popbellydancer
Refugee
Nope, only in America they line up days in advcance with this numbering system where you sign up and just come back the day of the show. From what I've heard Australia has no such system, you guys show up on the day somewhere and just stay in line.
In Europe we don't have this sign up in advance bullshit either. But we do have a list/numbering system. One that works.
Basically the EU system is like this. First person at the site starts the line, usually the early ass morning of the show or the night before. That person gives out the numbers and lists them in a notepad or whatever, and everyone STAYS IN THE LINE. Sure, you can leave for an hour or so to get food or drinks or take a piss, but you cannot just go on out and about and have fun all day and come back in late. In the early morning there's usually role call at 7, if you're not there, you're off the list. There's a few moments during the day you have to be there, that's when you get led on stadium grounds, get a wristband(not all shows) and when everyone has to throw out their shite so everyone can get in safely.
This system works. It's nice, fair and you meet a lot of nice people around you. Based on the first come, first serve principle, and purely only a way to keep the line as it is in order. Not to start a line days in advance for 'privileged' people.
This is how it was on Elevation in America...and let me just say this about that....you never heard or saw complaints from fans about each other like this back then! Yeah, you would have one or two rude arses in person that day, cutting etc, but the masses of fans 100 or so who were there all night would simply not allow it. The negativity, rudeness, catty, bratty, ridiculous behavior started on Vertigo (perhaps in response to the lottery, perhaps because of the age of the internet being more instant and more faceless.) Sadly, even tho it was a bit better on this tour, it continued.
Anyway, this is what I said earlier...if you had to STAY in line and be TOGETHER (with exception of bathrooming/showering/food) all this crap talking wouldn't happen and it would be more fair. The experiences I and many of my friends had camping out overnight on Elevation were better than any other line experiences we've had since. I guess next time I'll save up and go to Europe Galeongirl
On a personal note, over my last 4 tours (Popmart/Elevation/Vertigo/360) I have run lines, I have helped run lines, I have been in many more lines that I didn't start, I have sat in seats/bleachers, I have stood by the mix, and finally I have floated around and been in a different spot for a different view for entire portions the setlist. At the end of the day...I saw U2 LIVE!! This is what matters people! Let's try and have a little perspective as we, and the band get older. that there may not be that many more tours. So be nice and have fun!!!