Are season passes mailed or does one need to pick them up somewhere?

[Lord Mersey]

I was never very good at maths but even I reckon that I do not need the fingers on one hand to count the number of people in the left side of the arena who could be described as OTT in terms of their behaviour.

I made the effort to get to know people and after 16 years in the arena count myself as very lucky to have made such a wide group of friends. Everybody there has a deep and passionate belief in classical music and thats what it should all be about.

[PhilipT]

The fundamental difference between the Proms and other concert venues with unreserved standing (including the RAH itself, outside the Proms season) is that at the Proms it's the same people who queue the longest night after night after night. Newcomers imagine they are strangers in a crowd who are all strangers to each other, not in a crowd who largely know each other (at least by sight) and who respect each other's positions in the queue and in the Hall and expect the same respect in return. It is an unfortunate fact that RAH management do not fully accept that this difference exists.

[David Underdown]

And it's worth pointing out that in general, everyone is treated the same, whether regular or new face, you get the place you've queued for and that's it, no saving of places for mates, other halves, whatever. As others have pointed out, people know each other well, so it would be quite easy to do so, but it's understood that that isn't fair to anyone.

There have been plenty of complaints aired on past boards from people who have been trampled on at the last minute inside the hall, or queue-jumped outside the hall. The difference is that the regulars know something can be done, and who to speak to to make it happen

[cavatina]

I was never very good at maths but even I reckon that I do not need the fingers on one hand to count the number of people in the left side of the arena who could be described as OTT in terms of their behaviour.

Just do a Google search, and you'll find dozens of media accounts of day trippers coming away from their Arena promming experience feeling needlessly humiliated and shamed when they honestly didn't mean to do anything wrong. Telling people they need to move is one thing; glaring and hissing at them as if they're some sort of reprobate criminal-- if not outright yelling at them-- is quite another. PT is completely right to mention that management doesn't see things as the regulars do. Why else was there talk of merging the season and day queues if somebody didn't think there was a clique, it was a problem, and in serious need of being busted up? I think that should give everyone pause for thought.

By the way, has anyone heard if they made a decision on that? Personally, I'm convinced it would be a complete disaster for any number of reasons.

[David Underdown]

Just do a Google search, and you'll find dozens of media accounts of day trippers coming away from their Arena promming experience feeling needlessly humiliated and shamed when they honestly didn't mean to do anything wrong. Telling people they need to move is one thing; glaring and hissing at them as if they're some sort of reprobate criminal-- if not outright yelling at them--

Really, what search terms did you use exactly? In my experience the sort of behaviour you refer to is the exception, though I'm not denying that unpleasant incidents do occur. One of the problems is actually that management often leaves the front left of the Arena to its own devices, if you're lucky there's a steward at the bottom of the stairs outside, stopping people coming in from the front door, but rarely is there actually anyone in the hall keeping an eye on things. When there is a proactive steward there, it makes a heck of a difference. People are far more likely to take notice of someone obviously official, rather than just another punter. When this has been suggested in the past we've been told that since we "know what we're doing" we don't need a steward. Many people have known each other for years, so some appearance of cliquiness is probably inevitable, but it really isn't a hard circle to break into - as you know from how many Proms it took to be welcomed last year

All the info for this year shows separate queues, so imagine that's been put on ice - as you seem to suggest the practicalities of administering a single queue would seem to outweigh any advantages

[PhilipT]

I think the change of the guaranteed entry threshold from 10 minutes before to 20 minutes before is a watered-down version of the suggestion that the queues should be merged. I can't speculate on why it's been done - not even the RAH or the BBC would claim that they consulted their customers on the matter - but it wouldn't seem to be a terribly effective way of breaking up a clique who often arrive early enough to have a party beforehand.

