with the internet now u can buy tickets with a click of a button. it's a great system with one major flaw, socializing with others on line with u while waiting 2 get ur prince tickets!

i remember back in 1988 going down 2 madison square garden waiting online with others 4 the lovesexy tour. people bringing their boom boxers playing prince's music, all of us singing and getting anxious 4 the doors 2 open so we could get out tickets. back then also, those that were in line with u developed a bond and trust. if someone was thirsty they asked u if u wanted something and u held their place in line while they got everyone a snack.

so i'm asking if anyone has a story about standing in line 2 get tickets 4 prince tickets and do u miss those days?

I went and bought my ticket from ticketmaster for the ONA show. I did not use a computer.

I have always bought my tickets online. Had both computers running so I could get the best seats. But the old way sounds like a blast!!!

MoniGram said:

That's cheating!!

L4OATheOriginal said:

I remember in high school, I went to MSG early in the morning like 1AM to wait outside for tickets. My sister and I were so excited, we snuck out the house, made it onto the subway down to MSG with our gear, we ran up 7th Avenue into the MSG walkway and from a far saw a bunch of folks on the ground in sleepy bags, we were running up there like yeah!!! more fans to hang out with!

As we get closer and closer, our vision got clearer, and they werent fans, they were homeless people making the MSG alley way their shelter for the night!!!!!

We were like OMG! we had never seen that before, we asked around ppl on the street and ppl said the tickets were at the box office at some music store and not being distributed at MSG later that day! OMG, I would NOT want to relive that day, creeps in the street eyeing us up and down and what not, drunk cops, I happily have bought all my tickets ONLINE since that day! and its been over 10 yrs
[Edited 2/4/08 19:35pm]

L4OATheOriginal said:

Sometimes waiting on line for tickets is fun, but some fans can be soo annoying to listen to after the 4th hour of waiting! I know you can relate L4!

luv4u said:

Naw it's called getting what I want!

I "camped out" 4 tix 2 Lovesexy with my older brother and his girlfriend.I was only 9,but I had a ball! Getting 2 stay up all nite and listen 2 people playing Prince's music and talking about him was SO xciting 2 me.The arena was 5 minutes from home,and my brother would take me home every few hours 2 use the bathroom.We took pillows,blankets, and snacks.Memories...

I could rarely afford to stand in line...nor did I have the time.

I don't trust my computer anywayz,so I'd rather go camp out in line.lol If there's a glitch and I'd lose out on the opportunity 2 get good seats,I'd b very upset.Just 1 more reason I miss the NPGMC.
[Edited 2/4/08 19:17pm]

L4OATheOriginal said:

shut up, you are making me jealous

PS sounds brilliant, I would give anything to be in the Q, must also say, last summer in the O2, the gelling with other P fans was amazing, i could almost write a book about it

Peace N B .....

Tame said:

To camp out (good or bad weather), in line overnight waiting for the tickets to go on sale, the people you meet, the fun, the playing of music, the excitement of the ticket booth opening up and the adrenalin rush and the excitement of getting your hands on that piece of paper called a ticket is - priceless.

Well, not speaking for any other shows but Prince shows, I may have bought my tickets online, but I met PLENTY of people waiting hours IN LINE before the Gen Adm shows.

The only time I've ever stood in line for tickets, was for the First Avenue show last July. When I looked down at the line from our room around 11:30am, I thought that line doesnt look too bad. Didn't realize how long it actually was until I got down there & find the end! Each corner I turned, my heart continued to sink Finally found the end at around the 6th block Didn't think we had a chance to get tickets to see Prince play there that night, but luckily we did! Not only that, we had wonderful company around us the entire 5 1/2 hours or so waiting in line. We joked & said that would be the first & LAST time we ever would do something like that! If it wasn't for them, I may have just given up on the whole idea & left. The strangest thing, the couple in line right behind us were also going to see Prince at the Target Center that night. You'll never guess where they sat that night! Directly behind us! We had Section 2 Row 2 Seats 3 & 4 & they had Section 2 Row 3 Seats 3 & 4! Now how wierd is that! We had such a great time with them, so Al & Beth if you happen to see this HI & did you ever get my package???

