Ultimate Lucky Break in Tampa

[reed]

My 12yr old daughter and I went to the Tampa show with seats at the bottom of 304. She wanted to get something to drink between sets but waited too long to ask and I didn't want to miss the Police opening number. I said to wait and sure enough, they were out right after I told her to wait. 5 songs in, I gave in and we went to the concession. On the way back, a guy wearing an event badge walked up to us and asked if we were enjoying the show and if we were the only people in our party. I thought he was doing a survey and said the show was great and that it was just me and my daughter.

Then he dropped the bomb. He pulls a number of tickets from his pocket and says, "A few seats came open on the floor, do you want to go down?" I said you're kidding! Absolutely!

That was the start of one of my best concerts ever. My daughter flipped. For those who were at the Tampa show, you all know we saw something special that doesn't happen all the time. The crowd energy was unbelievable and you could see it working on the band.

I saw them when they were supporting Zenyatta and it's not the same band. They're many, many times better. And as good as Stewart was, Andy stole the show.

For those who are waiting to go and have nosebleed seats... it could happen to you!

[Divemistress of the Dark]

that's awesome, Reed. I have to tell you...yours is about the tenth story I've read like this. Three cheers for The Police management, that's obviously going to some work to do this for fans.

[cpriddims]

Yes. That story is great AND the one from Louisville about upgrading seats. Way to go POlice MGMT! (I think that's who anyway..or the venue mgmt).

[empty]

I've heard these stories- it does come from Management in general, or the promoter, but it's not them doing the handing out.

we used to do that with no shows and extra guest passes too- even if YOU aren't that into the band, it is super fun to make ANY fans day.

BUT, is anyone else who didn't get to go to Tampa wondering what happened there?
I'm imagining all sorts of flag acknowledgement, mooning, or general " my fans kick your fans' ass" fistfighting????????


put me out of my misery!

[cpriddims]

[quote="mtobinjones"]BUT, is anyone else who didn't get to go to Tampa wondering what happened there?
I'm imagining all sorts of flag acknowledgement, mooning, or general " my fans kick your fans' ass" fistfighting????????put me out of my misery![/quote]

Here's my 'two cents' on Tampa thread. If you missed the Miami Gonzo thread you have to see that one too. Chock full o good stuff! Cheers!

http://www.stewartcopeland.net/forum/vi ... 8746#38746

[empty]

Cheers! Was away and still catching up!

[Jennythenipper]

[quote="Divemistress of the Dark"]that's awesome, Reed. I have to tell you...yours is about the tenth story I've read like this. Three cheers for The Police management, that's obviously going to some work to do this for fans.[/quote]

This rocks totally.
By the way, who are these people that have floor seats to the Police and don't show? They better have all been in hospital or something.

[jennym]

Okay, this makes me sick with envy! I read about this happening in previous concerts so decided to be proactive. I walked out and asked a few folks in Arena garb a couple of times if they had any seats they "needed to fill". I was looked at with blank stares like they had NO idea what I was talking about. I guess you cannot ask for it and it just has to come to you! Good FOR YOU!!

[reed]

All I can say is that the guy saw a 49 yr old dad who was taking his daughter out for a big night. The fact that we were almost running back to our seats wearing sh*t eating grins probably clued him into how important this was to us. The sack of cotton candy she was carrying probably helped too.

My daughter identified WIYF as her favorite song when she was 2 and carried the tape to her preschool to play for her class. Her first show was Dave Matthews when she was 8. (Can't believe I did that!) This bit of divine intervention wasn't for me, it was for her.

[conroy]

Great story, reed! Despite what some of the "petulant pansies" who pass themselves as so-called critics are saying, this is turning out to be a legendary tour and your story is another wonderful example of how it seems to be bringing a lot of people together who might not have meet each other in person or in cyber space. This is without a doubt the coolest year of my life and the Police reunion is the nucleus, but Stewart's enthusiasm in particular, of the joy that I am feeling right now.

My co-workers think I'm crazy and no matter how much I express myself about why this is all so cool, they don't seem to get it. Oh well, I don't care anymore. I've never really cared much for what other people think anyway.

Rock on!

[JMRL]

The same happened to a friend and me at Chicago but before the show started. The seats were in the last row of sector B and the tickets says $0.00 so I guess they are rows that do not go on sale to the public and are reserved for the organizers or something like that.

[empty]

It's not stadium people who know about seats- it would generally come from the promoter, band mngmt. or tour management(my guess).

So, here's the deal with many of them (as to why people don't show). Used to be if you were on tour, you got to get all your friends,family, and well, ahem, guests in for free. Not the case for a long time (since tix hit above the $75 mark. Now, you pay for tickets for said family and friends if you are working on the tour. They set aside a certain number of premium seats for guests-of band and crew and management.

Some cities are more crowded than others for guests. My guess is they didn't fill the crew or management guest list(record company always fills their list) and so they released the tickets.
Sometimes, you'll find they will sell them last minute- other times, they will randomly give them at will call.

The production manager on this, Charlie, is a nice guy and probably had people go look for deserving fans to make their day! My guess anyway.