I did suggest to RAH management last year that I might write some words of advice to a first-time Prommer for this year's Guide, but the response wasn't enthusiastic and I didn't pursue it. The article that has appeared isn't bad, but I imagine that those day trippers you mention who've had a bad experience would say that it leaves out certain things that I certainly wouldn't have. It's in everyone's interests, not least the RAH's, for newcomers to be aware that it isn't just a free-for-all and that behaviour that might be accepted at a rock concert isn't accepted at a Prom. But I don't hold out much hope. RAH management consider that it is their job to manage the queues, but won't accept that there is a principle of first-come-first-served (and they have told me to my face that they don't - we never got as far as 'and that place is yours for the whole of that Prom'); RAH management won't accept that someone who does something which is grossly unfair on everyone else is ipso facto being rude (and they have told me to my face that they don't); RAH management consider that we should be like their rock audiences (and they have told me to my face that we should). Sensitivity to the differences between their audiences isn't in their lexicon.

[David Underdown]

Philip,

I think it depends on exactly who you talk to, and what they think you mean. I know they dislike those who come in, mark a place and then disappear until just before concert time. I find this a bit of a bore too to be honest - as they are often the ones who get most upset to come back and find someone else in that spot, they expect everyone else to keep their spot for them but are never there to repay the favour

I always try to be polite to everyone, not stare too obviously etc etc, and leave it to the stewards after initially simply pointing out that somebody is actually there. On the other hand it seems like it's best to say something early on, not least because the person concerned has more chance of actually finding a space then, and it some times avoids the problem where someone seems to have just come to have a quick chat with a friend (which we all do), and then find as the lights go back down, that they are intending to stay when it's already baking hot and packed like sardines

[Ferretfancy]

I'm usually in the "just in front of the fountain " bunch, and I think we are a pretty friendly crowd. On a number of occasions we have asked those at the rail if a youngster could move up front, and I've never seen it refused.
Of course there are irritating happenings at times, but by and large all goes well. Many of us will have queued for some time in order to find our spot on the floor when the doors open, but if we are joined by strangers we don't see this as a problem as long as they arrive in good time. What really bugs me is when people barge in and block your view just as the performers walk onto the platform, that is very discourteous indeed.
It's easy for us regulars to forget that newcomers may be having a terrific experience at the Proms for the first time. I kept my council a couple of years back when a young Korean family joined us to hear Lang Lang. He is of course a huge celebrity all over Asia, but not a favourite of mine. I had a very enjoyable conversation with the family during the interval, and they stayed for the second half. Imagine hearing the Alpine Symphony for the first time at the Albert Hall! They were bowled over by the whole event, and determined to come to more. That's the best aspect of the Proms.

[prokkyshosty]

I'm revisiting my old thread to see if anyone's received their season pass yet?

Last month I received a certificate for my chamber season pass, and suddenly yesterday I've received the exact same thing for my season pass, but no season pass itself, nor any acknowledgment that they've received my photos. I think they're playing games with me 'ead!

[cavatina]

Last month I received a certificate for my chamber season pass, and suddenly yesterday I've received the exact same thing for my season pass, but no season pass itself, nor any acknowledgment that they've received my photos. I think they're playing games with me 'ead!

It's nice to know I'm not the only one worried; the exact same thing happened to me too.
Today's envelope had such a deceptively reassuring heft, didn't it?
All fluttery and worked up for nothing...bah.

[David Underdown]

According to info posted bt HilaryJane elsewhere, the hall are still waiting for the Beeb to provide the ticket stock

[Ferretfancy]

David Underdown,

I came back from an overseas holiday on Saturday, expecting to find my season ticket, but there is still no sign of it. Do you have any recent information?
Bws.
Ferret

[David Underdown]

Nothing more recent

[prokkyshosty]

Indeed, they are still waiting for the card stock from the BBC. I just called the box office to confirm. Since I'm coming over a bit over a week, I had them change my pass to "will call".

[Hilaryjane]

Update on season tickets - the RAH now have the stationeryfrom the BBC and are processing season tickets urgently.