For some people Eddie tossing them a tambourine or giving them some wine or touching them, is like the biggest deal ever, and they will still be telling stories about it 25 years from now. I don't care about any of that, more power to them if they are willingto invest all that time & energy. I am totally cool with lower reserve side stage, plus it's really nice having a seat & cupholder plus easy bathroom access once Even Flow starts playing. Pearl Jam catching a shot of me on the rail during a show & posting the video later really won't make any difference in my life. Now if I happen to run into one of them in some random place & just be able to hang out & talk about ways to make the world a better place, real deep shit, that would be meaningful. Icon worship is a illusion, human to human interaction & finding ways to become better humans is where it's at. Besides Eddie has already played 3 requests for me from this board over the past 5 years, so I already feel kinda guilty about that, so I figure it's better to let others go up front with their signs & maybe they can get a song played or a shoutout & that will be a much more meaningful experience than it would be for me. I see the world through a rocking horse of time. Those people up front at the Seattle show earned it, lining up 4 days before in 90 degree heat, it's totally not worth it for me, plus when you get douche bags trying to muscle themselves in & cutting in front & just being down right disrespectful it can make for a really long night. I do have one question: If you are center rail, how in the hell do you take a piss? Empty bottle? Port a Potty? It seems like it would be really hard to get back the where you were before.
What sickens me is that i see the same people front row every show. What is the goal actually?? So that they can shake eddie’s hand? the sound is way better if you are at the back actually i’ve been in rail once in madrid wasn’t my best experience, and i experience similar stuff like in this post. People fighting for spots lame
for some people it has become less about the music and more about super fan recognition. sadly this happens with all fan bases within bands. and if you haven't seen it for another band you enjoy, it's definitely out there.
That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Fan recognition? I wouldn’t recognize any of those railrats from squat. I’m trying to watch the BAND.
Happy to show up 1 hr prior for GA and be 5 rows back. The rats can have fun with their rail and imaginary celebrity.
I can understand why that sounds bonkers to you, but just to clarify, I'm pretty sure those fans are NOT trying to be recognized by OTHER fans as much as they're just vying for the max amount of recognition from the BAND.
But hey, who knows, maybe there is a little celebrity club amongst them where they are trying to outdo each other too! Stranger things certainly do happen...
What sickens me is that i see the same people front row every show. What is the goal actually?? So that they can shake eddie’s hand? the sound is way better if you are at the back actually i’ve been in rail once in madrid wasn’t my best experience, and i experience similar stuff like in this post. People fighting for spots lame
for some people it has become less about the music and more about super fan recognition. sadly this happens with all fan bases within bands. and if you haven't seen it for another band you enjoy, it's definitely out there.
That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Fan recognition? I wouldn’t recognize any of those railrats from squat. I’m trying to watch the BAND.
Happy to show up 1 hr prior for GA and be 5 rows back. The rats can have fun with their rail and imaginary celebrity.
I can understand why that sounds bonkers to you, but just to clarify, I'm pretty sure those fans are NOT trying to be recognized by OTHER fans as much as they're just vying for the max amount of recognition from the BAND.
But hey, who knows, maybe there is a little celebrity club amongst them where they are trying to outdo each other too! Stranger things certainly do happen...
I should have clarified I meant a little bit of column A and a little bit of column B.
i have witnessed some performances. i have soaked up a lot of memories.
I enjoyed the hell out of GA at Wrigley, but after dealing with a lot of the nonsense already mentioned in this thread, I sure am looking forward to my SEATS in Boston.
I stopped following some chick on insta when she posted a pic of a bunch of hands with numbers on them during the Europe tour this year. She was even in the comments section bragging about how "the list" is a necessary and good thing, etc to those calling her out on it. Can't remember her name now but she's from England and I would imagine is one of these "rail rats" referred to here.
