1st time General Admission tips

Bentleyspop · September 2014

JWPearl said:
It's better with someone

That's what she said!! :O)

helplessdancer · September 2014

back of the ga pit was my first experience with the new ga thang
it was more than fine

gimmesometruth27 · September 2014

similar to what was stated earlier, i had GA in phoenix. i was hanging out with people all from all over the country at the pre-party that i only see on tour and this was the only time i was going to see any of them, so i decided to stay at the preparty for as long as possible. i got into the venue at about 8:00, walked right down and ended up like 11 "rows" back on stone's side. great view, great sound. everyone was cool in my area. if someone bumped you they apologized. if you were trying to take a pic, they ducked for a second to give you a chance to snap one or two. there were kids near me, and 8 year old and a 3 year old, so contrary to what people might expect, GA was decently kid friendly.

i would definitely NOT waste my whole day standing in line. you are going to be with your son, and he is not going to want to stand in line in one spot all day. if you come in after doors open, you are going to be fine. looking at the seating chart, the GA section is small. a standard NHL hockey rink is 200 feet in length. looking at the seating chart, the stage and the entire GA section do not even reach the center red line, which is 100 feet. the reserved floor seats are going to be maybe 70 feet from the stage.

https://tickets-center.com/ResultsTicket.aspx?evtid=2340157&event=Pearl+Jam&vname=Scottrade+Center&eventDateTime=10/3/2014+7:30:00+PM&city=Saint+Louis&stateProvince=MO&ppcsrc=47699597825&nid=1

whofeelslikeadrank · September 2014

http://community.pearljam.com/discussion/234592/the-official-ga-list-for-memphis-10-14-14#latest

doesn't matter when you show up, just bring a legal pad and a sharpie. you'll be good dude.

keeponrisin · September 2014

I think the size of the GA section also plays a role, so you may want to check out the seating charts. I also suggest McCready's side as he interacts with the crowd a lot. As mentioned earlier the GA crowd generally floods to the middle, so you are able to get much closer to Mike or Stone without waiting in line all that long. Additionally getting on the left or right rail prevents you from having to deal with folks in every direction and there is more air flow if the arena is hot with body temps. Just my two cents. Hit up three GA last year, and have three in the books this tour. All of my shows this tour have different size GA sections.

pdalowsky · September 2014

interesting that so many think waiting in line all day is a waste of time. Ive had some great days stood in line with friends.

The results are always worth it to me.

Rail folk are now 'non showering nuts' - wow. Im a guy who showers every day without fail, im sure on those occasions where I go to line up with the other like minded people I dont suddenly smell like gone off fish.

I would say that without the list people are more likely to start queuing earlier. Its an endurance thing to a degree but very worthy, but I guess the right thing to do would be to ask your son what he wants to do. Is the rail important to him? because you get him on that rail and he will be blown away.

A pal a leeds who came along with us to line up early turned to me half way through the show and said

'I must admit I was wondering wtf was up with you guys queuing all day and night like this, but let me tell you as a guy who isn't tall, I more than get it now'......he had the time of his life

nycrats · September 2014

^well duh, look at that setlist in leeds, didnt matter where you sat!

we're talking about a young child going to his first show- he will be BLOWN away from any decent spot in the pit. maybe he would be "20% more blown away" on the rail, but him and his dad's day will be 80% worse standing in a line all day instead of doing something else cool and fun. Not really worth it..

Last-12-Exit · September 2014

Buy a sharpie, write the number 1 on your hand. Then 5 minutes before the doors open, walk to thefront of the line and say "suckers!"

High Fidelity 2000 · September 2014

iamloco724 said:

High Fidelity 2000 said:
Don't waste your day waiting in line with the non-showering nuts. Enjoy yourself, show up late after the doors open, and walk up on the sides. You'll still get pretty close. The GA area is so small compared to a whole floor of GA like other concerts. If you're not crammed in with someone's back 4 inches from your son's face, he'll actually be able to see better. The sides and the back are where it's at. My 2 cents.

(I walked into the floor in Phoenix at about 8:00 and got about 12 people from the front, before I moved off to the side where I could see better and was even with the best side-stage sections.)
No need to generalize the people that do wait, this is mine and my girlfriend's first chance to be this close and who knows when we will have that shot again, we are perfectly sane and clean people just want to experience it while we can, plan on getting there between 8 and 9am

Apologies for the shower joke. 8 or 9 am isn't the night before. I had read about people last tour who were not even booking hotels. Some two nighter in a row, the show ended, they went outside and got in line for the next show with their blankets over night, which they left when they went inside. I think in Seattle, there were people posting pictures of the line 2 nights before the show? Those are the people I'm talking about, though I guess the list and the sharpied hands are a thing of the past now thankfully? I'm sure you guys smell just fine, have a good time in line though it's hardly necessary to get there that early and still be up front.

nycrats · September 2014

you should really get in line now, theres already 11 of us here..

pdalowsky · September 2014

ah well each to his own.

