Etiquette: Who's in the right?

[JDUCKY]

So, we went to see Rick Springfield at Epcot tonight.

I'd been feeling an odd vibe all night, from leaving work to meeting my gf at her mom's condo, to parking at Epcot and walking in...dunno what but just an odd, off-karmic kinda thing.

Anyway...we get our seats about mid-way back in the middle and the show starts and a woman in the front row of the 2nd section stands up and she's dancing and swaying and stays standing the entire time.

A family behind them was apparently making comments to her, perhaps asking her to sit down (the guy was a big tall guy and even he couldn't see over/around her)

After a few songs it started to get heated and I was half-expecting a fight to break out. CMs were involved and nothing was really done and the woman went back to her spot and kept standing and swaying to the songs.


Now...this is a concert. Granted it's at Disney but it's still a concert so should one expect to have someone in front of them standing/dancing the entire time? Does that mean the entire crowd should then stand the entire time?

Or should that woman have thought to herself, "Oh, I'm probably blocking someone's view...I'll move down to the end or get a spot somewhere that I won't be blocking someone's view" and then acted on it?


If it had been *me*, I'd have made sure I got there soon enough to get a good spot and get up close and be with the people who generally tend to stand/dance for a whole show, not park myself further back where the crowd is typically more reserved.

 

[si-am]

I don't ever expect to sit at "rock" concerts. At Disney, it would be annoying to have to stand the whole time because your feet are already tired, but it is what it is.

Now, something like the Candlelight Processional, that would be different!

 

[vicki_c]

I'm short, so that is a personal pet peeve of mine ...

We took our kids to a concert last year and paid extra and ordered early to get 2nd row seats so the kids could see. The minute the concert started, the ladies in front of us stood up. They were in the front row!

So I had no problem asking them if they would sit down and pointed out my kids behind them who couldn't see at all (I am also under 5' tall so would have had the same problem) and they graciously sat down and then later even had our kids come up in their row with them.

We had the same issue at the MNSSHP parade last week. We were front row, on the rope, sitting in the ground (with people sitting behind us as well, and everyone was mostly sitting). As soon as the parade started, a few ladies to the left of us stood up and blocked our entire view of the parade coming down the street. It was really frustrating. Looking around, you could see it happening other places too. Many many people sitting on the ground, then a few people decided to stand up and you could see that everyone beyond them had to stand up as well - causing a chain reaction.

I don't know - I just think it's polite to do everything you can to not block others' view - and if everyone did that, everyone could then see.

 

[JDUCKY]

I'm short, so that is a personal pet peeve of mine ...

We took our kids to a concert last year and paid extra and ordered early to get 2nd row seats so the kids could see. The minute the concert started, the ladies in front of us stood up. They were in the front row!

So I had no problem asking them if they would sit down and pointed out my kids behind them who couldn't see at all (I am also under 5' tall so would have had the same problem) and they graciously sat down and then later even had our kids come up in their row with them.

We had the same issue at the MNSSHP parade last week. We were front row, on the rope, sitting in the ground (with people sitting behind us as well, and everyone was mostly sitting). As soon as the parade started, a few ladies to the left of us stood up and blocked our entire view of the parade coming down the street. It was really frustrating. Looking around, you could see it happening other places too. Many many people sitting on the ground, then a few people decided to stand up and you could see that everyone beyond them had to stand up as well - causing a chain reaction.

I don't know - I just think it's polite to do everything you can to not block others' view - and if everyone did that, everyone could then see.

That's how I feel. I guess some people just don't care, though. Sad to see such self-centered or uncaring behavior...esp someplace like Disney. Not like it's the Amway Center or House of Blues.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I think it depends on the crowd and the band.

I saw R.E.M. where there were seats on the floor of an arena and everybody sat.

Went to see Gaelic Storm for free at Kenwood Gardens, and one lady stood up to dance around, but wasn't in the way because the stage was high enough that her head didn't block anything.

Was Gaelic Storm again at a Celtic festival where people sat for the rest of the acts during the day, but people stood in front of the seats during Gaelic Storm's closing act.

Went to a U2 show where there were no seats on the flour in the arena, so everybody on the floor stood, and some people in the stands stood, too.

 

[Orlando313]

Wow, different crowd from the last two nights for sure. I think I would have been disappointed to go tonight and have people getting cranky with me for enjoying myself.

At the Hanson concert on Monday & Tuesday, as soon as they announced the band everyone stood up and stayed standing the whole time. People were dancing and waving their hands and clapping.

In fact, I think every concert I've ever been to, everyone stood. Except for John Mayer, that one was kind of a snoozer.

 

[BillSears]

I feel the polite thing to do is sit so those behind you can see. As a wheelchair user once the person in front of me stands then all I see is their back until the concert is over.

But...she had every right to stand and I wouldn't have complained to her about it.

