Same folks up front

Loujoe

GlowGirl

pjhawks said:

Chrrie said:

bootlegger10 said:

Chrrie said:

Go Animal said:

Chrrie said:

Go Animal said:

Get_Right said:

I do not do GA anymore. But give me better seats! The rail people will do what they do. I am ok with it as long as they do not exclude fans to be there. No saving spots. The idea of a rail gang, which happens with some bands, is not cool. In fact I would hope that folks would want to share that experience with new people. 

There is spot saving. People taking extended breaks at their hotel to wash up, have a bite, and sometimes take care of work! Every single show. I know because they let me do it at REDACTED (and it was much appreciated).

It's all self-governed.

And yes, they do let the occasional friend in who DIDN'T put in the time, but only when doors are about to open. No one speaks up about it in line, because the hardcores are at virtually EVERY show.

A few guys (names withheld) help keep a list (not every time, only when needed). When rules are enforced by a venue (like Vegas), they make sure everyone is on the same page as to when/if they have to disperse, that they'll line up in the same order they were in before said line is moved (or dissolved).

There's also PJ crew who are friendly with them, considering the amount of time spent together. I mean, I get it.

I'm not entirely against it, I just think everyone should be upfront about it at this point. Like "yeah, we do this. Like it, or don't. Join us, and put in the early arrival time, watch our spot & we'll watch yours."

Why try & pretend it's not a thing anymore? We all see it every show. Meanwhile, 10C & the band turn a blind eye to it. And why not, really? They're still getting paid

Name names then, I’m at a lot of shows so I’d like to know who you’re calling out if this is happening where the “hardcores” let friends into the line who weren’t there. 

Yes hardcores leave to go to the bathroom, get food, or take a shower. People who didn’t camp do the same thing. If we’re to the point where it’s unfair if people are only there for 46 of the 48 hours then alright, complain to the 10c. 

Transparency comes from within. And I am most definitely not within, lol. I've made peace with it, but we should all be honest about it at this point. As far as 10c is concerned, again... memberships have been paid, and tickets sold. They won't do anything unless there's a big fight, or if someone gets caught selling their spot ala "The Line Guys" in NYC.

Business as usual.

This is such a cop out. I don’t know who you are yet you seem to be aware of the comings and goings of me and my friends in the GA line. I invite anyone who wants to experience how insanely incredible it is to be on the rail to line up with me and I will make sure you have everything you need to make the line experience enjoyable. 

I care a lot about this. It’s the thing I look forward to the absolute most out of anything and it’s not JUST becsuse of the 2.5 hour show it’s because of the people I met doing it who are legitimately great people: “the people who are always up front”, “rail mafia”, “entitled” and other things we’ve been called. 

I don’t want the system to change which is why I sometimes comment on posts like this here or on fb. I’ve seen a lottery destroy the experience for the other band I love. I’m sorry if I’m entitled because I use 90% of my vacation to do this, it’s THAT important to me and the other people who you always see. 

People talk about how we “take care of each other” but in reference to shenanigans. What it means to me is when someone offers you food, to use the bathroom at the $200/night hotel they got across the street, or a mattress when yours pops a leak, or a ride to the next show for nothing, or all the people not on the rail they change places with so they can experience it for a song or two. 

It’s just really frustrating to have this reputation for being an asshole or gaming the system because we’re always referred to as a collective rather than calling out bad eggs, and it puts what the majority of us love at risk when false narratives or incomplete pictures are reported to the 10c or the PJ community as the blanket way things are. So no I’m not going to “be up front about it” and acquiesce that your perception is also my experience because it’s not. 

So what is so different about rail versus being five people back?   You don’t need 50 guitar pics, or five tambourines.  All of the talk about camaraderie can be experienced at a bar without sleeping outside.   So why the need to keep being rail over and over?  

So is it about the eye contact with Ed?  A wave or two?   A perceived friendship with the band?  Feeling like a better fan?

The difference for me is I’m 5’3” and love having no one in front of me. I never have to adjust because someone’s in my way. 

There’s a perception that the center rail people are there to collect stuff but we’re not the ones gesturing for tambourines, making signs to play certain songs or guitar on Ledbetter, or dropping to the ground when Mike confettis picks. 

It’s just the feeling of being there. It’s surreal. And then you turn around at a place like Fenway and there’s 37,000 people behind you. My partner went to 61 shows before he did GA at all. If they got rid of it tomorrow we’d still go to shows and be perfectly happy just like we are when we don’t get GA.

I’m not like, trying to offend anyone by admitting that it’s so awesome that it’s worth the effort it takes. If you don’t want to do it, don’t. If you want to do it, let me know and I’d be happy to help.   

