Question about security at concerts

[kennation]

Please tell me if it is like a mosh pit deal? With I have someone sweating, sneezing, or crying in my ear... PLEASE tell me that I will not have to throw elbows at the concert... We paid huge money for this and i don't want to have to fight to have MY place... you know?

[kak125]

If you are in the front row you wont have to really fight for your place up near the stage but it does get kinda packed up there. Its not like a mosh pit cuz most of the people are older and I hope more mature but I was at a Stevie concert back in 1998 where we were up front and some guy was being an idiot and he punched somebody and ended up hitting into me but when you are that close its kinda hard to not get smacked around a bit.

[wolfontherun]

Originally Posted by kennation

Please tell me if it is like a mosh pit deal? With I have someone sweating, sneezing, or crying in my ear... PLEASE tell me that I will not have to throw elbows at the concert... We paid huge money for this and i don't want to have to fight to have MY place... you know?

It can get a bit pushy with a lot of elbowing. Just make sure to plant both feet and stand your ground so as not to get pushed too much. Most are pretty cool but you get the occasional drunk douche bag up there.


My first time up at the stage there were 2 couples who had front row center, they def won them or were given the tickets by a company or something, they were not FM or Stevie fans. The guys were very obnoxious and put the noxious in that word, oh and the OB too.

Anyway as I was trying to get to the stage one guy shoved me away and then acted like he owned that entire area. Real jerk he was. But that situation was the exception and not the rule. Good luck and hope you get to shake her hand.

[kak125]

ha that kinda reminds me of when we saw the mac in toronto. There was this family of at least 5 that had front row and from the way they were dressed they were real rich but also obnoxious as well. They thought they owned the place. There came a point during the concert where Lindsey was signing some stuff so my hubby was like just jump over the seats to get his signature. So I hurdled the first row since we were in second and ran up there to get his autograph on my ticket. On my way back the older lady that was in the front row with that family pushed me and yelled at me and I was like woah what did I do to you? I guess she was mad that she didnt get an autograph or something but its not like they even tried or that I did anything wrong. People can be so annoying!

[LukeA]

Pardon me if this sounds out of turn, but if I was in the 6th row or something for a concert, I would respect the people in the front row and give them their space. In most cases, they have paid a lot of money for the privilege, and there's just something unbecoming of invading a fellow fan's personal space.

[kak125]

I agree with you in that I wouldnt invade somebody's space if they had front row and I didnt. Since I will be second row I will try to get up front but I wont get in the way of the people that have front row ya know? I would stand behind them since there is plenty of room up there for a decent amount of people. I had front row for Stevie at Cuyahoga Falls at least 3 years ago or more now and everybody was very nice at the front of the stage and not being pushy at all but usually when it gets near the end of the show security doesnt care what is going on and that is usually when people can get a little crazy.
I love having front row seats but I am not really gonna pay more than face value for it these days even if I had the cash. With ticketmaster constantly releasing good seats there is no reason to pay all that money.
As far as the Toronto show goes I got my autograph and went right back to my seat so I was at the front for less than a minute, it all went down so fast. For that lady to be so mean was just so strange to me.

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by LukeA

there's just something unbecoming of invading a fellow fan's personal space.

Unless it's your first and only chance at getting close to the MAC!

kak125, where there's a will there's a way.
Hope you make it to the front.

[kennation]

Originally Posted by iamnotafraid

Unless it's your first and only chance at getting close to the MAC!

kak125, where there's a will there's a way.
Hope you make it to the front.

Is it standard practice for all theatres? This would bite HARDCORE! If I get a front row seat there is no way, after spending this much money someone is gonna elbow me all night. Or me not have a good time because of someone's B.O. Or having to stand my ground. This upsets me. I am slowly loosing heart with this situation.

