Pardon me Doug, but is that a picture of a print?
Yes, yes… (that’s all I got)
^ 
Doug…that is freaking terrible…what a complete douche…somebody shoulda filmed that bitch ass cop and turned HIM in for harassment IMO.
Sorry u had to go through that man. 
Luckily we didn’t have any problems, but we got to the lots pretty late both days.
I was told someone was hit and killed walking drunk down Rt. 9 near the ampitheater after the DMB show so they were being a little extra overzealous this year, although they can be slightly overzealous there every year.
Strange to hear of this level of intensity from law enforcement in a state that’s usually considered a more liberal, forward-thinking type of place. In all the time I’ve spent in New York state, I never got the impression that the cops were this way.
Okay…so how much were you selling them for anyway?
In general no, but the state is broke and Saratoga was trying to make a point. The community doesn’t feel like they get a bump in $ or any big benefit from having concerts like Phish/DMB and it’s a lot of extra work. Now country fest and Jazz fest are things they want to encourage as the local hotels and restaurants see a bump (like track season). SO it’s simply about welcoming some people but discouraging others from coming to their up scale community.
I can tell if this was sarcasm or not. If not, then I wasn’t selling them…I have better things to do. If it was…then $250 a piece 
Ah. I didn’t realize that Saratoga Springs was considered “upscale”, but then again I’ve never been there. Spent more time in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse than I ever did in eastern NY. I think it’s weird that they didn’t see a bump in revenues from the Phish shows, though. Most towns seem quite pleased by the enormous amount of revenue that Phish generates.
Saratoga Springs is the hoitiest of the toity in upstate…
The hoitiest for sure. It’s all about the horse races and holding up century of “vacation spot for the rich an famous”. I bet the biltmore family used to come up in the summer. (hayword, polk, franklin too)
And I’m sure they see some bump, like at the state park camping, but hotels are very expensive (and if it’s track season sold out).
Yeah, it’s really too bad because it’s a pretty venue… but everything else about it sucks. Doojette and I said the same thing after last year… good show, but we’ll never be back.
You mean about how someone bought their tickets with alcohol violations instead of money? Absolutely bull$hit, I’m with you.
I don’t get the pretty venue thing. Who cares about looks it’s all about the sound. I now live in Albany, grew up over the border in MA and have been seeing shows since the early 90s at SPAC. Boy what a treat when I first traveled to Greatwood, and then down the coast.
Sure it “looks” cool when you first see it, but from the inside it’s nothing special and god forbid you have to watch from the lawn (which I did on Saturday). Give me a wide open lawn with good sound any day over SPAC. Maybe if they didn’t over sell and cracked down on the “walk in” but it’s not going to happen.
I skipped the 09 show at SPAC, didn’t feel like the hassle but this year it worked better with work. Bethel Woods in 11 please!!!
^Well, it is nice to be in a pretty place. But, yeah, I agree… that’s not enough to make me return if every other part of the venue sucks. I’m just saying it is too bad, because if the sound didn’t suck, the police weren’t assholes, the views weren’t completely obstructed and the capacity wasn’t oversold by 50%, it would be a decent place to see a show. 
The real problem with the SPAC lawn is that it was never meant to be used to watch shows from… SPAC was designed for only the pavilion and balcony and selling tickets for the lawn was an afterthought.
^ You are both right.
I was pretty annoyed with the venue, the security and a lot of people who I ran into living in the town (rudeness–they felt like we were imposing). We did at least get to park in the non-SPAC lot up the street, so that made for a decent time with no worries. But I’m pretty sure I won’t be making a return trip to this venue either…
I would be there in a heartbeat, wonderful venue! (cops still a pain unfortunately)
^honestly as long as I can drink 1 or 2 beers from a solo cup w/out being hassled I really don’t care.