Next time Prince is in concert I want to be in the front row. Anyone have any tips on how I can get the best seats possible? Also, do u think Ticketmaster is the best option to purchase tickets or do u know of a better company to buy them from?

m33kn3ss said:

Next time Prince is in concert I want to be in the front row. Anyone have any tips on how I can get the best seats possible? Also, do u think Ticketmaster is the best option to purchase tickets or do u know of a better company to buy them from?

Seats?!

You must be American.

In other parts of the world you can simply get general admission tickets and be there on time.

Then run a bit and you are close to the stage.

You might get a sore neck.

udo said:

m33kn3ss said:

Next time Prince is in concert I want to be in the front row. Anyone have any tips on how I can get the best seats possible? Also, do u think Ticketmaster is the best option to purchase tickets or do u know of a better company to buy them from?

Seats?!

You must be American.

In other parts of the world you can simply get general admission tickets and be there on time.

Then run a bit and you are close to the stage.

You might get a sore neck.

Thanks that's a great suggestion - general admission opposed to assigned seats.

m33kn3ss said:

Next time Prince is in concert I want to be in the front row. Anyone have any tips on how I can get the best seats possible? Also, do u think Ticketmaster is the best option to purchase tickets or do u know of a better company to buy them from?

I second that, got to have front tickets and a small venue would be nice.

Fuck front row--small club standing room only is the way to go...even if a tall heifer steps on your foot and her short stout cohort tries to shove you aside in the rush to the stage...

Your looking at getting down early say a few hours, if a smaller venue maybe even earlier!

Just about hardcore queuing really if you have the patience you can be down the front.

I dont know what you guys are on about.

.

If you want front row tickets, all you need to do it start saving money NOW!

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Since he's had the Symbol stage, all tix on the floor have been farken expensive!

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Gone are the days when everyone purchased a Gen Admin tick and ran for it on the day of the concert. For Prince shows anyway.

callimnate said:

I dont know what you guys are on about.

.

If you want front row tickets, all you need to do it start saving money NOW!

.

Since he's had the Symbol stage, all tix on the floor have been farken expensive!

.

Gone are the days when everyone purchased a Gen Admin tick and ran for it on the day of the concert. For Prince shows anyway.

He hasnt used the Symbol stage recently, All europe were general admission with a normal stage

callimnate said:

Since he's had the Symbol stage, all tix on the floor have been farken expensive!

.

At least twice during the LA Forum run I got $25 front row seats, just by waiting until the last minute to purchase (at which time all the prices were lowered).

.

Don't think this would work at a regular show (one that wasn't part of an extended 'residency'), but it sure was fun!

Front row at an arena show sucks. Visibility is usually terrible because the stage is so high. If you're sitting at the arrow's point of the symbol stage and he walks back to the circle, you can't even see him.

Front row at a GA show isn't great, either. You are absolutely stuck - you can't get a drink or go to the bathroom or you'll lose your spot. (And you'll be standing there for HOURS.) People are rude - pushing and shoving and trying to get ahead of/alongside you. I practically got a concussion at one of the Empire shows in Vegas when Prince handed his guitar down to some of my friends and me, and the asswipe behind me clubbed me in the head trying to get to it.

You're better off plumping for VIP at a smaller show. You won't be as close, but your sight-lines will be better.

fnksoul said:

Your looking at getting down early say a few hours, if a smaller venue maybe even earlier!

Just about hardcore queuing really if you have the patience you can be down the front.

Patience and high FAM tolerance.

I always got front row when the tickets were sold for the 2004 shows. If I remember correctly, the NPG website had a link to ticket sales, and as soon as they went on sale, I was on the computer and scored front row every time. He did a few shows in DC that were general admission, and I was able to get within a few feet of the stage. I don't do general admission anymore though. I can't stand for hours anymore. So unless the tickets are assigned seating, I don't go to concerts anymore.

I agree with Genesia. You're better off getting VIP at a smaller venue. You're gonna pay out the yingyang, but if you want up close and personal, you gotta pay big time. General admission is for young folk and those physically able to deal with the "asswipes."

If you want to get assigned seats in the front row there are really only a few ways - be very lucky during the initial on-sale, be very lucky the day of the show (when they sometimes release tickets that were being held back for VIPs, friends of the artist etc after all lists are turned in) or pay a scalper huge money. For Prince, I would think front row seats would go for up to $1000 from a scalper. Something more reasonable like fifth to tenth row, probably closer to $500.

But recently he is doing a lot of general admission type shows where yes, you can be in the front if you are willing to wait in line a long time and then hold your spot once you get inside, also for a long time.

The good old days when he held back the front row seats for his fan club are gone.

Ticketmaster is usually where all the tickets are sold at first. You can buy them off stubhub, or from a ticket broker later, usually at an inflated price. One trick I have learned, if the brokers have bought too many seats to a big show, you can sometimes get them very cheap on the day of show - either great seats at no markup, or decent seats for less than face price. But that only works when there are more tickets than buyers so never a sure thing.

bobzilla77 said:

If you want to get assigned seats in the front row there are really only a few ways - be very lucky during the initial on-sale, be very lucky the day of the show (when they sometimes release tickets that were being held back for VIPs, friends of the artist etc after all lists are turned in) or pay a scalper huge money. For Prince, I would think front row seats would go for up to $1000 from a scalper. Something more reasonable like fifth to tenth row, probably closer to $500.

But recently he is doing a lot of general admission type shows where yes, you can be in the front if you are willing to wait in line a long time and then hold your spot once you get inside, also for a long time.

