« Fill your stockings in Tenerife | Home | Writing tips »
Elton John has now left the building
By Joe | January 25, 2008
*** WARNING *** The following post contains language that may offend those of a sensitive nature.
Just back from the Elton gig and contrary to the rumours flying round, I can assure you that it WAS Elton John and not a Las Americas lookalike ‘avin’ a larf.
So what was the event like? Sugar and shite, to be honest.
First up, the sweet stuff.
Fair play and big respect for the promoters who actually pulled off this commendable feat. To lure a living legend to our wee rock was a fait accomplit to be lauded. But be honest, we’re a cynical bunch on this rock, and how many of you that live here had doubts that…
A). He’d even show up
B). It would be an impersonator
C). He’d roll up late, perform a couple of ditties and then bugger off back to lah-lah land?
Well, as I said, it was definitely Him and he did give a ‘clinical’ performance.
So now comes the bad stuff.
How bleedin’ hard is it to organise that a pre-determined number of people get into a pre-prepared venue at a pre-specified time? I mean, come on guys! This wasn’t the first ever gig in Tenerife but yet again, those responsible for traffic flow, marshalling and customer relations f***ed up BIG TIME.
Would it be a revelation to suggest that signs were erected sporadically to inform people which queue they were supposed to be in? We’re talking crayons and pencils here, not friggin’ rocket science!!
I personally had the pleasure of experiencing all the queues before finally settling on the right one - more through fortune than any semblance of crowd supervision.
One and a half hours after finding my correct line, I and at least a thousand others were still queuing patiently like a twat when Elton burst onto stage and began the show.
And why was it taking so long to get bodies inside? Because the three entrances to the venue were about as wide as my grandma’s patio door. Not great foresight, it has to be said.
Having bought the second most expensive tickets - 90 euros for standing in the front paddock - I was a little alarmed that three quarters of the population of the Canaries were sharing the very same queue. As it was, I could have paid the lowest price (35 euros), or even nothing as it happened. By the time we had been let in, nobody was even looking at tickets and a mad dash for the front ensued. We were elbow to elbow… no, kidney to kidney, with people who had paid 35 euros, 120 euros and chancers who had forked out bugger all.
There were at least 3 times as many people in the front paddock as there should have been. It would have been funny had events like Hillsborough not dampened any hint of humour that can be found in dangerous situations like this.
As for the gig itself, thumbs up to the band, and the mixing crew - the sound was great, and many of the old faithful were belted out with satisfactory gusto. It might have been nice if Elton had spoken to the audience a bit more, apart from the obligatory “You’ve been the best crowd blah, blah, blah,” if only to recognise the fact that we’d had to run the gauntlet of fuckwits who were supposed to be shepherding people in an organised and logical manner in time for the start of the show.
But all in all, a fantastic event for Tenerife. Shame the tourism authorities are too weak to make sure that worthwile promotion is afforded to having a superstar play on the island. You guys have GOT to make the most of this kind of event!
And once again, shame on you if you were responsible for marshalling and crowd control. You should be flayed alive then dipped in spicy mojo. Get a life, or even better, get an education. Learn from others. It doesn’t take a lot to go to a concert in the UK or the mainland and see how they manage the crowd admittance there, does it?
So bring on the next stars - Santana, U2, The Police, whoever? But just make sure you jeffing well bring in the crowds a damn sight better than you did at Reggie’s do.
Topics: Tenerife, General musings |
January 26th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Me cynical, whatever would give you that idea?
No flippin surprises though that the organization left something to be desired.
January 27th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Agree with your comments, particularly the sound quality/mixing, fantastic. Last time we saw Elton was 1976 at Wembley (open air). The difference 30 years makes! In 1976, the piano was lost in the mix, but this time, wow!
My wife made the comment that it was really loud, but not earshattering - good job it wasn’t indoors.
January 28th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Great post Joe. You’ve hit the nail on the head! Lets hope the organisers get their act together for the next one.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:54 pm
[…] faced concert goers trying to get in to the Elton John gig in Costa Adeje (clearly not funny to those stuck in the queue as Reg started belting out his tunes), this was the approach to the small village of San Antonio, […]
February 1st, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I think you’re being a bit unfair on the organisers, Joe. I mean, how could they have possibly known that Elton would actually start on time? It’s just not done, is it?
I’m trying to hunt down a Canarian dictionary to see if the urban myth that it doesn’t include a word for ‘planning’is true.
Still, your blog gave me a good laugh (sorry it was at your expense). I hope the least you get is an apology…then again they do say ’sorry seems to be the hardest word’(ouch)!