A hot take about the GC at the Mayhem Ball

[darkgaga 5,890]

So. Last Sunday I visited the Mayhem Ball in Amsterdam, and first of all: “WHAT A SHOW”. I am not in the best place in life so sadly I couldn’t fully be in the moment, but even then I was slayed. However, I started wondering what might have caused partially me not enjoying it as I wanted to, and I think it is the Golden Circle layout. So hear me out. 
 

I have been to all her tours since the BTWB, always with 2 short people. With the Artrave the catwalk were high, so you could always see her. With the JWT you could be standing close to any of the B stages and on the main stage she was elevated a lot, so same. At the CBT we had Golden Circle, and we were able to stand in the back of the circle, with enough space, but like right in the middle so you could see the stage fully frontally, and we were able to take a few steps back so the tall Dutchies were not blocking the view too much. 
 

However, last Sunday we struggled. Like first of all, why was fhe GC almost half of the floor?! But okay. We were standing GC left (so not the VIY) side, and at first we stood at the back, close to the lane they made for VIY (which she didnt use in Amsterdam). But we could barely see her, unless she was on the big red dress. There was no space in the back of the GC, since “front row” was not actually in the front, but along the catwalk. So the only place where we as shorties could see, was on the sides, almost under the ring with the seats. But at that spot you were looking at the main stage mainly from the side, which I dislike (I like symmetry) and every time Gaga was on the catwalk we just saw her back, or dancers blocking her. I almost feel the view from the GA in the center was often better than GC, unless you had front row. And I heard multiple people say this, not just my short friends. 
 

How was your experience with this?

[NUTELLA 13,239]

Was this your first, second or seventh time attending?

[darkgaga 5,890]

4 minutes ago, NUTELLA said:

Was this your first, second or seventh time attending?

Hahah first. I would never start a thread like this if I had multiple possibilities to go and try out different spots

[Sneaky Oliver 22,313]

wow these are some wild first couple of comments 

[Juniper 1,008]

I also think the stage layout is horrible. I say this even though I stood front row at the main stage and had an amazing view IMO, but the catwalk takes up too much space. 

It was better with two separate stages like at the CBT. Have her walk through the crowd again. It worked then. 

[Schwerk 7,310]

I feel the same. The catwalk in particular is very low and Gaga is tiny. That's a reason me and my friends really wanted to be front row catwalk. We didn't want to pay €500 and have trouble watching the show. It's also crazy that front row GA technically has the best view.

Another night I was standing in GA in like row 7 from the B stage I could barely see her and in the shoes I wore I'm about 180 cm.

The GC layout of the BTW ball was the best in my opinion. It also wasn't super tightly packed. During one of the shows me and my friends had this huge space in the center to dance because everyone was glued to the sides of the catwalk. It was amazing.

The Chromatica Ball was horrible because you had to be either in the middle part or outside and center of the catwalks to see everything. Closer to the mainstage the stage blocked her view. 

Artrave was amazing once people realized it wasn't a conventional setup. I did one font row which was great, but another just running around 'with' Gaga, dancing under the catwalks having a great time. That was awesome.

[Alxjcgn 809]

36 minutes ago, Juniper said:

I also think the stage layout is horrible. I say this even though I stood front row at the main stage and had an amazing view IMO, but the catwalk takes up too much space. 

It was better with two separate stages like at the CBT. Have her walk through the crowd again. It worked then. 

Thinking of the BTWB and MB layout, she keeps the extensions of the stage close to the set and the stage doesn't become the set or there is not an alternative smaller stage. I would money to believe she considered a B stage for this tour and thought about a way it would fit the show for her to cross through the audience and do an "act" (or part of one there. Seeing how the show is designed and the extremities, I fully understand why the stage has the layout it does. That being said- she does a great job of staying on the catwalk/moving on it throughout the show and when viewing the entire stage it plays into the spectacle. 

 

I have front row tickets (front at the main stage) for DC and I will be comparing it to seeing the show from the nosebleeds. I know it will be different and I am happy to have seen it from above and now experience it in the crowd on the floor. It is theatre and it is going to be a different experience based where you are seated or stood. But it is an amazing show 

[Melbourne Monster 131]

The entire catwalk is in the front GA section for the stadium shows, there’s also no left or right GC pits.
 

I think the stage will change slightly for stadiums too 

[LOVEDRUG 10,905]

It's for this reason that I prefer shows with circular/semicircular catwalks, like the Born This Way Ball. It means the artist isn't just moving backwards and forwards, but sideways too.

[darkgaga 5,890]

36 minutes ago, Melbourne Monster said:

The entire catwalk is in the front GA section for the stadium shows, there’s also no left or right GC pits.
 

I think the stage will change slightly for stadiums too 

But there is a GC? Just bigger so it goes around the catwalk?

[Bronco 13,605]

I think the issue is the arena stage design was clearly done in mind of the vast majority of venues being seated. So the small number that aren't likely got forgotten about.

[Melbourne Monster 131]

21 minutes ago, darkgaga said:

But there is a GC? Just bigger so it goes around the catwalk?

The GC is called Front GA for the Australian stadium shows 

[Melbourne Monster 131]

9 minutes ago, Bronco said:

I think the issue is the arena stage design was clearly done in mind of the vast majority of venues being seated. So the small number that aren't likely got forgotten about.

The EU shows are all general admission on the floor. Australia is stadiums again with GA on the floor. The tour is likely going back to Europe in stadiums too. I imagine it’ll be adapted somehow

[Bronco 13,605]

16 minutes ago, Melbourne Monster said:

The EU shows are all general admission on the floor. Australia is stadiums again with GA on the floor. The tour is likely going back to Europe in stadiums too. I imagine it’ll be adapted somehow

The stadium tours in Aus etc will be different I'm sure as stadium stages are typically higher even for the main stage as well so I can't see it being an issue. 

As for the european dates all being GA, that's only 18 dates out of 87. So I'm not surprised the stage isn't adapted from the one designed for the US/UK legs where the floor was seated.

[Melbourne Monster 131]

58 minutes ago, Bronco said:

The stadium tours in Aus etc will be different I'm sure as stadium stages are typically higher even for the main stage as well so I can't see it being an issue. 

As for the european dates all being GA, that's only 18 dates out of 87. So I'm not surprised the stage isn't adapted from the one designed for the US/UK legs where the floor was seated.

But even with seats on the floor people stand. Personally I haven’t seen many people complain about the height. I haven’t seen the show yet so will be curious to see how the stage fares in Australia