gocanux
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Everything posted by gocanux
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Must agree with making friends with security. At Austin in '05, one of our group had a bad case of tonsillitis and was feeling severely dehydrated. The security guy kept an eye on her and gave her water.
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Damn straight, sistah!
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A couple more important things: If you have little kids, get tickets in the seats, preferably up front. If they can't see, they can stand on the seats, since everyone will (should!) be standing. And put ear protection on them! (Like this: http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/alnasoearpl.html) It was horrifying to see parents dragging 6-7-8 yr olds into the pit at Wembley! It's dangerous for the child; plus, they won't enjoy the concert at all. NO LINE CROWDING! If you are holding spaces for friends, it is common courtesy to let the people behind you know. And one person holding space for a dozen just is not cool. As some have said, if you want to be on the barrier, you need to be prepared to line up all day. One or two at a time can go for food or loo breaks. I have seen people have one person in line all day, then think that all their friends will join them right before doors open. Important corrolary to "DON'T BE A DICK": don't show up late to a show and then try to push your way to the barrier! 'Nuff said. Huge difference between having some alcohol, and drunk. If you are drunk, get out of the pit! You must have been in some rather benign GA sections, if 75% of people had personal space! That has not been my experience at all. Some gigs have coat/bag check areas, some don't. And expect to wait in line for ages after the gig to reclaim your items. If you plan to get up front on the barrier, you won't be able to leave to go check your stuff. Or get merch. Or pee. Try a very small bag with a long strap you can wear over one shoulder and across your abdomen, you can keep your stuff away from pickpockets. Roya came up with the idea of a camera case at the Vegas gig, worked like a charm and has little pockets for cash, key, phone, chapstick, granola bar. Just stuff your camera into your jeans pocket. We have the same problem at Seattle Sounders games. We real fans stand thru the entire game! People can get peeved, but oh well. At a post-season reception event for season ticket holders (thankfully all 25,000 didn't show up!) the coach specifically said how it energized the team that the fans stood thru the whole game! Same thing for a band: can you imagine how it would feel to be Muse and look out and see everyone calmly sitting in their seats???? You might want to warn the people behind you that you will be standing. Plenty of us "Older Muse Fans" like the pit! The Electric Factory show had the most incredible surge I have seen at a Muse gig; I was in the balcony with 2 friends who can't do GA (one has severe osteoporosis, the other has had a kidney transplant!) and was in fear for my son's wellbeing! But Madison Square Garden was the most civilized pit ever! I was on the barrier between Dom and Chris; no pushing, we had an envelope of personal space. It was so benign that I went to the loo between acts and came back to my barrier spot with no hassle! Very unexpected for NYC. Older? You're what, 22?? Just wait until you're even older, you bruise more but who cares? It's worth it! If you really have to get out, just let the people who need to move a bit to let you pass know that you are leaving, not trying to take their space. Just yell "Coming thru" or "gotta get out!" and they usually will make room for you to squeeze thru. It's usually easier to move parallel to the stage, toward the side, but head toward the back if that's the closest way out. The whole idea is to enjoy the show. Some like the pit, some would rather be in seats. Don't let anyone make you feel like a wuss for taking seats (people will, you know), what's the point of being in the pit if you aren't enjoying the show? Amen! Jump in rhythm with everyone else! It's hazardous to have someone coming down as you're going up, elbows tend to clobber the other person! RUDE to the max! Someone that rude deserves whatever they get: elbows and knees to sensitive areas, a shoe to the groin, whatever. I am a very peaceful person, but that kind of behavior really ticks me off. (I have been on the receiving end of it before too, had to be pulled out of a pit because I just could not enjoy the concert). The worst thing is, she got what she wanted, your spot up front. Kind of like giving in to a 2-yr-old's tantrum, just reinforces the behavior so she will do it again and again. Too true. Usually it's easy to tell the difference; people pushed onto you typically apologize! So if you are pushed into people, tell them you're sorry! You don't have to go all the way back. My magic spot is about a third of the way back, in front of Chris, if I can't get right down front.
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If you are in seats, DON'T EXPECT TO SIT!! It's a rock concert, not the symphony! Last night 2 Musers I know didn't feel like standing for hours on cement, and one is rather petite and knew she wouldn't see much from the floor. They got great spots in the 3rd row of seats, but everyone around them made their lives miserable because they stood during Muse! If you have a physical disability and can't stand, for heaven's sake ask about accessible seating. You don't have to be in a wheelchair, they must provide seating for those who need reasonable accomodations (like the '04 Wiltern show; my son was on crutches with a knee injury). They will provide seating that guarantees a good view if you are seated.
