It seems like things went much smoother in Chicago. However there are mixed feelings.
This just in from Lexiconer Kristen:
So i JUST got back (its 4:30am currently) from Orland park where Rob is suppose to be tonight, and luckily I got there in time. Two friends and I showed up at around 9 PM and camped out. There were already a good 50 people ahead of us. Some had been there since 4 that afternoon waiting. It was bitterly cold (34 degrees) and raining almost the entire time.
The Orland park police and hot topic had everything VERY organized. A line was set up around the outside of the shopping center. there were some people selling hot chocolate and everyone was SUPER friendly. The Hot Topic staff was amazing. You were only allowed to leave the line for a max of 5 mins. No saving places was allowed. If you cut, you were sent to the back of the line.
After sitting outside til 1230, the police and mall manager decided to allow us IN the mall even though it was after shopping hours, but it was only the first 500 people there. This was a HUGE relief since it was so cold and wet. You were given a ticket to secure your spot. It gave you a chance to run back to your car and toss whatever belongings into your car. They then escorted 20 at time into the mall, to an already sectioned line. After the first 500 were admitted they turned everyone else away.
Around 130 they announced that Hot Topic was going to start selling the bracelets. 10 people were allowed into the store at a time to make their purchases. As I was walking out to my car, there were other fans standing outside who were denied entry. A lot complained about false advertisement because the bracelets were sold before 7:30, but the 500 were already present.
Everything went VERY smoothly and I applaud the police, mall management, and Hot Topic employees! I was fortunate to be one of the 500.
This from Orhai
Hot Topic are liars. Once again, this Chicago one was a disaster. Tons of us have called over the week and they all gave us the same answer. "You can’t line up till 5am. If you do you will be escorted out." Well you can only imagine what a big surprise it was when we got there at 1 in the morning only to find out that they had started to sell them early. It is sad because they lied to so many of us. Some people had driven hours to get there only to find out it was too late.
I think that you guys should put a heads up on your site for the next couple of signings warning people that there might be a last minute change of plans. It really is unfair to have die hard fans drive miles and waste hours of driving to find out that they were being lied to. I was one of the 500 who got a ticket, but it was still sad to see 50+ girls crying because they were told that they couldn’t arrive until 5am. It is very hard for people to know that plans are changed when they live on the other side of the state and can’t make it a day before they are supposed to sell them.
There is also local media perspective:
Chicago Breaking News Site
Chicago Sun Times
As far as we can tell the "Villians" leg of the tour hasn’t experienced severe problems.
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