For all of you that had to deal with the rude and disrespectful people in GA I am sorry. I unfortunately or fortunately, however you want to look at it, usually get pretty good seats at most events. I’m handicapped and could not stand up for a 20 minuet line let alone a 3 hr concert. Seattle second night and Chicago 1st night were my first PJ concerts. I’m was PJ concert newbie, they were AMAZING, life altering and I could go on and on! Handicaped seating in both Chicago and Seattle were somewhat “seat yourself wherever”, despite numbered seats. I’m not complaining at all. What a great, open, happy group of about 20 each night. I’m a bit bossy as my tall husband (Chicago trip) and my fairly short daughter (Seattle trip) can confirm. We had people in wheelchairs and walkers and usually their companion. When everyone took their places it was obvious (both nights) that some people in wheelchairs were not going to easily see the band, even with my husband seated. So being bossy I kind of started rearranging the people around us. At first they all said no, I am ok, I am here and can kinda see them and can hear them. I finally just scooted mysel and husband behind a couple of people and their companions. My husband had a chair to sit in, and did. When he wanted to stand he went to the back. Seeing this, many companions did the same. So with some gentle suggestions and offers to move around I think everyone single person in our small section had an awesome view. Was I in the “front, center row”? I was not. I was actually in the back row, but I am pretty tall and seat height in a walker is a couple inches higher than a wheelch, or the actual seats. By the time the concerts were amping up we all knew most everyone’s names and had started telling our PJ stories or our stories that land us in the gimpy section. We bought beers for each other, sang loudly and had an amazing good time. None of us really cared about the seat numbers on tickets. We wanted to make damn sure that everyone had the best possible view for their circumstances. I’m not suggesting you become handicapped so you get decent seats to events. Obviously our lives can make everyday things difficult, but you try and make the most of a situation. I made friends and had 2 awesome trips with the highlight of seeing the best band ever. Thank you to the kind, generous and fun people who only enhanced the concert and of course thank you Pearl Jam for being you, best band EVER, kind and their incredible generosity to so many worthy causes. These may be my only PJ concerts (I certainly hope not) so I will think positively and remember how am incredibly grateful for the music I heard and the people I met in both cities. Everyone was so very kind and wonderful. So thanks to Seattle and Chicago, you have some great citizens. Perhaps at your next big event remember that each one of you can choose the high road and regardless of your physical view of a concert, or whatever event, your kindness will make your experience much much better.
You seriously make me that much prouder to be a PJ fan, you are AWESOME!!!
One of my favorite/best "PJ Community" memories was also one of my recent most fave shows ever, Charlottesville '13, when after trying to help a guy in a wheelchair who had tried to get into GA but didn't have a ticket, and obviously coudn't see from the reserved seats behind GA, I tried to help him up where we were but that wasn't happening. So when I saw a PJ crew member going by, I waved them down, pointed the guy out, and just said "Hey, if there's anything you can do to help him..." and he went over, talked to the guy, and next thing I saw was the guy being escorted to the GA entrance, wristbands in hand!
What I did NOT know until the show was over was, once he got to GA, and let's be clear, it was a ton of people who like every GA show some had waited all day (maybe even all night the night before) to be on the rail, as this guy came in the audience parted like the Red Sea when they realized he was behind them, and they let him all the way up to the rail on Mike's side! Then he got guitar picks, a tambourine, and just had the time of his life.
When I saw him after we hugged and we were both literallly in tears, because 1) it was an unforgettably AWESOME show and setlist (like your 2 shows Seattle 2 and Wrigley 1!), and also just because of how everyone had worked together to get this guy to where he could see and then the band took over.
I'll always love that and since then whenever I walked by the sections for differently-abled people, I try to always stop and say hi and ask if anyone needs anything. I also gave a guy an Ed guitar pick out of the blue at one show.
Love your post, you're the best kind of "bossy", and it's an honor to be a fan with you!
