I was wondering what experience anyone might have with being able to access soundchecks before the show? Is this something that would be organised officially or can you just turn up and try your luck?
I was wondering what experience anyone might have with being able to access soundchecks before the show? Is this something that would be organised officially or can you just turn up and try your luck?
Wasn't planning on annoying anyone - which I why I posted on here...!
"turning up and trying your luck" would be annoying someone.
Access is limited to pass holders - and soundchecks really aren't that amazing any way, I've been to a few and it's always like "play drums for 10 seconds, then take a 5 minute coffee break and synch the lights". It's not a mini concert.
Except in 2009 when they specifically offered mini concerts as a perk for donating to #HelpEric. I think most sound checks are as you describe; they may run through a couple of tunes with TR 'marking' the high notes to save his voice.
Okay, roadie talk here:
Soundcheck varies wildly from band to band, tour to tour.
Sometimes, the whole band is there, plays for half an hour, rehearses new material, etc.
Sometimes, the band minus the frontman shows up, noodles around, and leaves.
Sometimes, the techs play everything and the band isn't even on stage.
Regardless: unless tickets are being sold for it, they are closed. Period. End of story. VENUE staff aren't even allowed inside the performance space on larger shows, minus a few security guards who you'd better believe will be thrown out if they're looking at the stage instead of watching the building for unauthorized people.
Trust me: no matter how polite you are, you will come off as annoying for trying to talk your way in. You have absolutely no reason to be there, you know it, security knows that you know it. Especially these days, with concerts become targets. Not trying to sound mean here...blunt, but not mean.
So please...just don't. Queue up early (if the building allows it), get yourself a good spot for the show, and enjoy the real performance. Trust me...that's the better one anyway.
Thank you - I guess that's what I expected, but thank you for confirming it.
To drive theimage13's point home, at the show on Wednesday, the band was finishing their soundcheck when the VIP line was supposed to go just one door closer (not inside the room with the performance itself, just past one more door closer than completely outside of the venue) to get tickets, and we had to be swiftly escorted one at a time to get in, get ticket, get out asap. And our entry was timed between them playing so we wouldn't hear anything.
Unless something comes up special like when Trent was raising money for Eric or when The Spiral would have them sometimes (I never got one), there is no chance of hearing a soundcheck beyond what sound may come out to where the entry point is, but they usually set that up in a way that you won't hear anything so you can't even guess what they're playing inside.