And we think children can't behave

[Pea-n-Me]

Some of the behavior I saw from adults at a Diana Ross concert last week:

Fighting over seats.

Arriving plastered.

Repeatedly sitting in ways ushers asked them not to.

Jumping up and dancing for entire songs, effectively blocking the views of everyone behind them and becoming belligerent when asked to sit down.

Near fist fights.

Very choice language during above said arguments.

Security's removal of unruly patrons.

Whoa.

Now I'm no prude, and have been to more concerts in my life than I could begin to count. But this one, somehow, was really eye opening, probably because I brought my preteens so I saw all this through their eyes.

Yup, they saw some interesting events during the evening that had nothing to do with the music.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

You hit upon a pet peeve that I share with DBF. Concert tickets are expensive...so WHY do people get so drunk (or arrive drunk)? Do they really remember anything about the show for which they've shelled out all that money?

I saw U2 in 2005...the girl on the other side of my companion was so drunk, she actually fell over 4 times. A guy two rows behind me kept obnoxiously yelling, "Yeah, Bono ballad!"

Most of the time, though, at the concerts I attend, there's a lot of pot smoking. No mistaking that smell. Surprisingly, those people are quite well behaved...

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You hit upon a pet peeve

Mine is the standing up and either being oblivious to the fact, or not caring, that the people behind you can't see. I mean, hey, it's fine to get excited and jump up, but then sit back down! As you said, the tickets are expensive, and nobody wants to watch other people's backsides instead of the show or game.

 

[MIGrandma]

Those are exactly the reasons I do not attend live concerts anymore. We saw Sugarland in concert last year at the Chesaning Showboat and I was shocked at how drunk people were/got and the way they acted, and the language they used. And the off key singing, and the jumping around/dancing, never sitting (and I'm short so if they stood up in front of me I had to as well) down for a single song. I never saw any security, and no one was ever removed. It was awful, and we paid to put up with that crap. Never again.

 

[Deb in IA]

Mine is the standing up and either being oblivious to the fact, or not caring, that the people behind you can't see.

I've got the solution. NO SEATS!

DD went to a Goo Goo Dolls concert on Tuesday. It was in an "event center" at a fitness club! General admission and everyone stood, because it was in the gym and there were no seats!

 

[luvmy3]

Well the children need to get it from somewhere

 

[Uuaww]

I went to a Ramstein concert once, you want intense? go to that!

 

[binny]

Mine is the standing up and either being oblivious to the fact, or not caring, that the people behind you can't see. I mean, hey, it's fine to get excited and jump up, but then sit back down! As you said, the tickets are expensive, and nobody wants to watch other people's backsides instead of the show or game.

See but that greatly depends on the type of concert you go to and the venue.

The bands that we go see in concert virtually everyone is on their feet and dancing. While I dont see that happening at a Diana Ross conert, it does happen at other shows and is encouraged by the band themselves. atone show we went to the venue was very uppity, it was a season pass type thing so during the season you could see anything from ballet to hard rock. When Great Big Sea played there the entire front of the theatre was dancing around while the back part of theatre sat stoicly with their hands folded. One of the band member actually left the stage and went into the aisles trying to get people to get up and dance. It was really weird.
Thats the only venue Ive been to where that happened that though.

 

[aduck126]

yah concerts can be weird. For some reason I always end up with some drunk girl trying to dance up on me and like make out because apparently it is hot when girls get all up on other girls. then i have to like back away and move to another spot. It is an on going joke with me and DH. I dont know why but the chicks dig me

 

[surfergirl602]

See but that greatly depends on the type of concert you go to and the venue.

The bands that we go see in concert virtually everyone is on their feet and dancing. While I dont see that happening at a Diana Ross conert, it does happen at other shows and is encouraged by the band themselves. atone show we went to the venue was very uppity, it was a season pass type thing so during the season you could see anything from ballet to hard rock. When Great Big Sea played there the entire front of the theatre was dancing around while the back part of theatre sat stoicly with their hands folded. One of the band member actually left the stage and went into the aisles trying to get people to get up and dance. It was really weird.
Thats the only venue Ive been to where that happened that though.

