Same folks up front

lastexitlondon · May 12

I've seen both sides over the years just with different or a new leader kind of person.
I haven't queued for a long while now so this situation I ve no experience with lately.
But as GlowGirl says mostly only really great kind people.
It's sad if people are getting abused that's not right.

GlowGirl · May 12

PJNB said:

GlowGirl said:

Go Animal said:

GlowGirl said:

I am not in Raleigh so I can’t speak to this incident. But I have been camping out and have been near the front of the GA line for all the other shows so far this tour. I have not seen any of this bad behavior. Everyone has been really nice and helpful and orderly when it comes to the line. People help each other out with food, merch, setting tents up, etc. It’s been really fun. The only altercation I saw was when a person tried to hold a spot for someone who didn’t stay out the whole time. He snuck her into the front of the line and security made her leave the line. Other than that there has been no issues that I could see. I’m sure some people have had bad experiences for whatever reason - but that is no reason to criticize a whole group of really nice people.

Speaking for myself, I don't lump you into the toxic/obsessed/entitled portion of the rail gang, M*****. You're hardcore (and even get seats sometimes to mix it up!) but this still happened, and incidents like it have happened before.

There's one older gentleman who I will refrain from mentioning his name who treats this as a club, and he's the elder/wise man/decision maker. You know who I'm talking about.

And unless we're friends with him, or help him & his crew get GA spares, we (the regular ass/semi-obsessed fans) are outcast & shunned. Like the poor bastard who posted on FB.

I absolutely believe the incident happened the way he wrote it, because he's not asking for anything. He just shared he experience & left. That's shameful.

Meanwhile, under the guise of familiarity, some regulars wield their influence to get everything they want. And people who dream of doing GA just ONCE (all-time, or in a long time) are left out, dejected & felt like they don't belong to the club.

I would rather piss off 5, 50, or 500 rail gang fans & help get things changed up, than have ONE fan feeling the way that guy feels today.

Thanks for the kind words. Like I said, I wasn’t there so I don’t know the other side of the story. I just can’t imagine the people I know who were queuing up acting like that. During this tour there have been several people new to camping and the group and they were wholeheartedly welcomed. I can only speak from my own experiences. Obviously, everyone has different views and experiences. But most of the people who camp out in the queue are good people. I really have to stress that point.

Were the new people at the front of the line?

Top 15-20. Maybe not first in line but some were ahead of the regulars.

Also, the older man that was referred to above - if I am thinking of the same person - was instrumental in finding us a place to settle for the night in Nashville after we got moved a few times. So someone does have to help organize the queue or it would become chaotic. I was grateful for those that spoke to the cops, venue, security, etc. to find us a safe place to queue. I am sorry though if someone was made to feel excluded to the point of leaving. That should never happen.

PJNB · May 12

GlowGirl said:

PJNB said:

GlowGirl said:

Go Animal said:

GlowGirl said:

I am not in Raleigh so I can’t speak to this incident. But I have been camping out and have been near the front of the GA line for all the other shows so far this tour. I have not seen any of this bad behavior. Everyone has been really nice and helpful and orderly when it comes to the line. People help each other out with food, merch, setting tents up, etc. It’s been really fun. The only altercation I saw was when a person tried to hold a spot for someone who didn’t stay out the whole time. He snuck her into the front of the line and security made her leave the line. Other than that there has been no issues that I could see. I’m sure some people have had bad experiences for whatever reason - but that is no reason to criticize a whole group of really nice people.

Speaking for myself, I don't lump you into the toxic/obsessed/entitled portion of the rail gang, M*****. You're hardcore (and even get seats sometimes to mix it up!) but this still happened, and incidents like it have happened before.

There's one older gentleman who I will refrain from mentioning his name who treats this as a club, and he's the elder/wise man/decision maker. You know who I'm talking about.

And unless we're friends with him, or help him & his crew get GA spares, we (the regular ass/semi-obsessed fans) are outcast & shunned. Like the poor bastard who posted on FB.

I absolutely believe the incident happened the way he wrote it, because he's not asking for anything. He just shared he experience & left. That's shameful.

Meanwhile, under the guise of familiarity, some regulars wield their influence to get everything they want. And people who dream of doing GA just ONCE (all-time, or in a long time) are left out, dejected & felt like they don't belong to the club.

I would rather piss off 5, 50, or 500 rail gang fans & help get things changed up, than have ONE fan feeling the way that guy feels today.

Thanks for the kind words. Like I said, I wasn’t there so I don’t know the other side of the story. I just can’t imagine the people I know who were queuing up acting like that. During this tour there have been several people new to camping and the group and they were wholeheartedly welcomed. I can only speak from my own experiences. Obviously, everyone has different views and experiences. But most of the people who camp out in the queue are good people. I really have to stress that point.

Were the new people at the front of the line?

Top 15-20. Maybe not first in line but some were ahead of the regulars.

That first spot means so much to some it seems.

nicknyr15 · May 12

Weird and creepy behavior.

SPEEDY MCCREADY · May 12

nicknyr15 said:

Weird and creepy behavior.

They have been weird and creepy for 20+ years. And the fact that they think they are "special" truly makes them pieces of human garbage.

Leezestarr313 · May 12

GlowGirl said:

Go Animal said:

There's one older gentleman who I will refrain from mentioning his name who treats this as a club, and he's the elder/wise man/decision maker. You know who I'm talking about.

