Young and inexperienced fan. Please help!

jakesbluskyhome wrote:

So I am 18 years old and discovered this band a year ago. I've since become an obsessive fanatic, like many/most of their true fans. And I am suuuper excited for this upcoming tour, but also insanely nervous because I'm scared I won't be able to get tickets! I am an avid concert goer and have been in many situations where I am on ticketmaster and buy the tix the sec they go on sale, only for it to say there are none available. So I suppose my question is:

In your experience, how difficult is it to acquire pj tix through public sale?
What are the odds of getting tix through the ten club?
And lastly, what is like getting pj tix through third parties? (stubhub, craigslsit, ect)

Any and all answers will be GREATLY appreciated!! Plus please please add any stories or anything you have about the pearl jam concert process, or really any stories at all! Thanks!

Welcome aboard!

Typically, ticket demand is based off two factors:
1) Number of dates
2) Location of show

If there's a lot of dates and/or you want tickets for a smaller show such as Cleveland, Indianapolis or Buffalo, you're probably fine. If you want tickets for a show like New York City or LA, good luck.

Due to your age, traveling for a show might be tricky, but if you're willing to forgo a big city for a smaller location, due it.


As far as the odds, once again, it depends on the location. Basically, the pre-sale window opens at a certain time and closes several days later. You can enter for as many shows as you wish, but your card will be charged for all shows. If you lose the drawing, your money will be refunded. If you win, you're locked in. Your tickets CANNOT be transferred barring some sort of extreme circumstance. If you have cancer and are in the hospital, they might be willing to listen. If you "just don't feel like it" or you got a speeding ticket, they'll most likely deny your excuse.

You show up at the venue's will-call window with your photo ID and look for the "Ten Club Ticket Window." Show the guy your ID and enjoy the show. It helps if you know your membership number, but isn't entirely necessary.

Look/ask around on the forum for the "Wishlist Party" in your area. Basically, it's a lot of Ten Club members and their friends having a party before the show. There'll be an auction and/or raffle of Pearl Jam merchandise, so take lots of extra cash...IF YOU CAN'T GET A TICKET, THESE PARTIES ARE A GREAT PLACE TO ASK AROUND.

All the money raised will benefit a (usually) local charity so you're:
1) Having fun
2) Meeting new friends
3) Helping a good cause

SOMETIMES...these places are 21+, but hopefully not in your case.

Basically, you're buying TWO tickets...one for you and one for a friend. You MUST buy two. The two WILL be side-by-side, but you CANNOT ask for your tickets to be in any area, section, or next to anyone in particular. They're usually up near the front, based on seniority...aka your member number. Seats in rows 1, 2, 9 and 10 are saved for random allocation. It doesn't cost anything extra for these seats, so you're automatically entered. You can go to 10 shows and not be a winner, or you can go to three shows and get in one of those rows twice. It's 100% random.

Yes, if the venue setup has seats behind the stage, you could be in them, getting a nice view of Matt Cameron.

You CANNOT know your seat location before the show, so please don't ask.

Seriously, they're a small operation and tours are their "busy season" so we try not to harass them...but the 10C people are great...just be respectful when you contact them.


As far as third party vendors, you really shouldn't have to do this if you do your legwork. Basically, who wants to pay $500 for a $85 ticket to some scumbag where it could even be a fake ticket? :fp:


Go to the Wishlist Party...information will be posted in this forum the next time the band hits your area.

Hey, I've seen them in their glory days and I'm not pushing 50!

First: welcome to the board!

My first show was 2008 and one of my friends's uncle had an extra and asked if I wanted to go. That was my first concert ever.

Second show was 2010 and the first time I tried for tickets through the site. I waited like 5 minutes to get them, as it was the old system, but luckily the page didn't crash on me. I had good tickets for my number.

Hoping to try out the new system they have in place on the site for the fall tour. Definitely doing Hartford and hopefully I can try for Boston.

You will love live PJ. It's spectacular.

What a spirit. :clap: :clap:
But no need to worry about the band's health, son. I saw them in SA and they are in top shape. They seemed like they could knock a bull down with bare hands. And Eddie's voice is still great.
Wish you luck with tickets, son. Go get'em.

jakesbluskyhome wrote:

One thing I can't express enough that I think people don't understand, is I'm Obsessed. Most pj fans have seen them many times, and in their glory days too. But they're all pushing 50 now, and who knows how long eddie will be able to belt out a tune. Plus they all have side projects so it could be another 4-5 years until they tour. What I'm trying to say is, I will do ANYTHING to see them. And not just once, I wanna see them 4 or 5 times. I already have $800 saved up in an envelope that says "PJ". I don't care if I have to fly or drive out of state, I'll do it. So yes, as much as I HATE scalpers, I will succumb if need be. But hopefully I manage to get a pair through the lottery and don't get screwed on other shows. My gf also is a member so we have twice the chance!

Welcome to The Forum...You'll meet some AMAZING people here!!
I hope you have as much fun on the boards as I do!!!

As far as traveling around to see the band, here's what I've learned over the years!!
When the tour is announced...
Go for the shows where the band is playing multiple dates in the same city!
You'll get a more diverse concert experience at these shows and you can save a lot of your travel $$$ for more tickets.

As far as getting tickets, if the shows you want to attend are in the same "region" you are in, I've always had good luck with going to my local Ticketmaster outlet (my Kroger grocery store has a Ticketmaster sales terminal) and picking up tickets in person.
This worked out GREAT for me for PJ20 @ Alpine Valley...I tried for 2 days to get one of the 10 Club ticket packages & ended up only getting the GA / Lawn package.
I really wanted a seat in the pavilion for at least one night of PJ20, so I went to my grocery store about 15 minutes before the public sale started and told the clerk what I was looking for.
He pulled an EXCELLENT seat for me for PJ20 Night 2 as soon as they went on sale.
Finally...as others have mentioned, you've gotta hit the Wishlist Pre-parties!!
It's so much fun to meet all the fans and board members in person.
I know you're gonna have a BLAST & hope you get to see a BUNCH of shows when the tour is announced!!!
:ugeek:

Jeremys Spoken wrote:

jakesbluskyhome wrote:

Hahaha no no, I meant eddie an the band are pushing 50! I can see how that would be misinterpreted :P
But ya I just want a chance to see this great band while they can still put on a great show! In 5 years who knows what eddies voice will be like..

Also, is it crazy to spend a $1000 just on pj shows? For like 4 shows lets say

Dude, as long as you CAN spend and not put yourself in a financial hole...fucking do it!

You have to do these things now before you're married and etc. You're in your prime..

Im 22 so im not trying to be an adult figure...but just do it.

You can't put a price on the feeling live PJ puts in your body.

I first saw them in 2008..and I thought i'd only see them twice. Wrigley will be show #8.

I first saw them in 1996 during the Ticketb@$t@rd boycott, and got tix over the phone lottery. Tix have been WAY easier to score since then. Good luck and enjoy any & all shows you get to attend...gotta say no two shows I've seen have ever been the same, even on consecutive nights.