 

[marivaid]

I had to look up Rick Springfield...

My opinion is that,it's a pop/rock concert. It's not the Candlelight Processional and it's not a classical music concert or an opera... so I would expect people to stand up and dance.

Most of the concerts I go to, if the audience doesnt stand up, they get yelled at by the singer

 

[jackemail]

I had to look up Rick Springfield...

My opinion is that,it's a pop/rock concert. It's not the Candlelight Processional and it's not a classical music concert or an opera... so I would expect people to stand up and dance.

Most of the concerts I go to, if the audience doesnt stand up, they get yelled at by the singer

Wow, you had to look up Rick Springfield?? Suddenly, I feel even older tonight.

 

[Planogirl]

I wish that people would sit and kind of dance in their seats but then I'm tired in the evenings at WDW. I hardly feel like standing for an extended period of time!

We normally avoid these types of events partially for this very reason. It's unpleasant to have to stand the whole time so some people can dance around.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I don't think I've ever been to a concert where the crowd didn't stand and dance in their spot to the music. Now at the Philharmonic we sit.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

It was a concert, she had every right to stand up and dance even if she looked like a tool doing it.

If you want to stand, stand. If you don't, don't. Just don't expect others to do what you would like them to do. Sure it can be annoying if you really don't feel like standing esp if you are tired; but if I personally am not into a concert enough to stand, I'm not going to rob the joy of a super fan who obviously is.

In this particular instance both parties were wrong, sure the woman should have picked up on social cues, but the guy also should have cut the woman a break.

As far as parade viewing goes, I do think it is rude to stand up when the parade comes if you are sitting down prior. Others came and chose the spot behind you and possibly stood there for half an hour thinking they would be able to see.

 

[Joanna71985]

I went to see Hanson, and they were encourging people to stand. I think concerts like the Eat to the Beat ones are fine for people to stand

 

[Orlando313]

I wish that people would sit and kind of dance in their seats but then I'm tired in the evenings at WDW. I hardly feel like standing for an extended period of time!

We normally avoid these types of events partially for this very reason. It's unpleasant to have to stand the whole time so some people can dance around.

Yea, it's probably best that anyone that expects to sit in their seat at a pop/rock concert just avoid them. Ha!

I know that a lot of locals enjoy these events, and we've usually just come from work, so we're ready to party!!

 

[lovealatte]

Personally I think it depends on the dynamic of the rest of the crowd.
If everyone is standing, then I generally don't think it would be right to ask someone to sit. But if most of the crowd is enjoying the concert in their seats and someone is clearly blocking the view of others, then yes, I would consider that to be inconsiderate and rude. It's called common courtesy. Whatever happened to that? Seriously.

 

[terbethk]

Granted I've probably seen Hanson more times than any other bands combined, but I assumed standing was the norm?
I think I've only ever been to one show where people WEREN'T standing and that was at Trans Siberian Orchestra.
I feel like its rude to the performer to not stand up and dance and have a good time.

 

[cluvsdisney]

It was a concert, she had every right to stand up and dance even if she looked like a tool doing it.

If you want to stand, stand. If you don't, don't. Just don't expect others to do what you would like them to do. Sure it can be annoying if you really don't feel like standing esp if you are tired; but if I personally am not into a concert enough to stand, I'm not going to rob the joy of a super fan who obviously is.

I agree with this.
He's a pop/rock singer - from what I have seen, he is pretty active on the stage so I would expect the crowd to join in.

"rob the joy" reminded me of this story...

A few years ago I was at the Billy Joel concert in Madison Square Garden. Our seats were kind far back so I was mostly just watching the crowd. There was a group of people that were having the best time ever. I could just tell even though I was several sections behind them. They were standing, singing, dancing - the whole nine. I enjoyed watching them more then the show itself. Then I see a group of people several rows behind them call over a security guard and then the guard went over to the people having the best time ever. And they all sat down. After a while they took turns dancing but I thought it was super crappy of those people to make a thing about it. It's not as though they were right behind the dancers - they were several rows back. They were far enough away that they didn't have a terrific view plus there were screens. But they felt compelled to mess up this other group's evening.

 

[livndisney]

Sounds like it was a Diser.


I have been to many music events at that stage and have yet to see people in the front rows standing up.

 

[marivaid]

Wow, you had to look up Rick Springfield?? Suddenly, I feel even older tonight.

LOL
Not sure if it's an age thing, I'm going to be 32 next week , probably more a cultural issue

 

[bwilcox]

I've never been to a concert where everyone sat down. Seems kind of boring to me. What is the point of going to a concert if you aren't going to stand up and dance and enjoy yourself? You could just sit on your couch at home and listen to the CD if your goal is to be comfortable.
Plus, if I were on stage giving my all in a performance and everyone just sat there, I would be offended. Do you really want to offend Rick Springfield?