Sound Check
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He could even shake each person's hand and it would only take about 10 minutes!
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audi:
I was responding to the caution not to buy it.
Oh, okay! I think maccascruff made the mistake once of getting front row and was saying "don't do it!"
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yankeefan7:
Nancy R:
audi:
Then what the hell are ya' paying for???
Huh? Was that directed at me? I paid $1500 for a close middle section seat, soundcheck (from row 25 in Atlanta, in front of the soundboard), the "dinner" and the swag. The food was 100 times better in Memphis than Atlanta!
Wow, that is a lot of money for one concert seat, soundcheck and vegetarian dinner. Seems like soundcheck is basically little over a hour "concert" and you are not very close to the stage. I assume the concert seats are real good but IMO the whole package is over priced. I could not imagine paying that type of money but to each their own !!
I've only done it twice and probably won't again. I would just get as close seats as I could in the middle section.
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oobu24:
yankeefan7:
Nancy R:
audi:
Then what the hell are ya' paying for???
Huh? Was that directed at me? I paid $1500 for a close middle section seat, soundcheck (from row 25 in Atlanta, in front of the soundboard), the "dinner" and the swag. The food was 100 times better in Memphis than Atlanta!
Wow, that is a lot of money for one concert seat, soundcheck and vegetarian dinner. Seems like soundcheck is basically little over a hour "concert" and you are not very close to the stage. I assume the concert seats are real good but IMO the whole package is over priced. I could not imagine paying that type of money but to each their own !!
I've done a few in Chicago & yes it is very expensive for what you get. The soundcheck is great with some different songs but now that setlist is mostly the same. You usually get a backpack & a traveling cup with logos printed on them. You are about 30-40 rows back for the soundcheck but you get a good seat (most of the time) for the actual show. I think he could at least give out autographed cds or do a drive by & give all attendees a high 5. LOL.
"I think he could at least give out autographed cds or do a drive by & give all attendees a high 5. LOL." Exactly, for that amount of money you should get something "extra" special like the things you mentioned.
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I'm reviving this old thread since with the new tour people are asking about soundcheck I've done 2 Hot Sound packages - I told myself only once, but couldn't resist Anyway, one was in Chicago 2011 and the other Liverpool 2015. So here's my comparison of them (note that Europe general admission standing will be somewhat different). Also, we can offer our experiences, but if it's super important to you, contact the VIP travel company. 1- Biggest difference: In US you see the section/row/seat number before you buy. In Europe you are assigned a seat and don't find out until you get your ticket. 2- In the US we got veggie food - anywhere from a snack to a full on buffet. In London the first night people got a water bottle and box of nuts, Liverpool nothing. They do tell you this before you buy. 3- If you're in the US buying a package for Europe be careful with shipping of tickets. Event Travel sends them out about 1 or 2 weeks before the show. If you're travelling it can be a hassle - you have to contact them about mailing to a local address (like a hotel) or picking it up at the venue. I had to email back and forth about 4 times before they reluctantly agreed to have me pick it up at the venue - they still charged me $36 dollars for shipping & handling. 4- You get swag: usually a backpack, water bottle, lanyard thingie and program. Personally I think they should give you $100 at the merch booth. I know I'd kick in the extra $20 or 30 to use it all up. 5- What happens between SC and show varies from venue to venue, doesn't seem to be a country specific rule. In Chicago they kept us in the ballpark but away from the seats and stage. In London and Liverpool people had to exit the venue all together. 6- You're kept far from the stage during soundcheck, behind the first block of seats so about 25-40 rows back. 7- Don't know if this varies by venue but at the ones I went to we were told photos are ok, but don't film! They were particularly scary about this at the Liverpool show - threatened to kick you out. And yet some people (with nerves of steel) still do it and get away with it. Like the Birmingham 2015 show. Thank you kind rule breaker, wherever you are!!
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Thank you so much for your detailed description, crazy4beatles! Just one more question: How do they tell you when to be at the venue for the soundcheck? Is that information sent along with the tickets or do you get an e-mail on the actual day of the performance?