We love Great Big Sea! Yes, people certainly dance and are on their feet pretty much the entire time for them. When we went the show was at a small venue - and I was like, 7 months pregnant at the time and couldn't stand up. I had to sit, therefore I couldnt' see a thing. And we had tickets pretty close to the stage, too. I was so upset. We went and talked to security/ushers - somebody, and they found us some front row seats up in the next level and we were able to watch the entire show sitting. they were actually better seats. lol

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Those are exactly the reasons I do not attend live concerts anymore.

I agree. I saw Rascal Flatts 6ish years ago and it is the last concert I will ever go to. One of our biggest venues is an ampitheater. I'm not crazy about lawn seats so I shelled out my $60 to have a seat. We were completely surrounded by teenage girls ALL on their cell phones screaming into them "DID YOU JUST HEAR THAT?! THIS IS THE BEST CONCERT! WHAT?? WHAT??? OMG!!!! THEY'RE PLAYING THAT SONG THAT MICHAEL AND I DANCED TO!!! OMG!!! WHAT?????" and EVERYONE stood the entire time. Also we spent the entire 2-3 hours scooting back and forth in our little 6 inches of space to constantly let people by that were entering and leaving the row. Never again. I now watch PBS concerts from the comfort of my own home .

 

[jen0610]

I guess I am glad our concert of choise is Jimmy Buffet. Some of your items are actually a part of the whole concert package.

Some of the behavior I saw from adults at a Diana Ross concert last week:

Fighting over seats. Have yet to see this happen. Your either in a seat or your in the lawn area.

Arriving plastered. Not plastered, but if you are part of the large majority that does the tailgating pre-show party, you can be pretty well buzzed.

Repeatedly sitting in ways ushers asked them not to. Haven't yet seen any one doing anything that would get them removed from the concert. Don't know if we have just been lucky in picking our spots out on the lawn or what. And as for those who light up the wacky-tobbacy at the concert, seeing as the only time I can tell someone has lite up is when we do actual seats, I would be hard pressed to point an usher in the direction that I smell it coming from, as it just seems to be all around us. And be very prepared for a couple dozen beach balls bouncing thru out the crowd. If it comes your way, just hit it and pass it on it's way.

Jumping up and dancing for entire songs, effectively blocking the views of everyone behind them and becoming belligerent when asked to sit down. There are only about 10% of the songs Jimmy does at his concert that you, along with the rest of the legion of fans, that might get you to sit down for. And that is only if you have a seat. If your on the lawn, your standing the whole time. I just don't see FINS being as much fun sitting as it is standing.

Near fist fights. Have never seen a fight at Jimmy's concerts.

Very choice language during above said arguments. There are several colorfull words in some of Jimmy's songs that the entire crowd will scream out. Other than that, don't usually hear much else outta the crowd.

Security's removal of unruly patrons. Have yet to see anyone removed.

Whoa.

Now I'm no prude, and have been to more concerts in my life than I could begin to count. But this one, somehow, was really eye opening, probably because I brought my preteens so I saw all this through their eyes. The 10 and 12 year old, enjoyed their Jimmy concert. Keep asking when are we going to do it again. Yea they saw a girl flashing the camera and smelled wacky-tobbacy - asked us what smelled so bad - but other than that, they listened to the music, sang along with the songs they knew and DD 10 danced with the 20 somethings that were sitting behind us. They made sure she could see, lifted her up a couple of times, gave her the beach ball to hit. They had a blast making sure my kids 1st Buffet concert was a fun time for them.

Yup, they saw some interesting events during the evening that had nothing to do with the music.

The last indoor concert we went to, we made sure we were sitting along the railing. That way we knew that there would be no one standing directly up in front of us.

