I second your thoughts Michelle. If true fandom is to be saved for those people who have a large disposable income which allows them to travel the world, pay mucho cash for transportation, hotels, and good seats, and those fans who do not have to show up at a job every day to support their families, then we are in fact narrowing Sting's fan base down to a small elite group of people. I think it's very consescending to sit back and tell the large majority of fans that they, too, could get tickets to the HOF show if only they loved the band enough to miss tons of work, get babysitters for their kids, and amass a huge amount of debt. Not to mention, there are only a very small number of seats available in the first place, so even if 100 of us put in the time and effort you describe, we would not all be given seats. I don't begrudge you your persistence and good fortune in getting to see him so often and so close, that's great that you have the time and money to do this, but I do begrudge your attitude that anyone can do this, and your implied message that anyone who doesn't just isn't a good enough fan to deserve to see them . marilyn on 11/13/02 9:39 AM, Stingfan222@aol.com at Stingfan222@aol.com wrote:
It's a wonderful thought---always being there in hopes of "getting in", but for me, reality is responsibility to my family. I know how much effort it took on my part just to go to the 5 or so shows from BND, not on the travel/tourning part, but my family. How does one explain to 3 little kids "mom's gone looney." For what? When it boils down to it, to see a band. Can I pack up and go to Italy, NY, wherever just for the "chance" of getting in? I guess I'm just frustrated because I'm feeling like (due to this discussion) I'm a lesser Police/Sting fan just because I haven't made that "extra effort." What really defines a "Real" fan vs. a "non real" fan? I'm having a hard time with this now, because I think I'm one of the biggest one out there---at least in the top 100!
Cheers! Michelle (some snipped)