When I found my under-priced, single-seat, side-stage ticket on EBAY, I was so pumped. In the past, I have absolutely loved side-stage seats. However, I ended up being less than pleased.
Even though the people in my row were extremely friendly, and I loved chatting up the single-seater next to me (at his first U2 show) with some of my impressions of this tour and memories of past ones, all that yumminess changed when the show began.
First, the curtains of light do not work side-stage: you don't get their intended impact and they obstruct your view of the band.
Worse, I quickly realized that I was *in one of the few sections in the whole arena where people wanted to sit.* Now there is one thing worse than people who want to sit at U2 concerts--it's people who want to sit at U2 concerts and viciously, verbally attack people who want to dance. By Vertigo, I was getting so many bad vibes, I left my seat to go to the "landing" at the bottom of my section (where security would get me if the fans didn't get me first). And people were still buggin' me. After a moment's panic that my ridiculously self-indulgent pilgrimage was about to be ruined, I left that section.
My hope was: even in this packed arena, there must be an empty single seat, or at worst, an aisle where the security/usher is too into the music to harass me. I soon found my miracle a few sections down, in the second row of the upper bowl, on the aisle, in an empty seat, with a perfect angle to see the whole stage and the band. And people in that section were *all standing, screaming, singing along, and dancing as proper U2 fans should.*
From where I was I could actually see the section I left, and I everytime I glanced over there (not too often since my eyes were usually on the band and the lovely people around me and those lucky souls inside the bomb shelter hopping up and down like teenagers), those folks were still sitting.
So, I had the best time, and those poor *sitters* (who did not realize what a full-on mind-body-spirit experience they were missing) did not have their mellow harshed on by a long-haired, middle-aged fanatic flailing and testifying and blissfully becoming one with the music.
love, Anu
Even though the people in my row were extremely friendly, and I loved chatting up the single-seater next to me (at his first U2 show) with some of my impressions of this tour and memories of past ones, all that yumminess changed when the show began.
First, the curtains of light do not work side-stage: you don't get their intended impact and they obstruct your view of the band.
Worse, I quickly realized that I was *in one of the few sections in the whole arena where people wanted to sit.* Now there is one thing worse than people who want to sit at U2 concerts--it's people who want to sit at U2 concerts and viciously, verbally attack people who want to dance. By Vertigo, I was getting so many bad vibes, I left my seat to go to the "landing" at the bottom of my section (where security would get me if the fans didn't get me first). And people were still buggin' me. After a moment's panic that my ridiculously self-indulgent pilgrimage was about to be ruined, I left that section.
My hope was: even in this packed arena, there must be an empty single seat, or at worst, an aisle where the security/usher is too into the music to harass me. I soon found my miracle a few sections down, in the second row of the upper bowl, on the aisle, in an empty seat, with a perfect angle to see the whole stage and the band. And people in that section were *all standing, screaming, singing along, and dancing as proper U2 fans should.*
From where I was I could actually see the section I left, and I everytime I glanced over there (not too often since my eyes were usually on the band and the lovely people around me and those lucky souls inside the bomb shelter hopping up and down like teenagers), those folks were still sitting.
So, I had the best time, and those poor *sitters* (who did not realize what a full-on mind-body-spirit experience they were missing) did not have their mellow harshed on by a long-haired, middle-aged fanatic flailing and testifying and blissfully becoming one with the music.
love, Anu
i hate sitters at concerts-its music- dance! have fun- kick up your heals! i had an experience recently at the key arena in seattle( rod stewart concert) and this snooty type old biddy told my daughter and myself to sit down because"she couldn't see a thing" so i politely invited her to stand also! she was only 50ish my god! I didn't complain about her husbands stench of cigar smoke when he returned many times from smoking.
