2017 Joshua Tree Tour Stage Design

[miryclayu2]

I've said before that U2 have to up their video graphics game now that every 13 year old in the Western world is a content creator on YT.

 

[Hallucination]

This GA is really going to be awesome because there's so much friggin room. That B-stage barely takes up any space and now there's nothing blocking off the fans near the stage from everybody else. Lots of great vantage points this time around compared to the I&E's stage leading to a lot of awkward angles for GA fans.

What are you talking about awkward angles? Fans don't have to stand in one position, they are allowed to turn their bodies and heads. The i&e stage set up allowed for the best GA views yet of any tour I've seen as n matter where you were on the floor you were always close to the action at any given moment. I've done GA on every tour since Popmart so I don't know what these "awkward angles" are you speak of. i&e was by far the best GA set up to date.

 

[d.darroch]

It was great that everybody in GA got close to the band at some time. But there was a lot of turning this way & that, trying to see what was happening on the main stage, catwalk & b-stage, all at once. Which was kinda cool actually. Had Adam sneak up on me on Edge's side rail while watching the visuals during UTEOTW, cool! Those on a rail aren't going to give it up to roam. Anyone on the catwalk rail had zero views of the screen (& those near the middle, who were not tall, would struggle to see either the main stage or b-stage. Most people around the b-stage would struggle to see any of the screen, & it was tough to see the main stage as it's lower in arenas. From the rail overlooking the b-stage I could hardly see any of the main stage, even though there was nobody directly in front of me for maybe 15 ft - I am short). Those on the main stage rail struggled to see the b-stage, while those in the corner of the main stage & catwalk couldn't see the screen.

So, although the i+e layout got those throughout the stands closer to the band at times, & those further back in GA, there really were no spots in GA that would get you close to the band & also let you see the whole show, unless you're tall.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the layout. Especially as, coming from Oz, it was my first arena tour

But there will be spots in GA this tour from where you will see all of the show, & get you close to the band at times

 

[trevgreg]

What are you talking about awkward angles? Fans don't have to stand in one position, they are allowed to turn their bodies and heads. The i&e stage set up allowed for the best GA views yet of any tour I've seen as n matter where you were on the floor you were always close to the action at any given moment. I've done GA on every tour since Popmart so I don't know what these "awkward angles" are you speak of. i&e was by far the best GA set up to date.

Maybe they partially meant watching the video screen as opposed to band members?

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I'm just crushed that the folks who ran the lists might have had to turn their heads

 

[Hewson]

I'm just crushed that the folks who ran the lists might have had to turn their heads

Imagine the sight of them running onto the floor night 1 in Vancouver, seeing the set up and not knowing what the optimum spot to head to was. Some of their Silly heads might have exploded. The floor layout was a Viktory for the attendees not in the know about being on a list while sleeping in your hotel room.

 

[popacrobat]

I don't really do GA these days though I may in Foxboro or NJ this year. Do people tell the line listers VIPs etc to fuck off? I sure hope so

 

[miryclayu2]

Anarchist

 

[corianderstem]

That's the risk you run if you're gunning to be on the front rail, especially at the first show. You might not get the whole impact. I have friends who hang out in the back of GA with me in Anaheim 360, and it was the first time they'd seen the whole Claw.

 

[Hewson]

There's definitely a trade off.
On i+e, if you wanted rail, you had to sacrifice seeing the screen well.
I was along the catwalk for all 3 of my shows, could see the screen action by craning my neck, but not a great viewpoint by any stretch, but that was fine by me. No matter how impressive the technology, I go to rock concerts to see the band, not the imagery on screen.

 

[miryclayu2]

On was front rail Vancouver IE 1 and didn't even know Bono was walking in the divider thingy till the next day.

 

[Mrs. Garrison]

That's the risk you run if you're gunning to be on the front rail, especially at the first show. You might not get the whole impact. I have friends who hang out in the back of GA with me in Anaheim 360, and it was the first time they'd seen the whole Claw.

