Mon 15 Dec – The Cure
This was a disaster. Where to begin?
When tickets first appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel Show website weeks ago, I couldn't be happier. With a 2 ticket limit, I got two, so I could take my sister (who's the biggest Cure fan). We arranged our work schedule around so we could attend and get there early for a chance at getting a good spot in front of the stage.
A little info about the Kimmel show, this show was slated for the Outside Stage area. Those with tickets specifically for the musical guest always line up behind the El Capitan Theatre, where a framework stage is set up. If you line-up early, once inside the gates, you can get as close to the stage as you like. Also, the show books separate guests for an Indoor Studio audience. They line up at the main entrance, go inside, and see that portion of the show. Once done, they then get escorted to the back to join the Outside Stage ticketholders and everyone sees the band. Everything clear?
Well, the day arrives and me and my sister line up. It's 4:15pm. We see about 30 people in front of us. We think we're in for sure. No worries. Then it starts raining at about 5:00pm. At times, heavy rainfall and continuous. Around 6:15pm, we're told that the Outside Stage area will not be used (the area is totally open to the elements and the rain was getting to be too much). Several Production lackeys say "Don't worry. The band will be set up inside, in the studio area. We'll just move you inside." We have good spots in line, so we wait for further instructions.
About a half hour later, the lackeys come back and say that "The Fire Marshall says we can only accomodate a limited number of you, so we're going to do a head count. And only those we "count" will be let in." We start to worry. After the headcount, we were among the "lucky" so we were told to stay in line, and do as they say ("no cuts, no running, no photo shooting with cellphones once inside, etc."). Everyone else who were not counted, were asked to leave. Mind you this is all happening outside in the pouring rain.
Another half hour passes, and finally this remaining line of people is escorted around the block, to the entrance of the main building. Once there, the line is stopped. An hour passes,..........then almost another hour! No updates from any of the Security personnel, Production Assistants, or Show Ushers. Word spreads that the show has begun, and we're still outside. It's about 9:30pm.
Finally, they let a few of us in. "Only" a few before one of the initial lackeys says "We're not letting the rest of you guys in. Best to go home." The Fire Marshall had deemed there's already too many inside, can't let anymore in.
A total disaster.
I blame the Fire Marshall (who obviously is a moron and can't count, since he initially okayed the "number" to let in from the outside, resulting in having those people wait several hours in the rain). I blame the Production lackeys (who left everyone outside without "informative" updates, and had a bullying attitude like "do this and this...or you're never going in or you'll be kicked out"). I blame Jimmy Kimmel (who was probably aware of the situation and didn't have the balls to at least come outside and speak to the crowd). I'm pretty sure if The Cure knew what was going on outside, they would have done something (like play just 2 songs for the Studio audience, have the studio cleared, and then have the hardcore fans who waited outside walked inside, to then play for them the remaining 8 songs of their scheduled setlist).
Those of us who were lined up on Hawthorne Ave. and saw them drive in at around 5:15 cheered when they arrived. They saw us braving the rain just to see them perform. The show probably never told them what was happening.
9:30pm and the remainder of us (left outside) still stuck around, since we could hear the mini-concert going on inside. A couple of LAPD officers arrive. We start yelling "Let us in!". It's now about 10:15pm. By 10:30, the show ends. Me and my sister leave, and both of us have colds this morning. Totally inconsiderate treatment by the show's staff. I want to make some sort of viable complaint, and make the band aware of what happened. What galls me is the "There's nothing I can do, what are you going to do about it" attitude the one Production Guy had.
If anyone knows how to get this message to the band, it would be greatly appreciated. I still love The Cure, but this is a blemish on them (more correctly, this Cure event) for me now. I hope some of the others who were in line with me managed to run to their van (in the back parking area) afterwards to complain to them.
This was a disaster. Where to begin?
When tickets first appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel Show website weeks ago, I couldn't be happier. With a 2 ticket limit, I got two, so I could take my sister (who's the biggest Cure fan). We arranged our work schedule around so we could attend and get there early for a chance at getting a good spot in front of the stage.
A little info about the Kimmel show, this show was slated for the Outside Stage area. Those with tickets specifically for the musical guest always line up behind the El Capitan Theatre, where a framework stage is set up. If you line-up early, once inside the gates, you can get as close to the stage as you like. Also, the show books separate guests for an Indoor Studio audience. They line up at the main entrance, go inside, and see that portion of the show. Once done, they then get escorted to the back to join the Outside Stage ticketholders and everyone sees the band. Everything clear?
Well, the day arrives and me and my sister line up. It's 4:15pm. We see about 30 people in front of us. We think we're in for sure. No worries. Then it starts raining at about 5:00pm. At times, heavy rainfall and continuous. Around 6:15pm, we're told that the Outside Stage area will not be used (the area is totally open to the elements and the rain was getting to be too much). Several Production lackeys say "Don't worry. The band will be set up inside, in the studio area. We'll just move you inside." We have good spots in line, so we wait for further instructions.
About a half hour later, the lackeys come back and say that "The Fire Marshall says we can only accomodate a limited number of you, so we're going to do a head count. And only those we "count" will be let in." We start to worry. After the headcount, we were among the "lucky" so we were told to stay in line, and do as they say ("no cuts, no running, no photo shooting with cellphones once inside, etc."). Everyone else who were not counted, were asked to leave. Mind you this is all happening outside in the pouring rain.
Another half hour passes, and finally this remaining line of people is escorted around the block, to the entrance of the main building. Once there, the line is stopped. An hour passes,..........then almost another hour! No updates from any of the Security personnel, Production Assistants, or Show Ushers. Word spreads that the show has begun, and we're still outside. It's about 9:30pm.
Finally, they let a few of us in. "Only" a few before one of the initial lackeys says "We're not letting the rest of you guys in. Best to go home." The Fire Marshall had deemed there's already too many inside, can't let anymore in.
A total disaster.
I blame the Fire Marshall (who obviously is a moron and can't count, since he initially okayed the "number" to let in from the outside, resulting in having those people wait several hours in the rain). I blame the Production lackeys (who left everyone outside without "informative" updates, and had a bullying attitude like "do this and this...or you're never going in or you'll be kicked out"). I blame Jimmy Kimmel (who was probably aware of the situation and didn't have the balls to at least come outside and speak to the crowd). I'm pretty sure if The Cure knew what was going on outside, they would have done something (like play just 2 songs for the Studio audience, have the studio cleared, and then have the hardcore fans who waited outside walked inside, to then play for them the remaining 8 songs of their scheduled setlist).
Those of us who were lined up on Hawthorne Ave. and saw them drive in at around 5:15 cheered when they arrived. They saw us braving the rain just to see them perform. The show probably never told them what was happening.
9:30pm and the remainder of us (left outside) still stuck around, since we could hear the mini-concert going on inside. A couple of LAPD officers arrive. We start yelling "Let us in!". It's now about 10:15pm. By 10:30, the show ends. Me and my sister leave, and both of us have colds this morning. Totally inconsiderate treatment by the show's staff. I want to make some sort of viable complaint, and make the band aware of what happened. What galls me is the "There's nothing I can do, what are you going to do about it" attitude the one Production Guy had.
If anyone knows how to get this message to the band, it would be greatly appreciated. I still love The Cure, but this is a blemish on them (more correctly, this Cure event) for me now. I hope some of the others who were in line with me managed to run to their van (in the back parking area) afterwards to complain to them.