Suziemay · September 2014

OP isn't asking about getting to the rail, so I don't know why so many people are posting negative things about waiting in line for the rail! As someone who has done it many times, I'm with Paul. It's magical, and I will try every time if I have the ability to. Sure, it comes with a price, but it's been worth it single time. Not saying everyone has to do it, but don't knock it if it's not your thing. Edited to add: I've made many good friends waiting in the GA line, so it was absolutely not a waste of time!

@Coop66‌, GA pit in the US is not very rough from my experience. If you are worried, go Stone's side. US pits are small and not the full floor. For Buffalo last year, I got in line after doors opened and I was probably 7th row Mike's side. I think others who went Stone's side were probably closer.

Also, GA tends to shift so if you don't have a good view, try to maneuver so that you guys can see. Or if all it takes is for someone to take one or two steps in a certain direction you can always ask. I once asked two big dudes if they could promise not to lean over to chat or anything during songs because that immediately cut off my line of sight, they were very accommodating.

You probably want to have some sort of strategy in place about getting in and out of the pit and still holding your spot, like if you or your son have to go pee or something. I can't remember being 12, is that old enough to get in and out of GA on his own, or would you have to go with him? If you both have to leave together, make sure you bond with people around you early on so that they will let you back in.

Above anything, HAVE A BLAST!

whofeelslikeadrank · September 2014

i really posted that link as a joke. i'd have zero problem standing in line. i just thought it was comical to see the different directions the US GA has taken. OP, your boy is gonna have a blast!

nycrats · September 2014

just found these pics.. hartford looked IDEAL.. and i think this should tell you a lot about what time to get into GA.. imo its either line up at 9 am and get rail, or stroll in at 7:30 and be 10th row.. look at the pockets and how much space there is in the 2nd pic. first 3 or 4 rows are kinda smushed, then you have a ton of space. and if you did want to post up on one of the side rails, i think youre better a little farther back for the perspective..

this first pic was taken at 8:16 pm- 5 mins before lights down

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next pic during the lights up encore 11:22 pm

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Coop66 · September 2014

nycrats said:
you should really get in line now, theres already 11 of us here..

hillarious

Coop66 · September 2014

i love all the different points of view on this. I had no idea I would get this many responses. Let me try it this way, if we wanted to get on the rail on Mike's side what time should I be prepared to get in line. I haven't ruled out the idea of getting in line myself then having my wife drop him off at a decent time so I don't have to put him through that. would the line go nuts seeing a 12 y/o walk up in line ahead of people to be with his dad? Is that poor line etiquette?

derbydave · September 2014

This wouldn't upset me...
just mention your plans to the folks around you in the line,
and I would hope they would be understanding!!
I hope you guys have a GREAT time...
you'll be making memories that will last you both a LIFETIME!

nycrats · September 2014

i mean youre talking 8 or 9 am probably. i personally don't think its worth all that for what will already be an amzing time. if he has to go to the bathroom, can he go by himself? can you send a 12 year old alone in an arena full of drunk people to the bathroom solo? maybe yes, but maybe not, and then you lose your spot as soon as you both leave. why waste all that time when he definitely will be able to see from a lot of spots in the ga section. i mean your average 12 year old boy is probably as tall as your average female pj adult fan and they make it work and have a great time.

if it is anything like hartford as you see above you will be psyched walking in around 7 or so. you dont even have to get there that early, but im just saying if you did, youd know the people around you and theyd all then be pretty cool with making sure your boy has a great experience whether helping with sight lines, or not being a total ahole around him etc..

but if you have your heart set on it, then youre looking around 8 am? maybe someone else who does that can help me out?

mattcoz · September 2014

I think everyone going to the St Louis show should just stroll in at around 8, you'll be fine, yeah...
*goes in at 7*

Coop66 · September 2014

No way I can take the whole day off and get in line at 8 or 9. I could probably knock off early and get there early afternoon somewhere between 3 - 5. The bathroom thing is a consideration. Don't see myself letting him just go at an event like this.

1st time General Admission tips

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