The claw did wonderful things we weren't aware of when we watched from afar in St Louis. It was refreshing not to have to stand in line all day we just walked right in the stadium at 6pm or so, which was nice, considering we didn't even get to bed until nearly dawn that morning after a crazy night of drinking

 

[BigMacPhisto]

Really, the "best" GA experience for I&E was to just get there when you wanted and hang out away from the crowd. There was so much room on the sides for people to walk around and stuff. Makes more sense to just kind of hang out in the middle so you can watch the screen and enjoy the main stage without having to stand next to a lot of people.

But if you're at the front, you're going to have half the show happen behind you and also miss out on the screen most likely, etc.

That's why this will be a great GA experience because a lot of the crowd can get super close to the action at the front of the stage and this show will be far more reliant on them just playing tunes for once instead of relying on visual gimmickry (and if they do go that route, it will at least all be visible by looking at the main stage).

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I'm going to guess that the top of the B Stage will be the money spot. Able to see the entire scren without being too close, but also able to see the band up close and personal often.

 

[nbelcik]

I'm going to guess that the top of the B Stage will be the money spot. Able to see the entire scren without being too close, but also able to see the band up close and personal often.

That's what I'm aiming for, I want to be able to see the whole production, outer rail on the 360 tour was probably the best spot precisely because you could see the claw and the band up close

 

[DeVaul]

That's what I'm aiming for, I want to be able to see the whole production, outer rail on the 360 tour was probably the best spot precisely because you could see the claw and the band up close

This, to both thoughts. My fave spot in seven I+e GA shows was towards far end of main stage. Watch the band close up for most of the set, good view of the screen and nice angle back towards middle and back stages. I don't know that I have the will to wait in line all day for a stadium show again. Fine hanging off to side near the 50 yard line. Still closer than the folks in the stands who paid 3 times as much.

 

[BigMacPhisto]

The only thing to keep in mind is that they're not likely to be using the B-stage nearly as much as on the last tour. This one is tiny and doesn't have a visual gimmick going...I really think we're going to get a show where there's a lot more action on the main stage, so being up-front will really be worth it.

On the plus side, yes, you'll really get to see everything if you're right near the B-stage in terms of lighting and visuals. I think another good spot would be almost anywhere along the catwalk as you'll be very close to the band members when they walk down and still might have a good view of the visuals.

Personally, I'll just decide when I walk in to the field. The comfort of the B-stage rail and proximity to the band will probably be a no-brainer especially if there's already a fair crowd going up front.

I just hope there aren't any stupid issues like having two lines. That was a 360 problem at some venues where there'd be lopsided lines on either side of the stadium and they would both get let in at the same time. Didn't really affect the experience at all given how close I was to the front (and never would have been able to get the very front, anyway), but it's definitely pointless to have two lines. Everyone will automatically just gravitate towards the longer one because it seems "official" and just figure the smaller one is for something else.

 

[d.darroch]

The only thing to keep in mind is that they're not likely to be using the B-stage nearly as much as on the last tour. This one is tiny and doesn't have a visual gimmick going...I really think we're going to get a show where there's a lot more action on the main stage, so being up-front will really be worth it.

I've been squinting at all the images of the stage I can find. It's a bit tough to see the exact area of the b-stage, as some of it is black, & matches the rail. Also all the curves make it a bit tough to see, plenty of spots for Edge to fall off.

But do you really think it's tiny? I actually think it's pretty large. Maybe even larger than the e-stage last tour. Remember the main stage this tour is so much bigger than the arena stage last tour, which may make it look like it's dwarfing the b-stage a bit. It's certainly much, much bigger than one of the two b-stages on the Vertigo Outdoor tour. I thought those b-stages were a great place to see the show on Vertigo, but as there was two of them, action was split between them. I never saw Edge close up all night when I was at Adam's b-stage. Won't have to worry about that this time, with only one b-stage. Also 360 spread the action out around the catwalk, you never really knew where they would be stopping. Again, we don't have to worry about that this time. All the action will either be on the main stage, b-stage, or a little bit on the much smaller catwalk.

