Chris Martin, Coldplay (Photo: Live4ever Media)
Coldplay have been leaving the front row at their gigs free so staff can find ‘excitable audience members’ to fill them, according to post on their official blog.
Writing on the blog, Roadie #42 described how a Twitter plea for a lost camera led to the band’s plans being unravelled.
“It came about after struggling with shows where the seats closest to the stage were often full of just ‘the highest bidders’ and not necessarily the most enthusiastic fans.”
“In European standing shows, the front rows are the kids who’ve been outside the venue since daybreak and who’ve sprinted in to get the pole position. Usually by the time the opening acts have finished they’re at fever pitch with excitement.”
“In contrast, folks who’d paid astronomical sums for the tickets could often just sit with an arms folded sense of entitlement, emoting ‘Come on then, entertain me, have you any idea how much I paid for this?”
“So the band don’t sell the tickets to the front few rows anymore. Instead, various crew members are sent out to scan the highest, furthest seats to find folks who look genuinely excited and giddy to be seeing the band. They’re then given tickets to the front row.”
Read the full blog post here.