Sunday, December 9, 2007 - 22:25
How early to get a good spot at a general admission show?
Hello everyone, perhaps this is answered elsewhere but I'm browsing the forums and haven't found a specific answer yet. So maybe someone can help me. I'm going to see Tori at the Grove in Anaheim, which is a general admission show. I usually arrive early for shows if I want to get a good spot--I'm short, plus it would be amazing to see Tori from the very front.
My first guess was that there would be a massive pack of Tori fans getting there at the crack of dawn on the day of the show, even camping out to ensure a prime spot at the concert. So I was thinking of getting there in the morning, since it's a Saturday anyway. But then I read somewhere on the forums that only a handful of people actually get to the shows early. Is this true??
So, my question is this, to those of you who have been to shows on this tour and who have seen Tori in venues without assigned seating: How early should I get there? Being able to meet her if she does a meet-and-greet would be icing on the cake; my main goal is to get a stellar spot inside the venue.
Thanks!!
Replies for this Forum Topic
LOL! Temptationsgirl: I'm sorry that happened to you, and I completely understand how annoying and unfair that is. The way you worded that made me giggle though hehe
My friend and I got there about 6:00--our spot in line was about where Tori's tour bus was on the side of the theater...and we saw a lot of people just walking up from the back and casually cutting in line. I'm not sure how it was up near the front...but it was annoying even for us! We knew we would not be up against the stage since we only got there an hour before the doors were supposed to open, but it is still aggrivating that people can be so inconsiderate and outright rude. Anyways...the theatre is so small that I was pleased with the show...even though I would have loved to be up against the stage...but once again, I was not there at 12:00 like you were, and others. We ended up being against the rail of the second level...we could have been on the first level, but we thought a little higher up over the people in the pit would allow us to see better. Anyways...the show was great...I could feel Tori's energy even if I was a ways back. Hope you enjoyed the show too
--
"Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone!"--Dorothy Parker
Well, now that its all done and over with, the correct answer to your question "when should I arrive to get a good spot" is "It depends on WHO you are and WHO you know..well, and how well you can shove yourself into the front of the line even though you showed up at 7pm and the rest of us have been here since noon"
whew that was quite the run-on sentence!!
I just wanna send out a very heartfelt f*** YOU to those of you who cut in line.
Thanks for the responses! The Grove is a pretty nice place--it's actually the most ideal place to sit and camp on the concrete--because it's pretty new, and it's secluded from the main goings-on of the city of Anaheim (not that there's much going on there). Basically enclosed by the parking lot of Angel Stadium. So, as long as you have some coffee and something to read, of course, it's a good place to wait.
In October my boyfriend and I waited before a Regina Spektor show--he got there at 4 pm and was about 10th in line--but we're talking Tori here (multitudinous hordes of megafans) and I am quite sure I will need to get there earlier. I think we'll just head on over in the morning. Or is that being too cautious?
Does anyone figure I would lose my place in line if I sauntered over to the meet and greet?
Hope you find tix, Kalimba!
I was at The Vic show in Chicago. And am considering catching a flight out on Friday to see the show at The Grove. I can probably second those who complained about the difficulties of a GA show. Any GA show. But perhaps moreso at a Tori show since there are so many fanatical fans who want to be sooo close to Tori and there are a lot of "shorter" people. That's about as political correct as I can be about it. We arrived just after the Vic opened the doors and were able to get one row behind the rail of the first elevated area after the main floor. So I would guess there were 200 people there before us. We could look down on the main floor and it was sardines. Packed to the max! Even our section got packed before Yoav came on. There were many folks around me who got VERY aggressive and tried to push their way forward but it was not happening. I felt for the shorter folks, ie. less than 5' 7" or so (my wife's size). She said it was ok but there was a 5' girl to my left who probably never saw the stage. My best advice for her would have been to move back to where you can see, even if it is in the balcony. In small venues like this, all sight lines are good, even in the back. There was a lot of bopping and some swaying going on, but not much room to really dance. We were shoulder to shoulder the whole time! The good news is there was no way for a stage rush to happen. If this deters anyone, I'm looking for two! (But I promise I didn't write this to get tix) Have a great time. I hear it is a new place and somewhat formal, totally unlike The Vic, but perhaps Pip will show up and do another MAAG with band (and props)!
