tryan101
Refugee
OH Yeah! we kinda liked Sometimes too.....
U2 fans in Oakland are friendly and mellow, but I wouldn't count on that being the case elsewhere.
Read that study some Interferencers did about U2 fan behavior in GA lines, it's pretty enlightening. U2 fans even get pissed off when other fans cut in line behind them.
You can always bribe the Line Nazi with tacos and beer, that worked well in '92.
Thanks for your reply. I wondered how people managed that. I'm pretty sure I'm not a GA line kind of girl -- I can handle standing around for an hour or two to hold my spot once the doors open and I can stand throughout a show, but I'd be all worn out and miserable (not to mention cranky as all hell) if I had to wait outside a venue for hours on end.
What if we start a company called "PlaceHolders". For people who can't stand in line for long hours hire us to have some college kid stand in line for them (one placeholder per person) And when the real party shows up, they call the placeholder dispatch and take their places
You think a service like that would cause a riot? The placeholders can wear yellow shirts advertising what they're doing so there is no surprises?
Well it would be funny to try at least
Anyway, I'm doing another study on queuing behavior next tour, so thanks in advance for participating if you have nothing better to do while waiting in line
I think the ticketholder would get mauled upon arrival.
I also agree with all the other posters who said that it isn't fair to hold places. I guess they have all said it better than me already ( especially VP, get out of my head VP ) so not much to add except
The rail to me personally is a big deal as i am short so if i am 2nd row or further back behind a tall person ( which is very likely as i am 5 foot 3 ) I am screwed and can't see anything. Also the comfort factor of having it to lean on is awesome. We all have to admit GA is tiring so having that support is why i like the rail spots.
The only thing to do is get there early and then ask the person running the line. The only cases I've ever heard of where people were allowed to leave for the whole day were in Boston.
hiring human placeholders what a concept!
It's not that new of a concept as people think. I come from a country where we have excess labor (too many people, too few jobs). So hired help such as maids, drivers, nannies, etc are plentiful. Over there, if there's a very popular movie coming out in the theater, people would line up to wait for the box office to open. Well, some people would send their driver or other hired help to stand in line for them. Then 5 minutes before the box office opens, they would show up and take the place of the driver.
Just adding my complete agreement! I'm 5'2" (and so is the friend I'm going with), so being on the rail is very important. A few line cutters can make the difference of us being on the rail or a row back (which is a big difference for shorties). And if the exception is made for some people, where do you draw the line? Lots of people will be able to come up with some excuse. I think that if you and everyone in your group can't stay in line the whole time, you either shouldn't get GAs or should be willing to be a little further back. Not holding spots really seems like the fairest way to do things.
In the US on the last tour, if your ticket came through as a bomb shelter ticket, you could take one other person with you.Out of curiousity, when they do lottery for the GA, is the group your with then likely to be split up??? Is it up to chance if youll be near the person you came with????
So, just for verification purposes...it actually does matter if you are short when doing GA then? Itd be nice to hear from fellow shorties! I have heard several contradicting opinions so as a 5'3" short person, Im curious to hear your opinions. In an arena situation it must be doable, but I cant imagine what it oculd be like in a stadium GA field of people. At what point inthe crowd does a short person become rather miserably obstructed? Half way back?
I have bad feet too so I would surely have to be sitting on the floor while i wait!
Out of curiousity, when they do lottery for the GA, is the group your with then likely to be split up??? Is it up to chance if youll be near the person you came with????
So, just for verification purposes...it actually does matter if you are short when doing GA then? Itd be nice to hear from fellow shorties! I have heard several contradicting opinions so as a 5'3" short person, Im curious to hear your opinions. In an arena situation it must be doable, but I cant imagine what it oculd be like in a stadium GA field of people. At what point inthe crowd does a short person become rather miserably obstructed? Half way back?
I have bad feet too so I would surely have to be sitting on the floor while i wait!
Anyway, I'm doing another study on queuing behavior next tour, so thanks in advance for participating if you have nothing better to do while waiting in line
fascinating though not sure it would fly at U2 shows. If you try it, let me know
Yes. The rail is awful. I advise everyone to stay far, far away.
Why not? If it's truly only about the principle of the thing in terms of one person in line being equal to one chance at a good position, I'll let anyone I want be my placeholder. I see this as a completely valid tactic. My singular spot in line is my singular spot in line and I can do whatever I see fit with it.
First we're going to maul people who have a person arrive a little later (ok, I'm not sure that's a great idea)...but now we're telling people they can't let someone stay for them who isn't even going into the show? I think this is a bit much.
Indra, i do a couple of things to save my legs in the GA. During the waiting, I sit as much as possible and definitely try to have a chair. It is worth the money to have one and discard it (I hope venues take them to charity!) than to attempt to stand for endless hours. There is nothing to be done at arena shows other than stand when the line "tightens up" and everyone puts their stuff up. But once we are admitted to the floor I immediately sit again until the opener comes on. I'd run a couple of half-marathons before the last tour and my legs and back were stillwrecked after the first few GA experiences. I try to stretch some once I'm in the venue. We need a "Yoga for the GA" DVD
Oh, I'm all for it! I don't think I'd like to be the first to try, though. Hell, why we're at it, let's get cabana boys to bring slushy drinks and set up chairs and umbrellas
I think I might hire one of those guys that monopolize the box office line to be my GA placeholder person.
I'll even make him a sign to wear... "GA Placeholder" so there will be no confusion.