I knew I wasn't the only one! I absolutely loathe first 30.

Like Reiggin & Paige both stated, more times than not, there has been NO communication between AA and the venue regarding the procedure for early entrance and the fans have been the ones responsible for ensuring it was carried out in the correct manner. On the most recent tour, Dane and Pete were the ones to handle it, which isn't fair to them; the responsibility should be on the venue (after receiving clear instructions/a list of names from AA, of course). I'm pretty sure that Dane & Pete have more important things to worry about before show time than who's getting in when.

Also like Reiggin stated, most of us don't mind a line wait. I know some people don't have the time/patience/ability to wait in line all day, but those of us who do spend all day in line should be rewarded with first crack at the best spots. I've met some great people and had some wonderful experiences while waiting in line. To me a GA show means whoever is in line first gets in first, not whoever happened to have the cash/patience to fight through a cumbersome pre-sale and with luck's help bought one of the first 30 tickets sold gets in first.

Yes, the first 30 thing has saved me twice when I was running late (once on NYE and again recently in Indy), but I sure did feel like a complete a**hole just strolling into the venue in front of thousands (yes, thousands) of people after waiting in line for an entire 10 minutes when some of the people I "skipped" had been in line the better part of the day. The way I see it, I didn't really deserve the spots I got at those shows because I didn't wait in line for them. Sure, I took advantage of being one of the first 30 ticket buyers, but I certainly didn't feel too good about it.

C'mon, y'all, just do away with the dang first 30!

--
Team Avett #36

lildeadhead: that pen she uses to keep her setlists? it's a human-finger bone. dipped in the blood of the ones who yell out during "murder in the city". poetic, no?