. We don't have to hold their hands and console them, but we don't have to punch them in the face, either. I don't believe social media and online communication has made us more cruel - it has just given a megaphone to our cruelty - so hopefully we can all do better, including and especially me.

*I sometimes wonder why the Ten Club even bothers with offering tickets to fan club members. It must be an absolute logistical nightmare. And then, after all the work, they get overwhelmed with forum posts and emails from people whose problem could likely have been solved had they just actually read the extremely thorough information that was sent out to them. As a paying customer, you have every right to demand quality service, but when I read some of the demands and complaints on this board, it worries me that one day they will just throw their hands up and decide it's not worth it anymore.

*I often read newer members say that just because they have only been in the club for x amount of years does not make them less of a fan than someone who has been in the club for a greater x amount of years. Wrong. That's exactly what it means. And that's why the club has bent over backwards to make seniority an important part of the overall equation. In fact, that is exactly what seniority means - it's a hierarchy based on loyalty towards brand and product. So when someone says - "But it's not my fault! I just discovered them a year ago and I deserve the same thing as the senior members," I have to just laugh and say "No, you don't...not on any level."

*Thanks for reading. Much appreciated. Enjoy the new tunes.

I agree with most of what you say here but I feel like your 2nd and 4th points contradict one another. I have been a fan since I first heard Pearl Jam on the radio in 91 and I was at the first show in my area at the Palladium that year. I have always followed the band and everyone I know thinks I am a bit crazy with my level of commitment. I packed up my family and followed them as far as I could in 2018 and I am doing it again this summer in Europe. It has only been recently that I have had the means to travel and see shows like I am now. I only signed up for the fan club in 2018 after many years of my wife telling me I should. In all reality, I didn't realize the benefits of being in the fan club nor did I see the need to be in the fan club to justify my personal feelings about Pearl Jam and their music. I do empathize with those who did not get tickets as well and I understand their frustrations with being in the fan club and NOT getting tickets. I will say this, I absolutely appreciate the Ten Club and what they do for us now. Just the fact that we get access to tickets before others is amazing in it's own right. For most shows I see now, I end up paying a hefty price in the aftermarket. Although the system is not perfect, at least we have a chance at tickets we otherwise would not. The seniority issue has valid points on both sides. People who have supported the club for longer do deserve the seniority they have earned. The challenge is when others who were unaware of the benefits all along or did not have the means to support suffer as a result. Either way, we all walk our own journey and we are all hear because we love the band....and that is what matters most. This is an awesome community and I can't wait to run into many of you at some shows this year!

100 Pacer

NewfieintheUSA said:

I agree mostly, but not everyone had the means or were in situations that prevented them from maintaining their TC membership over the years. Please don't start with I've been a TC member longer so I'm a bigger/better fan. 

The fan club doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Having said that I think the majority have looked at seniority purely from a ticketing standpoint and the opportunity for better seats if seniority was maintained. That shouldn’t change. Seniority says nothing of one’s fandom level.

NewfieintheUSA

100 Pacer said:

NewfieintheUSA said:

I agree mostly, but not everyone had the means or were in situations that prevented them from maintaining their TC membership over the years. Please don't start with I've been a TC member longer so I'm a bigger/better fan. 

The fan club doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Having said that I think the majority have looked at seniority purely from a ticketing standpoint and the opportunity for better seats if seniority was maintained. That shouldn’t change. Seniority says nothing of one’s fandom level.

I agree with this 100%. 

incidental immortality

100 Pacer said:

NewfieintheUSA said:

I agree mostly, but not everyone had the means or were in situations that prevented them from maintaining their TC membership over the years. Please don't start with I've been a TC member longer so I'm a bigger/better fan. 

The fan club doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Having said that I think the majority have looked at seniority purely from a ticketing standpoint and the opportunity for better seats if seniority was maintained. That shouldn’t change. Seniority says nothing of one’s fandom level.

I agree that membership length doesn't mean that you're a bigger fan than someone else but I don't know if I'd say it says nothing.  It says that the band has been an important part of your life for a number of years.  If you've been a member for 5, 10, 15, or 20 years, you're a fan.  Why do we even need to compare our degree of fandom to those of others?  We should be celebrating the shared experiences, not trying establish some sort of caste system to divide us.

In my opinion this may be the best time to be a Pearl Jam fan, old or new.  The club has more tickets than ever before.  This is keeping tickets out of the secondary market allowing us to get them without having to pay obscene mark-ups.  The majority of the shows have a GA floor allowing both new and old fans the same chance to see them perform up close.  And for the seated sections, the club rewards seniority with better seats.  I know that we'd all like to be in the front for every show but I hope we'd all agree that this is a pretty good compromise.

Finally, just remember that we're all people who love this band.  We're all disappointed when the lottery doesn't go our way.  Some get on the forum to express their frustrations.  This could be due to them making a mistake, choosing the wrong ticket option, or just getting screwed by the draw.  Just let them vent.  There's no need to call anyone "entitled" or "spoiled".  Losing out on a show is probably something we all have to experience.  Help them keep hope instead of keeping them down.

Merkin Baller

Great post, thanks for taking the time to write it.

MG79478

100 Pacer said:

NewfieintheUSA said:

I agree mostly, but not everyone had the means or were in situations that prevented them from maintaining their TC membership over the years. Please don't start with I've been a TC member longer so I'm a bigger/better fan. 

The fan club doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Having said that I think the majority have looked at seniority purely from a ticketing standpoint and the opportunity for better seats if seniority was maintained. That shouldn’t change. Seniority says nothing of one’s fandom level.

There is nothing more precious that we can give than our time.  Sure there are other measures of fandom, but to think that seniority (i.e. loyalty over time) says nothing about one's fandom level, is frankly ridiculous.