Sitting/Standing/Dancing at concerts

[ckay87]

Ok, after doing 3 hours of "butt dancing" at the AI concert last night...you know, what I mean - where you dance on your butt cheeks instead of your feet so as not to peeve off the 200 people behind you ...I ask you this:

A - Is a concert not for dancing, yelling, singing, generally having a good time? Can't you sit in your lazyboy at home and watch people sing on TV if you don't care to *participate*? For me, it's an interactive love-fest between performer and audience. I take this seriously

B - What do you do if you happen to be at a concert...and I don't mean the Philharmonic, I mean arena concert....and people in front of you are dancing or standing and you don't care to? Do you ask them to sit? Guy next to me did. Or the reverse - what if you want to dance/stand and everyone behind you is sitting? For me there came a point in the show where I said the heck with it and went nuts. But for much of the rest of the show I felt forced to sit because everyone behind me was.

For people who have trouble standing for long periods of time, is there - or should there be - some kind of handicapped seating to guarantee everyone a view?

What do you think is the protocol for this is?

Edited to remove "act goofy" - that doesn't paint an accurate picture of us having fun at a concert.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Years ago--people sat and *Watched* just fine.

I went to a New Kids concert--sat 4th row...my friends who came and were in nosebleeds were upset afterwards and said had they known I was just going to sit..they would have traded.

Umm--no thanks! I'm not a *dancer* at concerts. I enjoyed my close up seat just fine and dandy.

I don't buy on the ground for those reasons (oh and the fact that the ground is sold out anyway)--I like elevation..so if I want to stand, I do...and if I want to sit, I can still see. I won't make people sit--but I would be a little upset, yes.

(parents bought me ground for that concert--single ticket b/c it was so darn stinking close--and they refused to pay good money for a nosebleed seat--they bought a friend a ticket close by, but not on the floor).

 

[pearlieq]

There was a long thread about this a while ago.

Frankly, I wish people would keep their butts in their seats, but there are certain shows where I accept that it's not likely that that will happen.

I know some venues have a standing pit, where that kind of thing is encouraged, and then seats for those who would prefer that. I like that model--everyone can get what they want.

I go to hear the music and see the performer work. If I want to dance I can go to a dance club. I certainly don't want to hear the person next to me yelling or singing during the music! I didn't shell out to hear their off-key warblings! And what's "goofy" and fun to one is usually obnoxious to everyone else.

I know I'm turning into an old crank, but nowadays I usually just stay home because lots of people use concerts as an excuse to act like idiots!

 

[ckay87]

There was a long thread about this a while ago.

Frankly, I wish people would keep their butts in their seats, but there are certain shows where I accept that it's not likely that that will happen.

I know some venues have a standing pit, where that kind of thing is encouraged, and then seats for those who would prefer that. I like that model--everyone can get what they want.

I go to hear the music and see the performer work. If I want to dance I can go to a dance club. I certainly don't want to hear the person next to me yelling or singing during the music! I didn't shell out to hear their off-key warblings! And what's "goofy" and fun to one is usually obnoxious to everyone else.

I know I'm turning into an old crank, but nowadays I usually just stay home because lots of people use concerts as an excuse to act like idiots!

I'll have to go search for that thread...

Oh and can I just clarify - I'm not in any way talking about acting like an idiot. I know the difference, though I'm sure there are those who do not.

I heard "get up, get up" so many times last night from the performers. I don't know, that's a clue for me. But it's interesting - to me - to hear the different ideas on this because I do want to be considerate, understand.

 

[puffkin]

There was a long thread about this a while ago.

Frankly, I wish people would keep their butts in their seats, but there are certain shows where I accept that it's not likely that that will happen.

I know some venues have a standing pit, where that kind of thing is encouraged, and then seats for those who would prefer that. I like that model--everyone can get what they want.

I go to hear the music and see the performer work. If I want to dance I can go to a dance club. I certainly don't want to hear the person next to me yelling or singing during the music! I didn't shell out to hear their off-key warblings! And what's "goofy" and fun to one is usually obnoxious to everyone else.
!

I agree 100%. The other thing that annoys me is when you have that awkward standing, like when a song is too slow to dance, but everyone else won't sit down. I hate that. I think standing should be reserved for the encore and for ovations, not the whole concert.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I haven't been to a concert in awhile, but it would depend on what type of music and where the concert was.

For instance:

I went to Smoking Grooves and sat on the lawn. No one really danced at all. Everyone just listened to the music.

I went to Lollapalooza and was in the mosh pit. There was NO sitting, else you would be killed. We did stand at times and didn't jump around like idiots.

At a Dave Matthews Band concert, everyone stood and danced.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I heard "get up, get up" so many times last night from the performers. I don't know, that's a clue for me. But it's interesting - to me - to hear the different ideas on this because I do want to be considerate, understand.

Audience interaction is different--if the performers are inviting you to do something (like GET UP)--then I have no problems with that.

There was no need for you to really "consider" others in that instance. They might have gotten up as well if others did so.

It's always funny to go to shows (like in theme parks)--if they are having an *off* performance--you can tell..they can't get the audience to do anything. I can imagine that it doesn't do well for their ego if the audience ignores them.

That is totally different IMHO.

Not all concerts are like this.