Milwaukee is my city and u was the 3rd person there behind a couple girls from Brazil. I camped out the nigh before at 9pm and it was my first time trying for rail. I knew there were ppl that did it over and over and I decided this is my hometown my city and my first chance to represent on the rail. So I did. I waited in the rain with my friend and waited all night. I met many of the "entitled " fans you speak of traveling from city to city and taking front row every time. I was new some were nice and some were not. They were cool through the night but once it got closer to time u had some old aussie dude with a beard threatenin to fight my friend and saying we didn't belong up there. Sorry we beat you to the front. My friend was so soured by this he hasn't gone to a pearl jam show with me since. Ruined his experience. He had gone every time before. We had earned the rail and apparently these guys didn' wanna share with new faces. He way I saw it. We earned it. I ended up on the rail by Eddie's mic. He didn' acknowledge us once but did every one around us. The familiar faces handed em tambourines wine took their signs and played to em. We didn't get anything. It's like we were invisible to em. So yes he rewards the familiar faces. We were new...we didn't matter. I haven't tried for rail since. could've for wrigley twice and after our experience in Milwaukee we have tried since. So yes try to get up to front and the pool who own it will try to fight you and make you feel like you don't belong there. Very disappointing. I went for rail at radiohead and their fans were way cooler and thom yorke hadn't seen my face before but he still acknowledged my presence. So that's my take. I may try for rail again but my best friend is completely done with it thanks to these ppl who own the band. Milwaukee show could'e been a great experience for us. Instead it pushed us away. And I guess that' what they wanted so they won. Congratulations you own the band. Enjoy
I think I know who you're talking about. He was at all of this Summer's European shows I attended. My experiences with him were the opposite. The guy was just so nice and cheery
I think we just found the rude Aussie guy's screen name, pretending to be from Greece... LOL!
KIDDING!! I know you're not the guy, just making a joke because it did sound like exaclty what the guy would say about himself if he were going to reply as someone else
Every major band has its obsessive entitled fans. U2 which does basically the same show every night has them. They follow the band to every show and insist on being on the rail every night even though the show is spread out across the arena floor. Springsteen has them. When he does arena tours you're going to see the same people in the pit every night. How they get there is a mystery. They are referred to as "pit pigs". Let them have the rail. Stand back 20 ft or more from the rail and have a great time.
I won’t forget what all 3 of these people look like and I will be scanning the front of the GA line at my next show. The rudest woman on the rail was American dark hair early 30s she was with the dude I’ve seen a lot long blonde curly hair coming out of his hat. The next lady was close in age she was Hispanic. The biggest D-bag was early 40s white guy real nerdy looking with glasses bragging about his 300 bootlegs he owns.
Pretty sure I was standing right next to you then ... if he was wearing a red shirt??? 100% agree he was being an absolute jack ass, yelling for security to show them pictures of where he was standing before the delay.... just being rude to everyone around and just kept it going...
Yup that was him red shirt with glasses!! I had a red shirt on as well but mine was a PJ shirt with picture of the Spin magazine cover. Ya he was talking to security and was “threatening” to put me “YouTube” lol because I wasn’t there before the rain!!
Milwaukee is my city and u was the 3rd person there behind a couple girls from Brazil. I camped out the nigh before at 9pm and it was my first time trying for rail. I knew there were ppl that did it over and over and I decided this is my hometown my city and my first chance to represent on the rail. So I did. I waited in the rain with my friend and waited all night. I met many of the "entitled " fans you speak of traveling from city to city and taking front row every time. I was new some were nice and some were not. They were cool through the night but once it got closer to time u had some old aussie dude with a beard threatenin to fight my friend and saying we didn't belong up there. Sorry we beat you to the front. My friend was so soured by this he hasn't gone to a pearl jam show with me since. Ruined his experience. He had gone every time before. We had earned the rail and apparently these guys didn' wanna share with new faces. He way I saw it. We earned it. I ended up on the rail by Eddie's mic. He didn' acknowledge us once but did every one around us. The familiar faces handed em tambourines wine took their signs and played to em. We didn't get anything. It's like we were invisible to em. So yes he rewards the familiar faces. We were new...we didn't matter. I haven't tried for rail since. could've for wrigley twice and after our experience in Milwaukee we have tried since. So yes try to get up to front and the pool who own it will try to fight you and make you feel like you don't belong there. Very disappointing. I went for rail at radiohead and their fans were way cooler and thom yorke hadn't seen my face before but he still acknowledged my presence. So that's my take. I may try for rail again but my best friend is completely done with it thanks to these ppl who own the band. Milwaukee show could'e been a great experience for us. Instead it pushed us away. And I guess that' what they wanted so they won. Congratulations you own the band. Enjoy
I think I know who you're talking about. He was at all of this Summer's European shows I attended. My experiences with him were the opposite. The guy was just so nice and cheery
I think we just found the rude Aussie guy's screen name, pretending to be from Greece... LOL!
