New Stage Design
-
5th-beatle:
By the way, you can see me in this picture: just to the left of the microphone, looking down at my big sign, my arms around it, trying to make it visible to Paul, next to a green sign. http://cdn-02.paulmccartney.com/images/colletions/OutThereBrazil2013/13MAY04_PM_Bello_Horizonte_0612RT.jpg
ugh! not cool at all... geez
-
harleyblues:
walliebaby:
DrivinFan:
The following is courtesy of the "Examiner" and Bob Gannon: http://www.examiner.com/article/out-there-news-orlando-part-2-mccartney-makes-minor-setlist-change
[Bob] Gannon talked about the new rising stage made for the tour, which has gotten some pre-show buzz from fans. ?The stage adds about another 10-15 feet from it to the first row. So you're a little further back, but not all that much. It's only during two songs 'Blackbird' and 'Here Today.' But when he moves to the front stage and tells the story behind 'Blackbird,' he is actually closer than he's ever been to the first row. I was in the fourth row and I felt like I could reach out and grab him. ?Now, as the stage rises, it does make it a little tough to see Paul with the lights in your eyes, but it almost gives him a celestial glow, a very cool effect. Not sure how it looked from the back seats, but cool from my vantage point.
Thanks, Bob...I'm really looking forward to seeing that...
Bob is someone who has been to enough shows that I trust his opinion. He's not one to exaggerate and such. Having met Bob, though, he's also well north of 6 feet tall, so he can see fine no matter where he's standing or what's in front of him.
I think Bob pretty reasonable too.. but like you said he is the HT & WT of a linebacker - so it's probably not much of a factor for him~ however like he said.. in that piece .. "It's not that bad" iterpetetation? "It's not Good-either"
Yes!! After paying $1500, I don't want to hear "it's not that bad", I want to hear "IT WAS F****** AWESOME!!!!"
-
So I emailed MPL Communications about concerns with the new stage design and got this reply:
Thank you for taking the time to write to us concerning the staging of this new tour. We have indeed added a fore stage piece for two songs and have not had any complaints from people about the very short sequence. In fact people have enjoyed the sentiment and segment very much indeed. I would like you to indicate exactly which tickets you have purchased so that we can pinpoint your concern. I look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes,
So maybe instead of posting to the board send an email to MPLCommunications to see if our concerns are acknowledged, if not addressed. I personally did not get a VIP package, but I know those who did spent a lot more money than me and may want to voice their dissatisfaction with MPL. The email address I used was the general contact one (contact@MPLCommunications.com)
-
Here's my take after seeing both Orlando shows - agree with Bob G that the platform itself, plus the extra gap between the edge of it and the metal barrier between the pit and the first row (which I thought was about 4 feet by itself) adds at least 10 feet more between the main stage itself and the seats. So I think it is the equivalent of adding about 2 more rows of seats to the floor in terms of how far away you are from the main stage, where Paul spends most of his time. The good part about the platform is that when he walks out onto it, he does come a lot closer to the people on the floor than he ever has. Once the platform begins to rise, however, what you see will depend on where you are sitting. The closer you are to it (i.e. front row), he goes too high up and the angle is too severe; he will disappear. If you are farther back on the floor, you can see him and he can look down and see you. So it is what it is, we are stuck with the platform whether we like it or not. Floor seats are still close, just not quite as close as previous arena shows. If you have mezzanine seats or especially club/2nd level seats near the stage, you will probably love it. I just don't want Paul to fall off of it!
-
thenightfish:
Here's my take after seeing both Orlando shows - agree with Bob G that the platform itself, plus the extra gap between the edge of it and the metal barrier between the pit and the first row (which I thought was about 4 feet by itself) adds at least 10 feet more between the main stage itself and the seats. So I think it is the equivalent of adding about 2 more rows of seats to the floor in terms of how far away you are from the main stage, where Paul spends most of his time. The good part about the platform is that when he walks out onto it, he does come a lot closer to the people on the floor than he ever has. Once the platform begins to rise, however, what you see will depend on where you are sitting. The closer you are to it (i.e. front row), he goes too high up and the angle is too severe; he will disappear. If you are farther back on the floor, you can see him and he can look down and see you. So it is what it is, we are stuck with the platform whether we like it or not. Floor seats are still close, just not quite as close as previous arena shows. If you have mezzanine seats or especially club/2nd level seats near the stage, you will probably love it. I just don't want Paul to fall off of it!
