Concert Etiquette

[Feralpeg]

Well, this thread has gone like so many others about this in the past. If you are not a concert dancer, there is something wrong with you.

I do understand that people want to go to a concert and enjoy the music. I really do. I am a person who likes to dance and I really do love going to concerts. However, not all handicaps are obvious.

I am a 55 years old. I still love to attend certain concerts (not just old farts), but I cannot stand for a long period of time. I can walk forever, but standing for a long period of time really gets to me. For instance, I cannot stand in one place on Main Street to watch Wishes. I either need to sit or keep walking. If I stand for too long in one spot, I will literally pass out. But, it is not the type of handicap that would allow me to sit in a handicap section. Therefore, I'm between a rock and a hard place. I can either stay home (as some of you so kindly pointed out) or sit and watch someone else's behind.

I know there is no good answer. However, if you see someone behind you sitting and you are standing in their way, you might just ask if you are causing them a problem. In most cases, it is only polite to consider those around you.

 

[mylightshines]

I had this problem Saturday night. I took my DD14 to the Keith Urban concert. The stage was to the left of us. We were sitting at the end of the row. At the beginning of the next section one row down there was the most obnoxious guy. He was obviously drunk. He kept holding his arms up (and keep them up) and would stand away from his seat. So the whole time all I could see was him. He also kept turning around and me and trying to hi-five me.

When Keith came to the end of the walkway, which was right in front of us, nobody was standing up except for the few rows right in front of me. So there Keith is directly in front of me and I can't see him.

There was a family with small kids behind me. I tried very hard to make sure I didn't get in their way.

 

[Talking Hands]

I love to go to concerts especially if the lyrics are interpreted. I love the feel of the music even when I can't understand the words but love it even better when I can. All I ask is please don't stand between me and the interpreters. Oh that's me bouncing in my wheelcahir or seat watching the interpreters and completely enjoying myself

 

[Talking Hands]

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!)

Samroc can I sing along. I'll sing with my hands and not my voice. Promise.

 

[babieemelly]

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.

They talked about this on The View when Gloria Estefan co-hosted last week. She said that she loves to see people standing up and dancing and singing and getting into it while at her shows, but there's always that one person who just sits and stares the whole time and then she can't help but keep looking at them and wondering why they're there

 

[tara lynn]

They talked about this on The View when Gloria Estefan co-hosted last week. She said that she loves to see people standing up and dancing and singing and getting into it while at her shows, but there's always that one person who just sits and stares the whole time and then she can't help but keep looking at them and wondering why they're there

I think it probably depends on the type of performance they do. Someone like Gloria Estefan doesn't move around too much and probably looks at the audience a lot. I've talked to bands though that say they don't even notice the crowd past the first few rows, unless they've stopped playing and are talking to the audience.

 

[babieemelly]

You can't even see past the first few rows! She said in the first few rows there are always those few people It's different for bands, though. They usually want even more people up and moving around.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

You did absolutely nothing wrong in my opinion. First, it was free and second, she could have easily moved.

I think people should be able to enjoy rock shows by dancing and singing along and thankfully most of the shows I go to are filled with people who feel the same way. (By the way, if you choose to sit on the floor, you should've figured that you would have to stand to see. I thought that was common sense.)

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 really think that your remarks are unfair. The PP made it clear that he was not talking about people with physical disabilities. IMO, you totally read something into that post that wasn't there.

I can either stay home (as some of you so kindly pointed out) or sit and watch someone else's behind.

Again, WTH? This thread has been pretty polite and I've read it twice. I can't see the post that says people with disabilities should stay home!! I read people saying that if you have a problem with people standing, dancing, and generally having a good time at a rock show that it might not be the place for you but that's all!

 

[Galahad]

I think the key rule of Etiquette is: never, ever applaud between movements. Very gauche!

 

[sweetandsassyfl]

Just don't talk through the concert.

 

[Feralpeg]

You did absolutely nothing wrong in my opinion. First, it was free and second, she could have easily moved.

I think people should be able to enjoy rock shows by dancing and singing along and thankfully most of the shows I go to are filled with people who feel the same way. (By the way, if you choose to sit on the floor, you should've figured that you would have to stand to see. I thought that was common sense.)



