dave24
Joined: March 14, 2002 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 352
What constitutes a real fan?
June 12, 2008 at 08:49 PM UTC
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My girlfriend and I were having a discussion about seating preferences on the way home from REM. I'm spoiled, and have always found my way into a seat near the front. This of course, is becoming much more cost-prohibitive.
Anyway, she tells me she enjoys the cheap seats just as much, and always has a better time in them because that's where the "real fans are."
Why wouldn't the "real fans" be the ones who went out of their way to find a good ticket, instead of just take the "best available" that Ticketmaster decides to spit out of its system? Are the people who settle for just being in the place just lazy, and not as committed?
A lot of the people in artists' fan clubs are rewarded with pre-sale opportunities which oftem times result in upfront seeating. Why aren't they real fans?
I guess more concisely, are the real fans up front, or the ones who will take a seat regardless of where it is just to see their favorite band?
nkotb
Joined: August 15, 2001 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 6500
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 12, 2008 at 08:53 PM UTC
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From what I've been able to tell on this forum, the "real fans" of any band that has the potential to sell out never even get tickets to the shows. Seems to be the "real fans" are stuck outside of the gate…
ixkpd-bk
Joined: December 12, 2005 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 1114
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 12, 2008 at 08:56 PM UTC
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Originally posted by dave24:
I guess more concisely, are the real fans up front, or the ones who will take a seat regardless of where it is just to see their favorite band?
Can it be both?
How can someone compare the adoration that one person has for a band over another? What basis do you have to quantify that? The amount they paid for their seats? How much merch you buy? How many albums you have? If you know every single note to every song they're ever done? "You're not a real fan because you're in the front.", "You're not a real fan because you got a cheap seat."
It's such a stupid argument. Why can't everyone just love the music and let that be that?
azaghal1981
Joined: June 17, 2004 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 12035
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 12, 2008 at 09:04 PM UTC
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Originally posted by ixkpd-bk:
Originally posted by dave24:
I guess more concisely, are the real fans up front, or the ones who will take a seat regardless of where it is just to see their favorite band?
Can it be both?
How can someone compare the adoration that one person has for a band over another? What basis do you have to quantify that? The amount they paid for their seats? How much merch you buy? How many albums you have? If you know every single note to every song they're ever done? "You're not a real fan because you're in the front.", "You're not a real fan because you got a cheap seat."
It's such a stupid argument. Why can't everyone just love the music and let that be that?
Word.
xneverwherex
Joined: September 27, 2004 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 2109
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 12, 2008 at 09:06 PM UTC
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the real fans are the ones who show up and support their favorite artist - hopefully with buying merch and cds/vynl, etc.
im more used to that analogy at sporting events. At MSG im pretty sure the real (hockey) fans were up top. No one could afford the expensive seats and most seats were bought out by companies - so you'd tend to find the suits who didnt know a thing about the game and were just there on their company's dime (or entertaining guests).
I went to one game this year - on company tickets and they were awesome seats. But everyone around me was in suits, had no clue what was going on, got up every 5 mins. They didnt have a clue who was even playing (i fear they didnt even know it was the rangers either).
I also find the same thing with some of the concerts at MSG (or anywhere that there might be season tickets). Its not a general rule.
dave24
Joined: March 14, 2002 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 352
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 12, 2008 at 09:23 PM UTC
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Originally posted by ixkpd-bk:
Originally posted by dave24:
I guess more concisely, are the real fans up front, or the ones who will take a seat regardless of where it is just to see their favorite band?
Can it be both?
How can someone compare the adoration that one person has for a band over another? What basis do you have to quantify that? The amount they paid for their seats? How much merch you buy? How many albums you have? If you know every single note to every song they're ever done? "You're not a real fan because you're in the front.", "You're not a real fan because you got a cheap seat."
It's such a stupid argument. Why can't everyone just love the music and let that be that?
It's all just asking for a matter of opinion. It is OF COURSE 100% subjective. It's not an argument. It's a topic of conversation to see what others think. Personally, I think it CAN be both, and probably is. Some fans have more resources, but it doesn't necessarily make you less of a fan to sit at the back of the lawn.
It's really just a discussion to see what others have to say. If you think it's stupid, you don't need to comment. That's the beauty of freedom of choice, and expression.
dave24
Joined: March 14, 2002 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 352
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 12, 2008 at 09:27 PM UTC
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Originally posted by xneverwherex:
im more used to that analogy at sporting events. At MSG im pretty sure the real (hockey) fans were up top. No one could afford the expensive seats and most seats were bought out by companies - so you'd tend to find the suits who didnt know a thing about the game and were just there on their company's dime (or entertaining guests).