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It's usually calmest in front of Chris (all that head-banging is hypnotizing??), much crazier in the center and in front of Matthew.
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I would have closed this thread, not Solarbell's, but seems it's still here. Let me repost the most important bit of advice: And I almost forgot Wheaton's Law!!!!! DON'T BE A DICK!!!!
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Don't wear slip-on closed-toed shoes, like Vans. Choose shoes that tie on securely, or they will come off, and you will lose one/both and be in the pit barefoot!
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Solarbell and I both posted basically the same new thread; I will repost her thread opener here, the mods can lock one of the threads but hopefully not both! solorbell: I very rarely make new threads, but it seems that in the last couple of gigs that I attended, there were quite a few people that came away from the pit disappointed and downright angry. For the most part, it was due to lack of preparation on their part. They had never been in the pit before and didn't know what to expect. Here is a quick Muse Pit Survival Guide for those of you who are Muse pit Virgins: 1. WEAR COMFORTABLE, CLOSED TOE SHOES. You WILL get stepped on and possibly kicked. If you wear flip flops or sandals, you will lose them possibly before the show begins and may never see them again. If you wear heels, you will be hating life within a very short period of time. 2. EAT A VERY GOOD MEAL AS CLOSE TO THE BEGINNING OF THE GIG AS POSSIBLE. Something high in protein will keep you feeling full longer. Bring in some munchies that can fit in a pocket, like a powerbar. If you are on the rail, you will not be able to leave it and come back unless there are some really understanding fans. Once Muse begins playing, FUHGETABOUTIT! 3. HYDRATE WITH PLENTY OF WATER BEFORE THE GIG STARTS, NOT ALCOHOL!. Some venues allow you to take in bottles of water, some do not. Find out before hand in possible. Alcohol will dehydrate you. If you are going to drink, please try not to over do it. No wants to be puked on! 4. IF YOU DON'T LIKE STRANGERS TOUCHING YOU, STAY OUT OF THE PIT! It is completely unavoidable. And keep your cool if someone bumps you. Nine times out of 10, they are being pushed by the crowd surge. Don't take it personally. There will be hours of what my friend calls "Intimate moments". 5. PREPARE TO BE PUSHED, CRUSHED, STEPPED ON, AND SHOVED AS YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE! Usually the most intense crushing lasts a few seconds, then the crowd surges back and everyone is ok, but things can get very intense. BE WARNED! 6. MAKE FRIENDS WITH FELLOW MUSERS AROUND YOU. Say hello, and try to get everyone to agree to form an impenetrable human wall when some douchebag tries to elbow and knee his way past you. TEAMWORK FTW! 7. DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO ATTACK OR GROPE YOU! Notify security immediately. Now, I have had parts of my body touched by others because they were crushed up against me but one dude was actually grinding against me. I told him to stop and the look on his face when I told him that my much taller husband was directly behind HIM, was absolutely priceless. He slunk away like the ass he was! If you find yourself being taken advantage of, notify security immediately. If you are trapped in a sea of people, ask guys around you for help. Another reason to make friends, btw! Most guys and girls will not stand by and allow this sort of behavior and will come to your aid. 8. DO NOT LOCK YOUR KNEES! What this means is, do not stand with your legs perfectly straight for an extended period of time. THIS WILL CAUSE YOU TO PASS OUT! Bend and flex your legs from time to time. The dude next to me in Vegas had to be pulled out of the pit before Muse even began their set. I felt bad for him, even though he had been acting like a douche earlier. 9. MAKE SURE YOUR CAMERA HAS A SMALL STRAP AND WRAP IT AROUND YOUR WRIST! If you drop it, it is likely gone forever. 10. DO NOT BRING A PURSE IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. You will have to hold it the entire time and it will take you longer to get through the line, as it will be searched by security. 11. TRY TO LEAVE YOUR FANCY EXPENSIVE PHONES AND DEVICES AT HOME. It is sad, but pickpockets will take advantage of the fact that everyone is so close together. Keep personal belongings in front pockets, if at all possible. 12. HAVE A GREAT TIME! Play nice children, and everyone will have the time of their lives!
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Mods: there have been threads like this before, but I think this will be pretty helpful to all the Musers who haven't been to concerts or haven't been in the pit before. It's a shame when someone's Muse concert experience is ruined because they were uninformed. So please don't lock it!
