Concert etiquette?

[MIGrandma]

With the ridiculous price of concert tickets and me not being able to see even if I stand up with the rest, we no longer go to very many live concerts.

It didn't used to be that way, we saw a lot of concerts when we were first married. Mostly country (Loretta Lynn/Conway Twitty, Barbara Mandrell, Randy Travis, Oak Ridge Boys, etc. etc.) and most people sat in their seats most of the time.

We went to a Sugarland concert a few years ago, $99 for a seat and we had to stand the entire time and of course with me being barely 5' tall I still couldn't see. And the drunks, oh my gosh.

I wish venues would have areas for people who want to stand and areas for people who want to utilize the chairs they paid good money for.

 

[Pixiedustaway]

IMO, if you go,to a popular concert expect people to stand. That's just normal behavior. Unless it gets violent, there is nothing security can do. This happened at a bnl concert of all places. It bugs me because I don't know what people expect. Funny thing is at the last song the couple stood up and were booed by everyone around them.

 

[si-am]

I've never seen people sitting att concert. It would be really weird to go see a favorite band and just sit there-- seems disrespectful to the artist, like you're uninterested. I always stand. Then again, I don't go to slow-tempo or even country concerts. Maybe those are different.

 

[Christine]

I've never seen people sitting att concert. It would be really weird to go see a favorite band and just sit there-- seems disrespectful to the artist, like you're uninterested. I always stand. Then again, I don't go to slow-tempo or even country concerts. Maybe those are different.

I agree.

As another poster mentioned, the only concert I ever sat down at was Elton John. Very mellow for some reason. Plus, maybe because he's sitting that has some effect, yet, it doesn't seem to be the case for Billy Joel.

I've been going to concerts since the late 70s and it's always been that way. I just expect that I'm going to stand. I will say, the older I get, the more I wish I could sit down!!

 

[Hannathy]

I'm taking my niece to see Miley next week, wonder what the appropriate behavior is at her concerts?

My DD 22 just saw her and she said-and she said she hated to say it- but it was one of the best concerts she has ever seen! Said it was great.

And the Little person in the show was an awesome dancer!

(that is the correct terminology now right? )

 

[mcraige]

I recently saw the Eagles and everyone sat thru the entire show. Well, nearly everyone. Near the end of the show, one girl stood and started dancing, and the guy behind her went and go the usher, who told her to sit.

The usher came around prior to the show and told everyone that cell phone usage would not be allowed, and when he saw a screen light up, he yelled at them.

Very strange show, and not that enjoyable.

Compare that to 30 Seconds to Mars, where Jared Leto singled out people who were NOT standing and jumping.

 

[LilyWDW]

I can't believe that anyone would go to a concert like Billy Joel or Toby Kieth and actually expect people to sit. That just baffles me. I used to go to a LOT of concerts, mostly country, and unless it was a small intimate theater (like when I saw Patty Loveless at Dollywood), you stood the whole time. I'm talking Brooks and Dunn, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Joe Diffie, Bryan White, and more. Also stood the whole time for Backstreet Boys (yes, I loved them back then and still do!).

Personally, stand away. Many times, some people just will never be happy unless everyone else conforms to them.

 

[Christine]

I recently saw the Eagles and everyone sat thru the entire show. Well, nearly everyone. Near the end of the show, one girl stood and started dancing, and the guy behind her went and go the usher, who told her to sit.

The usher came around prior to the show and told everyone that cell phone usage would not be allowed, and when he saw a screen light up, he yelled at them.

Very strange show, and not that enjoyable.

Compare that to 30 Seconds to Mars, where Jared Leto singled out people who were NOT standing and jumping.

My friend just saw The Eagles and, while she enjoyed the show, she did say that it was definitely on the mellow side. Her DD also went with her and had used her cell phone to check the set list (that was ALL) and the people sitting next to her got pissed at her for checking her phone. All very odd.

 

[marcyinPA]

I agree that music genre plays a big part. We recently saw Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and everyone sat, with the exception of those who went up front to swing dance.

I saw Bon Jovi a couple of times and didn't sit the entire time.

I love Billy Joel, but I think he is almost at "sit down to enjoy" status.

 

[DarthKTrava]

Only concert that I sat through was "Weird Al" Yankovic. But then the whole crowd sat.

Worst concert was a free concert by REO Speedwagon during Speed Week in downtown Charlotte. It was hot and PACKED. And obnoxious, rude drunk rednecks made it miserable.

The free Daughtrly concert was much more well-behaved, even though just as crowded.

Sometimes we sit during parts of Trans-Siberian Orchestra but mostly stand.

 

[AmazingGrace]

My thought is, if there's seating at a concert, I'm going to sit occasionally. And I'm going to accept that the folks in front of me may be standing. I think it's very rude and entitled to expect the folks in front of me to sit just because I am. I just accept that for that time that I'm down, I won't be seeing much. That's okay. I'll live.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I can't imagine, sitting on my tush, during a rock or country show. I'm there for the party..gonna have a little fun...

I'm taking my niece to see Miley next week, wonder what the appropriate behavior is at her concerts?

Miley and appropriate behavior....oxymoron?

