When I hear that a music show is "sold out," and I really, really want to go... it's not that I take it as a challenge; rather, I think, "OK, sold out, but what does that have to do with ME?" I've never missed a show I've really wanted to see... although I've certainly had some interesting adventures getting in.
Turns out The Swell Season was coming to the Old Town School (OTS) in Chicago for a one-night show. Turns out the show sold out just hours after the tix went on sale. Turns out I hadn't been paying attention until too late... no tickets anywhere. Many requests for tickets, but none seemed to be available.
(for those not familiar with Swell Season: have you seen the absolutely excellent movie "Once"? If not -- please do! It's a story about following one's passion, about being true to one's self no matter what... and the music IS the story: passionate, powerful, moving, the whole shebang. Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova -- a.k.a the Swell Season -- wrote the songs & star in the film -- check out their myspace page to hear some of this beautiful music. I've been a little obsessed since I saw "Once" about a month ago.)
Desperate, I e-mailed a contact at OTS and offered to pick the artists up at the airport, wash windows & floors, etc. -- whatever job needed to be done, as long as I could get in. My contact e-mailed back: there are NO tix available -- sorry!
That evening I was out for a stroll and ran into my contact and his wife at an outdoor cafe... he looked at me warily and said, "Sue, there are NO tickets!" -- like he thought I might be stalking him or something -- it was a coincidence, I swear!
Well, the day of the show, I was still ticketless... but I knew that somehow I would manage to get in. Then, about 4 PM my friend Ron called -- he might have an extra ticket for me! But here's why: his wife's mother had become very ill, and Mary -- Ron's wife, also my friend, who has gone on some crazy ticket-adventures with me -- told Ron that if she couldn't make it, he should give her ticket to me.
Well, this didn't make me happy at all. Of course I wanted to go, but not at any cost! I felt like I was being tempted by the devil. SO... I prayed that Mary's mom would be OK and that she'd get to go to the show. It really was the only thing to do; I understood, though, that now I probably wouldn't get in.
At 6:45, Ron called to tell me Mary's mom was OK, and Mary WAS able to make the show. I was very glad to hear that; I don't think I could've enjoyed the show otherwise. But now I had to head over to OTS to scout my possibilities.
When I arrived around 7PM, there were at least thirty people in front of OTS, all of us in the same situation. My friend Lisa and I split up, each taking a different territory. Reminded me of my younger years, looking for Led Zeppelin tix, but that's another story... now I felt like an old fool, but ya do what ya gotta do.
Finally, at 7:50 -- 10 minutes before showtime -- I accosted two women walking towards OTS and yes, they just happened to have two extra tix! We set a price (more than face value, but quite reasonable, I felt)... and voila, we were in!!
The show was SO worth it. Glenn and "Mar" were simply charming, their songs powerful and moving, and the audience was in love with them. The energy in that room was so amazing. I'm so glad we were able to make it!
Wishing good ticket karma to each of you... 