I stood at a concert

Most venues don't have standing areas. Where are the standing areas at Hammersmith Apollo, or the Albert Hall, or The Sage, in Gateshead, for example. Standing areas are not that common. A lot of music still happens in theatres

Obviously if you stood in front of the screen at the cinema you're an arsenal
That's in no way the same as standing at a concert of rock or pop music

‘…but don't stop people from dancing and experiencing the show with their whole bodies. I cannot believe how many people cannot see how utterly selfish such a request is.’

But you could equally argue that those that want to dance and stand are selfish, because they’re preventing those that want to sit and enjoy the show from seeing the act .

I think I’m in the 50:50 camp. Big, lively numbers , get up and dance, and most people seem to accept this, even the ‘sitters’, but not for the whole show.

They would have still been more gutted not to be able to stand up and dance. Not seeing anything would have sucked, yes, but the request to sit down would have crushed them. Before we got tickets we were all prepared to be outside the stadium so they could maybe at least hear the show, and hang out, dance and sing along with fellow Swifties. That is what the experience is all about. They're fans. They want to embrace those emotions and that enthusiasm and spirit.

Don't go to these types of shows where you know standing is the norm if you cannot stand up and will be annoyed if that means you cannot see. Write to the venue to make accommodations and advocate for more accessible seats, but don't stop people from dancing and experiencing the show with their whole bodies. I cannot believe how many people cannot see how utterly selfish such a request is.

I mean not able to see at all. Not even screens

They would definitely have been more gutted about not being able to dance than not being able to see. We had obstructed view behind the stage, so mostly watched the screens anyway.

Would she have been more or less gutted if she'd been blocked from seeing the show completely? Like those people that ended up behind big tent things?

This! I like seated tickets and don't mind standing for some songs, but have some respect for the people behind you!

Seated tickets often carry a warning that people around you may stand, only thing you can do is pick a seat on the front row of a section, assuming the venue is pitched

You write: "Surely not being able to stand and dance is only a minor inconvenience whereas not being able to see a thing the entire concert is quite a major thing?"

That is your assumption, but I can assure you you are wrong. It would not have been a minor inconvenience to my DD and her friends at the Eras tour if they had been told to sit. It would have absolutely ruined the experience for them. They would probably have been too polite to say no, but be absolutely gutted inside.

I’m really not bothered if people in seats stand up in front of me. I fully expect it at a concert. Similarly, if I’m standing I often end up behind someone tall which spoils my view but that’s my tough luck.

I would love to be in the standing section but my dodgy back can’t cope with it. Also, I’ve been to many gigs where pitch tickets have sold out and only seated left.

I usually sit through most but might stand for the odd song.

I've sat behind selfish arsed like you, in the past.

You are impinging on others by literally making it impossible for them to see the show they've paid to see. If I stood in front of you at the cinema would that not be impinging on you?
Your actually affecting people a lot more than shops playing music.

I'm not impinging on what others do by having a seat available to me. And in fact there's lots of stuff that happens routinely that I struggle with, like music being played in shops, and I have to just put up with it.
I think it's very unreasonable to expect everyone to sit down at a concert. It's an event for music and dancing!

So your access needs matter but not other people's. Interesting.

No. Everyone can do what they want. People can sit if they want, I've never said everyone has to stand up, you're just making that up.

Even though it explicitly states on tickets and venue websites and posters around venues that "people around you may stand for the concert"

Why are you so annoyed with people doing what they are allowed to do? Is it because you expect everyone to do as you do?

People can't expect seated gigs to be guaranteed seated

say what???

if people want to stand, they should buy standing tickets.

of course those of us buying seated tickets expect it to be seated! & to be able to actually see the concert.

This would be me, sadly. DP and I no longer go to gigs because people tend to stand even when they have bought seats.

70s

As others have said, there’s a difference between being disabled and not being able to stand for long.

I don’t think it makes for a great atmosphere if everyone stays in their seats so I always opt for the standing section if there is one.

If not, I think the venue should allocate ‘stay seated’ areas for those who want them.

So everyone has to do what you want to do, ie stand up, but you’re unwilling to do what others want to do, ie, sit down.

There is literally multiple videos from hundreds of people all over social media showing people standing in the seating areas for all of the recent Eras tour.

Why are you still insisting everyone with seats remained seating?!

I said a bit in my post. I would get anxious if I didn't have a known place to come back to after going to the toilet. I also need space around me and can't do the crush of the standing area. I'm also older these days and might want to sit down for the odd slow song so I want a seat available so that I can.

Personally I think you acted like an entitled arsehole. If you wanted to stand, then buy a ticket in the standing area. Not everyone can or wants to stand.