How do you and your people constantly win ga lotteries?  Again the odds don’t compute that the same people win all the time.  Cool you get in line when you do but just seems odd in the current system the same people keep winning ga.  Even if you share amongst others it would seem some shows you’d get shut out.  That’s my only confusion about the rail birds 

Not counting Ohana I had 4 GAs and rail for all of them. I got none in the lottery. It took a lot of time to upgrade through F2F, and with the help of good friends here who helped me to find the GA tickets. And for rail I put my time in waiting in line overnight. It takes a lot of time and effort. But if you really want it and put in the work it is worth it to me. Many others don’t feel it’s worth it. That is fine as well. And for those who say there is no difference between rail and being 4-5 rows back - there is - especially in your ability to see everything without being blocked by someone. For both MSG I sat in the uppers and still had a great time. But there is something special to me about being right up front. 

on2legs

I have no issues with people hustling/f5ing/finding trades to get into GA as many times as they want.  That’s totally fine.  I would just like to see a random number draw to mix up the very front.  I see a lot of people sharing how much better the rail or being right up front is so why not spread the wealth out for everyone if it’s that great?

Loujoe

For me, difference is on rail it's like watching pj in your living room. Getting a pick handed off was thrilling. Both times I railed it Ed handed me a pick. Must have liked how I was headbanging!
Also turning around and absorbing that view of all the fans flipping out is breathtaking.

Regular seats are awesome too. Just a different experience.

All good. Ignore the people behaving badly & have fun.

Merkin Baller

Loujoe said:

For me, difference is on rail it's like watching pj in your living room. Getting a pick handed off was thrilling. Both times I railed it Ed handed me a pick. Must have liked how I was headbanging!
Also turning around and absorbing that view of all the fans flipping out is breathtaking.

Regular seats are awesome too. Just a different experience.

All good. Ignore the people behaving badly & have fun.

Well said. 

dottles

I tried to stay away from this thread but just can’t. 

In Europe I think GA is so much part of the show. It is different to elsewhere, it’s always been that way. I know a lot of people who queue/have queued for the rail. The vast majority are really good people who I’ve spent time with after shows/other gigs. 

There are people where being on the rail almost seems bigger than being at the gig itself which does seem odd to me. 

However, I’ve been approached very aggressively by people in GA lines. One woman assumed we were going to try to go in before them and physically came over and told us, finger wagging in my face about their priority. We were looking for something else actually but Woah lady - we are all fans and we all have tickets! Do not come at me! 

Another time I was handing out badges (for free, organised and paid for by people here on the forum!) and was shouted at/talked loudly about. Just rude, possessive of the band in some weird way and pissed me right off (other British expletives and names could also be used). They still wanted badges though. 

Then the time when the ‘line’ negotiated they should be let in for merch first as they could organise it getting taken to hotels and still be in GA queue. everyone else had to queue behind them for merch (then one by one they reformed the GA queue). Unbelievable. 

I’ve said it before that there is something rather discriminatory/ableist about it. Especially but not limited to those that have other responsibilities such as caring and people who could stand on the rail for a few hours, but are unable to stand/sit/sleep for many hours on the ground outside a venue. If you have to take medication, have physical limitations, need regulated sleep or eating, or need to access bathrooms with urgency etc then you’re going to struggle to ever get on the rail for your favourite band.

I’m not suggesting a ‘better’ way but those people sleeping out for days, queuing for 20 hours are sure lucky to have the time and the health, and in my opinion it’s unfair to those that don’t. 

(And oh the time gone by where we made forum badges like a community!) 

arms outstretched

This sounds like a group of whiny entitled conspiracy theorists. Pages of fables made up about people and circumstances most of you know nothing about. Yet again. Stories you “heard”, assumptions you’re making and talking for “the band, amongst others. 

You have zero clue what you’re talking about. 

There’s no list. No sneaking in. No holding spots. No dumping drinks on people. No assigned spots on the rail. And no entitlement. 

It is literally line up and get your spot. Do your time. If you can’t do your time or it’s not your thing why shit on others? Why do you even care enough to debate here? 

I have been lining up for the rail for 11 years whenever I can make it work. I have made some of my best friends doing that and I love every minute of the experience. People have come and gone and over the past few years a new group has joined us and they are awesome. If you’re not an asshole you’ll have the same experience. No one is going to shun you or bully you or make you feel unwelcome. We all work together to make our nights and days on the sidewalk safe and fun. No one takes advantage, and if you do, you’re called out. As you should be. 

The band hates it? Ha. I’m not even going to address that because you’d have to be up front to know how they feed off us and us them. That dynamic is frankly not something that can even be described and I don’t care if you believe me or understand. 