KIDDING!! I know you're not the guy, just making a joke because it did sound like exaclty what the guy would say about himself if he were going to reply as someone else
Even though the unfortunate Milwaukee poster who was new to the rail and felt like the band (or at least Ed) played to the familiar faces, let's also remember the band/TenClub started the policy of - for all reserved shows like Fenway - having first 2 rows and rows 9 & 10 be lottery. I think for the most part that WAS to give new people the chance for front row/rail experiences. There's still a rail at reserved seat shows, and it's a lot more comfy and easier to enjoy because you can come and go and you don't have to sleep out for them. You just have to be insanely lucky LOL!
But main point being, pretty sure the band got sick of the exact same faces every show in front and wanted to equalize the opportunity a bit. Hopefully Fenway will have lots of new faces... not that I'll be up there to see them, dagnabbit!
I won’t forget what all 3 of these people look like and I will be scanning the front of the GA line at my next show. The rudest woman on the rail was American dark hair early 30s she was with the dude I’ve seen a lot long blonde curly hair coming out of his hat. The next lady was close in age she was Hispanic. The biggest D-bag was early 40s white guy real nerdy looking with glasses bragging about his 300 bootlegs he owns.
Pretty sure I was standing right next to you then ... if he was wearing a red shirt??? 100% agree he was being an absolute jack ass, yelling for security to show them pictures of where he was standing before the delay.... just being rude to everyone around and just kept it going...
Yup that was him red shirt with glasses!! I had a red shirt on as well but mine was a PJ shirt with picture of the Spin magazine cover. Ya he was talking to security and was “threatening” to put me “YouTube” lol because I wasn’t there before the rain!!
Does he always wear a white baseball cap and black rimmed glasses?
I won’t forget what all 3 of these people look like and I will be scanning the front of the GA line at my next show. The rudest woman on the rail was American dark hair early 30s she was with the dude I’ve seen a lot long blonde curly hair coming out of his hat. The next lady was close in age she was Hispanic. The biggest D-bag was early 40s white guy real nerdy looking with glasses bragging about his 300 bootlegs he owns.
Pretty sure I was standing right next to you then ... if he was wearing a red shirt??? 100% agree he was being an absolute jack ass, yelling for security to show them pictures of where he was standing before the delay.... just being rude to everyone around and just kept it going...
Yup that was him red shirt with glasses!! I had a red shirt on as well but mine was a PJ shirt with picture of the Spin magazine cover. Ya he was talking to security and was “threatening” to put me “YouTube” lol because I wasn’t there before the rain!!
Does he always wear a white baseball cap and black rimmed glasses?
Didn’t see a white hat but he definitely the black rim glasses with I’m guessing his only friend in life his 16 year old son! This guy was the absolute worst and he ran his mouth the entire time
I won’t forget what all 3 of these people look like and I will be scanning the front of the GA line at my next show. The rudest woman on the rail was American dark hair early 30s she was with the dude I’ve seen a lot long blonde curly hair coming out of his hat. The next lady was close in age she was Hispanic. The biggest D-bag was early 40s white guy real nerdy looking with glasses bragging about his 300 bootlegs he owns.
Pretty sure I was standing right next to you then ... if he was wearing a red shirt??? 100% agree he was being an absolute jack ass, yelling for security to show them pictures of where he was standing before the delay.... just being rude to everyone around and just kept it going...
Yup that was him red shirt with glasses!! I had a red shirt on as well but mine was a PJ shirt with picture of the Spin magazine cover. Ya he was talking to security and was “threatening” to put me “YouTube” lol because I wasn’t there before the rain!!
Yeah that was him for sure... I'm around 6'7" or so had on a red flash shirt/Grey hat and there was another giant right behind me as well...haha...
Myself and the couple people around us just kept telling him to relax and enjoy the show but he really wouldn't drop it. Another couple guys came in on my left saying the same thing and telling people to "F**k off " etc, understand being pissed but no need for that. We chatted for a bit and they finally accepted their fate in the 3rd row...haha...
I will say though other than dude with the red shirt, my experience in the pit for both shows was great!
