I know this is a little premature, but I thought I'd start a thread for the Toronto Sound Academy show so we can get to know one another.

For the fans who attended the Perfect Symmetry stop at Sound Academy a few years back, you'll remember that the staff was not too friendly about meet and greets after the show. I'm in communication with the venue and have a) lodged a complaint against the treatment of fans by the staff after the last concert and b) asked them to clarify their policy so they can set expectations with the fans BEFORE the show. As soon as I hear back, I'll post their response here.

So YAY - who's considering attending the Toronto show?

Hi Leah!  I'll definitely be attending the Toronto show!

I certainly remember the rude treatment we experienced at the last Sound Academy show!  I'm glad you contacted them about it.  I can't wait to hear their reply!!

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

 

Hi everyone :) Will attend the concert for sure!! It's my first time seeing them, so I'm super excited!! :) what happened last time they were there?? also can anyone give me more info about how this all going to be and at what time do fans usually start gather up together? thanks :)

Leah, can you also find out about that camera policy? My new bulky camera may give me problems on this tour.

Count me in for Toronto :D

Why Keane, why the Sound Academy Again?  Tom called it a barn last time they were there.  Does anyone read the reviews when choosing a venue?

http://www.yelp.ca/biz/sound-academy-toronto

I'm out.

Hey Lisa - it'll be good to see you again!  Elena - welcome. Great to meet you. I think you'll be safe if you arrive after 2PM. Keep in mind there is absolutely NOTHING around the venue - nowhere to eat or go to the bathroom without walking a fair distance. Most people start showing up around 4-5PM.

Deb - sorry to hear you are giving this one a miss. I have a feeling you'll change your mind closer to the concert date. Why did they choose Sound Academy? There really isn't any other venue in Toronto that holds 2,000 people. It's a case of what's available in their capacity range.

Annie - I'll email the venue back and ask about cameras.

I wrote Sound Academy and as promised, here is my original email and the response back. Not overly helpful but if I'm to take it at face value, at least management IS aware we were unhappy about the whole situation and hopefully will treat us better this time.

From: Jaclyn Singh <XXXXX@polsonpier.com>
Date: 26 March, 2012 3:34:17 PM EDT
To: Leah Salt <XXXX@me.com>
Subject: RE: Keane Concert/June 19/Policies

Hey Leah,

I’ve cc’ed our Manager, Cathie, about your experience and she expresses her apologies about this situation. There was obviously some confusion with the meet and greet and that we will be sure to have the production manager for the show find out what the band wants this policy to be, as we usually do.  It is very unusual for our staff to ask people to leave the property (we have told the staff not to kick people out of the building at the end of a show), unless they were in the back area where security is watching the stage door area, and in that case it is actually not our venue security, but the promoter's security who is taking care of the band.  We’ll try our best to inform the promoter’s security about your experience for the upcoming show with hopes you guys can wait for the band like you had hoped. We look forward to having you guys again in June and hope this will be a better experience for you!

 -Jaclyn

===========

Hi Jaclyn,

Thanks for responding to my tweets this morning. Many Keane fans were somewhat disappointed by the announcement that Keane would be playing Sound Academy in Toronto as we were treated rudely last time they played at your venue. I've traveled all over to see Keane and have never been treated as I was in Toronto. Keane is a band who is very much appreciative of their fans and gets great joy from meeting them after their shows. A handful of us waited after the 2009 show for the band to come out but were quite aggressively requested to leave. We saw the band the next evening in Ohio, where they told us your staff told them to wait where we were *trying* to wait for them but were requested to leave. They were left thinking Toronto fans didn't want to meet them! We assured them we did but were ushered off the property with no choice to waiting around anywhere near their tourbus.

This situation caused quite a stir within the Keane community and left fans with a bad impression of your venue. How are you planning on making this a better situation than 2009?

Cheers,
Leah

Leah, thank you so much for the information!! So basically it's the one who comes first gets the best place in front of the stage, right? :) wish they could play at the Molson Amphitheatre; such a great venue! can't wait for June already to come!! bought my tickets today, so happy!!! :)

I wish Keane chose Massey Hall. That's better than Sound Academy AND Molson Amphitheatre. I thought their show there in 2005 was absolutely divine.. only second to their performance in 2003 opening for Travis at the Hummingbird Center or whatever they are calling it these days! And yup - first people in line get front row. If you are coming earlier in the afternoon - I recommend bringing a blanket. The breeze that comes off the lake can be pretty cool - even on a warm day..

Leah, looks like you've been to all of their gigs in Toronto!! can imagine how inredible it is!! :)

Hey,

 This will be my first time attending a Keane concert, for those who attended their last concert at the sound academy how does lining up work?

 e.g. if you come early and line up do they give you some sort of wristband that lets you get the front rows? or are you obligated to wait until the they allow people in and rush in...

 Thanks for the info!

Sound Academy was a bit of a gong show last time - especially with the VIP tickets layered on top. Once doors opened, we were herded into a back room first, which promptly messed up the order of the lineup. There were some hardcore fans who arrived late who decided to take advantage of the situation and try to sneak up to the front of the new line in front of us. In the final minutes waiting, I reminded the venue manager I had been there all afternoon and that the way they handled the lineup was *NOT* fair so he gave our little group priority and lined us up first.