Keep crapping on us. Don’t care. You all sound insane with your made up stories and conspiracy theories. Insane. Line up and join us and you’ll see! 

Gern Blansten

arms outstretched said:

This sounds like a group of whiny entitled conspiracy theorists. Pages of fables made up about people and circumstances most of you know nothing about. Yet again. Stories you “heard”, assumptions you’re making and talking for “the band, amongst others. 

You have zero clue what you’re talking about. 

There’s no list. No sneaking in. No holding spots. No dumping drinks on people. No assigned spots on the rail. And no entitlement. 

It is literally line up and get your spot. Do your time. If you can’t do your time or it’s not your thing why shit on others? Why do you even care enough to debate here? 

I have been lining up for the rail for 11 years whenever I can make it work. I have made some of my best friends doing that and I love every minute of the experience. People have come and gone and over the past few years a new group has joined us and they are awesome. If you’re not an asshole you’ll have the same experience. No one is going to shun you or bully you or make you feel unwelcome. We all work together to make our nights and days on the sidewalk safe and fun. No one takes advantage, and if you do, you’re called out. As you should be. 

The band hates it? Ha. I’m not even going to address that because you’d have to be up front to know how they feed off us and us them. That dynamic is frankly not something that can even be described and I don’t care if you believe me or understand. 

Keep crapping on us. Don’t care. You all sound insane with your made up stories and conspiracy theories. Insane. Line up and join us and you’ll see! 

uh....go lay down man

drakeheuer14

Some of this reads as borderline delusional. They aren’t “feeding off” the regulars anymore than the new folks. And honestly some of the regulars I saw during the Texas run seemed the least energetic (for good reason given the time commitment, but still). 

pjl44

arms outstretched said:

This sounds like a group of whiny entitled conspiracy theorists. Pages of fables made up about people and circumstances most of you know nothing about. Yet again. Stories you “heard”, assumptions you’re making and talking for “the band, amongst others. 

You have zero clue what you’re talking about. 

There’s no list. No sneaking in. No holding spots. No dumping drinks on people. No assigned spots on the rail. And no entitlement. 

It is literally line up and get your spot. Do your time. If you can’t do your time or it’s not your thing why shit on others? Why do you even care enough to debate here? 

I have been lining up for the rail for 11 years whenever I can make it work. I have made some of my best friends doing that and I love every minute of the experience. People have come and gone and over the past few years a new group has joined us and they are awesome. If you’re not an asshole you’ll have the same experience. No one is going to shun you or bully you or make you feel unwelcome. We all work together to make our nights and days on the sidewalk safe and fun. No one takes advantage, and if you do, you’re called out. As you should be. 

The band hates it? Ha. I’m not even going to address that because you’d have to be up front to know how they feed off us and us them. That dynamic is frankly not something that can even be described and I don’t care if you believe me or understand. 

Keep crapping on us. Don’t care. You all sound insane with your made up stories and conspiracy theories. Insane. Line up and join us and you’ll see! 

Again, it's not a conspiracy theory when the band has had to step in and address it. Definitely catching a vibe here though.

https://community.pearljam.com/discussion/271970/there-is-no-list-number-system-for-10c-ga-lines

BigRedd

arms outstretched said:

This sounds like a group of whiny entitled conspiracy theorists. Pages of fables made up about people and circumstances most of you know nothing about. Yet again. Stories you “heard”, assumptions you’re making and talking for “the band, amongst others. 

You have zero clue what you’re talking about. 

There’s no list. No sneaking in. No holding spots. No dumping drinks on people. No assigned spots on the rail. And no entitlement. 

It is literally line up and get your spot. Do your time. If you can’t do your time or it’s not your thing why shit on others? Why do you even care enough to debate here? 

I have been lining up for the rail for 11 years whenever I can make it work. I have made some of my best friends doing that and I love every minute of the experience. People have come and gone and over the past few years a new group has joined us and they are awesome. If you’re not an asshole you’ll have the same experience. No one is going to shun you or bully you or make you feel unwelcome. We all work together to make our nights and days on the sidewalk safe and fun. No one takes advantage, and if you do, you’re called out. As you should be. 

The band hates it? Ha. I’m not even going to address that because you’d have to be up front to know how they feed off us and us them. That dynamic is frankly not something that can even be described and I don’t care if you believe me or understand. 

Keep crapping on us. Don’t care. You all sound insane with your made up stories and conspiracy theories. Insane. Line up and join us and you’ll see! 