I really think that your remarks are unfair. The PP made it clear that he was not talking about people with physical disabilities. IMO, you totally read something into that post that wasn't there.



Again, WTH? This thread has been pretty polite and I've read it twice. I can't see the post that says people with disabilities should stay home!! I read people saying that if you have a problem with people standing, dancing, and generally having a good time at a rock show that it might not be the place for you but that's all!

The point being that I don't have a real disability other than I am getting older and can't stand a long time. It was pointed out earlier in the thread that people who don't want to stand should stay home and listen to the music on CD. While I'm sure that it wasn't meant to sound mean, it did come across that way. Just because I am older doesn't mean I enjoy going to a concert any less than the rest of you. I pay the same amount for my ticket, but I should stay home because I don't want to stand and I would like to see the concert.

I wasn't tring to be impolite. I was just responding from a different point of view.

 

[ducklite]

I've got just the opposite problem from Peg's, I get painfully stiff if I sit for too long, but I can stand all day without it bothering me. The last few shows that I've had an "assigned seat" for, I've ended up just standing in the back near the sound board (generally the best place in most venues to hear the show) instead of going to my seat.

Hard Rock Live here in Orlando is great because downstairs is generally GA, but you can also buy tickets that are actually a seat--either at a cocktail table or stadium seating--upstairs. Other than the stadium seating, it's 100% accessible, and I've seen shows with 30 people in wheelchairs that were all accomodated and had no problem seeing the show. Even when they run numbered seating downstairs, there's always room in the back with some cocktail tables for people like myself who prefer to stand. It's large enough that they get some great acts, but small enough to feel intimate and close up, even if you are in the back of the venue. It's too bad that more venues don't have that type of set up, it makes it great for everyone!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

The point being that I don't have a real disability other than I am getting older and can't stand a long time. It was pointed out earlier in the thread that people who don't want to stand should stay home and listen to the music on CD. While I'm sure that it wasn't meant to sound mean, it did come across that way. Just because I am older doesn't mean I enjoy going to a concert any less than the rest of you. I pay the same amount for my ticket, but I should stay home because I don't want to stand and I would like to see the concert.

I wasn't tring to be impolite. I was just responding from a different point of view.

I'm not saying that you have to stay home. I'm just saying that when you go to a concert, you go knowing that not everyone is going to sit quietly and clap politely at the end of every song. Some people really get into it. And if you want to just sit, that's fine but you can't really expect everyone too.

 

[Feralpeg]

I'm not saying that you have to stay home. I'm just saying that when you go to a concert, you go knowing that not everyone is going to sit quietly and clap politely at the end of every song. Some people really get into it. And if you want to just sit, that's fine but you can't really expect everyone too.

I don't expect that, but I do expect people to have some consideration for others around them. I would have no problem if people got up for a few minutes and then sat down for part of the show so that I could at least see the band for awhile. Those who stand continuously and pay no attention to anyone else around them are self-centered, IMHO.

It is quite obvious that we will never come to terms on this subject, so I will now bow out of the discussion.

 

[ckay87]

I think this is one of those weird controversies that isn't really a controversy. For the most part, even we meanies who think it should be okay to boogie down at a concert, still would not stand in front of a group of sitters. So it's all good. Case in point:

I saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra last weekend and had great seats in the section right next to the stage. The band could see us clearly because of the way they light their show. This audience had their behinds super-glued to the seats. I do understand that people need to sit down sometimes, but never, ever did these people get up. The band members walked over to us MANY times and made those huge, sweeping "get up" gestures during some of the dancey songs. Nope, nothing. They yelled into the microphones "come one, get up!" Nope. The one guitarist stated during a break, "I'm worried about you guys." Too bad...nobody was budging. And I sat there and was so embarassed. I know I shouldn't care, but I felt like that level of uninvolvement was insulting to the performers. I did let my son get up and dance a few times and he got a lot of attention from the band, so that was cool for him at least.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I don't expect that, but I do expect people to have some consideration for others around them. I would have no problem if people got up for a few minutes and then sat down for part of the show so that I could at least see the band for awhile. Those who stand continuously and pay no attention to anyone else around them are self-centered, IMHO.

