With our Aug. 16 story “The outdoor concertgoer blues,” we asked readers to tell us their tales of musical woe. Here are edited versions of some of the better letters:
TICKETS FOR THE FANS?
STILLMAN VALLEY, Ill. — Excellent article about the trials and tribulations of going to outdoor concerts. As a lifelong concertgoer, I can relate wholeheartedly.
There is one item you failed to cover, though. Not only when you want to go to a concert do you have to have patience and determination to get tickets, you have to fight the scores of brokers who are in line in front of you. It has gotten to the point of ridiculous how they are in the front of the ticket line for nearly EVERY show.
– Scott Muir
CHEATED, MISTREATED
CHICAGO–My concert gripe happens to be with Ravinia. This gripe is not as horrendous as the ones I read about in the Sunday paper, but I feel when you pay money for something, you shouldn’t be walking out completely aggravated.
On a Tuesday night this summer, my husband and I went to Ravinia to see the Temptations and the Four Tops. The concert started at 8 p.m.; we got there about 5:30 p.m. The main lot was already full, so we parked in the far lot. We had expected it to be very crowded that night due to how popular these groups are, but apparently Ravinia wasn’t too privy to that. We were able to get one of the last decent spots on the lawn and waited till 8 p.m. Ten minutes later, it was announced that the Four Tops would NOT be playing due to one of the Tops being too ill to perform, but that the Temptations would put on an “extra long show” to compensate.
We didn’t think that sounded too good, but we stayed and tried to enjoy it anyway. We had been really looking forward to the Four Tops, as were many other people there. The Temptations did a nice job, but their “extra long show” consisted of many stalling, annoying tactics (getting people from the audience to sing along, which sounded horrendous, etc.) to make the show last longer. After this, we gathered our things and went to the shuttle to get back to our car. It took us an awful 57 minutes JUST in waiting for the shuttle.
I could not believe how unorganized and unprepared Ravinia was with this; these shuttles ran one at a time to get the people back to their cars, and the line had to have been the equivalent of at least four city blocks. It was awful. We didn’t get home till close to midnight for about an hour and 15 minutes of entertainment, which really shouldn’t have gone past 45 minutes.
I’m still recovering from the aggravation.
– Jeannie Zoellner-Gonzalez
THERE’S A BETTER WAY
ROUND LAKE PARK — I’ve lived through all of the concert gripes you mentioned and then some.
Because I’m a glass-half-full kind of guy, I’m writing to you today about the most pleasant concert experience I’ve ever had. On July 6, my wife and I went up to Milwaukee’s Marcus Amphitheater to see Alan Parsons and Yes. Parking was a dream with lots priced at $3 and $5, and no blocking in whatsoever. We were able to find our own parking place, opting for one aimed right at an exit. The theater was nicer and more intimate than ol’ Poplar Creek, with a smaller lawn area (with some seating, even!) and a lack of columns. The crowd, security, ushers and vendors were polite and helpful. Prices were not exorbitant. Bathrooms were operational and clean. The surround sound was too much to believe!
The Marcus is ignored in the Tribune. I’m probably making a strategic error by telling you about it. I will never go to the New World or Alpine Valley ever again! The people who run those venues should take a trip to Milwaukee to learn a thing or three.
– Don Birren
SHIRTLESS MORONS
CHICAGO–I resent having to put up with shirtless morons who find it impossible to sit through more than a number or two without going off to replenish their beer supply. I fail to understand how shrieking “Whoo!” into my ear enhances anyone else’s ability to hear the performers.
Although a sizable majority of Americans in our age group (20-50) are nonsmokers, I must conclude that the entire minority of that sample attends outdoor rock concerts and follows me from Alpine Valley to the World to Grant Park to even Woodstock and arranges to sit next to me.
– Sandy Andina
EXIT STAGE LEFT
BARRINGTON — The reason attendance for CSO concerts at Ravinia is only 71 percent is quite simple: It is next to impossible to get to Ravinia, find a parking place and escape the scene at the end of the concert without making an enormous effort in time, energy and temper.
