Good photie of front rows last night within this...
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Nice shot of the official U2 fan queue management team there.
That's me far left. Those guys to my side deserve medals for what they do. Great guys. Was a fantastic show, our faces say it all.
Serious question: Why? What do they do that's deserving of a medal?
Not being snarky, curious to your thoughts.
They handle the GA lines and make sure everyone is numbered and no one jumps in. They let security know, and let us all know what roughly the times are going to be. We are all wristbanded named and numbered. Its all about organisation. We were all at the venue for 6am. While I just stood about, they were making sure everything was running smooth. Its a long day. But as you can see with our faces.. its worth it.
I appreciate your honesty but I think your gratitude might be a little misplaced. I'm not trying to pick a fight but I just can't help but feel that the 'selflessness' of this act is not all that selfless. I've heard and read the 'doing it for the fans' argument and 'preventing chaos' but I just don't believe it.
1) if it's a selfless act, why are the same people rewarded over and over and over with the best location night after night after night?
2) if it's for the fans, why are so many fans so vocal against it?
3) why not let other people have that same experience? That same thrill?
4) why do the 'line organizers' refuse to understand that other people think the 'game is rigged'?
5) with the current 'line system' do you believe I or anyone that's not part of 'the clique' could ever hope to have those exact spots that are monopolized show after show after show by the same exact people? If so, how? How do I become #1-20? Who do I have to contact to make that happen?
It just all seems so disingenuous. We're doing this for safety. We're doing this for the fans. And in turn, we take the very best and most coveted spots for every show. It's only fair.
I wont pretend that I'm not envious. I would love to have those spots just once in my life. I would queue for a long time just to make it happen. But I can't help but fill like even if I could be within 10 feet of those spots, I can never be in those spots, because it's fixed. There is no chance for me to be #1-20. Correct me if I'm wrong. But even if I could, I'm not sure I could suspend the ethical conflict I have with imposing my will on 10,000 other paying ticket holders/fans.
This has all been beaten to death but I can't help but think of this gif when I look at that picture.
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They could be the best guys in the world, but their actions seem to go against the very ideals of fairness. They have literally become 1%ers, they get the very best, most coveted spots at a show they've seen or will see multiple times, from the very same, very best spots. Give another guy a shot, even if it's not me.
Jumping in here with a very rare post.
I speak only from my personal experience -- which is about 8 GA lines -- all in various London venues, going back to 2001.
First a quick point about Vic - the fellow in the green and white hooped Celtic soccer jersey, already mentioned a few times. I have met him at every London show I've attended since 2001 - he's always top 10 whenever I've seen him. In my view he's just that dedicated and has put in the hours. Sometimes overnight, sleeping outside the venue (Wembley 2009 comes to mind). He's a decent guy, very experienced in running the GA lines and has generally been very fair and decent when it comes to the integrity of the line. For example - he found someone who was hanging around on July 8 at Twickenham who wasn't attending London1 and encouraged him to run the line for July 9, London2. He suggested to him to start the numbering at 10pm - while the London1 gig was still going on. This way those who were attending London2 ONLY, would have first dibs to be at the front. Seems very reasonable. Vic, himself, was in the GA for London2, but admitted he was too tired to line up and said he would just hang back for the second show.
After London 1, I didn't run to the sign-up spot for London2, but eventually got number 79. I had 169 for London1, but as it happened ended up in EXACTLY the same spot for both shows - in front of Adam at the tree stage.
So in some respects the system is fair. If you showed up early enough - found the guy who had the notebook at that time, you'd get the next number and your name in the book.
However it appeared to me that the system is ALSO rigged. One guy who was in the top 10 for London1 ended up with number 8 for London2. I find it impossible to believe that in the 40 minutes between 10pm (official start time for London2 GA) and when London1 ended (1040pm), he managed to get through 1000s of people standing behind him, get through the exit tunnel, through the concourse and back to the perimeter fencing and be number 8 for the next night. Absolutely impossible that only 6 other people (line starter excluded) were around before him.
Was the line starter his buddy and countryman? Yes.
That individual, by the way, has attended EVERY SHOW so far (NA and Europe) and plans will attend all remaining European shows.
The system isn't 100% transparent and fair -- there's no doubt about it. However, in my limited experience, if you show up early enough you'll get the top 20 spot you crave. You just have to be have the strength of mind and character and be steadfast in the face of any B.S. that may come your way ...