LMAO

on2legs

arms outstretched said:

This sounds like a group of whiny entitled conspiracy theorists. Pages of fables made up about people and circumstances most of you know nothing about. Yet again. Stories you “heard”, assumptions you’re making and talking for “the band, amongst others. 

You have zero clue what you’re talking about. 

There’s no list. No sneaking in. No holding spots. No dumping drinks on people. No assigned spots on the rail. And no entitlement. 

It is literally line up and get your spot. Do your time. If you can’t do your time or it’s not your thing why shit on others? Why do you even care enough to debate here? 

I have been lining up for the rail for 11 years whenever I can make it work. I have made some of my best friends doing that and I love every minute of the experience. People have come and gone and over the past few years a new group has joined us and they are awesome. If you’re not an asshole you’ll have the same experience. No one is going to shun you or bully you or make you feel unwelcome. We all work together to make our nights and days on the sidewalk safe and fun. No one takes advantage, and if you do, you’re called out. As you should be. 

The band hates it? Ha. I’m not even going to address that because you’d have to be up front to know how they feed off us and us them. That dynamic is frankly not something that can even be described and I don’t care if you believe me or understand. 

Keep crapping on us. Don’t care. You all sound insane with your made up stories and conspiracy theories. Insane. Line up and join us and you’ll see! 

Do you really believe the band only feeds off the energy of your group? 

darwinstheory

#triggered

Go Animal

yikes

jwhjr17

arms outstretched said:

This sounds like a group of whiny entitled conspiracy theorists. Pages of fables made up about people and circumstances most of you know nothing about. Yet again. Stories you “heard”, assumptions you’re making and talking for “the band, amongst others. 

You have zero clue what you’re talking about. 

There’s no list. No sneaking in. No holding spots. No dumping drinks on people. No assigned spots on the rail. And no entitlement. 

It is literally line up and get your spot. Do your time. If you can’t do your time or it’s not your thing why shit on others? Why do you even care enough to debate here? 

I have been lining up for the rail for 11 years whenever I can make it work. I have made some of my best friends doing that and I love every minute of the experience. People have come and gone and over the past few years a new group has joined us and they are awesome. If you’re not an asshole you’ll have the same experience. No one is going to shun you or bully you or make you feel unwelcome. We all work together to make our nights and days on the sidewalk safe and fun. No one takes advantage, and if you do, you’re called out. As you should be. 

The band hates it? Ha. I’m not even going to address that because you’d have to be up front to know how they feed off us and us them. That dynamic is frankly not something that can even be described and I don’t care if you believe me or understand. 

Keep crapping on us. Don’t care. You all sound insane with your made up stories and conspiracy theories. Insane. Line up and join us and you’ll see! 

LOL thanks for confirming.

pjsteelerfan

this thread has some unintentional comedy gold. Glad I'm one of the few that is just happy to see them and not worried about GA or seats or what section I'm in. 

JojoRice

jdopj

I believe a lot of you are good people but if you think that using an exclusive group of you to game the system for tickets and than systematically make sure you all get rail for most or every show is beyond reproach I can’t help you.  I don’t doubt you put in work and effort but it’s very improbable for a lot of the same people to be on the rail for that many shows without some of you doing less desirable things.

pjl44

on2legs said:

arms outstretched said:

This sounds like a group of whiny entitled conspiracy theorists. Pages of fables made up about people and circumstances most of you know nothing about. Yet again. Stories you “heard”, assumptions you’re making and talking for “the band, amongst others. 

You have zero clue what you’re talking about. 

There’s no list. No sneaking in. No holding spots. No dumping drinks on people. No assigned spots on the rail. And no entitlement. 

It is literally line up and get your spot. Do your time. If you can’t do your time or it’s not your thing why shit on others? Why do you even care enough to debate here? 

I have been lining up for the rail for 11 years whenever I can make it work. I have made some of my best friends doing that and I love every minute of the experience. People have come and gone and over the past few years a new group has joined us and they are awesome. If you’re not an asshole you’ll have the same experience. No one is going to shun you or bully you or make you feel unwelcome. We all work together to make our nights and days on the sidewalk safe and fun. No one takes advantage, and if you do, you’re called out. As you should be. 

The band hates it? Ha. I’m not even going to address that because you’d have to be up front to know how they feed off us and us them. That dynamic is frankly not something that can even be described and I don’t care if you believe me or understand. 

Keep crapping on us. Don’t care. You all sound insane with your made up stories and conspiracy theories. Insane. Line up and join us and you’ll see! 

Do you really believe the band only feeds off the energy of your group? 

There's a special connection we don't understand 

pjl44

I got front row once in the old system. Winked and smooched at Stone but it wasn't reciprocated. These cats must be dreamier.