Years ago, I was able to drive to Ravinia Park, at a reasonable hour, and park in any of several small parking lots located to the sides of main pavilion. Eventually, those lots became exclusive. Very well, then I’ll park in the big lot, across the tracks — first for free and then, later, for a fee. Fine. Eventually, that big lot became full by 6 p.m. and I was turned away. Then, eventually, the commuter lots grew full and I started to take shuttle buses from even farther afield. Getting back to my car became next to impossible. I heard a horror story just this season of friends who waited an hour and 30 minutes for a shuttle bus to take them back to their car, after attending the CSO opening-night concert. I do not understand why Mr. Zarin Mehta and the management of Ravinia make it so very difficult for their loyal patrons to attend the CSO concerts. It is much easier for me, living in Barrington, to drive to Chicago, park in the Grant Park underground garage, and attend the free Grant Park summer concerts and the CSO winter concerts at Symphony Center, than it is to drive to Ravinia.
– Charles A. White
BARBED WIRE IS EXTRA
ROLLING MEADOWS — I just finished reading your article on “Concertgoers Blues,” describing the Metallica show at Pecatonica. I’m 16, a diehard Metallica fan for over seven years now, and that was the first time I had seen them.
On the day of the concert, I left with my brother and three friends at 2 p.m. from my house in Rolling Meadows. The doors opened at 5 p.m. After two hours of driving, we made it to the fairgrounds with only a minor traffic backup leading to the two-lane road going into the fairgrounds. Yeah, it is a bad place to hold a concert — try squeezing 40,000 drunken, angry metalheads into a little two-lane road. We made it in, bought our tour T-shirts, and partied in the lot for a while. People were still pouring in as Metallica finally took the stage, and I witnessed the most amazing concert in my life.
After the show, the angry, adrenaline-charged mob destroyed a barbed-wire fence surrounding the fairgrounds, so they could get out. (The 40,000 people were not going to fit single file through the turnstiles where they entered.) So I ended up on the other side of the fairgrounds, far away from the car. I had to hop about six more barbed wire fences as I cut through farmers’ back yards, and I scraped myself on the last one. Then when I had reached the car, my buddies had already eaten most of the food, and left me with a can of Sunny Delight and a handful of pretzels.
Now try fitting 40,000 even drunker people through that little dinky two-lane road. We waited for 2 1/2 hours before even getting to move the car. After 45 minutes of bumper-to-bumper traffic, we made it back to the expressway and were on our way back home.
Although we went through a lot, IT WAS WORTH IT!
– Steve Duvall
HOW RUDE
BERWYN–People seem to be getting ruder. I have several examples but I’ll use the latest. My wife and I laid out considerable money to see Clapton at the U.C. To be blunt, the show was totally ruined by an entire row of drunks directly behind us. They were all together and they seemed more intent on drinking, talking and yelling obscenities. Their loudness drowned out most of the show, especially when Clapton went acoustic.
At that point my wife asked them to be quiet just for a specific song. I really can’t print the reply. We’re not out to begrudge anyone a good time but it went a long way past acceptable behavior. Ushers are of no help. Do they do anything besides show you your seat and watch a show for free? As I said at the start, behavior is really getting worse and I’ve been going to concerts for over 20 years.
– Mike Coughlin
SUMMER BUMMER
NAPERVILLE–Here are my son’s summer concert experiences.
Smashing Pumpkins at New World: Arrived at 2 p.m., gates open at 4 p.m. for seat re-assignment, concert at 7:30. They refused him entry with his backpack, and refused to search it because of the crowd size awaiting entry. He was dropped off, so no car to leave it in. They made everyone leave packs outside Gate No. 2 “where they would ne watched.”
When he came out, different personnel told him (and the others affected) that nothing is ever watched –it was all thrown away. After several phone calls, managers at World tell me their personnel deny saying anything would be watched because they know better; also managers say no one is ever refused entry with a backpack. We are out approximately $100 for backpack and contents.
Ozzfest at Alpine Valley: He avoided traffic jams because he was dropped off and picked up. Unorganized and late entry into fest, no shade tents, no misting provided, toilets were beyond description, ran out of bottled water to sell at 1:00. There was only one location to buy food or drinks, gave up because the lines never moved.
– Sharon Vesely