Standing in line 4 tickets, you risk the chance of meeting someone who could very well turn out to be a fellow orger.
Now don't get me wrong,
you guys seem harmless enough,
but that's only as long as you're on the other side of my internet connection.
[Edited 2/4/08 21:16pm]

TheMightyCelestial said:

There are a few of us that "actually are" harmless, ya know. Me being 1 of them

TheMightyCelestial said:

i met some great orgers in London and one brought my last night ticket from Ireland so i beg to differ

rio85 said:

Yeah, but I have an over-sensitive fear of people,
so I'm not likely to be able to tell.

ritaw said:

Ah,
don't hit!

Great thread! I have fond memories of buying concert tickets back then,before the days of the Internet.In 1988,I basically "camped out" to buy tickets to the Lovesexy show.Actually,I didn't spend the whole night but I got there pretty early.The ticket place was inside a shopping mall.I arrived about 4:00 in the morning,there were about a dozen or so fans already there.One fan arrived with a boombox and started playing the 'Purple Rain' cassette.It was early in the morning and most of us were half-asleep (lol) but When "Let's Go Crazy" came on,everybody really came alive! Everyone started chatting,telling their "Prince stories",discussing their favorite Prince albums and videos,etc.It was alot of fun.

I miss the social aspects, but then again, you also have to deal with asshats who try to cut the line & all that stuff they should have outgrown in the first grade. It was even happening when Prince played Bryant Park for that all-too-brief spot on GMA a couple of years ago. Cutting is cheesy.

I remember in 1985,I saw on our local newschannel that fans were literally camping out several days before tickets went on sale! This was for the 'Purple Rain' tour.They had sleeping bags,lounge chairs,picnic baskets,etc.It was crazy! Back in the day,you were allowed to do this.It was basically first come,first serve.Then,in the late 80s or early 90s,they tried to discourage fans from doing this.They came up with "wristband procedure",in which everyone gets a wristband with a number.An hour before tix go on sale,a number is called and the person with that number is the first in line.A new line is created.It's probably a more fair way of doing things,but I prefer the old way,when it was first come,first serve.

I missed this tour,unfortunately,but I know it would have really crazy trying to get tickets.Prince was the hottest artist on the planet,during that time.

I got stung by a bee waiting in line for Prince tickets. I had never been stung by a bee before. That fucker flew down my shirt and stung my stomach. It hurt like a bitch.

I think it was the Lovesexy tour.

MoniGram said:

no wonder i couldn't get seats 2 some of his shows because of folks like u

WisdomNLove said:

that's a great story hun ..thanks 4 sharing ..btw what tour/concert was that the jam of the year?

WisdomNLove said:

actually i've never xperienced any annoying people other than back in 1986:

i had just gotten my check and had bought the newspaper. reading the entertainment section as i was walking up the street, i saw a article saying that prince tickets were going on sale THAT day. i hopped on2 the next bus 2 go 2 ticketmaster. as i got off and in2 the mall, these fucking security hacks stopped me and told me 2 not 2 run up the esclator..i'm yelling at them "man i got 2 get my prince tickets dammit!" ..ducked in2 macy's and up 2 the level where they had ticketmaster (i know macy's having a ticketmaster outlet ) ..so when i get there, there was a line and we're all crossing our fingers hoping 2 get tickets. we're chatting in line talking about prince and all that, and the next person up in line orders tickets 4 the METS game!!! he was with his son and beaming ..people behind him we're about 2 kick his ass

Whitnail said:

it's kind of the same feeling when u get 2 the concert and ur talking amongst those sitting/standing next 2 u ..sort of like u get that euphoria that it's not just u that likes the music

luv4u said:

then rushing home and protecting that ticket like it was ur lifeline

rio85 said:

sweet!!!

SoulAlive said:

xactly my friend..just hearing their stories was priceless