It is quite obvious that we will never come to terms on this subject, so I will now bow out of the discussion.

I guess my point is that you can't just make a statement like that and not consider the type of concert or the type of venue. For instance, if you are at a rock show and have seats on the floor, you should expect that you will have to stand to be able to see, IMO. Or, in the OP's situation, where the show is free and there is general seating, if you can't see because someone's in your way move!! But if you're going to the symphony, it is perfectly reasonable to expect people to stay seated. I don't think you can say that people who don't sit down at concerts are self-centered in ALL cases. Heck, there are lots of shows that I've been to where there's very limited seating and, for the most part, it's standing room only.


And I realized that this poster left the conversation so I'm not talking to her directly but those who share her position.

 

[ducklite]

I think this is one of those weird controversies that isn't really a controversy. For the most part, even we meanies who think it should be okay to boogie down at a concert, still would not stand in front of a group of sitters. So it's all good. Case in point:

I saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra last weekend and had great seats in the section right next to the stage. The band could see us clearly because of the way they light their show. This audience had their behinds super-glued to the seats. I do understand that people need to sit down sometimes, but never, ever did these people get up. The band members walked over to us MANY times and made those huge, sweeping "get up" gestures during some of the dancey songs. Nope, nothing. They yelled into the microphones "come one, get up!" Nope. The one guitarist stated during a break, "I'm worried about you guys." Too bad...nobody was budging. And I sat there and was so embarassed. I know I shouldn't care, but I felt like that level of uninvolvement was insulting to the performers. I did let my son get up and dance a few times and he got a lot of attention from the band, so that was cool for him at least.

OT--But how was the lighting? A friend of mine has been their lighting designer/director since the birth of TSO, and he's really proud of the work he's done for them. He loves to get feedback.

 

[ducklite]

I guess my point is that you can't just make a statement like that and not consider the type of concert or the type of venue. For instance, if you are at a rock show and have seats on the floor, you should expect that you will have to stand to be able to see, IMO. Or, in the OP's situation, where the show is free and there is general seating, if you can't see because someone's in your way move!! But if you're going to the symphony, it is perfectly reasonable to expect people to stay seated. I don't think you can say that people who don't sit down at concerts are self-centered in ALL cases. Heck, there are lots of shows that I've been to where there's very limited seating and, for the most part, it's standing room only.

And I realized that this poster left the conversation so I'm not talking to her directly but those who share her position.

Last night HoB had everything not nailed down removed. There wasn't a single seat in the place except a few that were bolted to the floor in the VIP area. Based on the number of flying objects that ranged from cups to clothing to ice to bodies, that was a good choice.

At least the crowd didn't think to take the TP out of the bathrooms last night, although they've done so in the past.

 

[ckay87]

OT--But how was the lighting? A friend of mine has been their lighting designer/director since the birth of TSO, and he's really proud of the work he's done for them. He loves to get feedback.

Oh it was absolutely beautiful. Very unique and the lighting was one of my favorite parts of the show. The huge lighting rig in constant motion over the stage was impressive.

BUT...there were maybe 2 points where we had to look away. They did a strobe-like flashing thing with sets of lights on the wall behind the stage. Strobe lights don't usually bother me, but this was CRAZY BRIGHT. I've heard that some people bring sunglasses along for that reason.

Otherwise, really, I've never seen anything like it. You should go to a show!

 

[ducklite]

Oh it was absolutely beautiful. Very unique and the lighting was one of my favorite parts of the show. The huge lighting rig in constant motion over the stage was impressive.

BUT...there were maybe 2 points where we had to look away. They did a strobe-like flashing thing with sets of lights on the wall behind the stage. Strobe lights don't usually bother me, but this was CRAZY BRIGHT. I've heard that some people bring sunglasses along for that reason.

Otherwise, really, I've never seen anything like it. You should go to a show!

I'm going to send him a link to this, I'm sure he'll like to appreciate your comments. He loves his white light, be it strobes or molefays--he used to use them constantly when he was lighting Joan Jett 20 years ago. I've seen TSO a couple of times, always a great show.

Sorry for the OT everyone!