Allow me to vent for a minute

Even though I don't use scalpers, brokers, or any other under-handed way, I can't get good seats. Every time Prince has come to Chicago, I get left in the cold. The people that have the good seats and backstage passes if there are any, don't know the words to any of the songs unless they were played on the radio. He could play a thousand jams and the audience just sits there. Once he hits the first chord from Purple Rain or one of the songs on that album, people go mad. They lose their minds. I have been following this guy since I was 10. I'm now 32. I have never let him go. I bought every album. I bought some of them several times. I've had my collection stolen twice. I stayed away from the gossip. I let people talk about me for liking his music. Prince and I have gone through thick and thin together. But I never have been able to get front row, orchestra pit, backstage passes or the like to a show. I even spent the night once at a Sportmart for tickets. I was the first in line and still got a bum deal. In addition, the radio stations have tickets before they go on sale and they will not even play his music. Okay you could hear 1999 at the end of the year at least before the year 2000. But it's 2002, so now what? They don't play his music. Why do they get tickets? Next thing you know, the execs from Warner Brothers will have tickets too. I even joined the NPGMC. I recommend that everyone join. It is slamming. But I still was not able to get great seats. It looked like Chicago members only got to purchase tickets from the left half of the theatre. What? So who gets the other half? Who gets the other half with front row tickets? I'll tell you. Joe Blow who doesn't know. He only wanted to go to the Prettyman show. He knows Purple Rain, 1999, a little of Little Red Corvette and maybe Raspberry Beret. Bet he only knows the "Raspberry Beret" part of the song. So the question is, WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?! WHY CAN'T I EVER GET GREAT SEATS?! WHY?! WHY?! WHY?!

thank you

COI... let me try make you feel better... AT LEAST YOU GET SEATS!!!

At least you get to see him live.. and yea, appreciate that you are in a country where he performs relatively frequently, compared to us poor souls down under in Australia!

I would LOVE TO see him live, and I still have yet to experience that, so COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS... and stop been a brat!

Here Here.....(english accent)

I guess I did sound a little bratty there. It was all in good fun (see the over emphasis at the end). I was just being really dramatic but it is all true. It does make you wonder though. How does that happen?

Val and I are thinking about doing a new FAQ on purchasing concert tickets. I've got some tips about how to get good seats (without paying a ticket broker). No, I can't guarantee you'll get front row center, but my tips have worked well for me in the past.

COI said:

Yes, other club members also noticed that tickets on the right side of the theater didn't seem to be available.

The right side is where Prince's piano is set up and where he does most of his dancing, solos, and interacting with the audience.

From what I've heard, the concert venue holds back a certain number of (good) seats for every concert - no matter who the performer is. Some of the seats are used for radio/promotion giveaways and I would bet the others are available to people lucky enough to know someone at the venue or with the promoter, etc. This is just what I've heard.

i find if you buy a single ticket, you usually end up in a good seat...
now that might piss off some friends of yours who also wanna go to the show, but when you're sittin 3rd row back..it doesn't matter so much...