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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: dave24 on June 12, 2008, 04:49:00 pm

Title: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: dave24 on June 12, 2008, 04:49:00 pm
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?
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: nkotb on June 12, 2008, 04:53:00 pm
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...
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: Firebutt McGee on June 12, 2008, 04:56:00 pm
Quote
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?
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: azaghal1981 on June 12, 2008, 05:04:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by ixkpd-bk:
   
Quote
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? [/b]
Word.
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: xneverwherex on June 12, 2008, 05:06:00 pm
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.
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: dave24 on June 12, 2008, 05:23:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by ixkpd-bk:
   
Quote
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? [/b]
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.
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: dave24 on June 12, 2008, 05:27:00 pm
Quote
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.
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: sonickteam2 on June 12, 2008, 05:40:00 pm
oh to be a fly on the dashboard of the davemobile!
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on June 12, 2008, 06:05:00 pm
yawwwwn...
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: walkonby on June 12, 2008, 09:43:00 pm
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.
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: Firebutt McGee on June 12, 2008, 09:44:00 pm
Quote
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.
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: Firebutt McGee on June 12, 2008, 09:49:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by ixkpd-bk:
   
Quote
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.[/b]
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: Tom Servo on June 12, 2008, 10:51:00 pm
Real fans show their love by not attending shows with assigned seating.
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: Christine Moritz on June 12, 2008, 11:36:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Tom Servo:
  Real fans show their love by not attending shows with assigned seating.
LOL!
 
   :)
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: thatguy on June 14, 2008, 01:27:00 am
Quote
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."
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer on June 14, 2008, 05:46:00 am
i wear medium. I buy the small for my wife.
 
 
 
Quote
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.
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: Vas Deferens on June 14, 2008, 08:48:00 am
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?
 
 
         
Quote
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.
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: Frank Gallagher on June 14, 2008, 10:13:00 am
Real fans sit anywhere they damn well want...they just don't talk during the show.
 
 They also 'buy' the cd, not 'share' it.
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: chaz on June 14, 2008, 11:24:00 am
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Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: Jaguar on June 14, 2008, 06:52:00 pm
I miss Brian.
 
 Jaguar
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: Mobius on June 14, 2008, 08:31:00 pm
folks on the lawn are more likely to hang out until it gets dark and then spend the concert smoking joints and making out and looking at the stars.  i think there are various ways to be a real fan.  
 
 and i totally agree that the front/back dicotomy is real in sports - where corporations buy expensive season tickets - and not so much for most concerts.
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: walkonby on June 16, 2008, 05:32:00 pm
if you work for a corporation that gets great seats to shows and you get great seats to shows because of it, do you still hate it?
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: Relaxer on June 16, 2008, 05:42:00 pm
<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514SW0QDVCL._SS400_.jpg" alt=" - " />
 
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Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: sonickteam2 on June 16, 2008, 06:00:00 pm
hey, where did Brian Wallace go anyway?  Did i miss the grand exit? or was he booted off?
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: 6949 on June 17, 2008, 10:00:00 am
Quote
Originally posted by Tom Servo:
  Real fans show their love by not attending shows with assigned seating.
Real fans are happy that their favorite band has 'made it' to the point that they are playing bigger/seated venues and can say they saw the band when they were just an opening act or playing small low-key venues.
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: taperkat on June 17, 2008, 10:14:00 am
real fans don't give a shit where, when, or how the band is playing, just thankful they get another shot to see them play live.
Title: Re: What constitutes a real fan?
Post by: sonickteam2 on June 17, 2008, 10:39:00 am
I have to go to Texas the week that Radiohead is in Philly in August. so i am not going, does that make me less of a Radiohead fan?