Concert Etiquette

[BuffettFan]

. You paid to be there too and you have every right to get up and dance and have fun to the music. It's a concert and you're there to have fun! You could have sat on the couch and watched music videos if you didn't want to move

ITA !!! If I paid for a concert I plan on having a good time.....especially considering what concert tickets cost these days. (And if it's free, well then it's hard for anyone to complain) If you want to just sit quietly and listen to the music, pop in a CD and sit comfortably on your sofa. I go to concerts to have fun !
Of course most of the concerts I go to are Jimmy Buffett ones, and I never see anyone sitting there!

 

[ducklite]

I believe Anne has just experienced and posted the worst pickup line of all time.

 

[LoraJ]

You were at a general admission show, it's to be expected.

Actually, people dancing and swaying give the performers more energy. If I go to a BNL show and everyone is sitting down, the show really lacks. When everyone in the front is dancing, singing and having a good time, the band really responds positively.

If I go to a show where I want to be able to see and possibly sit, I avoid the front or floor. If I want to dance the night away, I try and get seats in the front.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

was it general admission where you were all standing up?? couldn't the girl have just....moved?? usually if something like that happens(someone's moving too much or they're too tall) i just find another spot to watch in.

 

[olena]

I misunderstood the topic. When I saw it, a flood of thoughts came to mind. Ah well.

Sorry they bummed your experience.

 

[tara lynn]

I got to tons and tons of shows and considering this was a General Admission show I think the only way you would be in the wrong would be if there was absolutely nowhere for her to move to (which I doubt). I'm the type who just likes to stand and enjoy the music, I don't dance or anything. However, I don't mind if people around me are doing it. If they're blocking my view I'll move a little bit to the side. It's no big deal and it's all part of going to shows. Now, if you guys were in seats and you were blocking her view, it'd be a different story.

 

[ckay87]

I'm of the opinion that if you want to sit and watch a performance, it's best to do so from the comfort of your living room. A live concert, for the most part, is a participatory experience. BUT...I respect that not all people feel the same way. So, if I am in a section of sitters, I reluctantly and grudgingly sit

I am curious about how the performers feel about it? I am willing to place money on the fact that most performers vastly prefer to see, hear, feel their audiences physically participating.

I believe that there should be a good deal of available handicap seating with fantastic views. And I'm obviously not referring to very quiet shows or the ballet, the opera, etc. But yea, I truly believe that even Billy Joel, the old fart wants to see us shakin it!

Just my opinion.

 

[ducklite]

I am curious about how the performers feel about it? I am willing to place money on the fact that most performers vastly prefer to see, hear, feel their audiences physically participating.

I know as an audience member I've been to a few shows where the crowd just stood there no matter what the band did. It wasn't like they were booing the band (I've been to some of those as well ) but they just stood there indifferently. As an audience member I find this uncomfortable, so I can't imagine how the band much feel when the audience isn't reacting at all.

As part of my job I have intereviewed dozens of bands--some big, some small, rock, reggae, hip-hip, and this has come up now and then. Every single time it has, they've said that the audience's energy drives the show.

One interview I did recently, the guy was telling me that they had been added to a line-up with a bunch of metal bands--totally wrong for them. They went on and got boo'ed. The guy I was speaking with said that at least they knew where they stood with the audience, it was actually better than just having them stand there. He was funny, he said if they boo we can just turn up the amps and drown them out. As long as they don't start throwing stuff, it's all good.

 

[Faerie]

Of course most of the concerts I go to are Jimmy Buffett ones, and I never see anyone sitting there!

I was going to reply with that - I do Buffett every year and have since I was 11 (I'm 28 now, I was raised as a Parrothead) and no one ever sits! It's awesome and fun, I have awesome memories of shoes when I was young with my dad. We still try to do a show together every couple years or so (he's in MA, I'm in FL)

Other shows I've done - it's mixed on up/down, but man Faith Hill, no one stood for a millisecond. It was strange to see.

 

[Notatourist]

You know something, it's a concert, not CHURCH...

I mentioned this in a long ago similar thread, but I love this story. I am a huge fan of the rock group Styx. I like to dance at shows. I was at a Styx show dancing when someone sitting behind me yelled "Sit down, it's not like you know the band or something."