There are no VIP tickets this year so really, it's first come, first in. UNLESS, of course you bought tickets through KM.com. You'll still go in first but they usually have a table set up with one person (who is really slow) who matches your confirmation to your ticket. You can give up the dream of front row now if you bought through KM.com..  The staff at Sound Academy will come around the line and check ID (I can't remember if this is all ages or not) and for those of us who will be in the front of the line, we might even be lucky and have our bags checked before the doors open.

I hope this helps!

 

I'm there! I had a blast at the Molson in 2010 and looking forward to another awesome night in Toronto :) I am a bit nervous since I have to work on Tuesday then drive 5 hrs across the border to Canada (which everyone knows can be a time consuming ordeal) I hope I make it!!

Awww jeezus Leah, I'm really dreading this now. I'll make sure I have NOTHING but my camera, phone n I'D for this gig. Grrrrrrrrrrrr

annie nyc:

Awww jeezus Leah, I'm really dreading this now. I'll make sure I have NOTHING but my camera, phone n I'D for this gig. Grrrrrrrrrrrr

 

I think you didn't understand what I was saying. The staff is pretty quick to check bags etc before you enter but I've been stuck in the fan club lineups for both Travis and Mumford and Sons and it's a real pain. Ironically, the way Sound Academy organizes the doors - it's the most hardcore fans who get their tickets directly through the band website who get the short end of the stick because there is usually only one person who handles these passes and it takes forever for them to check your confirmation and issue you a ticket. You can't get your ticket either before doors open. If you have a ticket in hand though (through TicketMaster) - you should be good to go.

Random, but someone needs to do a water run though once we're in the venue. I always get dehydrated at Sound Academy..

I'm coming!! :) can't wait. hope to see you guys all there! ugh i hate the sound academy with a passion. it's just so bad there. no eating places around, washroom has one place basically the supermarket, parking sucks, venue's the worst part, lining up line is awkward because of how there's stairs, and just leaving the venue is a hassle since you can't find a cab if all of them are taken, can't leave because of the rush when leaving on that narrow road. lol i can go on and on :P yea i definetely agree, Massey Hall would be preferable even despite the seating instead of GA. anywho, I'm just glad they're coming!

Oceanrose:

it's the most hardcore fans who get their tickets directly through the band website who get the short end of the stick because there is usually only one person who handles these passes and it takes forever for them to check your confirmation and issue you a ticket. You can't get your ticket either before doors open.

This is what I meant by dreading. Its Birmingham all over again!
But I'm gonna stay positive, This will be a positive experience lol

 

Why can't the box office issue the tickets an hour before the doors open like at other venues?  It seems like the Toronto show is the only show where the doors/box office open at the same time.  I'm sure if KEANE knew how the hard core fans could be burnt, they could have the box office issue the fan tickets earlier. Maybe I'm a dreamer, but it would be nice if someone in power could make a stroke of the keyboard and change the time, so it is fair for those who bought tickets through the KEANE website.  Here's hoping! 

Michael Picasso:

Why can't the box office issue the tickets an hour before the doors open like at other venues?  It seems like the Toronto show is the only show where the doors/box office open at the same time.  I'm sure if KEANE knew how the hard core fans could be burnt, they could have the box office issue the fan tickets earlier. Maybe I'm a dreamer, but it would be nice if someone in power could make a stroke of the keyboard and change the time, so it is fair for those who bought tickets through the KEANE website.  Here's hoping! 

 

I've run into this issue all over the world so it's not just specific to Sound Academy.  When bands/promoters/venues set up Will Call processes, hardcore fans who want to be as close as possible to the stage don't enter into the equation. And as much as we complain about it on message board and through Twitter - do we actually contact the venue and artist to raise this issue? Probably not.  If I can prove there will be enough of us at the venue prior to the doors opening, I'm happy to contact the venue manager at Sound Academy to ask if they would consider opening the doors early so we can pick up our tickets.

They should change the bloody rules so you can pick up will call anytime the day before or the day of the concert.  It would expedite the process for everybody involved.  I wonder how far in advance the box office actually get the "tickets in hand".  I guess for the sake of frustration just pay up the yazoo for tickets and avoid all the bullshit!!!

 

Michael Picasso:

They should change the bloody rules so you can pick up will call anytime the day before or the day of the concert.  It would expedite the process for everybody involved.  I wonder how far in advance the box office actually get the "tickets in hand".  I guess for the sake of frustration just pay up the yazoo for tickets and avoid all the bullshit!!!

I hear what you are saying and totally agree but that isn't the way the current process works. We were stuck in this same predicament for the Birmingham 'Night Train' concert and at least with that venue, they wanted to open Will Call early but they weren't given the KM.com guest list until the very last moment.  Perhaps this is part of KM.com's check and balances to prevent scalpers from taking ALL the tickets? Think about it - this presale locks them out because they can't access tickets until the night of the show, therefore they can't resell them. Scalpers have already done a good job of locking up all the TM tickets - so much so that in places like NYC, fans weren't even able to GET tickets because the presale sold out in seconds and then scalpers had swept up the remaining floor tickets through the general sale and are now holding them all ransom for $200+.

If you are really concerned, there are still tickets available through TicketMaster.ca for $58.50. Yes, it sucks to pay for yet another ticket but at least that allows you to bypass the KM.com line when doors open. Next time you know, so if KM.com is offering GA tickets for a show, you pass and purchase TicketMaster tickets. All this being said - if there is enough of us stuck without tickets until doors, I'm still willing to speak up to the venue manager and/or point them to this thread.