Beat the System

Follow up to the last post, re: the money on the ground at the Blanton Museum.

Among the scenarios I considered were the prank/psychology experiment; that someone had accidentally dropped the cash; and that it was left as a random donation to the museum by a good citizen. It was Halloween morning, so this last possibility reminded me of the family who leaves the bowl of candy on the porch, with a note that reads, "Please just take one piece."

I liked the suggestion that I would pick up the money, and put it in a donation box (or I could have returned later to donate it). I wish that's what I would have done, but after 15 miles, that level of cognitive sophistication was beyond me.

The theory that I had to stop and pick it up in order to know for sure that it was only two dollars was a good one. But I did not stop; I only slowed a little, to confirm what I thought I'd seen. As I ran on, I thought about the slight possibility that some larger bills were hidden behind the ones, but I never checked.

What my "decision" about the money came down to was more about Karma than anything else. If the money was left by someone with the intention of it going to the museum, then I should leave it, hoping it would end up with the intended party. Two dollars makes no real difference in my life, so to pick it up and keep it would be a petty and selfish act. And as much as I try to foster an image of pettiness and selfishness, I did not reinforce that image in this instance. I decided to leave the money for "fate" to sort itself out. If it ended up as a donation to the museum, great. If someone who really, really needed it picked it up, that's okay, too. If someone who did not need it at all picked it up and kept it, well, that's between them and the universe. I'll never know, and I can live without knowing.

On Friday evening, I gave Carrie a kiss and headed down to the Erwin Center, to see if I could weasel my way into the AC/DC concert. The fun started when I parked the car between the arena and the Capitol. Older folks in patriotic outfits (think 4th of July meets Halloween) were leaving the capitol grounds. That's right, the Tea Party crowd was leaving their pep rally, and walking alongside people who were headed to the AC/DC concert. It was a perfectly peaceful mix, but there was no way to confuse the two groups, and I would bet that there weren't many who were actually attending both events.



I have spent enough money on big-time, big-money, big-arena concerts in my lifetime, and just being in the building for a major concert is not worth the money anymore. But sometimes the spectacle of a show draws me in, and I try to get a cheap ticket. I long ago got over the "loser" feeling that comes with going to a concert with only 16,000 of your closest friends. And getting a really discounted ticket depends on buying a single seat. Over the years, I have paid $10.00 to see the Dixie Chicks, $20.00 to see Bruce Springsteen, and on Friday I managed to get a $97.00 ticket in the lower level for AC/DC for $20.00.



Step 1. Wait to bargain until after the concert has started.

step 2. Set your price for upper or lower level seats (know the section #s), and be fully prepared to go home without seeing the concert. I've had guys meet my price only when I was walking back toward my car, keys in hand. And I was not bluffing.

Step 3. Find a scalper on the edge of the action, away from the other sellers. Peer pressure works against you, as these guys don't want their buddies to see them get worked.

Step4. Don't be an azzhole. Take advantage of simple supply and demand, but don't be insulting. Many of these guys would rather eat the ticket than sell it cheap to a jerk.

I saw this happen when I first arrived on Friday. The buyer was a young guy who did not follow Steps 1, 2, or 4. A direct quote from the seller: "I'd rather roll up this $100.00 ticket and smoke it, than sell it to some punk for $25.00."



Half the fun is getting in, but AC/DC is still getting it done, even if they are 25 years or more past their prime. They never slow it down for a "catch your breath" ballad, and the balding, horribly ugly Angus Young never stops, period. Just 5 guys with a signature sound, and a full house, feeding off the raw energy. Special effects included cannons, a giant bell, a replica train,
and an inflatable "Rosie." Oh, and some pyrotechnics that had me little worried. I wonder if the UT people knew about, and approved the fireballs. They played for at least two hours, and I left when the second encore, "For Those About to Rock," went a little long. I might have left before that, but I really wanted to see them shoot off the cannons. Good times.



Next month, I hope to blog about how I got myself into KGSR's Christmas Party. I've gotten in three times; once with a ticket, and twice through, uh, other means. I'll let you know.



Peace,



JS4