RE: zeppelin-digest V12 #4366

[Kurt Finchum <finchumk@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

When Robert went onsale for Phoenix last year, as I said, the dates were listed 
on this list and 3rd row was available.   I posted to this effect on the 
official forum, mentioned that there was an empty seat next to us.  Someone 
else, a guy from Australia, bought it.  I remember he arrived about 30 seconds 
before showtime.    It's weird that the seats were being sold before there was 
any announcement, but obviously if this mailing list had them, there was an 
announcement *somewhere.*   

I do remember that when I saw Spinal Tap a couple years ago, we ended up with 
5th row in the same venue.  A security guard checked our tickets and scratched 
his head, saying "Hmmm, usually the promoter has this entire row reserved for 
him."   So that was nice to know.  

I've seen the lottery thing go both ways.  I actually won it one year for the 
Yes 'Union' tour, and ended up with 7th row seats even being the first in line. 
And I've had very little experience with general admission, but one that comes 
to mind is the SRV/Jeff Beck tour in '89.  We lined up a couple hours in 
advance outside Hara Arena in Dayton, and had a pretty good spot.  The line got 
so long that it doubled back on itself, like a U.    The asshole security guard 
walked out and thought there were two lines, and threw a shit fit about how we 
were all obviously too stupid to form one line, and squished the two sides of 
the U into one line, so the people on the end were suddenly near the front of 
the line.  It was hideous.    So when we were finally inside, everyone was 
sitting on the floor (no seats) waiting, and suddenly most of the crowd stood 
up and rushed forward, with pushing and shoving and we got screwed some more 
during the five seconds it took to stand up.   That was over 20 years ago, and 
it still pisses me off.   So all in all, I'd just as soon do without general 
admission.   I remember there's a scene in The Wall in which they throw the 
doors open and everyone rushes in like a stampede.   Was that the way it used 
to be in the magical 70s?   I can't say I'm sorry I missed that.