I won’t forget what all 3 of these people look like and I will be scanning the front of the GA line at my next show. The rudest woman on the rail was American dark hair early 30s she was with the dude I’ve seen a lot long blonde curly hair coming out of his hat. The next lady was close in age she was Hispanic. The biggest D-bag was early 40s white guy real nerdy looking with glasses bragging about his 300 bootlegs he owns.
Pretty sure I was standing right next to you then ... if he was wearing a red shirt??? 100% agree he was being an absolute jack ass, yelling for security to show them pictures of where he was standing before the delay.... just being rude to everyone around and just kept it going...
Yup that was him red shirt with glasses!! I had a red shirt on as well but mine was a PJ shirt with picture of the Spin magazine cover. Ya he was talking to security and was “threatening” to put me “YouTube” lol because I wasn’t there before the rain!!
Does he always wear a white baseball cap and black rimmed glasses?
Didn’t see a white hat but he definitely the black rim glasses with I’m guessing his only friend in life his 16 year old son! This guy was the absolute worst and he ran his mouth the entire time
For some people Eddie tossing them a tambourine or giving them some wine or touching them, is like the biggest deal ever, and they will still be telling stories about it 25 years from now. I don't care about any of that, more power to them if they are willingto invest all that time & energy. I am totally cool with lower reserve side stage, plus it's really nice having a seat & cupholder plus easy bathroom access once Even Flow starts playing. Pearl Jam catching a shot of me on the rail during a show & posting the video later really won't make any difference in my life. Now if I happen to run into one of them in some random place & just be able to hang out & talk about ways to make the world a better place, real deep shit, that would be meaningful. Icon worship is a illusion, human to human interaction & finding ways to become better humans is where it's at. Besides Eddie has already played 3 requests for me from this board over the past 5 years, so I already feel kinda guilty about that, so I figure it's better to let others go up front with their signs & maybe they can get a song played or a shoutout & that will be a much more meaningful experience than it would be for me. I see the world through a rocking horse of time. Those people up front at the Seattle show earned it, lining up 4 days before in 90 degree heat, it's totally not worth it for me, plus when you get douche bags trying to muscle themselves in & cutting in front & just being down right disrespectful it can make for a really long night. I do have one question: If you are center rail, how in the hell do you take a piss? Empty bottle? Port a Potty? It seems like it would be really hard to get back the where you were before.
Right on Hank!!
They are just regular dudes who happen to play music, I met Mike before, just a regular good dude, some people elevate them to places that I am sure can make the members of the band uncomfortable at times, they do a really great job dealing with managing it, no reason for me to add to any of it, I am a fan of the music & try to be supportive as a fellow human. It was really sweet sitting lower reserve both nights I was around basically all 10c members, and we got to talk about the songs & setlists, both the people I sat with were long time fans & super cool & knowledgeable (I got screwed on the initial drawing because by the time the last time slot came up, all the fucking tickets were gone), so it ended up working out better anyway found lower reserve seats both nights with a week ( which were the seats I wanted anyway, sometimes in life when you lose, you end up winning.
I won’t forget what all 3 of these people look like and I will be scanning the front of the GA line at my next show. The rudest woman on the rail was American dark hair early 30s she was with the dude I’ve seen a lot long blonde curly hair coming out of his hat. The next lady was close in age she was Hispanic. The biggest D-bag was early 40s white guy real nerdy looking with glasses bragging about his 300 bootlegs he owns.
Pretty sure I was standing right next to you then ... if he was wearing a red shirt??? 100% agree he was being an absolute jack ass, yelling for security to show them pictures of where he was standing before the delay.... just being rude to everyone around and just kept it going...
Yup that was him red shirt with glasses!! I had a red shirt on as well but mine was a PJ shirt with picture of the Spin magazine cover. Ya he was talking to security and was “threatening” to put me “YouTube” lol because I wasn’t there before the rain!!
Does he always wear a white baseball cap and black rimmed glasses?
Didn’t see a white hat but he definitely the black rim glasses with I’m guessing his only friend in life his 16 year old son! This guy was the absolute worst and he ran his mouth the entire time
I'm not even joking, imagine how much therapy that poor 16 yr old is going to need in adulthood... if that's what that guy is like at a show, imagine living with him and being raised by him... I work with families for my job and it just breaks my heart every time I meet a parent like that or worse.