I went to one game this year - on company tickets and they were awesome seats. But everyone around me was in suits, had no clue what was going on, got up every 5 mins. They didnt have a clue who was even playing (i fear they didnt even know it was the rangers either).
I also find the same thing with some of the concerts at MSG (or anywhere that there might be season tickets). Its not a general rule.
I'm VERY used to that at sporting events as well… I've been to games in probably two dozen cities. As a general rule, the more knowledgeable fans are up top – though that's a stereotype that has many exceptions.
sonickteam2
Joined: Unknown
Posts: 0
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 12, 2008 at 09:40 PM UTC
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oh to be a fly on the dashboard of the davemobile!
HoyaSaxa03
Joined: March 22, 2004 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 7053
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 12, 2008 at 10:05 PM UTC
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yawwwwn…
walkonby
Joined: Unknown
Posts: 0
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 13, 2008 at 01:43 AM UTC
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i just wish they would quit running out of xl mens shirts at shows. who the hell is wearing small and medium, the heroin club? america is a big country; give us our fucking xlarge shirts.
ixkpd-bk
Joined: December 12, 2005 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 1114
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 13, 2008 at 01:44 AM UTC
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Originally posted by walkonby:
i just wish they would quit running out of xl mens shirts at shows. who the hell is wearing small and medium, the heroin club? america is a big country; give us our fucking xlarge shirts.
TOTES. I got the last XL shirt at the Swervedriver show, what gives.
ixkpd-bk
Joined: December 12, 2005 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 1114
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 13, 2008 at 01:49 AM UTC
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Originally posted by ixkpd-bk:
Originally posted by walkonby:
i just wish they would quit running out of xl mens shirts at shows. who the hell is wearing small and medium, the heroin club? america is a big country; give us our fucking xlarge shirts.
TOTES. I got the last XL shirt at the Swervedriver show, what gives.
And, to answer your question more concisely Dave, I think a real fan would sit ANYWHERE they could afford to, not necessarily in the front.
Tom Servo
Joined: January 31, 2005 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 345
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 13, 2008 at 02:51 AM UTC
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Real fans show their love by not attending shows with assigned seating.
xine
Joined: April 15, 2004 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 806
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 13, 2008 at 03:36 AM UTC
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Originally posted by Tom Servo:
Real fans show their love by not attending shows with assigned seating.
LOL!
:)
thatguy
Joined: October 20, 1999 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 1268
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 14, 2008 at 05:27 AM UTC
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Originally posted by walkonby:
i just wish they would quit running out of xl mens shirts at shows. who the hell is wearing small and medium, the heroin club? america is a big country; give us our fucking xlarge shirts.
try finding 3x or 4x shirts. consider yourself lucky that your size is "standard."
Rhett Miller
Joined: November 15, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 17762
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 14, 2008 at 09:46 AM UTC
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i wear medium. I buy the small for my wife.
Originally posted by walkonby:
i just wish they would quit running out of xl mens shirts at shows. who the hell is wearing small and medium, the heroin club? america is a big country; give us our fucking xlarge shirts.
brokensocscene
Joined: December 12, 2005 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 9016
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 14, 2008 at 12:48 PM UTC
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are you saying Charlie is doing heroin? hehe
i used to wear small, but they shrink after i wash them (it gets super tight lol) so i buy meduium now.
but…back to the question:
the real fans are usually in front at reasonably priced shows. They go there early to be close to the band. I don't do that anymore really (too old for that), unless it's PJ Harvey or something and it's general admission. I do try to get the best seats if i'm a major fan of someone, no matter what the price is. Real fans travel also and SKIP work (I did that A LOT at my first job while working swing shift).
So the question to your friend…if REM was only doing ONE show this tour and it's 3 hours away, will she travel for that? Is she a real fan?
Originally posted by walkonby:
i just wish they would quit running out of xl mens shirts at shows. who the hell is wearing small and medium, the heroin club? america is a big country; give us our fucking xlarge shirts.
lwoxley
Joined: October 06, 2004 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 4792
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 14, 2008 at 02:13 PM UTC
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Real fans sit anywhere they damn well want…they just don't talk during the show.
They also 'buy' the cd, not 'share' it.
chaz
Joined: December 09, 2002 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 5111
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 14, 2008 at 03:24 PM UTC
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jaguar
Joined: October 28, 2001 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 3869
Re: What constitutes a real fan?
June 14, 2008 at 10:52 PM UTC
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I miss Brian.
Jaguar
