Advice on dates to attend from Europe?

[VHUK]

Looking for advice on possible gigs to attend....

I am hoping to visit the US from Europe to attend some of the 2012 tours dates. I am particulary interested in seeing either/both of the Atlanta, Ga and Charlotte, NC gigs...

Do you think these gigs will be instant sell outs? or are they areas where VH does not have such a big following. I need to hold off buying the tickets to nearer the time due to other commitments, but equally so would wish to try and buy the best tickets I can get. (I was even tempted to buy them as soon as they are released, and then try and resell if I cannot go, but TM will only allow you to use "will call" as an international buyer, so would not physically have the tickets until the day of the gig ....)

Second question, please do you know which side of the stage is Ed's normally on recent tours, keen to buy seats that side.

Still hoping for a UK tour...

[vanhalenuk]

Ed was just off centre for much of the last tour - not sure why that was but it looked a bit weird.

He'd normally be on stage left - or on the right as you look at the stage.

[Seshmeister]

Buying the tickets can sometimes be awkward because American companies can be weird about foreign credit cards.

I even had a huge amount of hassle getting internal flights booked with some idiotic airline called AirTran for the same reason.

Most of the good seats are going to be gone by the time you buy your tickets which means that you will have to go through a ticket agency, craigslist or ebay as it makes no sense to pay all that to get there and then sit at the back. It's possible to do this ok but it can be pretty stressful. I did it at the Dave and Sammy tour in 2002 and at the last tour, turning up to the city on the day or the day before and trying to pick up tickets. It worked out great both times but you do have moments of doubt and you have to accept that you will end up having to pay a bit more than the face value on the ticket.

[guwapo_rocker]

We scored great seats from Ticketbastard just days before the shows last tour in Cleveland and Montreal.

You can usually find people outside a few minutes before the show trying to unload an extra pair or two as well.

[Seshmeister]

Yeah the venues are big enough that there will always be something available.

[VAiN]

If you can hold off, the last show would be a good one to catch. I plan on being there myself, where ever that may be...

I used StubHub a lot on the 07/08 tour... they usually have a good selection, and they e-mail you the PDF tickets. I recommend them as a resource for sure.

[Antman]

You might want to consider 3/24 in Atlantic City, NJ at the Convention Hall. Tix have not gone on sale yet and you can get a reasonably priced hotel-the same one the arena is attached too. Unlike Mohegan Sun, they don't gouge you when there's a show since there are a lot of hotels in AC. In Mohegan Sun, you really have no choice.

[Seshmeister]

And there are direct flights from London to Newark.

[VHscraps]

Thanks Antman. Worth looking into a bit

[VHscraps]

Rental car from Newark to Atlantic City. Road trip!

I gotta be careful here. Drinking in charge of credit card and a shitload of desire to be there - ah, tix not on sale yet!! Sensible sober head might take over ... It might just be a bit too soon for me. Later in May, June might be better.

[Seshmeister]

It's a Saturday night too. Looks like a good option, if it had been a month later I think I would have gone.

[guwapo_rocker]

Later in May, June might be better.

Las Vegas, May 27th? No need for a vehicle. Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick might be worth looking into.

[VHscraps]

I suppose I can't really afford to splash out on a trip like this due to miscellaneous and disastrous financial adventures over the last few years, not in March, anyway - or it would be tight coming soon after the damn taxman has to be paid - although it could on the whole be cheaper.

Just the timing for me, too.

[VHscraps]

Las Vegas, May 27th? No need for a vehicle. Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick might be worth looking into.

Yer, might be cheaper, or roughly similar to costs to AC. From a quick look on expedia, flight and 3 nights at the Stratosphere come in at just under £800. With spends and ticket, probably £1500 min for three days ...

[Seshmeister]

And there are direct flights from London to Newark.

My geography let me down there it's a 120 mile trip from Newark to Atlantic City.