Issues with recent concert seating and barriers

[Photochic820]

Ok I need to rant.. I know I am not in here much to comment. I like to stay quiet and read all the awesome comments and questions. Saturday night I was at Mohegan Sun and was very disturbed with the way the seating was set up and I heard that many of the shows were like this as well.

I had a 6th row seat, which when I got there was no way a 6th row seat due to the insane 20 foot pit with metal barrier in front of the first row. These people who were in the pit were all standing in front pf those who had the first rows of seating and it was VERY UNPLEASANT...

I have NEVER been to a concert where this has happened and I was not happy about it. I completely understand there being a small pit for press photography, I am a press photographer and have had the opportunity of being able to be in that type of pit for the first 3 songs and then I leave the pit for another paid seat.

The fan club was not able to get any signatures by Alan and most of us were not even able to see the stage. I also understand the recent bad press about fans being overzealous and putting their hands on the artists, but I think Alan Jackson fans are much more respectful. I don't know whose idea this whole setup is, but I think it's wrong and alienates fans.

I was at his Mohegan Sun concert in 2011, my first, and I was way up in the venue. I watched the fans up close enjoy themselves, being able to go to the stage and get something signed, or just say hi. It was amazing to watch. I have since been to several of Alan's shows, including Carnegie Hall, which I was lucky enough to purchase VIP for and was blessed with a chance to meet Alan on his tour bus. That show was amazing and there were NO issues with fans... I just don't understand the way this new setup is...  Very depressing

[Alanfan]

The only one I know who could help explain your dilemma would be Cindy at the fan club.  Maybe she does not know what happens or maybe she knows WHY it is happening.  She is true blue and would not lie to you.

ALANFAN

[Photochic820]

Thank you ALANFAN.. I intend to do that next.. Although I have written a few emails in the past few weeks and gotten no response ..  I will try again

[Bostonhonkytonk]

Well, let's hope she does.   It was really bad.  I have a friend who attended with his wife.  They were in the 2nd row (bought the tix at presale).  No way he was in the 2nd row.  He had a ton of people standing in front of him the whole night and one guy was huge so he had to stand to the side to see.  

As much as I love y'all, I bought this FC membership, so I could get tour news and ticket info.  My membership is up in September.  If the presale ticket locations are going to be so disappointing, why bother?  I probably won't renew.  

[Photochic820]

That was Ray and Lynn!! i was with them! I had 6th row with my cousin. No way 6th row... I feel the same way Bostonhoneytonk

[Bostonhonkytonk]

Last year I flew to Nashville and and went to Carnegie Hall to see Alan.  I live in the Boston area.  If I had spent big money on travel & lodging to get to the venue and see my ticket wasn't what it was supposed to be (because there was a big pit of people in front of me), I would lose my temper all over the venue.  Right is right and wrong is wrong.  This is just WRONG!  Period.

It's no different than a bait and switch.  I'm wrong about a lot of things, but not about this.  

Will anxiously wait for a reply here from the Fanclub.

Not a happy camper.

[Photochic820]

You are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!!!

[jmacminn1621]

I went to Musikfest on Friday night and pretty much the same thing happened.  I was in 3rd row via presale which only allowed me one ticket there and my husband was 2 rows behind me and son were 5 rows behind him!  My seat, although thought would be great 3rd row, instead it was off to the side and could barely see the stage!  I had to look at the big screen to the left of me to see!  Alan was protected by barriers and didn't sign a single thing because there was no way anyone could get to the stage.  You join the fan club to get special treatment and feel we are far from being special and no chance to ever meet Alan, ever.  Asked Cindy about the meet and greet contests because the site wasn't going through and never got a message to say I was entered....she has never answered any of my emails in the past few months.  Something is going on.  Very disappointed with the show that he only played for an hour and 15 mins besides!  I have another show on the 23rd and will be it for me if things don't change.

[Photochic820]

I knew it wasn't just me that had these issues. If Cindy isn't able to respond, shouldn't someone else have been getting back to us?  It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I also belong to Joe Nichols Fan club and won a meet and greet with him here on Long Island. His management called us at the venue to tell us his plane was late, but to meet her in the lobby at such and such a time when she would escort us back to Joe.. This was recently, and it really made us feel like we mattered....

[Photochic820]

I wonder too!! What is going on?

[Duchess]

I guess I can understand the caution because of the things that have gone on at other stars concerts but there has to be a happy medium, fans are going to quit going and maybe even buying new CD's, someone really needs to answer the questions people have, I think if a reasonable answer is given most would understand.

 It doesn't make sense to me to have a large pit full of people that anyone would think it would protect the singer-maybe I didn't understand and the pit was empty?

 Maybe it is time for the venues quit selling alcohol at events, it would stop some of the craziness, of course people could sneak it in but if caught sould be shown the door .I don't understand that getting drunk at a concert would add anything good to the show, I want to be able to enjoy every moment the star is on stage.

 I am a new member, I hope Cindy or someone will get back to all of us with an explanation of what is going on .If it continues like this venues and the singer will both lose. 

[Bostonhonkytonk]

I guess we didn't explain it correctly.   Here's what happened:

I'll use my friend, Ray, as an example because he bought 2nd row seats for he and his wife.   However, when he got there, there was a barrier in front of row 1.  In front of the barrier, there was a standing group of people.  Probably about 100 or so.  No seats - all standing.   So they had the spots in front of the stage.  Ray should have been in front, 2 rows back but he was probably the equivalent of 10 rows back with a bunch of people standing in front of him all night.  

This wasn't done to be cautious about anything.  That doesn't make sense.  They were just attendees like everyone else.   Ray showed up thinking he'd be 2 rows in front of the stage.  He wasn't - essentially the people standing in front of him all night were in his 2nd row seat.   He was crushed.

[Photochic820]

It needs to go back to the way it's always been done...

[Bostonhonkytonk]

Yes.  It's not right.

[ajarkansasfan]

Been to a lot of places that have the pit area up front.        you can write cindy   but I know she has nothing to do with the way the venues sit things up   like the pit areas,