 

[MegSmethurst]

Seems like a waste of energy to be angry and fight with someone at a rock concert! Enjoy yourself! I don't think I would look around and follow what the crowd was doing...then I might regret the whole experience. The older couple was in the wrong IMHO

 

[PizzieDuster]

I got the opposite.

I took my DD13 and her friend to their first concert ~ One Direction at the Honda Center in Orange County. EVERYONE was standing. EVERYONE was screaming. I couldn't hear a thing, I was just a chaparone so I sat and had girls of all ages looking at me. Probably thinking "what a waste of a good seat." I did get up on the "That's What Makes You Beautiful" but I think my DD13 didn't mind I sat and did not try to sing or dance along.

It was great people/teeny bopper watching concert! But the screams!!!! And those dudes don't even dance. I'll be honest, a couple of times I walked VERY SLOWLY to the restroom and then "hey, hmmm, a glass of wine!"

Best time I've had a concert was a KISSFM Jingle Bell Ball. Everyone was dancing! Great holiday spirits all around

 

[shortbun]

Sorry, I stand with the rest of them. I've been to concerts where the whole place stood the whole time. If the people in front of you stand and you want to sit, trade places with them.

 

[shortbun]

I agree that music genre plays a big part. We recently saw Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and everyone sat, with the exception of those who went up front to swing dance.

I saw Bon Jovi a couple of times and didn't sit the entire time.

I love Billy Joel, but I think he is almost at "sit down to enjoy" status.

nope, he travels with this drummer who is nuts and he puts on such a show that the whole stadium stands. I saw BJ and Elton in the Horseshoe at Ohio State once and no one was in their seats. It was raucous and so much fun!!! Once in a while during a quiet set, I sat and listened.

 

[aprilgail2]

That is why I rarely pay to go to a concert. I'm very short so if people stand I have no chance of seeing. I think if there are chairs you should sit, you aren't the only one who wants to see.

I try to get the first row in a section so there will be no one standing in front of me-even if it means moving up a whole level!

Standing is acceptable at concerts. So much so that there a venues that don't have any seats.

Those are the venues that you SHOULD stand at but if there are seats they are there for a reason!

I got the opposite.

I took my DD13 and her friend to their first concert ~ One Direction at the Honda Center in Orange County. EVERYONE was standing. EVERYONE was screaming. I couldn't hear a thing, I was just a chaparone so I sat and had girls of all ages looking at me. Probably thinking "what a waste of a good seat." I did get up on the "That's What Makes You Beautiful" but I think my DD13 didn't mind I sat and did not try to sing or dance along.

It was great people/teeny bopper watching concert! But the screams!!!! And those dudes don't even dance. I'll be honest, a couple of times I walked VERY SLOWLY to the restroom and then "hey, hmmm, a glass of wine!"

Best time I've had a concert was a KISSFM Jingle Bell Ball. Everyone was dancing! Great holiday spirits all around

I was the driver for my daughter and her friends last year when she was 13 to a One Direction concert- I did one better, I didn't even go in- I dropped them off in the front, showed them where I would be parked and they came out when it was over- no way could I stand being in there with that screaming. This year they are going again but another parent is dropping off and waiting outside-this time they all ended up having to buy separate seats though because there were no seats left together but they are all within a few sections of each other.

 

[sk!mom]

I think that if it's a rock/pop/alternative concert it's acceptable to stand. You'll find a good 99% of the attendees on their feet. I've been to well over 500 concerts since I was 12 and the only one I can recall sitting for was Elton John.

Elton John at Caesar's Palace is also the only concert that I ever remember sitting the majority of the time. Wonder why that is? Never thought about it until now.

Honestly, I've had times where I might have liked to sit but everyone in front of me was standing so I wouldn't have been able to see. Since that's pretty much accepted practice at concerts, I think that you should expect to stand. When you reach an age where that's not comfortable maybe try to buy seats in the first row of a raised section where you would have a clear view if you sit while others stand.

 

[NewRVLady]

Dude-I wish you had been to the herman 's hermits concerts we went to in the 60's...all standing, all screaming teenage girls.
Forget about not 'seeing ' herman....I doubt we HEARD him much

 

[snapppyd]

I have been to many concerts. The one that stands out was a Toby Keith concert. I was with a group of 7 women. We stood for part of the concert and sat when most around us also sat.

Several women seat jumped in front of us and proceeded to stand the entire time. So we stood and people behind us who were siting got mad. Looking around we (at that point) were the only ones standing (us and the people in front of us). We explained to the row behind us that we couldn't see unless we stood.

A man came from the row behind us and politely explained to the women that his mom was very ill and couldn't stand for long periods so could they please sit? Women said yes then stood after another song.

We ended up sitting as well and was happy we did. People several rows back were throwing ice at the women to try and get them to sit. My sister got an usher because the women didn't belong in those seats (heard them discussing it). Usher did nothing.

Once the concert ended the women booked it out of there because they were being approached by some angry concert goers.

I am of the opinion that if the majority of the people are sitting, you should sit also. One of the reasons I no longer go to concerts is that I can't stand for that long.

Where did you see Toby? I've seen him about 14 times in NJ and PA and no one ever sits during his concerts.