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jhuml1

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Posts posted by jhuml1

    Wilco — 6 November 2019, Pittsburgh, PA (Heinz Hall)

    in After The Show

    Posted

    I don't pretend to know everything about how shows get booked, but I'm sure a lot more goes into it than we know. First off, the band has a booking agent for a reason. Wilco obviously could say yay or nay to a venue, of course, but I'm sure they specify the types and sizes of venues they're looking to play and then leave the specifics up to High Road Touring. It could be that a market like Pittsburgh doesn't have a suitable general admission venue (a November show at Stage AE isn't a possibility, I'm guessing?) of a certain size to fulfill Wilco's requirements. Or it could come down to availability or tour routing or any number of factors. My point is that they might book a seated venue in a certain market because it's the only room available of a certain size.

     

    I think especially with OTJ that the band did want to play a mix of theaters and some GA venues. It's just that they don't expect a theater crowd to stay seated the entire time. Hell, even at Radio City — which, I mean, there's not many cushier places than that — some people stood and there wasn't a problem. From past experience, I can say that it's pretty unusual for a reserved-seat crowd to stay seated for most or all of a show so it's not surprising that Jeff would comment on it when it does...

     

    Anyway, my two cents. Also, taking this opportunity to also say I've updated my recap above. :wave

     

    I'm sure there is a lot of truth in what you're saying. It is kind of puzzling in Dallas/Irving, though, because the venue that they've played the last 2 times through can be configured as GA, as it has been for every other show I've seen there. Maybe it has to do with struggling to sell out there, which might be even harder to do with that large GA section up front. There aren't really any other venues in Dallas of the same capacity or slightly smaller that would provide a good mix of GA and seats. Bomb Factory is mostly GA, South Side Ballroom is all-GA. Majestic Theater, McFarlin Auditorium, and Fair Park Music Hall are all seats. Guess we'll just have to storm the front again next time!

     

    Thanks for the recaps; I read them all and enjoy them.

    Wilco — 23 October 2019, Irving, TX (Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory)

    in After The Show

    Posted

    I've been baffled why if Jeff wants everyone standing and fired up (which I concur with), every show in the DFW area since the Palladium show in 2009 has been booked in a venue with no GA section. UNT Auditorium, Fair Park Music Hall, McFarlin Auditorium, and Toyota Music Factory. It's almost always resulted in tension because lots of people are sitting. Same thing in Austin in 2017 at Bass Hall ("you guys look like an oil painting"). I think it ruined the 2011 show because the band wasn't drawing any energy from the crowd (they only played 20 songs and Jeff seemed pissed). At Toyota, both times they've played the front section has been configured with seats, but there are lots of shows there that have that entire front section as GA. Why can't Wilco do that? Is it the Platinum Ticket thing? I really hope in the future they will play places with GA up front, with seats in the back for those who want or need to sit. Last night was rescued by the migration up front - before that it was dead in there.

    Wilco — 3 October 2017, Irving, TX (Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory)

    in After The Show

    Posted

    I was surprised at how unprepared this venue was in some respects. It just opened about a month ago, and they had to move or reschedule about a week's worth of shows when they missed their original opening date. To get to the entrance, we had to walk from the parking garage on the east side along the north side of the building, and as we went we had to weave among pieces of rebar, sandbags, and giant holes in the ground, all while it was pouring rain. It seemed very unsafe. Then when we got in, after our tickets were scanned we were told that our tickets were being upgraded. We had row J seats in 103, and we got upgraded to row C in section 100! Apparently when the tickets went on sale the venue wasn't really sure what their arrangement of seats (looked like removable folding chairs) on the floor was going to look like. Unfortunately our new seats were right next to some talkers who talked through the whole show. Scum of the earth. Anyway, I was just surprised that even a month after opening there was still work being done on the building. Those issues aside, the band was great!

    Wilco — 1 October 2017, Austin, TX (Bass Concert Hall)

    in After The Show

    Posted

    I wish they wouldn't book these venues that only have seats. It messes up the energy of the crowd when half the people are sitting and half are standing. Last night the couple next to me left not long after most of the people started standing. I think we're going to see the same problem in Dallas tomorrow night. Playing places with GA floors and seated balconies would work a lot better.

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