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Thanks for the summary and comparison. I guess another difference would be the price, ~$1500 in the US and ~EUR 500 in Europe (for GA). Another posted mentioned that in the case of Early GA entry venues the order is : 1/SC people -> 2/Early Entry Package -> 3/GA - so that's an added small bonus on top of the SC...whether it's worth EUR 200, dunno ! PS - amazing indeed that a fan was able to film the entire Birmingham SC despite being forbidden to do it! He must have found a way to hide his camera
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Hamish Stuart:
Thank you so much for your detailed description, crazy4beatles! Just one more question: How do they tell you when to be at the venue for the soundcheck? Is that information sent along with the tickets or do you get an e-mail on the actual day of the performance?
You should receive an email with details about a week prior.
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crazy4beatles:
I'm reviving this old thread since with the new tour people are asking about soundcheck I've done 2 Hot Sound packages - I told myself only once, but couldn't resist Anyway, one was in Chicago 2011 and the other Liverpool 2015. So here's my comparison of them (note that Europe general admission standing will be somewhat different). Also, we can offer our experiences, but if it's super important to you, contact the VIP travel company. 1- Biggest difference: In US you see the section/row/seat number before you buy. In Europe you are assigned a seat and don't find out until you get your ticket. 2- In the US we got veggie food - anywhere from a snack to a full on buffet. In London the first night people got a water bottle and box of nuts, Liverpool nothing. They do tell you this before you buy. 3- If you're in the US buying a package for Europe be careful with shipping of tickets. Event Travel sends them out about 1 or 2 weeks before the show. If you're travelling it can be a hassle - you have to contact them about mailing to a local address (like a hotel) or picking it up at the venue. I had to email back and forth about 4 times before they reluctantly agreed to have me pick it up at the venue - they still charged me $36 dollars for shipping & handling. 4- You get swag: usually a backpack, water bottle, lanyard thingie and program. Personally I think they should give you $100 at the merch booth. I know I'd kick in the extra $20 or 30 to use it all up. 5- What happens between SC and show varies from venue to venue, doesn't seem to be a country specific rule. In Chicago they kept us in the ballpark but away from the seats and stage. In London and Liverpool people had to exit the venue all together. 6- You're kept far from the stage during soundcheck, behind the first block of seats so about 25-40 rows back. 7- Don't know if this varies by venue but at the ones I went to we were told photos are ok, but don't film! They were particularly scary about this at the Liverpool show - threatened to kick you out. And yet some people (with nerves of steel) still do it and get away with it. Like the Birmingham 2015 show. Thank you kind rule breaker, wherever you are!!
8- You will probably meet likeminded people who will fast become new friends! I always do: in whichever country I attend soundchecks.
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This is ridiculous. Average sound check is between 150-200+. He's not going to come down and shake 200 people's hands. Nor is he going to waste his time signing 200 cd's every night like he doesn't have to do sound check, interviews with all kinds of media outlets, the meet and greets that are already planned and the 3 hour show. In a dream world it would be nice and realistically it is ridiculous
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Bob Gannon:
This is ridiculous. Average sound check is between 150-200+. He's not going to come down and shake 200 people's hands. Nor is he going to waste his time signing 200 cd's every night like he doesn't have to do sound check, interviews with all kinds of media outlets, the meet and greets that are already planned and the 3 hour show. In a dream world it would be nice and realistically it is ridiculous
yeah, they should just make the soundcheckers a little bit closer instead. Maybe 15th row instead of 30 to 40th.
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The purpose of S/c is not to sit you close, they are working and I'm sure if folks were closer they would try to engage in conversation. He doesn't have time for that. And if you bought that package your seat will be very close for 3 hours so I see why they do not do that
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^ er ok, sorry ops: i was just trying to agree how daft it is to expect an autograph or a high five.. i do know they're working and i know that's why they're so far away - i just meant it varies so much per venue, the 2 i've done had one at about 45th row (i counted) yet the next was 25.
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Eeee Cor Blimey:
^ er ok, sorry ops: i was just trying to agree how daft it is to expect an autograph or a high five.. i do know they're working and i know that's why they're so far away - i just meant it varies so much per venue, the 2 i've done had one at about 45th row (i counted) yet the next was 25.
