astor place started at 1pm rather than 5pm.

lame, sure. but it isn't like anyone not already in line was getting them anyhow. can't exactly restrict people from standing in line for hours on end.

bah, dammit. i stopped by astor place and would have stayed if i had known i wasn't going to have to wait another 5 hours. oh well. belle and sebastian are probably too big to play that little park. on the great lawn would have been nice.

No, you can't stop people from lining up early, but you can expect the place giving out the tickets to play by the fucking rules. Fuck Starbucks and this entire mess.

No, you can't stop people from lining up early, but you can expect the place giving out the tickets to play by the fucking rules. Fuck Starbucks and this entire mess.

Park Slope distribution was well organized. I showed up just at noon, and while the line stretched along 1st Street all the way down to 6th ave., I waited and got tix by about 12:45. Not sure when the first people got in line.

ever thought about going to the beach on the 4th of july? would it kill you to get some color?

No, you can't stop people from lining up early, but you can expect the place giving out the tickets to play by the fucking rules. Fuck Starbucks and this entire mess.

In other words only unemployed hipsters will be attending?

the safety concern could have been worry about a fire hazard or exceeding occupancy. They might've been nervous or jittery or whatever that the line could get out of hand if something unexpected happened. it sucks, but it's legit.

I don't have a problem giving them out early if the line exceeded the number of tickets they had. I got there at 11:45 and wouldn't have had a shot of getting them anyway. My complaint is that they continue to give tickets to these free events away in the middle of the day during the work week. You have to take a half day off of work and get there hours before to secure tickets. I would rather pay $20 bucks than have to go through all the hassle. Half these tickets are going to end up on Craigs List and Ebay going for riduclous amounts of money. They should just make it first come first serve on the 4th. I've benn to a couple of these (Billy Bragg, Emmylou Harris, Ryan Adams) and the only one with a line to get in was Ryan Adams. It's a decent sized park and should be able to accomadte the crowd.

I am employed and I am not a hipster and I got tickets last weeke through the River2River amiling list I even posted the info on this site in a commetns section. These things aren't perfect but you have to remember it is free and theya re trying their hardest accomidate everyone.

any reports circling from the battery park 5pm location?

it's hard to think of a more incendiary situation than a bunch of pissed off belle and sebastian fans. words get exchanged, a molotov cocktail mysteriously materializes, and suddenly you've got a full-scale riot on your hands.

I was in line at Park Slope at 11:15 and had my tickets by 12:15..pretty sweet deal :P (I heard the first folks got there at 8:30) It's pretty messed up the other locations cheated everyone on the time...I say you guys show up to the show anyway - I'm sure they're going to let people in without tickets.

I'm no fan & I wasn't planning on going, but I call bullshit.

Furthermore, I'm astonished at the sheer number of unemployed Belle & Sebastian fans.

Hold on a second, my overly sensitive Argyle sweater and pretensious/tasteless friends will have nothing to do now! Oh no! Fucking boo hoo this band sucks as do their fans. They couldn't play their way out of a paper bag.

you are complaining for no reason. even if they stuck with the original distribution time, nutty belle and Sebastian fans that lined up earlier got the tickets. if you got their at 12 or 1, there was already a line, and you wouldn't have received tickets. if you got there at 1 or 2 and they distributed the tickets early but did not hand all of them out, you would have gotten a ticket. it doesn't matter what time they hand them out. it matters that people line up early, which they always do. you people are stupid.

nobody was aware that they would hand tickets out early, so the people who showed up early would have done so regardless.

If 500 people are in line at 10:45, why wait until noon to give out the tickets? I thought it was actually pretty considerate of River to River, seeing as hundreds more people would have waited in line with no chance of tickets if they had "played by the rules." New Yorkers are nutty and Belle & Sebastian fans are especially nutty; insanely early arrivals were a given.

i'm complaining just b'cuz i like to complain. that's a reason.

"insanely early arrivals were a given"

Oh well thanks for saying this NOW. Where were you all you know-it-all's a week ago?

The shitty part wasn't the fact that R2R/Starbucks handed out the tickets early... It's that the hoards of fans started ascending upon Starbucks hours before the actual start time, giving those who planned to show up on or around the distribution time no chance in getting tickets (some fans DO hold jobs).
Maybe R2R/Starbucks should have had stricter measures on when to line up... Isn't there an NYC ordinance that prohibits people from lining up on the sidewalk more than one hour prior to an event starting (b/c of blocking sidewalk traffic)? I'm probably wrong, but maybe something like that should have been implemented in this situation, since there are reports of fans showing up at 3:30am!
And for the record, I wasn't planning on going. So I'm not embittered or anything. I could give two shits. But I had friends who wanted to go & now can't... Though to be fair, they had a slim chance of getting tickets from the start b/c they're-- what's the word? Ah yes: employed.