--
The sexiest thing is trust.
You were at the Vancouver show? ....so was I.
I looked over the balcony rail to the crowd downstairs ...they seemed to be having a lot more fun than all the 'quiet' ones in the balcony.
Well, there it is....U can still do one more Tori show at The Grove and do whatever you like guilt-free (or should I say bulls***-free?!).
oh wow! i would love to go see a general admission tori show, i didnt even know she did them. i cant stand that bulls*** of being told you can't sit or stand or dance in the aisle, like it was in vancouver! its one thing if u are blocking others view but if u are not....
especially when i know everyone downstairs was up dancing, in their seats!
i wouldn't worry all that much about what time u get there, just work it work it work it to the front. i have turned up to so many shows not all that early, there is a huge line of peeps been there for hours and i always get 2nd or third row back, no worries
have fun wontcha. i gotta look out for her gen. admission shows now!
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tihei mauri ora
xxoo
Oh, one other good thing about this show at The Grove...since everyone is standing anyway,y ou can dance as much as you want and not bother the folks behind you....
;^)
Hi-
I can totally sympathize with your concerns...they are mine too.
The following is probably TMI, but might help>>>
I've been sorta researching The Grove off and on all day trying to figure out the best way to experience a Tori concert in that venue....not much available online to go on.
I did find this (the article is a little old and very technical, but still true):
http://www.livesoundint.com/archives/2002/septoct/grove/grove.php
The point seems to be that it's an absolutely great venue for the accoustics and sound, and that the sound is actually better a bit back from the stage. Also, note that there is no slope downward to the stage, only a series of five floors as you go back from the stage, each a foot or so higher than the one in front of it.
That said, we all want to see Tori as close as possible. My best guess at a strategy for this show is:
1) Get a really good night's sleep the night before and be rested and ready to stand for many hours
2) Women should avoid heels over 1" (unless you're used to standing for hours in them!).
3) Arrive in time for the M&G outside the venue mid-afternoon(let's hope there is one!), after which go grab a Starbucks and a good meal nearby, then come back (or bring food and get an earlier spot in line).
4) Get in line when you return and you should be fine (meaning one of the first 100 or so they let in).
This is a best guess, not based on experience. Hopefully, someone else here can enlighten us.
I think I read somewhere that The Grove opens the parking lot 2 hours before the show, so be prepared to stand some more once you get inside if you want to be close to the stage.
The great enemy in this situation will be the need to find a restroom periodically, especially during the show itself ...(maybe the best strategy is don't drink any fluids that day!..just kidding).
I'd also help for you to have a boyfriend/husband/date who is big enough to help clear a path for you to the stage (kidding again.....mostly).
There's probably no way to know how many will show up when, but something tells me that there aren't enough of her fans that are THAT hardcore to camp out all day for a better position in a standing room venue....i.e more than a handful, less than a massive pack.
Eventually you simply have to face the ugly reality that this will be like the stage rush that happens at many Tori shows except it'll last the entire show and if you're not aggressive or over 6' tall, then you may never get to see Tori as closely or easily as you'd hoped. I think her show at the Vic in Chicago was the same "club" kinda venue, and the few comments I've seen weren't encouraging...however, nearly all said it was a GREAT show in spite of the venue. This was the only other GA venue in the U.S. that I know of. Read it and judge for yourself:
http://undented.com/tour/1144/chicago-il-2
Anyways, I'm going to The Grove with the hope that it's a really great show with super sound/accoustics and that I get an occasional good look at T and the gang, and just have fun (and that my feet and back don't hurt too much the next day)
....i.e. it's best to manage your own expectations and make the best of it. I'm lookin' forward to a great show that night.
Hope this helps you and anyone else going to this venue...
:^)