Never sit in the cheap seats at a pro sporting event

I’ve been to my fair share of hockey games, and the cheap seats often draw the worst kind of people. Seriously, don’t waste your time. 

It’s been years since I’ve gone to a hockey game, as I’m often too busy with about a million different endeavors to fight traffic. Still, I remember sitting in the lower and upper bowls at games, and the differences in atmosphere are night and day.

Those in the lower bowl gave off the aura they wanted an entertaining distraction from their productive lives. Meanwhile, those in the upper bowl all but lived and died for their team. Fans wearing the opposing team’s apparel never had any issues in the lower bowl that I had seen, while there always seemed to be jawing in the upper bowl, where the cheap seats resided.

Further, I had friends attend these games. Those with access to luxury box tickets, all paid for by their company, enjoyed a hockey game. Friends who bought cheap tickets took pride in getting into it with opposing fans.

Pass on the cheap seats no matter what

I once knew a guy who went to these games one time tell me, “I can’t be seen with those people.” ‘Those people,’ obviously referring to those sitting in the upper bowl.

At the time, I wondered why that was. But then it hit me. There’s a lot of negativity in that upper bowl. Negativity breeds negativity, that’s for certain.

Every now and again I’ll get emails from fans who read my work at my day job, telling me how stupid my takes are or how bad my grammar is. Rarely do I get an email saying, “I love your work, keep it up.”

In fact, when I see a note from a fan in my inbox, I know for a fact it’s from one telling me how ridiculous my last take was and to find another career.

You can help yourself by changing lanes

Don’t be these people. And while I don’t know them personally, I’m pretty sure that they’re buying the cheapest tickets to the games, exchanging spats with opposing fans, and sending rude emails to other writers out there to let them know about their “dumbass takes.”

When I was in middle school, I didn’t hang with the best crowd. I wasn’t like them, but it didn’t matter. People associated me as ‘being just like them.’ My mom then used the phrase, “The company you keep.” Even if you’re just looking to enjoy a hockey game from the cheap seats, it’s the company you keep that gets you labeled as a ‘cheap seat fan.’

Negative people who have zero control over their lives. They have so little control that they need to emotionally attach themselves to local sports teams, whose play they can’t control. That’s the main reason you want to avoid these people. Avoid them, so you don’t unconsciously adopt that mentality and look up to those who know a thing or two about regaining control.

Those buying the cheap tickets judge, judge, and judge some more

I go to the gym every day, and I see people who don’t look like they’ve been to the gym in years. These are the people I’ll smile at, ask if they want to work in at a station, and stay out of their way. They’re making an effort to change, and that’s something to be appreciated.

I love it when people take the first step in chasing their ambitions. Even if they may have no idea what the hell they’re doing, at least they’re lapping everyone standing on the sidelines rolling their eyes, judging, and sneering at them.

And when new authors take the plunge and write their first book, I hope it’s an immediate bestseller. It probably won’t be, and it’ll probably be the worst book they ever write. But who cares? They still wrote one more book than those judging from the cheap seats.

Need a real-life example?

My own first book, Wind Wielder, probably isn’t that good. Hell, if I go back and read it, I’d probably fight the urge to never share it again. But in my own, emotionally attached way, it’s my favorite book on the backlist. Maybe it’ll be yours, too.

So, if you’re hesitating to take the first step in anything because those sitting in the cheap seats are laughing at you for trying because they’re so insecure that they don’t know the first thing about taking the first step in anything, why not download Wind Wielder so you can see, firsthand, what the first step actually looks like.

Check it out now, and if you’re looking to move past buying the cheap tickets, I guarantee that you’ll love it. But if you’re going to go out of your way and let me know how bad it is, I’ll get a general idea of what your life is like.

But you know you’re capable of more. That’s why you’re angry. You hate that I’m doing what you aren’t.