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There has been a lot of conversation in various theads about how rough it can get in the pit. Some Musers' concert experience was ruined because they had a difficult time in the pit, rude/pushy people near them, etc. You have to know what to expect and be prepared for it, or you too will have a miserable time. I will quote Solarbell's post from the Vegas thread, contains lots of good info: I would add a few more helpful hints: The GA/pit is great, a really intense concert experience, but you have to be ready to take the punishment that comes with it. It really helps if you work out and have enough muscle power and stamina to brace yourself on the barrier or hold your ground in a crowd for the duration, which ends up being several hours. If you're not physically strong, you probably won't have a good time. Must also mention the pre-gig hydrating, then several hours of fluid restriction so you don't have to go whiz and leave your precious barrier spot! Bring snacks in your pockets to stave off hypoglycemia. And it's the few idiots (like the drunk girls in heels behind us in Vegas, moaning that their feet hurt: duh! wear sensible shoes! You will be standing in one square foot of space on hard cement for several hours) that make it miserable for everyone. Couldn't believe last night in Seattle, one real genius gal crowdsurfing in spike-heeled boots! Chucks with a good supportive insole insert are a popular choice. Wear sturdy jeans and a tee or tank; it gets hot! You will likely be drenched with sweat, much of it not your own! If you have long hair, bring an elastic to tie it up if you get too hot. Don't bring bags or coats, leave them in the car or at coat check. Put everything (basics only; money, camera, phone) in your pockets, or use a little camera case with a long strap that you can wear bandolero-style; you can put key/credit card/chapstick/granola bar in there. It all comes down to preparation. If you are claustrophobic and will panic if you are crushed from all sides and/or lifted right off your feet, get seats. If you are tiny and won't be able to see over people (yes, the 6'4" guys want to be down front too), get seats. If you want to wear a mini and heels, get seats. If you want to come to the gig drunk/high, get seats. Part of the whole pit experience is how crazy and physical it gets, but make sure you are prepared. It's a rock concert, not a picnic! More good advice from Jamie_H: My GA top tips: 1. Don't be that guy/girl that has a backpack on their back. Nobody likes that person. 2. Everyone is getting pushed, but that doesn't give you the right to jump into people's back when you have enough space to rock out without smashing into others. I will hit you. 3. No. I can't give you anymore room. There are a few thousand people who would like some more room. Deal with it. 4. Sing in tune. 5. Boyfriends; Don't complain that i'm being pushed up against your girlfriend. There is nothing I can do about it. I know you feel like you need to assert your dominance in front of your girlfriend, but stop it. 6. Single girls; If I make polite conversation whilst being pressed up against a personal place then I am trying to make it a little less awkward, not come on to you. Unless you want me to, in which case that's cool too.
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That's a shame that we won't be able to get together. I'll be down in the pit, hopefully up front!
Mary
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If you're camera shopping, look at the Panasonic Lumix -- the newer models have hi-def video, really amazing quality. They run about $250-$300 but worth it, and small enough to sneak into any venue with camera nazis!
Be sure to sign up for the email priority list on muse.mu so you will get notices about ticket presales. Hope to see you in the pit at MSG, or wherever!
Mary
Did you look at my vids on Veoh?
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Hi Chloe, glad you liked the vids. Bring on the headline tour!
Mary
(On here, the only place I really go is the OlderMuseFans thread in Banter, so drop by some time, no age limits there!)
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Happy birthday, hockey fan!
---Mary
(Bruins and Canucks doing great, but what happened to the Sharks?)
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Well, it wasn't exactly hearing Muse, but Jeopardy was on the TV tonight while I was making dinner. In the category London Landmarks, the $800 answer was Wembley Stadium, and the $1000 was Royal Albert Hall!
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Try this link:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?&new_box_added_id=18879312282
All the Musers are hanging out there too---I don't have time for all this!
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hello back! Yes, the tour can't happen soon enough for me. At least I'm going to some other gigs, Dropkick Murphys in a week, Glasvegas at a tiny venue in April, and just got Coldplay tix for the Gorge (best venue ever, Muse MUST play there!) for July. And 30STM's new CD is due out this summer, with a tour sure to follow.
Come on over to the Oldies, we're in Banter now (eek!) and it's a lively bunch!
Mary
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HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, young lady! Maybe I will see you at a show on the next tour. Haven't seen you in the "oldies" thread in Banter lately; it was resurrected recently.
Mary