Merriweather: Pit or Pavilion?

mahg33ta · Feb 28, 2010, 08:19 AM

There's a good conversation going on in the main thread about whether to go in the it or take seats? Enough people are interested (and it's important to me too!) that I started my own post and pulled it out of the "Roll Call".

My story on tix Friday- My friend and I decided we'd rather have good pavillion seats than hit the pit. When they went on sale at 10, I used the "pick your seat" and hit the front center - they were all unavailable or "pending", so I backed out a screen and tried the next section.... then I got stuck in internet limbo..... I ended up getting row T. Kept trying and around 10:30 pulled a pair of pit.

(Side note to MMJ management: they are probably happy with speed of ticket sales, but after reading these threads they are going to realize how many of us bought 2 pairs!)

So, which to go? I too have done many pit shows, but never at MMP. The real question is- how crowded will it be?

I think I saw someone post that they say 1000 pit tix show up as the quantity on the ticketfly board. If so, that's a scary high #. I say that because if you compare the seating charts with and without pit, you can see how many seats are removed. (I posted on another link a seating chart that shows seat #s) It's 10 rows of varying width, plus two sections in the side. I count about 480 seats. So, 1000 tix would be twice as many people as would fit into seats. Does that seem crowded? It does to me!

My main worry, as trivial as this may sound - is bathroom / beer runs - such a pain in a crowded pit. But, it'd be awesome to be close. So, I'm on the fence, like many people!

tdb810 · Feb 28, 2010, 09:06 AM

I pulled Pavilion at 10am, and was So happy with that! Then I saw all the people who got Pit and must admit, was initially a bit envious. In the end though, I think the seats will be great! Especially for us "older" folks ;D ;D ;D
Center - Row U - seats on the aisle

JLuke · Feb 28, 2010, 09:46 AM

I've decided to go with my Pav seats. They are right center, row N, and right next to the aisle. Looking at pics of MPP, anywhere under the pav looks like a pretty good seat.

Ghosts_on_TV · Feb 28, 2010, 09:48 AM

I'd do pit.

Colonel Forbin · Feb 28, 2010, 12:02 PM

Being there is enough for me. I went from thinking no jacket to HOLY SHIT JACKET when i heard the news about Merriweather. If I have the luxury of choosing I would say pit though. There is just something about getting railing for your favorite band... makes me think of new years at MSG. :)

Modi · Mar 01, 2010, 09:10 AM

I got PIt tix first thing on Friday and was crazy stoked for them. But then am now thinking about my wife who is 5 foot nothing while i'm 6 feet. I'll be fine, she might have no view for her first show.

Posted in the other thread that i have been in the pit at MPP, but it was for Thievery Corporation and wasnt super crowded. Thinknig this will be different.

Contemplating trading my pits for good pav seats. Or getting there early for an on the rail spot.

edierevolution · Mar 01, 2010, 10:25 AM

I've been to MPP a few times... used to live in NoVa... about an hour from there. Really, really nice venue. I can't really remember about security our that kinda thing, and usually when I went I had a seat or was on the lawn (do NOT recommend the lawn, unless it's an act you don't really care about).

There was one time, however, I did have PIT tickets. Nine Inch Nails in 2000 on the Fragility tour. All I can say is... being in the pit and having seats is night and day. If you really want to BE THERE for the show... go with the PIT tickets. Sure, I remember it being crowded, but I was right next to the stage and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I have PIT tickets for the jacket show and I am sooo super psyched!

But, if you really need your piss breaks to be super convenient, I'm sure the seats are okay. The views are absolutely fine from the seats... but personally... I'd much rather be IN IT!