So Paul is a lot closer for two songs? That is not such a great deal. Why not scratch the rising platform and have him stand on that front part where he is close to everyone for the whole show, except for the piano songs? Honestly, it sounds like a poorly executed effect if you ask me. The 1993 tour had an "arm" with a platform that Paul got on for two songs, but that thing flew him over the crowd, and while a few people may have had a compromised view for a few seconds, during the rest of the show the effect was tucked away against the stage and those people in the front row were against a traditional barrier that was just a few feet away from the stage and from Paul.
-
this video (shot from the balcony) gives an idea...
-
dappa-macca:
So I emailed MPL Communications about concerns with the new stage design and got this reply:
Thank you for taking the time to write to us concerning the staging of this new tour. We have indeed added a fore stage piece for two songs and have not had any complaints from people about the very short sequence. In fact people have enjoyed the sentiment and segment very much indeed. I would like you to indicate exactly which tickets you have purchased so that we can pinpoint your concern. I look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes,
So maybe instead of posting to the board send an email to MPLCommunications to see if our concerns are acknowledged, if not addressed. I personally did not get a VIP package, but I know those who did spent a lot more money than me and may want to voice their dissatisfaction with MPL. The email address I used was the general contact one (contact@MPLCommunications.com)
Or perhaps someone could e-mail them to read this thread, as there are quite a few concerns in here.
-
thenightfish:
Here's my take after seeing both Orlando shows - agree with Bob G that the platform itself, plus the extra gap between the edge of it and the metal barrier between the pit and the first row (which I thought was about 4 feet by itself) adds at least 10 feet more between the main stage itself and the seats. So I think it is the equivalent of adding about 2 more rows of seats to the floor in terms of how far away you are from the main stage, where Paul spends most of his time. The good part about the platform is that when he walks out onto it, he does come a lot closer to the people on the floor than he ever has. Once the platform begins to rise, however, what you see will depend on where you are sitting. The closer you are to it (i.e. front row), he goes too high up and the angle is too severe; he will disappear. If you are farther back on the floor, you can see him and he can look down and see you. So it is what it is, we are stuck with the platform whether we like it or not. Floor seats are still close, just not quite as close as previous arena shows. If you have mezzanine seats or especially club/2nd level seats near the stage, you will probably love it. I just don't want Paul to fall off of it!
Here's two photos from someone who did the soundcheck VIP. Not a great view of Paul on the platform.
-
I'm not sure how that even gets Paul closer to ANYONE, except for the few seconds when he gets on the platform, then leaves it. Seems to me, the best seats for this tour would be in the stands on the lower level toward either side of the stage. And would be less expensive too.
-
I don't understand the rationale behind the platform at all but I would me more concerned about the extra distance between the stage and the audience than the poor view during 2 songs. Around 4:20 in this video shows the gap in Liverpool 2011, sizeable enough.
-
-
What row were you in, and did you use the zoom feature on your camera? That would give us a pretty good idea as to how much, if at all, the gap matters.
-
These are terrible quality and difficult to compare angles but... London 2011 Orlando 2013 Doesn't look like a massive difference really
-
-
I still think he should do like Pink did in this video...shoot him out into the audience.
-
It looks like three to four rows are lost due to that platform. Really, it just depends on how you approach the situation. Unless you paid a lot for first or second row, does it really matter? Probably not. But if I paid $2000 to be in the front row, to me that would be about five feet from the stage. I would not be happy.
-
oobu24:
I still think he should do like Pink did in this video...shoot him out into the audience.
He's not going to do that. Ever! It would hurt his back! It would hurt MY back just to watch!
-
RMartinez:
It looks like three to four rows are lost due to that platform. Really, it just depends on how you approach the situation. Unless you paid a lot for first or second row, does it really matter? Probably not. But if I paid $2000 to be in the front row, to me that would be about five feet from the stage. I would not be happy.
Well, that $2000.00 probably included soundcheck. But if you bought a scalper's ticket for front row...OMG! Yes, I'd be steaming mad.
-
RMartinez:
oobu24:
I still think he should do like Pink did in this video...shoot him out into the audience.
He's not going to do that. Ever! It would hurt his back! It would hurt MY back just to watch!
Of course he would never do that. I was joking. Although it makes more sense than the platform.
-
oobu24:
RMartinez:
oobu24:
I still think he should do like Pink did in this video...shoot him out into the audience.
He's not going to do that. Ever! It would hurt his back! It would hurt MY back just to watch!
Of course he would never do that. I was joking. Although it makes more sense than the platform.
I know you joked, hence my LOL and smiley faces! And yes, it does make more sense. Looking at that photo, Paul should just perform on that extended platform the whole show. But then, why even have it???