Same. The GA thing is stupid. I don't get it. I watched the rush ensue on video live from a phone the other night and thought man someone is going to get badly hurt in this nonsense to get a "rail".
We encountered this with Blondie fans if you can believe that. She was a musical guest on the tonight show. We had tickets assigned to us for that taping (you apply for random tickets like three months in advance). We show up and we’re like 80th in line. All 79 ahead of us are hardcore travel to every show Blondie fans. Little did they know that NBC picks who sits where. My wife and i are obviously the youngest people there so we get pulled out of the line and seated right in front. They continued to seat everyone but them Finally the first 79 were allowed in and told to start at the top row and all hell broke loose. Some tried to bully their way into the second row and they were quickly threatened with being thrown out. So maybe Jay didnt like Blondie fans
Same. The GA thing is stupid. I don't get it. I watched the rush ensue on video live from a phone the other night and thought man someone is going to get badly hurt in this nonsense to get a "rail".
I can get behind "All reserved seating... with 1st 2 rows only assigned through random lottery" as I think it is now for all reserved shows. But "all reserved" where the front rows just go to the highest bidders on StubHub... NO WAY! But that's kind of the way it does work with most bands who don't hold the front rows for their fanclubs. That's more unfair than GA, where at least if you can get 2 days off work you have equal chance at getting rail if you wait all the time. But for folks for whom work or family responsibilities mean waiting all day is impossible, that's not even the most fair system.
Randomly assigned Rows 1 & 2 with all reserved seats... that seems the most fair (and oldest 10Club members still get guaranteed 3rd row and back, which is pretty damn great still).
This sense of entitlement seems like it is happening more and more all over - I was just reading a day or two ago about how some fans at Phish concerts are putting down tarps on the floor to block out their 'space' and holding it for friends still outside. I mean, WTF?
I've always had a good time in GA (4 shows) but it just takes a few people who act like they own the place to ruin the experience for others.
The best shows I have been to had reserved seats rather than GA. I've been in GA a few times and did ok with it because we tend to just hang out in back. I did not like GA at Wrigley at all in 2016....way too many fucking people unless you wanted to be off at the side where you couldn't see and/or hear the best sound.
I hit the lottery in 2010 for the Cincinnati show. I was 10th row and could leave anytime I wanted to get a beer, hit the restroom, etc. and get right back to my spot.
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Same. The GA thing is stupid. I don't get it. I watched the rush ensue on video live from a phone the other night and thought man someone is going to get badly hurt in this nonsense to get a "rail".
That video is glorious and everyone should hum yakety-sax to themselves while watching it
Same. The GA thing is stupid. I don't get it. I watched the rush ensue on video live from a phone the other night and thought man someone is going to get badly hurt in this nonsense to get a "rail".
I can get behind "All reserved seating... with 1st 2 rows only assigned through random lottery" as I think it is now for all reserved shows. But "all reserved" where the front rows just go to the highest bidders on StubHub... NO WAY! But that's kind of the way it does work with most bands who don't hold the front rows for their fanclubs. That's more unfair than GA, where at least if you can get 2 days off work you have equal chance at getting rail if you wait all the time. But for folks for whom work or family responsibilities mean waiting all day is impossible, that's not even the most fair system.
Randomly assigned Rows 1 & 2 with all reserved seats... that seems the most fair (and oldest 10Club members still get guaranteed 3rd row and back, which is pretty damn great still).
Never quite has seemed all that random to me. I have had 10C tix for about a dozen shows since the random first 2 rows lottery was in place, and I look and seems like about half the people in those two rows are constantly the same people.
At the end of the day I am just happier with good seats in the first section. Was a tiny bit bummed that F2 this year I went back to B7 from A5 in 2016, but it is what it is.
During the 2003 through 2006 tours for the shows I want to via FC seats, I was pretty much always row 8-10.
This sense of entitlement seems like it is happening more and more all over - I was just reading a day or two ago about how some fans at Phish concerts are putting down tarps on the floor to block out their 'space' and holding it for friends still outside. I mean, WTF?
I've always had a good time in GA (4 shows) but it just takes a few people who act like they own the place to ruin the experience for others.