The scalping has begun:
"Belle and Sebastian Tix (2) - $1
Reply to: sale-176061955@craigslist.org
Date: 2006-06-27, 3:19PM EDT
I have two extra belle and sebastian tickets. spent a lot of time in line for them... make an offer. "

um, there's a line at astor place right now. it look slike they are still giving them out at 5.

I got there at 9 in the morning and was about 50/75 kids back.

they started so early and the line was pretty small, so i went back.

I ended up getting 4 and left by 11:00.

sorry kids. they sucked.

just got back from astor place. waited for an hour and a half, got my tickets at 3:15. they definitely screwed people over, but seriously... they do only have limited amount of tickets, and what's the point of waiting to give out the tickets at 5? it's limited, so might as well not make people unnecessarily wait.

what??? did someone actually propose outlawing fans lining up early?? you weren't told people would line up early??

What planet are you on? People are going to line up hours if not days before when dealing with a band that has a rabid fan base. You need to quit your job and become a full time blog reader and join the party.

Yeah, personally, I'm still somewhat confused as to why they had to hand out the tickets a week in advance. Or, on a week day, for that matter, given the whole "some people do have jobs with inflexible schedules" issue. I realize that it probably would've been a little too insane for R2R to have all of this going on the day of the show, but it still seems like they could've figured out a slightly more accessible plan.

if only there were some way. some electronic technology available to distribute tickets in an orderly fashion. some way people with and without day-jobs could join in the fun equally. oh bother, maybe they will invent it someday.

wow...did you all see the comment a few up by the person who got two early, and got right back in line for another pair? that is the reason why R2R should have waited until the announced time to distribute. then people wouldn't have been able to line up again for doubles...

it should have been like the line for the tickets last fall for the tribeca p.a.c. shows., which started distributing at the announced time. the line became so monstrously long, it would have been difficult to jump back in line and get more. plus they wrote down your name and took note of your id as a kinda weak measure to keep track of hoarders.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/search?areaID=3&subAreaID=0&query=belle&catAbbreviation=tix&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max

Too bad it wasn't like the Shakespeare in the Park line - huge, but very well run, line day of the show (in a park, so at least you can bring a pillow and sleep) in two locations, and then you just come back later for the concert. Ah well.

but who wants to sit outside on a sticky, humid NY afternoon? ick i can't think of anything worse. and i *love* B & S...

Starbucks at Battery Park was slated to begin distribution at five. By one, there were what looked like two or three hundred people in line. Distribution began at one thirty.

I got to the starbucks at barclay around 11 and they where already gone so I took the 6 to the one on astor place and had my tickets around 1:30(I was at the begining of the line). The location I got my tickets from told us they had 1000 tickets which means the first 500 people to show up would be getting them. They where going to wait till 5 if they didn't already have 500 people there but they did.

I got to the starbucks at barclay around 11 and they where already gone so I took the 6 to the one on astor place and had my tickets around 1:30(I was at the begining of the line). The location I got my tickets from told us they had 1000 tickets which means the first 500 people to show up would be getting them. They where going to wait till 5 if they didn't already have 500 people there but they did.

Just got an email from the river to river publicist saying that *ALL* the free tix are gone as of right now (4:30pm). Take that with a grain of salt, obviously.

The fact that they started early didn't bother me. No one got screwed over because of that. If you got there first, you got your tickets. I got to the Woolworth location at 11am and if they hadn't already given out their tickets, I would have been 700 people deep in line and wouldn't have realized to go elsewhere until 1pm or so.

The annoying thing was that at Astor Place they were trying to have some tickets left at 5, therefore they decided to distribute very slowly. When I got my tickets at 4pm it looked like there were 300 tickets (of 1000) left and well over 200 people on line. If they just sped things along they wouldn't be wasting everyone's time.

I heard the River To River dude tell an angry crowd member that "there's no real system". But once they decided to start before 5 there was no reason to let people trickle through when the line wrapped down 8th around Broadway to Astor.

there was no way anyone arriving at bway and barclay after 10:30 would have got tickets. the line was too long. the health concerns probably had something to do with the scaffolding we had to line up under or the blocking of the different store entrances on barclay. the R & R people did the people in line, all of whom were obviously big fans, a favor by handing ticjkets out early. and for free. let's not look our gift horses in the mouth or however the saying goes.

they probably didn't anticipate such high turn out. now they know. don't get angry at them unless they fail to fix the problem next year.

just go on the 4th, and you might get in, and if not, watch/listen from the side. I ended up watching Yo La Tengo and Malkmus from the side last year, and yeah it's not as good as being right up front, but it's still good.

don't buy scalped tickets for this. that's just plain stupid. (i just saw people offering $100/2 on craigslist--->i also noticed someone selling 3 tix for bloc party/secret machines for $450. man. how do people afford that shit. you could go on a decent vacation for that price)

Park Slope was a breeze. I live on 1st St, and when I went by, there were maybe 50 people in line at 10:30. I came back at 12:10 and there were about 300, I got in line. Waited about 45 minutes and got my tickets. Fairly easy actually. They gave out 1100 tickets at Park Slope.

