I wasn't going to publically whinge about this. There have been enough threads about it already. But I can't help it.

I love this band more than just about anything else in my life.
I've been there since 1995 when I was 14 years old.
I've spent my life savings seeing PJ in the USA in 2000.
I've made alot of friends, helped alot of people out with tickets on various tours, and supported everything PJ have done.
All in all I think I've spent around $15k on this band, not to mention the dedication and passion that comes along with it, as alot of you can relate to.

But here I am without any tickets to any shows besides the 10c first shows.
I had planned long ago to travel everywhere in Australia to see PJ (besides Perth).
Like everyone else, I was ecstatic to hear about this tour.
I thought that like 2003, I would have no problem picking up some great seats to be close to the action.

Yesterday, ticket sale day, I was in Melbourne. I couldn't believe the bad luck of being interstate on that day, but I was still determined to get tickets.
I found an internet cafe that opened at 9am. I figured I had until at least 9.30 before second show tickets went on sale.

I got there at 9.15 only to find the second shows were as good as gone.
At that moment, the radio in the cafe played 2 PJ songs - WWS and Gone.
Gone seemed rather fitting at that point. This might sound stupid, but I felt completely empty.
This turned to anger once I logged on to some forums and found I was not the only person to miss out.

When I got on ebay and saw $500 tickets, I felt even worse.
I could hardly believe that we, the biggest fans, the reason for PJ's existance, had been left in the dark.

I admit I should have got to the internet cafe earlier. However the staff were resetting the router every 3 minutes and I would not have got in there until 9.05am, so I doubt I would have got on anyway.
And how were we to know that second show tickets would go at 9am? That has NEVER happened before.
If we had only known, this would not have happened.

Now I don't want to sound like a snob, but I generally refuse to get tickets which are too far from the stage. So I didn't buy and of the tickets that were still available. I just don't like being in a crowd of so-so fans.. been there before and it's not enjoyable.

After more than 10 years of being a passionate, dedicated fan, I'm feeling somewhat abandoned.
Why should I or any other real fan have to resort to ebay scalpers just to see the band we love? I don't want to do that, no matter how desperate I get in the next 5 months. I not only can't afford it, but it's the principle.

I understand that ten club could not reserve tickets to these shows for us.
But an announcement of some sort would not have gone astray.
I refuse to believe they did not know that second shows were going on sale at the same time as first show.
Sorry, but it's not something that would happen without the bands permissions.

These constant silence and vague email responses are just confirming that the ten club is more of a business than it ever has been.
They'll take our money in a flash, but everything else takes a back seat.

I don't know if I will renew my membership this year.
This might be the last time PJ tour here anyway, and even if it's not, I've lost all faith in the ten club.

I know that PJ themselves probably know nothing about what has gone on.
I don't blame the band at all. I do realise they have the power to do something if they wanted to - ie cancelling all ebay ticket auctions and cracking down on scalpers and minimising promoter tickets, but I guess they choose not to.

I've managed to somehow meet Ed on every tour I've been on. I think if that happens this time, I will ask what he thinks of fans being at the hands of scalpers. I think he would be sympathetic.

After all this, I am really considering cancelling most of my tour plans.
Maybe I can transfer my ten club tickets to other people, I don't know.

At this point, I just feel that I've given so much over the years, and all I wanted in return was peace of mind with a good ticket to each show, but that hasn't happened.
It kind of feels like putting your all into a relationship and having your partner run off to have an affair. Something like that anyway..

As I said, I'm not the type of person to cry and complain online. I've done enough of that in real life and my boyfriend has been incredibly supportive despite probably thinking Im nuts.

I'm not giving up just yet, but I know I don't have a hope in hell of getting seats any better than the people paying $600 on ebay.

Its the first time Ive ever been really angry. I overlooked not receiving my xmas single last year.
Everything else pales in comparison to not having tickets.

I feel heartbroken, as stupid as that might sound.

might throw this on synergy too. 0.000001% chance the band might see it.

Don't be so bitter. It's not good for you.

That sucks. Keep the faith. Tickets on ebay will always be really expensive right after they've gone onsale. Wait for a couple weeks before the show and check again and you'll probably find much cheaper seats. Best of Luck.

I'm not bitter, I'm let down.

i love french toast.

hey why dont you piss off if you dont have anything to say on the subject im sure this isnt what longroad needs to hear.

I feel for you...I really do, but beggars can't be choosers and the fact that you turned down tickets because they are too far away doesn't sit well with me. I've been to Pearl Jam shows where they stuck me behind a lighting pole (Irvine 1 2003) or in row ZZ on the opposite side of the arena (San Deigo 2003) but I still had the time of my life. i am going to have to quote The Rolling Stones on this one and say, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you just might find that you get what you need."

and hangin' around.

Have you met my friend Hinny? Find his thread on the topic, and I suggest you write a similar letter to whom it may concern. A lot of people on this board will feel for you, a lot will be dicks. But the only way things will change is if you speak up. I say go for it.

yeah thats true and also what i was thinking, i got shit seats but i did get seats

squashed like a bug in the ground

I feel for you. All this shit with 10C is starting to piss me off. I would rather have average albums like RA and good communication with 10C than a great album like AVO and shit communication. The worst part is all this shit is starting to dim my passion for the band. I don't want to lose my faith.

so-so fans? WTF? I'm not even a 10c member. The best seats I have ever had were at least 12 to 14 rows back. Honestly, I prefer sitting farther back. Sitting as close as possible for me is a rare privilege. But I have been a fan from the beginning. I baught every album except Ten, and Vs on the day they came out and that's only because I was a kid with no money of my own back then. I assume when you say so-so fans you are refering to people who are obviously displaying the fact that they have no clue what PJ is playing unless its off of Ten or something and not just because they have bad seats. If not, then I must say that not everyone that has a lawn seat or the equivalent is a so-so fan, then take off my white glove and smack you in the face, and then we must duel. Here, take this gun and walk ten paces in the other direction then turn and fire, I will do the same. Ready.....1, 2, 3, 4, BANG!

Well did you think I wanted to get shot? Anyway, but seriously I do feel for you, it's just the whole so-so fan thing didn't sit well with me.

Disclaimer: Any similarities or resemblances of any character(s) in this post to any people in real life, either living or dead, are purely coincidental!

No fans were harmed in the making of this post.

sounds like bitterness and bitching. just because a fan isn't close to the stage doesn't make them a so-so fan, stop bitching you should have bought the tickets instead of holding out because you wouldn't be RIGHT up close..

I felt bad for you but this:



well that's not 10c's fault....

chocolate johnson - Im not talking 14 rows back. I'd love to be there.
Im talking back of arena, 30 metres up, 50 metres back. You feel like you're a world away.
Right now I'd take anything within 15 metres of the stage.

I didnt mean to offend anyone, im just not a fan of big arena shows and being up in the stands.
Everytime I've done that at a PJ show there were people who sat all night and talked to each other. It's just not the same. I guess I've just had bad experiences.

Some people (eg: the southern United States) can't get within 100,000 metres of an arena where Pearl Jam is playing, so consider yourself lucky. Try and be optimistic...i know a lot of people on this board who would die to have shitty seats for a show on this tour.

i think dam near anyone would take a ticket within 15 m

I understand what you are saying, I guess I just view it as if each show could be my last. The music is what I enjoy most. Not being closer to the band. And IMO being farther away makes the music much more enjoyable for listening.