Call him out. WTF is this, are we at school? I am so glad I was never a rail hog. I would still like the old front row lottery back. I thought it was cool to only know at the venue where you ended up.

BSully · May 12

1. I can't imagine having enough free time to stand in line for 2 days before a show, but more power to those that can.
2. I can't imagine other humans treating each other poorly for being in line in front of them. I've had the luck of getting GA one time and I only spent a few hours in line, had a great view and were around some amazing people for the evening. (St. Louis in '22)

RE4790 · May 12

I have no dog in this fight but I do roll my eyes at seeing the same people in the same spot at every show now. Maybe not in the spirit of what the band and music about. philosophically I would caution against posting pictures and/or naming and shaming folks online or using social ostracization as punishment. That gets dark quickly

Vedder4Prez · May 12

nalyd61 said:

that group should be ashamed. How is this not being addressed by the band? their membership should be revoked,

Their membership should be revoked for also doing pass backs on wristbands. I've seen it happen multiple times. Then they walk the solo person up through everyone and squeeze them on the rail. Easy to see when one person doesn't have that night's wristband

Hey Pearl Jam! Add a stamp when you get the wristband. Simple solution. But guessing these people dont shower so they will just keep them from the show before. Can't cost much to do a nightly stamp unique to the show.

And yes.. I saw someone in this known group do this in Nashville

Vedder4Prez · May 12

I wish PJ security would find this fan and escort him to front and center before everyone walks in tomorrow night.

MayDay10 · May 12

RE4790 said:

I have no dog in this fight but I do roll my eyes at seeing the same people in the same spot at every show now. Maybe not in the spirit of what the band and music about. philosophically I would caution against posting pictures and/or naming and shaming folks online or using social ostracization as punishment. That gets dark quickly

I cant imagine the resources, money, and time this takes. In my heyday, I really was into this band, but even that would have some limits.
And I thought GA was a protected lottery system. How do people get it for all shows?

Spartanacus · May 12

Has this ever been done by any band before? Have essentially two different areas in GA...the first will be for maybe four rows of seats (with bottoms that fold up for ease of standing/dancing) right up front. Award the first three rows strictly to random Ten Club members, and the fourth row can be for the VIPs. Then behind them is the open pit. This way you'll get new blood up front and you won't have the 100+ show rail weirdos doing what they do (at least not as much of it). You'd think the band would get sick of looking at the same nerds every night.

on2legs · May 12

Random wristbands would end the entitlement and toxic behavior.

Get_Right · May 12

Just eliminate the lining up, camping out, special entrance for GA etc. Enter through normal gates with everyone else. Much easier for security to ask people to move along and secure entry points than to try and manage a line that self governs. And no running or you get ejected. The sense of entitlement just seems to get worse and worse, and not just in PJ GA lines.

Go Animal · May 12

on2legs said:

Random wristbands would end the entitlement and toxic behavior.

Random wristbands would end the entitlement and toxic behavior.

Go Animal · May 12

Get_Right said:

Just eliminate the lining up, camping out, special entrance for GA etc. Enter through normal gates with everyone else. Much easier for security to ask people to move along and secure entry points than to try and manage a line that self governs. And no running or you get ejected. The sense of entitlement just seems to get worse and worse, and not just in PJ GA lines.

I'm good with this. There's already plenty of security. This is doable.

just_one · May 12

There was this incident in barcelona night 2 last year when 2 persons(which were camping before doors open) before murder capital were taken out by security (we were already inside the venue) just to return a couple minutes after , it was unbelievable

gndcd402 · May 12

Leezestarr313 said:

GlowGirl said:

Go Animal said:

There's one older gentleman who I will refrain from mentioning his name who treats this as a club, and he's the elder/wise man/decision maker. You know who I'm talking about.

Call him out. WTF is this, are we at school? I am so glad I was never a rail hog. I would still like the old front row lottery back. I thought it was cool to only know at the venue where you ended up.

He's also an admin of pjbay and buys up all the city specific merch and flips it on there. Ironic that the first rule of pjbay is "don't be an asshole"

julieooliern · May 12

demetrios said:

on2legs said:

What did we miss? No Facebook over here.

Sheesh, I thought we left middle school behind a long time ago. Sad to hear this.

Chrrie · May 12

So the main issue not mentioned in the Facebook post is there were two competing lines, both started by people who did not go to the show last night and none of those people wanted to concede their spot.

John and a couple others started the line at the camping spot which is a couple hundred yards away from the arena. Two other people started the line at the arena GA entrance which is what everyone else joined after the show. The confrontation occurred when the two groups of people tried to figure out how to merge. John refused to talk to anyone from the start and just kept saying “I can’t hear you I have headphones in” whenever anyone tried to engage him in conversation which definitely didn’t deescalate things but when I went to sleep I had the understanding that John was going to be first in line.

I guess at some point a couple hours later after most people were sleeping John bailed and left his things behind saying there were “bad vibes”. The two other people that lined up with John are still here though and everything is completely normal and they’re sitting with us now.

Everyone that I know in line wanted to let John and those other people stay in front. He wasn’t exactly friendly about it though which means that confrontation was basically inevitable given all the personalities involved. All of the “bad vibes” that I’ve personally witnessed always happens when you have people rolling up ready to be defensive, stubborn and argumentative rather than trying to work to a solution that works for everyone with regards to the competing line situation.

Same folks up front

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