 

[Snowy]

I had this same experience at a Madonna concert on Monday night, but she actualy scolded a few rows in the crowd for sitting!! She encouraged everyone to get up, dance and have a good time. I can't keep myself seated at a concert when good dance music is playing. I danced for most of the show, even though many people around me were not dancing (they were standing though). I had a GREAT time! :

I do agree with not wanting to hear someone singing loudly, off-key near me.

Yes, it is a good idea for people who are not able to stand and dance to have designated seating away from the standing/dancing fans.

 

[ktglads]

I think it depends on the song and the concert. Some of the slower songs you really just can't dance to, so it is a nice break when everyone sits down. Other concerts are much more high energy and I would not even think of sitting down. I have not seen this season's AI concert, but the last one I went to was an odd mix of music so there was a lot of standing up/sitting down.

I would never think of telling someone to sit down. If they stand, then I stand. Its as easy as that.

 

[Jennifer48]

I personally like to stand and "dance" while at a concert. Dancing is more just bobbing to the music but its still fun to get into . I dislike it when people ask me to sit wherever I am whether it be on the floor or in the stadium-style seats. I personally think that its up to the ticket holder which they prefer but I feel that if you want to sit to enjoy the show, buy seats where you know they won't be obstructed by people in front of you. If I wanted to sit to watch a concert, I'd go see the Boston Pops. Just my opinion.

 

[BillSears]

Here's a link to the previous thread about it.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1134739

Personally I prefer when people sit at concerts. Once they stand I can't see and since I'm a paraplegic I can't stand. So because of this I don't go to concerts anymore. I got tired of looking at the back of the person in front of me.

 

[luvmydogs]

I was at the symphony in March and as I would expect, everyone sat and applauded accordingly. Surely appropriate behavior for a symphonic performance.

OTOH, the last 'concert' I went to was U2. I can't even imagine attending such a high-energy show and staying in one's seat--especially in a stadium filled with 44,000 rabid fans. I didn't see one butt on a chair and wouldn't expect to.

When the ADA was implemented back in the early '90's, I was a representative for a local disabilities-advocacy agency. One of my duties was to go to local businesses and assess their ADA compliance, and I do remember doing this for a smaller, community children's theatre, and they had to have a handicapped accessible section--although I remember thinking it was too small and in an area too off to the side that could have disrupted proper viewing. Things may have changed in compliance since 1992, however--hopefully for the better, and to accommodate everyone as equally as possible.

 

[liamsaunt]

I think that in most cases, for rock concerts, the performers want people standing and dancing. It gives them energy to feed off. My DH has a story about being in the front row for a Midnight Oil show many years ago. He had some record executives behind him who were seated, and any time the people in front of them got up to dance, they would shout them down. Peter Garrett (the lead singer) noticed this happening and came over and told the people who were seated to get their keisters (using a different word off course) off their seats and dance! So everyone finally did.

Obviously, Midnight Oil's music is very energetic and conducive to dancing. When we go to see someone like, say, Sarah McLachlan, people are seated for the show. On the other hand, at U2 shows, everyone is dancing away!

I think when you go to a rock concert, you have to go with the expectation that people are going to stand and dance. It just goes with the territory, along with the idiot that brings in a "special cigarette," and the sloshed guy in the crowd who always sings off key.

 

[minniecarousel]

Yeah - I started the last thread about this. Mind you it was Huey Lewis and Chicago - not exactly young kids' music. The screaming and "whooping" in my ear was another issue - I came to listen to the band and the musicans - not the person next to me screaming during the songs. I go to a lot of Chris Isaak concerts and have to put up with the screaming and standing. Plus - they stand and sway, so if I want to see - even standing - I gotta sway the way those in front of me are moving! I'm still of the opinion that I paid for a SEAT - but I have no problem standing for a particularly energetic song - I now realize that the band feeds off the energy of the crowd. Just don't stand throughout the whole concert!

(And puh-leez, I TRY to get seats with unobstructed views! Good luck on that!)

 

[Christine]

I mainly like to stand and dance at a concert. Most of the bands I go see I would consider "high energy" and I just would hate to sit in my chair. I did go to an Elton John concert, it was pretty low-key, and we all remained seated all night. I enjoyed the music but missed the dancing.

 

[RadioNate]

Uggg I HATE and yes HATE it when people just sit there at concerts. BORING.

American Idol is DEFINATELY a get up and dance show. Rock shows, Pop shows, alturnitive shows, hip hop/rap shows...GET UP.

Celine Dion, Barbara Streisand, ok you can sit.

 

[ckay87]

I think sitters and standers have something to learn here. I don't know what the answer is, but we need to understand that neither is doing what they do to be rude. I was kinda offended by all the hateful "how rude" comments about standers - in the other thread especially. It never once crossed my mind that standing at a concert is rude. And I am not kidding, I am the most considerate person you'd meet. I could barely get out of the parking lot last night because I was waving all the traffic on. DS was getting real peeved with me.

Every bone in my body tells me to get up. To me, it's just what you do. Maybe not for every song - maybe not for the slow ones. But there were times last night when they threw the spotlight on the audience and we were just sitting there and to me it felt embarassing.

I think there should be good seeting available for those who cannot stand if they need to. Because it's just going to happen. At our venue last night, there was a nice section on the first teir with no obstructions. I wish that were the case everywhere.

Thanks for your comments everyone - it does help to understand different points of view.