I read about the tarps, too. Did that start at Red Rocks? I saw My Morning Jacket there a couple years ago - first and only time there. I was shocked to see people covering big parts of the benches with blankets to claim space. Some were even taping them down. Festivals are one thing, but arenas and amphitheaters with that?
All I know is if I decided to do the time to get the rail (I have no desire), and some ass hole tried to say otherwise because of some secret handshake, code, good ol’ boys club bullshit, I’d laugh at them. Good luck with that! Lol
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But hey, who knows, maybe there is a little celebrity club amongst them where they are trying to outdo each other too! Stranger things certainly do happen...
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TOTD 11.11.16 San Fran
You seriously make me that much prouder to be a PJ fan, you are AWESOME!!!
One of my favorite/best "PJ Community" memories was also one of my recent most fave shows ever, Charlottesville '13, when after trying to help a guy in a wheelchair who had tried to get into GA but didn't have a ticket, and obviously coudn't see from the reserved seats behind GA, I tried to help him up where we were but that wasn't happening. So when I saw a PJ crew member going by, I waved them down, pointed the guy out, and just said "Hey, if there's anything you can do to help him..." and he went over, talked to the guy, and next thing I saw was the guy being escorted to the GA entrance, wristbands in hand!
What I did NOT know until the show was over was, once he got to GA, and let's be clear, it was a ton of people who like every GA show some had waited all day (maybe even all night the night before) to be on the rail, as this guy came in the audience parted like the Red Sea when they realized he was behind them, and they let him all the way up to the rail on Mike's side! Then he got guitar picks, a tambourine, and just had the time of his life.
When I saw him after we hugged and we were both literallly in tears, because 1) it was an unforgettably AWESOME show and setlist (like your 2 shows Seattle 2 and Wrigley 1!), and also just because of how everyone had worked together to get this guy to where he could see and then the band took over.
I'll always love that and since then whenever I walked by the sections for differently-abled people, I try to always stop and say hi and ask if anyone needs anything. I also gave a guy an Ed guitar pick out of the blue at one show.
Love your post, you're the best kind of "bossy", and it's an honor to be a fan with you!
KIDDING!! I know you're not the guy, just making a joke because it did sound like exaclty what the guy would say about himself if he were going to reply as someone else
U2 which does basically the same show every night has them. They follow the band to every show and insist on being on the rail every night even though the show is spread out across the arena floor.
Springsteen has them. When he does arena tours you're going to see the same people in the pit every night. How they get there is a mystery. They are referred to as "pit pigs".
Let them have the rail.
Stand back 20 ft or more from the rail and have a great time.
But main point being, pretty sure the band got sick of the exact same faces every show in front and wanted to equalize the opportunity a bit. Hopefully Fenway will have lots of new faces... not that I'll be up there to see them, dagnabbit!
'This boats not safe
And we're drowning.'
Myself and the couple people around us just kept telling him to relax and enjoy the show but he really wouldn't drop it. Another couple guys came in on my left saying the same thing and telling people to "F**k off " etc, understand being pissed but no need for that. We chatted for a bit and they finally accepted their fate in the 3rd row...haha...
I will say though other than dude with the red shirt, my experience in the pit for both shows was great!
http://www.hi5sports.org/ (Sports Program for Kids with Disabilities)
http://www.livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=3652
Randomly assigned Rows 1 & 2 with all reserved seats... that seems the most fair (and oldest 10Club members still get guaranteed 3rd row and back, which is pretty damn great still).
I've always had a good time in GA (4 shows) but it just takes a few people who act like they own the place to ruin the experience for others.
I hit the lottery in 2010 for the Cincinnati show. I was 10th row and could leave anytime I wanted to get a beer, hit the restroom, etc. and get right back to my spot.
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Chicago; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana
That video is glorious and everyone should hum yakety-sax to themselves while watching it
At the end of the day I am just happier with good seats in the first section. Was a tiny bit bummed that F2 this year I went back to B7 from A5 in 2016, but it is what it is.
During the 2003 through 2006 tours for the shows I want to via FC seats, I was pretty much always row 8-10.
http://www.hi5sports.org/ (Sports Program for Kids with Disabilities)
http://www.livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=3652