At that opportune moment, Tommy Shaw, one of the lead singers looked right at me and mentioned how great it was to be back in Florida and how wonderful it was to see old friends...."How you doing Chris?"

Needless to say, the guys behind me shut up.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I have never been too a concert where people sat through every song and didn't sway to the music... and I have only been to assigned seating concerts! Garth Brooks, Brooks and Dunn, Reba, Backstreet Boys (hey, it was years ago!)... never once do I remember sitting around during these shows and many more.

I don't think you were doing anything wrong OP. I would have gotten up and danced along with ya!

I don't think the OP was rude at all. I would have been doing the same at a mostly adult concert.

However, when we went to the High School Musical concert, I was GLAD that everyone sat in their seats. We had floor seats, almost all the way in the back, and my kids would not have been able to see a thing if their had been 50ish rows of people standing in front of them. The floor seats weren't on any kind of incline.

Dh and I (without kids) tend to go to concerts where there aren't seats at all!

 

[ducklite]

You know something, it's a concert, not CHURCH...

I mentioned this in a long ago similar thread, but I love this story. I am a huge fan of the rock group Styx. I like to dance at shows. I was at a Styx show dancing when someone sitting behind me yelled "Sit down, it's not like you know the band or something."

At that opportune moment, Tommy Shaw, one of the lead singers looked right at me and mentioned how great it was to be back in Florida and how wonderful it was to see old friends...."How you doing Chris?"

Needless to say, the guys behind me shut up.

 

[Philadisney]

as a former musician, i hated it when people would just stand and stare when we played general admission shows. so i certainly don't mind when people in the audience are rocking out.
that being said, it really stinks to be at a sit-down concert with assigned seats and have the person in front of you standing up.
i rarely go to shows now unless they are sit down because i get tired standing for multiple hours (wow, it made me feel really old to say that!)

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I'm of the opinion that if you want to sit and watch a performance, it's best to do so from the comfort of your living room.

Speaking as a paraplegic who's been to many concerts and sometimes the handicapped seating is a few rows from the front, I find your comment offensive. I love to get into a concert as much as the next fan, but when the majority of people are sitting and a few lame brains in front of you decide to stand and block my view, there's not a whole lot I can do about it.

Please be mindful of people around you. Not everyone can just stand up to and try to look around you.

 

[ducklite]

Speaking as a paraplegic who's been to many concerts and sometimes the handicapped seating is a few rows from the front, I find your comment offensive. I love to get into a concert as much as the next fan, but when the majority of people are sitting and a few lame brains in front of you decide to stand and block my view, there's not a whole lot I can do about it.

Please be mindful of people around you. Not everyone can just stand up to and try to look around you.

Every concert venue in this area has handicap accessible seating in places that sight lines aren't blocked. I'd suggest that you get in touch with facilities management at your local venues and work with them to come up with a viable solution.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Ducklite, same here. But sometimes you get whatever handicapped seating is left. Not much you can do then.

 

[IloveDMB]

Whew. I'm glad to hear other people enjoy themselves like I do at concerts.

Yes it was a general admission concert, so she could have moved. Or she could have gotten there earlier and secured a better spot.

 

[ckay87]

Speaking as a paraplegic who's been to many concerts and sometimes the handicapped seating is a few rows from the front, I find your comment offensive. I love to get into a concert as much as the next fan, but when the majority of people are sitting and a few lame brains in front of you decide to stand and block my view, there's not a whole lot I can do about it.

Please be mindful of people around you. Not everyone can just stand up to and try to look around you.

I was really careful in my post to express 2 things, the most important being that there should be "plenty of handicap seating with fantastic views." I think that was pretty much my exact words. And I firmly, firmly believe that. If there is not....come on, I am not going to dance in front of you OR think you should stay at home. I am not that ignorant.

I also expressed that I am very mindful of the people around me, sitting if necessary. I can see how it was hard to get past my first sentence...sorry.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Sorry, you just have no idea how rude people can be in these situations when you are trying to be nice about it.

 

[SamRoc]

I was just at 2 concerts this past weekend. I really dont mind if people get up and dance, it really is hard to sit still when the band is playing your favorite song. But i cant stand when people sing along! I really did go to the show to see the band. there was a woman next to me and she was singing very loudly and very off key. but she was having fun so i didnt say anything to her (thank goodness she only murdered one song!)