^^ Well, I'm referring to both - not just list spots, but also getting in early. And even if it's "just" getting in on the GL for free, I find it's helpful when someone shows up and hassles me about recording to say, "Yes, the band invited me here to do this."
Getting in early is essential, depending on the spot. Most of the places I tape, arriving right at doors is sufficient, but some take a lot more setup time and/or have spots that are really hard to get if you're not the first person in the door.