And how does that work? Do people get ushered up rows? Or are the seats taken away? Will we have to stand the entire time? I have questions and I am freaking out a little bit... PLEASE HELP! LOL

[kak125]

hey kennation, dont worry about all the questions. Its really not as bad as it may sound. The way it works is that security usually lets us so many rows to the front per show. I usually ask ahead of time instead of trying to get up there and get turned away. So you wont lose your seat or anything that wont be a problem. Its the area in front of the stage that people will be trying to get. So if you dont want to be smack next to the stage then you can stand near your seat for the concert. Some people want to be real close and others want to stay near their seats. Security doesnt usher anybody up front, people just make it up there and if it gets too crowded they usually check to make sure you are within the first couple of rows. My hubby and I went to Sheryl Crow/John Mayer a few years back at the PG Pavilion and we had 2nd row on the end of the row and it turned out that nobody in the front row went up front so they let us right up there. The show was a blast and since we were on the end we werent blocking anybodys view.
Dont worry you are going to have a blast and such a memorable night. You will be set!

[Regina]

Originally Posted by kennation

Is it standard practice for all theatres? This would bite HARDCORE! If I get a front row seat there is no way, after spending this much money someone is gonna elbow me all night. Or me not have a good time because of someone's B.O. Or having to stand my ground. This upsets me. I am slowly loosing heart with this situation.

And how does that work? Do people get ushered up rows? Or are the seats taken away? Will we have to stand the entire time? I have questions and I am freaking out a little bit... PLEASE HELP! LOL

I've been fortunate enough to always have a seat within the first 11 rows for FM concerts and I have never sat in one of them once FM hit the stage. Doing so would mean not seeing a thing. So, wear comfy shoes.

I actually had good front row experiences where people were, for the most part, respectful. I think the only time things got weird, actually, was when I was not in the front row. I was standing in the aisle, basically for my own protection (VERY drunk guys in front of me) and when one of them kept grabbing my hands because I wasn't "clapping right," this woman in front just sort of ushered me right next to her by the stage. That was very sweet.

I will say, though, be prepared for company up there. And, really, if you don't want anyone in front of you, sort of claim the stage in front of your seats really early because if it's anything like SYW, there will be folks who will slip right in front of you, and depending on how tough security is (and some venues are, and some are definitely not), you may have no choice in the matter.

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by iamnotafraid

Unless it's your first and only chance at getting close to the MAC!

Fandom aside, this attitude is obnoxious and rude.

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by LukeA

Fandom aside, this attitude is obnoxious and rude.

My comment about getting to the stage wasn't a license for "obnoxious and rude" behaviour. Except for accidentally stepping on someone's foot I've never behaved rudely at any concert.

There are many ways to get to the front of the stage. Of course it helps if you start out with good seats. Some venues have got smart and starting at about the fifth row (or so) there are no aisles. That stops most people, but not the brave, daring and determinated Mac fan.

Without the details, BEER, yes beer helped me get to the front of the stage at one of the shows I attended. No I wasn't drinking it, nor did I throw it (that would be the obnoxious and rude behaviour LukeA was talking about). I can't reveal the rest of the story because I might do it again. And if all you Ledgies use it, there won't be any room left at the stage for me.

One last thing, besides will and determination it helps if you're bigger than most. At the very least it helps you hold on to your spot.

DavidMN is the one who should reveal his stage secrets.

[steviefan99]

Originally Posted by LukeA

Pardon me if this sounds out of turn, but if I was in the 6th row or something for a concert, I would respect the people in the front row and give them their space. In most cases, they have paid a lot of money for the privilege, and there's just something unbecoming of invading a fellow fan's personal space.

AGREE!!!!!!! I Paid good hard earned money for my first ever front row seat . I will get crazy with whoever tries to take my spot. But if you want a front row seat then pay for it.

[wolfontherun]

Originally Posted by steviefan99

AGREE!!!!!!! I Paid good hard earned money for my first ever front row seat . I will get crazy with whoever tries to take my spot. But if you want a front row seat then pay for it.

Your spot is the SEAT you paid for. I doubt anyone will try to take your seat from you.