GA/ PIT advice

People on the rail will likely line up the night before.  Lining up at noon will likely still get you at least 3-5 people deep so it just depends how close you want to get.

I will show up at 730 and hang in the back.

Jesus, I could start another whole thread of acrimony and hatred with this suggestion, and this would never happen (not least because of the added complexity), but I personally wish each GA ticket came with a number. Then you line up in that order, say, 20 minutes before they open the venue. Don't want to get there that early, don't care about the opener, would rather hang in the back? Then just show up whenever you want, the line will figure it out accordingly, i.e. the numbers may go 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, whatever, people know how to count.

What would this solve? People who wanted to be close wouldn't have to waste hours and hours of their time (though they clearly choose to, so it's obviously worth it to them). And for all the screaming around here about "fairness," this would give people with actual lives and jobs and kids or whatever an actual chance to be at the front.

Just my opinion, don't bother roasting me about it...I know it will never happen, but it would be nice for a change.

pledgeagrievance said:

If you want rail I would get in line tomorrow to be safe 

That's pushing it.  I think yesterday would have been a bit better for positioning

The Aussies will be front row again. The Boss knows how to run a GA pit. PJ does not.

I’ve heard some of the rail stories. I don’t get it, if I wanted rail and was willing to wait all day, why would I care about what some random dude says who is first, just because they wrote up a list and hung out at a bar down the street? I don’t get why anyone listens to that and Doesn’t just lines up ahead of them anyway. I would if I wanted to fight for the rail.

Like I always say: “If you want Ed’s wine, you gotta do the time (in line).”   I’m sorry, just being an idiot for laughs.  I’ll be hanging back in GA in StL.  We’re really all too old for pushing and shoving.  I shun human contact from strangers. Need the freedom to go get another beer at the start of evenflow/betterman/jeremy/daughter/alive.  Still get back for that tag/solo!

madhat181 said:

Should Pearl Jam handling their GA line like Springsteen?
—————————————-——————————————————-

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND GENERAL ADMISSION PIT LINE

1. On the day of the show, sequentially numbered wristbands will be distributed beginning at 2:00 PM at the gate. Wristbands will be distributed until 5:00 PM.

2. A starting number will be randomly picked at 5:15 PM; this will be announced and displayed on a placard at the gate. No more wristbands will be distributed after 5:00 PM.

3. 5:30 PM - All fans with GA tickets and a wristband should begin lining-up in numerical order, beginning with the announced number. The line will be escorted into the GA Pit Area in front of the stage approximately 10 minutes before the rest of the patrons are allowed to enter the venue.

4. One wristband per patron and the patron must also be in possession of a GA ticket.

5. A wristband and a GA ticket are required to enter the GA Pit Area in front of the stage.

6. The starting number will be drawn randomly at 5:15 PM by a fan. The fan holding the wristband that matches the starting number drawn will be first in line (i.e. if #'s 1 - 100 were issued and number 10 was drawn, the line would start with 10, then 11, 12, 13 through 100 then 1-9). When the starting number is announced, the line will shift accordingly.

7. The purpose of the random number distribution is to insure that all fans have the same chance of being first in line, eliminating the need to camp out. This policy also helps to insure customer safety and provides for an effective means of crowd control.

9. Anyone who receives a numbered wristband between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM has a chance to be first in line to enter the Pit Area, but a wristband does not guarantee a place in the Pit Area.

10. Wristbands will be issued and affixed to the patron’s wrist only after the patron's ticket has been verified a GA ticket.

I’ve wondered why PJ hasn’t done this, especially places like Wrigley where you can’t camp. That’s exactly how they used to do ticket sales before the internet. But there’d still be idiots camping out since midnight and pissed they wound up in the back of the line.

Gradually over the last 10 years fans have ruined  it for eachother  with all the queuing over night  and days before.  Its a complete  mess now.  
I tried  it a few times and its ridiculous. 
Great times at times but in the main it just gets worse  each tour and people get a sence  of power out if it now in some odd way like they are special. They are not. 
Each to their  own but fans made this problem  for eachother with the lines. And for merch  those  lines are just ridiculous and creates greed.

I've only been in GA once and never really felt desperate to get rail. But I'm curious as to how it works. I get people wait in line for hours, but what happens when you get inside? Say for instance I camp out and end up at the rail on Mike's side, what happens if I need a piss or want to go for water or something? Is it a free for all, or if I say to the person next to me I'm going to the bathroom or for a drink will they hold my place or would I be stuck in the same spot for the next 5 hours till the show ends?

unforgiven said:

I've always lined up the morning of the show and really enjoyed it, sitting around chatting to people who have a similar interests and taste in music as always been fun to me!

The wait can be fun for sure like when I lined up early morning for a Wrigley show. Also managed to get 6-7 people deep at MSG showing up after the GA line was already let in (2016). If you’re taller and have no need for rail, show up a few hours early and you’re set - and if you are concerned about line depth, swing by the venue earlier in the day and make the call whether to queue up. 

GA still gets you a great spot regardless, enjoy the experience!