The good old days when he held back the front row seats for his fan club are gone.

Ticketmaster is usually where all the tickets are sold at first. You can buy them off stubhub, or from a ticket broker later, usually at an inflated price. One trick I have learned, if the brokers have bought too many seats to a big show, you can sometimes get them very cheap on the day of show - either great seats at no markup, or decent seats for less than face price. But that only works when there are more tickets than buyers so never a sure thing.

Thanks!

Shyra said:

I always got front row when the tickets were sold for the 2004 shows. If I remember correctly, the NPG website had a link to ticket sales, and as soon as they went on sale, I was on the computer and scored front row every time. He did a few shows in DC that were general admission, and I was able to get within a few feet of the stage. I don't do general admission anymore though. I can't stand for hours anymore. So unless the tickets are assigned seating, I don't go to concerts anymore.

I agree with Genesia. You're better off getting VIP at a smaller venue. You're gonna pay out the yingyang, but if you want up close and personal, you gotta pay big time. General admission is for young folk and those physically able to deal with the "asswipes."

thanks!

m33kn3ss said:

Next time Prince is in concert I want to be in the front row. Anyone have any tips on how I can get the best seats possible? Also, do u think Ticketmaster is the best option to purchase tickets or do u know of a better company to buy them from?

I don't think front row is worth it, at the recent Hit & Run shows in the UK I was aiming to be about 6-10 rows back for G/A and you get a great view of all the stage by queuing from around 5 hours before the gig.

If your talking arena shows, in the UK most of the ticket companies allow you to buy the premium/VIP packages and some guarantee front row seats at extortianate prices. I was looking for Bette Midler tickets for my wife and they are £400 each for guaranteed front row, but the ones left were all at either end of the stage, so wouldn't be a great view anyways, so not bothering.

Gone are the days when you would queue up at your local arena's booking office for first day opening of ticket sales to get the front row seats!

[Edited 12/20/14 3:49am]

Oh, I forgot about the show he had at the Warner Theater in Washington, DC back in the 90's. I had heard about the show on the radio and intended to buy tickets, but they sold out before I could get them. On a hunch, I called the box office to see if they had any tickets that went unclaimed. I was told there were two front row tickets available, but they were "very expensive." I told the man, "I don't care! I want them! How much?" He said, "$100 each." I said, "SOLD! When can I pick them up?" I forget if I went to pick them up or they were mailed to me, but when my boyfriend and I got to the show and we presented our tickets to the ticket taker, she said, "Uh oh!" I said, "Uh Oh hell! I don't want to hear it! I paid for these tickets and I want my front row seats!" She went somewhere and came back and ushered us to our front row center seats. I even got the towel one of the band members threw to the audience. I think he was aiming for the cute little girl behind me who was wearing a white lace bustier, but girlfriend's reflexes were too slow, and I snatched it as it came sailing towards us. And then on the way out after the show was over, there were some guitar picks laying on a table in front of the stage where his roadie sat to hand him his guitars, and I snatched two of them off the table. I still have that towel and guitar picks, too.

It all depends on the venue. Have enjoyed the perks of the NPGMC where we had the pick of the 1st ten rows of theatre seating . I've also had to endure standing at a GA show for hours beofre he hit the stage after standing for hours outside the venue, too old for that now methinks.

It all comes down to sightlines & sound for me, don't need to wipe the black sweat from his brow. Some venues it's better to get to the Balcony like at THE DNA Lounge. Had a center spot there & the sound was better + could see everything, I'm a shorty so this is always crucial.

Had a really good spot on the floor at The Fillmore last march for the late show & had no problem there, i was maybe a row of people from the stage but the sound probably would of been better in the back.

[Edited 12/23/14 14:02pm]

Farfunknugin said:

It all depends on the venue. Have enjoyed the perks of the NPGMC where we had the pick of the 1st ten rows of theatre seating . I've also had to endure standing at a GA show for hours beofre he hit the stage after standing for hours outside the venue, too old for that now methinks.

It all comes down to sightlines & sound for me, don't need to wipe the black sweat from his brow. Some venues it's better to get to the Balcony like at THE DNA Lounge. Had a center spot there & the sound was better + could see everything, I'm a shorty so this is always crucial.

Had a really good spot on the floor at The Fillmore last march for the late show & had no problen there, i was maybe a row of people from the stage but the sound probably would of been better in the back.

Front of the balcony is my preferred spot for any show.

Genesia said:

Farfunknugin said:

It all depends on the venue. Have enjoyed the perks of the NPGMC where we had the pick of the 1st ten rows of theatre seating . I've also had to endure standing at a GA show for hours beofre he hit the stage after standing for hours outside the venue, too old for that now methinks.

It all comes down to sightlines & sound for me, don't need to wipe the black sweat from his brow. Some venues it's better to get to the Balcony like at THE DNA Lounge. Had a center spot there & the sound was better + could see everything, I'm a shorty so this is always crucial.

Had a really good spot on the floor at The Fillmore last march for the late show & had no problen there, i was maybe a row of people from the stage but the sound probably would of been better in the back.

Front of the balcony is my preferred spot for any show.

Best spot sound-wise is in center floor near the sound board.

EvilAngel said:

Genesia said:

Front of the balcony is my preferred spot for any show.

Best spot sound-wise is in center floor near the sound board.

Yes, but some people want to catch them plectrums, see the sweat or think that they made eye contact.

Seats? forget it...

Standing?? No way

Lurk about in his bathroom and catch him singing in teh shower. Now THATS how to do it.