I think the band are much better at choreography nowadays. Better than back at ZooTV & Popmart, the last times they had a single b-stage on a stadium tour. Just take UTEOTW last tour as an example. Bono on the b-stage, Edge in the screen & Adam & Larry on the main stage. As I said, Adam even came to visit Edge's side a couple of times during the song, just to give the crowd there some action. No the band don't have the novel approch of using the screen to get between the stages. Also the b-stage isn‘t at the far end of the field like last tour, but I'd expect Bono to spend a fair amount of time on the b-stage. The Edge should spend some time there, Adam & Larry less so, except when they're full band, or maybe a short appearances or two.

So for those who aren't addicted to the unbelievable energy of being front-and-centre on the main stage, I think the b-stage will be a brilliant place to be.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

That's not tiny... it's at least twice if not three times the size of the i/e B Stage.

Each section of seating is approximately 15-20 yards, or 45-60 feet. A hockey rink is only 200 feet long. So the "tree" stage would take up about 1/4 of the floor in an arena show.

 

[dan_smee]

I really hope they do a DVD - this stage looks so sick

 

[U2FanPeter]

Mainstage is a good 9-10 feet high. Much higher than arenas, and similar to 360 when front row mainstage meant a sore neck the next day.

DVD is already a lock. Pretty sure it's one of the Euro shows.

 

[jimyc]

Metallica GnR & Coldplay all have shows scheduled for BC Place this summer. Looking at TM map, Metallica and GnR look like they have at least 10,000 unsold seats.

Still plenty of inventory for Coldplay also but it sold better.

BC Place has an intricate tarp system to potentially block unsold sections. Do we know for sure U2 sold the entire upper bowl? (Other than behind the stage)?

 

[BigMacPhisto]

Mainstage is a good 9-10 feet high. Much higher than arenas, and similar to 360 when front row mainstage meant a sore neck the next day.

Great for the short people as long as they aren't up front. I'm thinking standing kind of in front of the top of the B-stage would be a nice vantage point and you could lean your back against the rail...then turn around with ease when band members go down to the B-stage since the crush will be towards the main stage.

Plus, you should still be in a decent area to see all the video stuff.

 

[U2FanPeter]

Metallica GnR & Coldplay all have shows scheduled for BC Place this summer. Looking at TM map, Metallica and GnR look like they have at least 10,000 unsold seats.

Still plenty of inventory for Coldplay also but it sold better.

Coldplay added a Vancouver arena show that occurs 5 weeks before the stadium show. Super weird tour routing.

 

[Mrs. Garrison]

That's not tiny... it's at least twice if not three times the size of the i/e B Stage.

Each section of seating is approximately 15-20 yards, or 45-60 feet. A hockey rink is only 200 feet long. So the "tree" stage would take up about 1/4 of the floor in an arena show.

Also looking at the dude walking to the left side of the stage as well as the forklift on the floor by the ramp you get an idea of the size and height of it and i agree it's not exactly tiny

 

[miryclayu2]

That's Napoleon. There is a little people convention in town.

 

[Mrs. Garrison]

That's Napoleon. There is a little people convention in town.

 

[BigMacPhisto]

I guess long catwalks are "in" now in order to keep Bono skinny.

GA is going to be such a clusterfuck if things go wrong with the credit card admissions. Like imagine if your line has to wait like five minutes behind the guy whose card isn't working, etc. We're talking about thousands and thousands of people needing to do a scan for paperless tickets.

 

[trevgreg]

GA is going to be such a clusterfuck if things go wrong with the credit card admissions. Like imagine if your line has to wait like five minutes behind the guy whose card isn't working, etc. We're talking about thousands and thousands of people needing to do a scan for paperless tickets.

When we did it in Chicago, I was happy when security started scanning the credit cards before the doors technically opened. Definitely made things a bit easier for the first people in line.

 

[phommel]

I think it's really kitsch to have a Joshua tree-shaped B-stage...