FUCKING CRAIGSLIST SCALPERS! and it sucks because people will buy them. all those jobless hipsters are going to sell their tickets!!!!!!

just go on the 4th, and you might get in, and if not, watch/listen from the side. I ended up watching Yo La Tengo and Malkmus from the side last year, and yeah it's not as good as being right up front, but it's still good.

don't buy scalped tickets for this. that's just plain stupid. (i just saw people offering $100/2 on craigslist--->i also noticed someone selling 3 tix for bloc party/secret machines for $450. man. how do people afford that shit. you could go on a decent vacation for that price)

So, Sleater-Kinney's last (indoor) show just sold out as I was about to purchase tickets. Is it ethical to trade my Belle and Sebastian pair for a Sleater-Kinney pair?

Also, by the look and chatter of the crowd at the Park Slope location, there were VERY few people there looking to make a buck and resell their tickets. Seriously. Sure it's gonna happen, but whatever. My guess is there'll be more people who just can't really go since it's the 4th, a Tuesday, and summertime.

Regarding craigslist, the traffic seems to be skewed heavily toward people looking to buy, not sell the tickets. So go easy on the "unemployed hipsters." I also got my tix in Park Slope, and things did indeed go smoothly (I got there right at noon, hopped on line, and had the tix by 12:45 or so). I agree with Jack -- the crowd that I saw definitely looked like they'd be using their tickets themselves.

>>Where were you all you know-it-all's a week ago?

They were lining up, natch.

FYI - Starbucks really had nothing to do with the ticket distribution... and knew nothing about quantities being given out, etc.

They stamped your hand as you got tix so you wouldn't get back on line. Took me a long time to just make it faint, so if you actually tried to scrub it off, get back in line & get more tix, you were probably just lying about the whole thing (see post from a while ago). And the line WAS long.

hmm i got to astor at 3:30, waiting til 5 and got tix no problem. why all the hate. if the morning messed up, you always had the afternoon. b&s shows usually run about $30, so the wait is worth it for two tix. Also, I'm employed, I just took off a little early for a 'doctor's appointment.' duh.

aww poor dumb hipsters.

d*mn. this shit was my whole day. after unsuccesfully trying downtown and brooklyn i finally got a couple of tickets later at Astor Place. B&S better be amazing!

Thought it is more sporting to make people wait, possibly forcing the weak to give up, I don't have a problem with how they did it (though other times and days would have been better). After being dismissed from jury duty at noon, thought i'd give it a shot. Barclay and park slope were equidistant, so I just guessed manhattan would have less "unemployed hipsters." Not so it seems. I got to battery park at round 3 and had tickets by 4:30. At that point they were still incrementally moving people along, trying to control the line. It seemed like they were trying to give most away at 5 still.

Sneaking in to this sounds like it'll be much easier than actually getting a ticket

Hahahaha, Belle and Sebastian. Hahahahahaha. Fuck you guys.

this is mad worth it! i just paid 35 dollars a ticket to see their last nyc show at the nokia theater. they were good enough for me to want more!

I'm so glad I went to the Park Slope location. The other ones seem pretty horrible. The line was civil, and the R2R people even had people policing the line and kicking out people who tried to cut.

I showed up at 10:45 and had my tickets by 12:05. I ended up with 4 (I got two last week from the e-mail list thingie), and I'm trying to trade a couple for two Bloc Party tickets. I could give a fuck if it's "ethical," since my Bloc Party tickets were stolen. Theft doesn't seem very ethical to me.

PS. I'm not unemployed, I just work nights. I do feel for the people with 9-5's though. They did make it kind of rough for you.

How is it worth it? A typical job that pays $50K/yr comes out to around $25/hr. Two hours at work earns you $50 before taxes. Isn't it easier to just get a job? Not only is it easier, but you don't have to deal with hordes of hipsters at big venues. Win/win situation. Check out monter.com or hotjobs.com

I'm a gainfully employed hipster dufus and I had NO problem getting tickets. Went to the Battery Park location at Pearl & State at 4:30 and was 147th in line. They were constantly taking a head count. Was told they had 500 pair to give out. Started moving at about 4:45 and was back in my office a block away by 5.