So sorry for being "daft". I was joking around because the $1500.00 price was being discussed.
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oobu24:
Eeee Cor Blimey:
^ er ok, sorry ops: i was just trying to agree how daft it is to expect an autograph or a high five.. i do know they're working and i know that's why they're so far away - i just meant it varies so much per venue, the 2 i've done had one at about 45th row (i counted) yet the next was 25.
So sorry for being "daft". I was joking around because the $1500.00 price was being discussed.
no no no now you're getting the wrong end of the stick too like Bob, i'm just trying to dig myself out of the hole that every post i make tonight seems to bring! I agreed with bob yet he made me sound daft, so i reposted to explain and now you think i was calling you daft ops: I just mean i can see why he couldn't sign for everyone etc, but i don't see why a set 20th row is too hard to have. I'm hormonal and getting things wrong here so goodnight tonight! (And "daft"for us northerners is such a commonly used word that i think you guys are misinterpreting it for more of a put down, when it isn't up here. Sorry again)
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Eeee Cor Blimey:
oobu24:
Eeee Cor Blimey:
^ er ok, sorry ops: i was just trying to agree how daft it is to expect an autograph or a high five.. i do know they're working and i know that's why they're so far away - i just meant it varies so much per venue, the 2 i've done had one at about 45th row (i counted) yet the next was 25.
So sorry for being "daft". I was joking around because the $1500.00 price was being discussed.
no no no now you're getting the wrong end of the stick too like Bob, i'm just trying to dig myself out of the hole that every post i make tonight seems to bring! I agreed with bob yet he made me sound daft, so i reposted to explain and now you think i was calling you daft ops: I just mean i can see why he couldn't sign for everyone etc, but i don't see why a set 20th row is too hard to have. I'm hormonal and getting things wrong here so goodnight tonight! (And "daft"for us northerners is such a commonly used word that i think you guys are misinterpreting it for more of a put down, when it isn't up here. Sorry again)
Sorry, by no means did I intend to make you look daft. Sorry if I did though!
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If all the S/C audience are going out, how can you save your place in the line (for example, if you are first in the waiting line, so you are obviously first row in the souncheck, but when you get out and you enter again with all the S/C audience and the Early Entry audience, how can you make sure you will be front row (and dead center ) on the show itslef?). I'm talking about the GA Standing soundcheck packages
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Hi Everyone, My first soundcheck experience is next month in Fresno. I have read most of the details here, just a couple more questions. Sorry if these have been addressed already. 1. Is there much of a break between the soundcheck & the food or is there a break between the food and the actual concert? 2. If there is a break, are we allowed to walk around the venue? 3. Are adult beverages served or sold during the buffet? 4. Is it possible to do the limo watch AND be in line to enter the soundcheck or must we just go directly to the soundcheck entrance? Thank you! I can't believe I am going to do this.
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~lady*madonna~:
Hi Everyone, My first soundcheck experience is next month in Fresno. I have read most of the details here, just a couple more questions. Sorry if these have been addressed already. 1. Is there much of a break between the soundcheck & the food or is there a break between the food and the actual concert? 2. If there is a break, are we allowed to walk around the venue? 3. Are adult beverages served or sold during the buffet? 4. Is it possible to do the limo watch AND be in line to enter the soundcheck or must we just go directly to the soundcheck entrance? Thank you! I can't believe I am going to do this.
The break length depends on if Paul is on time for Soundcheck or not. In Detroit, they served drinks and a few snacks before soundcheck started, then a veggie meal was served after soundcheck, and there was a pretty good length of time between soundcheck and the concert, but Paul was on time that day. We weren't allowed to leave the area to walk around until after the doors opened to the general public, but I think that varies from venue to venue. Some venues let you go buy merchandise before the crowds come in, but again that varies. I think in Detroit all the drinks were free with the soundcheck package, but again, that was my first soundcheck so not sure if that is the usual for all. You won't have time to do the limo watch as you have to be checked in and in the building before Paul arrives. Hope that helps and have a wonderful time at your first soundcheck!