Ticket Buying Vignettes

ED NOT: Here are some stories and suggestions that fans have sent to me in response for solicitation/feedback on ticket buying successes or failures. There are tips and tricks, tools, joy and heartbreak among the entries!

Dear jman, In response to your website... YES everyone I know is getting shit for seats. I was first in line at the ticketbastard (I love that phrase) outlet for the August 11th show at DTE Muisc Theatre near Detroit. Once upon a time, first in line would easily guarantee you the first five rows at a show, if not THE first row... what did I get... more than midway back and off to the far right side... THAT SUCKS!!! What is up with this tour? Is the band aware of what's going on? It seems you either have to be a ticket-scalper..err.. excuses me... "ticket-broker" or have tons of CASH just to get a good seat at these shows... and what the hell is with all these internet presales anyway? I'm surprized that some hotshot lawyer hasn't filed a class-action lawsuit against ticket-bastards. After all, doesn't an internet-presale discriminate against people who don't have access to a computer? If any band (and not just RUSH) want's to sell tickets via the internet... that's fine. BUT, shouldn't ALL forums for selling tickets go on sale simultaneously? ie; in person, via phone or via the internet? Anyway, I'm frustrated too!!!
- Jim
Hey man-i passed up 14th row in front of geddy at staples center-i'm on the side about 20 rows up. A cable modem helps-start getting tickets as soon as they go on sale via computer and don't be afraid to pass up seats because better seats sometimes become available as the sale proceeds-i kick myself for passing up 14th row but i'm happy with what i got-i may be able to watch neil better from the side. I'm about 40 yards out dead center for Irvine. I hope to get really good seats for San Diego. I was 2nd row dead center in charlotte for Test For Echo. I got those from a guy outside the venue 30 minutes before the show cheap-i got lucky. scalpers at the show are one way to go-take a print out of the arena and low ball the scalpers right before the show-i've done it several times for rush and came up with good fairly inexpensive seats considering. i haven't checked how seats are selling now but if demand is low closer to the show the better deal you can get from scalpers-just low ball em. i screwed up when la and irvine went on sale and came in a little late so i gotta make up for it in San Diego. Good luck man
- chuck
Hey Dude, Dug your website! Greetings from St. Catharines, Ontario, the original Subdivisions. Are you going to attend the Rush Convention?
-Chris
Jordan, Sorry to hear about your bad luck in getting good seats at RUSH shows. I found by experience that the best way to get good tickets for any show is to buy them online (if you have a fast connection that is). I got my Rush tix on presale date and through ticketmaster by getting password from rush.com. Don't worry however I think RUSH will be touring extensively on this tour and you will get more chances. The other alternative is the dreaded ticket agencies or scalpers which I don't recomend for obviouse reasons. I know this e-mail will be no comfort or help to you but I assure you you are not alone in this problem and that my tickets were by divine help. Best of luck.
- Kurt
Saw on your site that you are looking for decent tickets to some specific RUSH stops. Prior to and including 5/22/02 I was only finding lawn seats for Hartford. As of yesterday (5/23/02), some mid-section seats opened up on the tickets.com site: http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/EventInfo?pid=945675 I'm not sure how close you need to be to make it worthwhile, but at least these aren't lawn seats! Besides, it's RUSH! Best wishes with your RUSH tour! (I just bought some newly-released tickets on ticketbastard for the Jones Beach show - 7/15. They are in the center, just behind orchestra - called stadium 1 at this venue - not bad considering only the back, outside seats in the 4th level above orchestra were available prior to yesterday!).
- Sincerely, Chad Olsen (RUSH fan since 1983).
J-man, I was apparently very lucky for the Charlotte show. Logged on to Ticketmaster about 15 minutes prior to the sale and repeatedly refreshed the screen, particularly in the last minute or two prior to the appointed hour. To my amazement, the 3 tix I requested came back Row 1, Center Section! This will be my 12th Rush show since 1980 and I have always been in the cheap seats. I am stoked! Conversely, I used the same "refreshing" technique for the Nashville show and ended up with decent tickets but nothing even approaching Charlotte. I think it's all a plot by the ticket agencies (legal scalpers) to buy up blocks of good seats. I think the best chances are to use Ticketmaster online, don't request too many tix (beyond 2-3), and order as close to the opening second as possible. It will be a hit or miss thing, "Like a vapor trail..." Best of Luck.
- Brent "The MadRushian"
Hey Jman, For rush tickets, I've just been getting online immediately when they go on sale. I agree, it can be a pain in the ass. I have a seat in the lower level for the Scranton, PA and Concord, CA shows. For Scranton, I lucked out and got 9th row. I've found the only way to get seats in the lower level this close is by going solo. For Hartford, I got online instantly for 2 tickets and the best I could get was 8th row in the second level, which I consider pretty good considering all the seats sold out on the first day (although tickets.com just released some more in row QQ; I'm not sure how that works). Ebay seems to have some really good seats, but you have to pay at least double or triple the face value.
- Brian


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