07/20/08 Columbus, OH: LC Pavilion

[uwvark]

I ... really wants to meet Al, and I hope she can do that at the Greensburg Show. I did see the post earlier that there seem to be less Meet and Greets.  And, it makes me wonder if there will be one in Greensburg as the show goes to Missouri after a day break following that show.

That is bugging me too. If he didn't do it in a semi-big city like Columbus then what's the chances of him doing one in a tiny lil burg like Greensburg?

Then again maybe that's exactly why he'll do one.

Oh well either way it's going to be awesome!!

[Orthography Enthusiast]

Smaller cities and smaller crowds are probably a better bet, really.

[NH Weird Al Fan]

I think their tour schedule has a lot do with it, too. If they have a really long way to drive to the next concert (like from NH to MI), it's not likely they will stick around after Al meets with those who have passes.

Another key factor is where the venue has them park the buses. In NH, the buses were located inside of a guarded, fenced-in area. As soon as I saw that, I told my friends not to bother waiting after the show.

[Ambra]

I think part of the reason for the fewer meet and greets is because, just as its gotten around the fandom that he does these, it's also gotten around to the venues who don't want to pay for the security to stick around and/or the security people refuse to stick around for the meet and greets. They may be telling Al up front that he can't do anything outside the backstage pass meetings.

I think people also need to keep in mind that a meet and greet is never guaranteed, no matter how big or small the crowd is waiting, where Al is headed for the next show, etc. I've heard fans talking while we're waiting and some had the attitude that Al is somehow obligated to do these meet and greets just because he does them in other places. Some of them become downright angry when the meet and greet doesn't happen. I'll admit I'm disappointed I didn't get to meet Al this time around but I know there are factors going on behind the scenes that affect whether or not he'll meet with the fans, whether it's an issue with the venue or the fact that Al is just plain exhausted and wants to get back to the hotel to get some sleep. I'm hopeful that I'll get to meet him next tour but I'm not expecting it. I know it might not happen and if it does, it's a bonus on top of getting to see a really great concert!

[NH Weird Al Fan]

Very well put, Ambra!

[Orthography Enthusiast]

Ambra has a point. I've heard venue security people who were distinctly unthrilled that Al was staying after to meet fans.

[fred27]

why do they care, they r still getting paid to be there

[Kristine]

It's because they don't care... and want to go home after working all day.

[ludovica64]

The buses were parked on the street in Scranton and Al did sign some stuff for the probably fewer than 20 people who stayed on by the bus, but this probably had more to do with there was a technical delay in getting the stuff packed anyway and they werent in a hurry to get away before midnight anyway, hence when we were all goofing about and Dave was getting his tattoos redecorated.
In Columbus the buses were in a secure compound away from people who were waiting so they were probably less aware that many people stayed on, maybe?

[Ambra]

One of the security guards came out a few times to tell us that Al wouldn't be doing a meet-and-greet so they knew people were waiting. I do think a lot of it does have to do with restrictions by the venues; they don't want to pay the security for the extra time and the security people don't want to stick around. I'm guessing when Al signed in Scranton, there wasn't much security could say because it wasn't like he was holding them up since they were still packing away equipment and couldn't leave anyway. Plus, since the buses were parked on the street, it made it a bit more accessible to the fans.