I got to the Woolworth Starbucks at 11:10 AM and had my tickets in hand by 11:20. I thought it worked out great, though a big F&^K YOU to the guy who got back in line and got an extra set.

I got to the Woolworth Starbucks at 11:10 AM and had my tickets in hand by 11:20. I thought it worked out great, though a big F&^K YOU to the guy who got back in line and got an extra set.

it is so funny hearing all the bitter people bitching about all the "unemployed" losers who were actually able to get tix.

i'm gainfully employed, have an awesome job that i worked my ass off to get, and can do absolutely anything i want with my time- at least if i plan ahead. it's not my fault (or the fault of all the people lucky enough to have jobs like mine) that you work nine to five.

ps. according to the event's publicist, people were arriving at some of the locations at 4:30am! that's some crazy shit.

I thought the system worked great at the State St. The line was manageable, they started giving out the tickets at about 10 to 5, and they stamped everyone after they got a ticket so they wouldn't get back on line. Also, I have an extra pair because my friends can't make it so I'm giving them away on my site. Click on my name to find the info.

I went to the battery park starbucks at about 4:20 and got tix at about 5. Not bad all things considered. yes I am an unemployed hipster. yes I'll actually be using the tix. While I was on line the guy behind me in a suit ran into an old friend of his and I took out my ipod headphones to listen in on there conversation. the guy behind me worked at goldman sachs. the guy he ran into was studying for the bar. and he had his new wife with him. Boy oh boy did I feel like a loser.

See that? Free tickets to a good show, a kick in the head to my self esteem. I broke even.

i'm not even in ny and i got a ticket! maybe you complainers should try being nice people, and then you might have a good friend to pick you one up as mine did.

I was smart enough to realize once I got to the Woolworth location and got gipped out of tickets at 11:15 that they would be giving tixx out early at all the locations, so I quickly rushed up to the Astor Place location, got 20th on line at about 11:30, by 1:15 they started giving out tixx and excitedly I received a pair of tickets to belle and sebastian on july 4th, can't f-ing wait, hope they play "Your Cover's Blown"!

I was smart enough to realize once I got to the Woolworth location and got gipped out of tickets at 11:15 that they would be giving tixx out early at all the locations, so I quickly rushed up to the Astor Place location, got 20th on line at about 11:30, by 1:15 they started giving out tixx and excitedly I received a pair of tickets to belle and sebastian on july 4th, can't f-ing wait, hope they play "Your Cover's Blown"!

Well, I too tripped out to Woolworth's@Barclay nab some BS tickets for LJ's boomerz1 & I, but there must have been some real security b.s. going on, because there was no traffic access to Broadway from the West, from Vesey all the long, long way up to Franklin (traffic cops out in force).

By the time I got there, after an extra hour, circa 12:20, tickets, crowd, and cops were gone and the pleasant R&R lady said that there were 506 tickets at all locations and hinted that it was better to go to Battery Park than Astor, which now appears to have been more b.s.

There were about 60-90 school-age gen-wannabes waiting down at the Battery with no ticket-in-hand person in sight, so I decided that the intimations that tickets would be given out in advance were wrong, which appears to have been more b.s. (sorryforthelongrunon but there appears to be no way to put paragraphs in comments).

Battery Park $bucks wasn't too awful - I got my tix at 4:15 after a 2 hr wait, and overheard some interesting conversations while looking at beautiful people getting pelted with flying dirt from the mess across the street. Their distro methods are perverse though, I must say. I took the day off and drove down from Saratoga for the tix. I would have gladly paid $50 a ticket, since it cost me more than that just to drive down and back. I feel bad for the fans who couldnt' get a ticket, especially since they gave me a pair and I only needed one (not many B&S fans in upstate NY).

Not everyone who got tickets is unemployed. I work from home, one friend works nights, another friend took the day off from work for a doctor's appointment and had the morning free, and another is on vacation. I ended up missing the Lovely Feathers show last night because I had to stay home and catch up on work. If you wanted tickets badly enough you could have taken the time off work for a "personal emergency."

I went to Park Slope, got in line at 11am (the line already stretched all the way down the block). The R2R people were really nice and polite and overall it was really smooth. It sounds like the other locations were crazy because of the volume of people who showed up. The reason I picked Park Slope was because I knew there would be fewer people there in the middle of the day than there would be in the financial district.

Remember the days when people would line up and wait overnight to gets tickets to big shows? I do. So I guess that's why I don't think it's a big deal to wait an hour on a gorgeous sunny day.

Belle & Sebastian should have give free tickets to anyone that knows what Sinister is.

As for me, I didn't care enough to stand in line for free tickets to a band I've seen three times before. They suck outdoors, anyway.

they did not suck outdoors. you douche bag.