 

[binny]

We love Great Big Sea! Yes, people certainly dance and are on their feet pretty much the entire time for them. When we went the show was at a small venue - and I was like, 7 months pregnant at the time and couldn't stand up. I had to sit, therefore I couldnt' see a thing. And we had tickets pretty close to the stage, too. I was so upset. We went and talked to security/ushers - somebody, and they found us some front row seats up in the next level and we were able to watch the entire show sitting. they were actually better seats. lol

Im glad they were able to do something for you, I would hate to not be able to see them oh I meant hear them... yeah thats what I meant. Ive been to 2 shows recently where I wind up spending a lot of time with the merch guy because Ive been too close to the speakers and it set off my fibro really badly so I can totally relate needing to be away from the stage, especially pregnant. I am usually front row side Alan (right in the middle) so I can avoid the bass beat so much.

We are so lucky here that we can get so close to them in the States the last few shows Ive been to have been really intimate venues and have been wonderful. I was a little worried with Robin Hood coming out that we would lose some of the accesibility we've always had but that hasnt come true so far thankfully I wont get to see them again for a few more weeks but Im looking forward to the kick off tour in July with the new album!

 

[TwinsinCA]

Mine is the standing up and either being oblivious to the fact, or not caring, that the people behind you can't see. I mean, hey, it's fine to get excited and jump up, but then sit back down! As you said, the tickets are expensive, and nobody wants to watch other people's backsides instead of the show or game.

I have to say it annoys me to have to SIT during a concert. If it is a rock concert I want to stand and dance and enjoy myself.

If I wanted to sit during a concert I'd go to the Opera!

 

[PatsGirl]

I have to say it annoys me to have to SIT during a concert. If it is a rock concert I want to stand and dance and enjoy myself.

I don't go to the local "circus tent" arena for concerts anymore because I was taking alot of flak from people behind me about standing and swaying to the music. Nearly everyone in front of me was standing as well I think the smaller venues pull in an older crowd (some might say more civilized but I say booooooring) LOL, please take no offense.

Standing doesn't seem to be the same problem in larger venues. I've recently been to TDBanknorth, Fenway Park, and Gillette Stadium for great concerts and if I didn't stand, I would have been the sole person sitting

 

[Pea-n-Me]

This was in a theater, in the mezzanine section (first part of balcony). People in the front were asked repeatedly before the show by the ushers (obviously their policy) not to put their drinks on the railing or lean over the railing, in part for safety reasons and in part because, from all but the front row, the views of the front of the stage were already difficult. (In other words, if those in the front even leaned forward, you couldn't see the performer. Standing and dancing, forget it. So much for seeing shows here, but I digress.) As soon as the ushers walked away, they were back at it again.

And oh yeh, these weren't 20 somethings or even 40 somethings arriving hammered and fighting. These were 60 somethings - academic types in bowties and society women in pearls. Definitely not the U2 or Jimmy Buffet crowd.

As I said, I've been to all types of shows in all types of settings. But I've never seen anything quite like this before.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

People can agree or disagree on the standing up thing. In this case, it wasn't about sitting quietly with hands folded. (I know I was busy sipping my champagne and watching the music and "show", lol.) Most people were doing what they were directed to do by ushers, which was to stay seated. All but two. Repeatedly. And they were eventually escorted out because they caused a ruckus with their behavior and then became belligerent and threatening to others. Amazing in a setting like this.

Here are some pictures of the Wang Theater (#7 shows a good photo of the mezzanine and how difficult it is to see the stage from there): http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/G2cRFEpDxiIQdFF6zNNbQQ?select=iGm_aLHKkyCjhaaYQReSNA

 

[binny]

I agree that there are some venues and or shows that sitting is appropriate. I worked security for awhile after High School. People would sit through concerts like Anita Baker and not be wild. I worked a Dylan concert and was almost killed by a guy who thought he should be able to have his bong in public.

So Ive seen all sorts of shows LOL and agree taht some really need to be seated and some require dancing, at the very least in your seat LOL