Me, and some friends have tried to organize the queue at the Rotterdam concert. I want to say 'SORRY!' for not being able to control 1200 members, without any help of security. Our only aim, was to try to get the members who were early at Ahoy, to get in first.
Due to the fact that there was no support at all from security, we did not manage to maintain peace after security opened the entrance to the soundcheck.
The people who tried to organize this with me, were all people who were early at Ahoy. We also had to claim our place in line at one point.

Fortunately, most of the people who were among the first 300 at Ahoy, appreciated the effort. I hope we have managed to get them in first to some extend. It was nice to meet you all before the show! You are all great.

Second, a system with handing out numbers, especially without help of security, only works when everyone cooperates. Of course, there are always some people who arrive late, and wíll cut in line. Resulting in having members who arrive early, having to stand in the second area at the concert.
I have also told almost everyone who I gave a ticket, that we didn't have any support, that we didn't guaranty anything and that we only did our best to make it work.

... and to all the complainers: "You try it the next time!"

Didn't it work with handing out numbers?
I know that in '98 at AHoy everybody got a number and everybody kept that number and waited his/her turn to enter.
No? That's a fine club Prince has there.

But it's not only in the fan section. Also people waiting outside had trouble with with ppl cutting the line, security didn't do anything.

Maybe you can call 'Perfect scurity' in R'dam to ask them to help you Nov. 2nd

Erik
[This message was edited Wed Oct 16 23:37:38 PDT 2002 by Marmelstein]

Sounds like U did what U could ...

ChocI--About what time did U folks start Qing at the Ahoy ??

May be the idea of numbered seats would be a better system then there would be no need for Q's everyone could stay in the warm and have a good time in the pub/cafe/bar whatever.

just a thought

Seats in the Ahoy for the members???

Chainbridge said:

We started the Q just before 15.00, because we could pick up the tickets around 15.00.

At first, the intention was, that there would be numbered seat for the members, but that was changed by Prince a week in advance.

Hi,

It worked just fine for me.
I had no problems with the queueing system on the 15th. But I was in very soon (among the 1st 50 people).

I thought that security was cooperating well, at least before the doors opened for the soundcheck (after that, I can't tell ... I was already inside).

Thanks for taking the 'job'!!!



Peace,
TheKid
[This message was edited Thu Oct 17 7:44:54 PDT 2002 by TheKid]

Here are my thoughts on the queue issues in Rotterdam. My sister and I arrived at 13:00 and we received no 86 and 87. We could wait in the lobby of the Ahoy (inside, so no rain and wind) to get our tickets, which was possible from ca. 15:00. At 14:45 the people who handed out the numbers told us to wait outside in sequence of the number we received. When the ticket offices opened groups of ten were allowed to pick up their laminates. This worked pretty good until number 100 and higher were allowed to enter the building. I did not exacly know what happened but at 15:30 or so all people with laminates started running inside Ahoy. Ofcourse we followed.
Inside it appeared that, after we were searched by security, we had to wait in front of a door that would led us to the NPGMC section. Unfortunately we had to wait in a very small and low hallway for 3 hours to get in (due to late arrival of Prince). Temperture was rising and our good mood dissapeared slowly. At 18:30 finally the doors opened and the first 100 people were allowed to enter the arena. The first 60 or 70 people made it to NPGMC section. After that Prince told security to close the fences.
Since all the other members were coming in ca. 1000 people were waiting outside the NPGMC section. Security then put a fence around the mebers inside the section and it was clear to us we would have a first and a second NPGMC section. After some 10 minutes security re-opened the fences and people tried to get in the first section. We managed to get in (by jumping over the fences) and shortly after that Prince told security to close the first section. It was very busy there (still people were climbing into the first section) and we were not allowed to leave to get some food/drinks or to go to the toilet. After an hour or so security came up with the idea to hand out bands with a different colour to people in the first section in order to leave and return safely.

Although I was lucky enough to make it to the first section, which was given the number I had honest imo, I still regret the fact that there were 2 sections. I think Prince should have put a limit to the tickets available for members.
Tomorrow, in Antwerp, we will have a larger venue so we will see what happens there. I wonder if somebody is willing to do the job there since you always get flamed by people who end up in bad spot.

Although things didn’t work out as planned I would like to thank the people who took the initiative in Rotterdam.

C U in Antwerp!

First of all, let me say thanks for all the effort you put into trying to organize things well. I think (most of) you did a real good job but unfortunately security didn't help a lot. I don't think you can be held responsible for the disaster inside in any way.

HOWEVER, ONE OF YOU SHOULD GET HIS ACT TOGETHER!: The tall, thin guy who actually , physically,smacked the door into my girl's face. As we were going inside to pick up our laminates one of you got a bit too upset with us trying to go inside, even though we kept as calm as you asked us to.


Then for a suggestion: Wouldn't it be a good idea for a group of 5 people to organize the queue and arrange with security to be let in the first section afterwards? This way these 5 people can also organize the rest of the group without having to claim their position themselves. I'd be willing to help out the 2nd of November...

Eelco

Hoi ChocolateInvasion and friends,

Thank U 4 trying 2 to organize the queue at the Rotterdam concert on october the 15th 2002, it almost worked well, but at some point it went wrong. First of all there was not really a good and honest number check. When the first 150 ppl got there NPGMC laminat & green wristband. And some 200 ppl where still waiting in line 2 get their NPGMC stuff, a group of 25 got the sign to get in to the building and go to the concert hall.

That caused a panic reaction in the 2 waiting groups (with & without NPGMC stuff) and it looked like (2 me) that the ppl who where organizing the queue also left 4 the concert hall at that time. So there was no numbercheck 4 entering the concerthall with the result that ppl started to go in at their own initiative.

In the narrow and hot hallway (personal entrance) everybody stood line but mixed up. I had number 118, the guy before me had number 204, the guy who was standing after me had 35. So there was no controle any more.
By the way it was pretty stuppid of the sucurity (& NPGMC) 2 let us wait there 4 almost 3 hours, it was 2 hot and to little fresh air, pll could have fainted there on the spot.

If have been in simular situations before in Den Bosch & Rotterdam where the number organisation worked fine. Everybody was called inline by number, 1 by 1 and when the doors opend the first 10 numbers or so where 4 the ppl of the number-organisation and of course they got in first. But they also did get some help of the local security and honesty of the fans.

So may be next time better luck.

C Ya In Antwerp.
[This message was edited Thu Oct 17 2:35:48 PDT 2002 by mick725]

I applaud anyone who takes on the effort to organize the lines (if they do it honestly & fairly). It's a difficult gig, I've seen it go horribly wrong, some "fans" get really rude about it. Anyway, I appreciate your efforts...

ChocolateInvasion said:

Props 2 u

What I noticed is that organizing the Queing in line is breaking down more in Europe than it did in North America. I don't remember reading any problems in Canada and there were a few incidents in the U.S. with line cutting, but fans/fams mostly behaved themselves.

GoldNigga said:

Yes, but in the VS there also weren't 1200 fams (incl guests) to attend the soundcheck. So the stress was less

Hi ChocolateInvasion,

Are you the one with ticket #125?


Peace,
TheKid

I was quite late at the Ahoy (17:30), so I got in while the soundcheck was already happening. We stood in the center of the second member section, had space enough to dance and we could see the show very well. So, I don't understand why there was a first section, nor the fuss about getting into that section.

In 98 (23 dec. Utrecht) I was early and i appreciated the way the queue was managed back then. I thought that was arranged by security, or was it done by fans?

We were closer to the stage then, but i don't think there was another section closer to the stage. So I don't think we need one. Let's be as one at the next show, PEACE!