Sassbox · Mar 01, 2010, 11:19 AM

Folks, there's a great gastro pub in Columbia called Victoria Gastro Pub. We might want to check that out if some of y'all will be there earlier in the day. I'm going to want to be at the venue fairly early as I have pit tickets and need...NEED...to ride the rail. ;D

http://victoriagastropub.com/

diesel · Mar 01, 2010, 04:19 PM

i live in bmore, and have been to this nice venue a bunch of times. i got pit tickets, and i'm happy with that b/c of the type of band mmj is. for those of you with seats as long as you're not on the edges of the seats (far right, far left) you're fine. even the edge seats are ok, but i would rather get lawn and get there early to get a center seat. its a smaller amphitheater and has great sound b/c it was initially designed for orchestra concerts.

security - ok, this is big concern sometimes. columbia cops can be overzealous and will bust you, but the actual staff are typically cool, just respect them and you'll be fine. i've worked there, and know 2 dudes that still work there.

parking - it can be a hassle getting in/out, but not that bad. if you've been to nissan in VA, its nothing like that shit hole. you can park in the mall parking lot and it'll make it easier to get out, but be careful about tailgating there.

its gonna be awesome, cant wait!

g.sus · Mar 01, 2010, 04:49 PM

got left loge about 10:20 AM and was pissed to see that it wasn't all GA like i had thought from the post on FB the day before so i just ended up grabbing them. an hour later i went back on just to "see" what would come up and got pit tix in my basket. i ended up grabbing those and getting rid of my loge tix to someone else that was looking for tix. anyway, i've been to MPP a few times for various shows i just know that it absolutely sucks to be in the lawn there so if it absolutely came down to it, ANYTHING under the roof would be fine with me.

ericm · Mar 01, 2010, 05:29 PM

Quotei live in bmore, and have been to this nice venue a bunch of times. i got pit tickets, and i'm happy with that b/c of the type of band mmj is. for those of you with seats as long as you're not on the edges of the seats (far right, far left) you're fine. even the edge seats are ok, but i would rather get lawn and get there early to get a center seat. its a smaller amphitheater and has great sound b/c it was initially designed for orchestra concerts.

diesel, can you give some info on how the pit is at MPP? I'm wondering about #'s in the pit and if it gets packed all the way to the back of it.

I'm not really looking to be on the rail, and I'm sure anywhere in the pit will be great. I'm just wondering if I decide to stroll in right before showtime will I be able to find a spot in the back and have some room, or will it be a cluster f*ck.

I know not all shows are the same, but just wondering what your take on the pit is, since you've been there a bunch of times.

Thanks

jdbartender · Mar 01, 2010, 08:01 PM

I got PIT tix and I couldn't be happier. I am going with a friend of my who is also a huge Jacket fan.. I want to get as close as I can get.

Ghosts_on_TV · Mar 01, 2010, 08:12 PM

QuoteI got PIT tix and I couldn't be happier. I am going with a friend of my who is also a huge Jacket fan.. I want to get as close as I can get.

is this your first show?

diesel · Mar 01, 2010, 08:27 PM

Quote
Quotei live in bmore, and have been to this nice venue a bunch of times. i got pit tickets, and i'm happy with that b/c of the type of band mmj is. for those of you with seats as long as you're not on the edges of the seats (far right, far left) you're fine. even the edge seats are ok, but i would rather get lawn and get there early to get a center seat. its a smaller amphitheater and has great sound b/c it was initially designed for orchestra concerts.

diesel, can you give some info on how the pit is at MPP? I'm wondering about #'s in the pit and if it gets packed all the way to the back of it.

I'm not really looking to be on the rail, and I'm sure anywhere in the pit will be great. I'm just wondering if I decide to stroll in right before showtime will I be able to find a spot in the back and have some room, or will it be a cluster f*ck.

I know not all shows are the same, but just wondering what your take on the pit is, since you've been there a bunch of times.

Thanks

like you said it depends on the show, but i expect this show to have a crowded pit. when i saw BSS / Belle and Sebastian it wasn't too crowded. When i saw the flaming lips i was seated close to the pit, and the pit was crowded, but it didnt look like people were squeezed. i expect a similar crowd for this show. its not like a festival where you're getting squeezed if you're up front, but if you leave your spot, you may not get it back unless you have friends 'holding' it for you. if you like rocking out to this band, theres no better place to be. :)

edierevolution · Mar 02, 2010, 09:41 AM

Quotewhen i saw BSS / Belle and Sebastian it wasn't too crowded.

Don't you mean the Belle and Sebastian / BSS show? I don't usually get up in arms about who the headliner is, but there's no comparison between B&S and BSS! (on a side note... really with I would have gone to that show.. but I saw B&S... on the rail... at the NYC show a few days before that! Didn't realize it would be more than 4 years until they would tour again...)