So I was one of the lucky ones who managed to get a ticket in the madness that became Senator Obama's campaign office in East Liberty today. (cue the onrush of angry angry people who didn't get tickets...)
Fear not, though, fellow Kossacks! I plan to do a photoblog of the event afterwards for all those who cannot attend for one reason or another. Preserve it for posterity, if you will.
One request, then: Any tips on effective photoblogging? Is there anything I can say to the volunteer(s) to make sure I get a better seat for this purpose?
Other thoughts on the flip...
One of the most consistent gripes I heard in line (other than "Holy sh!t, this line is really long and isn't getting any shorter" -- not because it wasn't moving, mind you) was that the rally wasn't going to be held in a bigger venue. I mean, let's be honest: Soldiers and Sailors seems big, especially when you're performing there (which I have before). Even so, it only fits 2,370 -- pocket change, especially considering the crowds that Sen. Obama has drawn, even in Frickin' Idaho. A city like Pittsburgh, which easily has over 40,000 college students within its limits (and 35,000+ of those a few blocks away from the hall, to boot), could easily fill up a much larger venue.
With that knowledge, it's no surprise that tickets ran out within an hour.
For those of you who weren't able to get a ticket, I copy below the text of a message I posted on my fair university's electronic bulletin board (yes, we still call it that):
Around 1:00, the office ran out of the tickets they had on hand. At that point, they began taking names for a waiting list; anyone on that list, in theory, would go back tomorrow morning for a ticket.
Now, it is possible that they completely filled the waiting list -- that is, all of the tickets available to the public are either already taken or have been claimed by someone on this list. That said, it is also possible that not everyone on the list will show up.
Long story short: if you get to the campaign office tomorrow morning, at 9 AM, there is a (very very) slight chance that you could get a ticket of your own without having to scalp it. I suggest trying that first.
Don't despair. Tickets might magically become available. Even if they don't, then you can look for a photoblog from myself or someone else. These will certainly appear at some point.
Update: One thing I forgot to mention (but do so in the comments): Soldiers and Sailors has an expansive lawn in front that is an ideal congregation spot for all those who don't have tickets the day of. I don't know how much, if at all, Pittsburgh's finest will try to control any crowd that appears there; that said, wherever the campaign decides to stick the overflow crowd (which will probably be substantial) I think we can expect the gentleman from Illinois to pay a visit.