I stood at a concert

I regularly go to gigs. All types of music. If it's a seated ticket I bought then I don't want people standing if front of me

How bizzare. Virtually all the ones I’ve been to have been outdoors though, principality stadium, castles, parks etc. Places like the palladium/st David’s I’m not surprised are seated only as the chairs are permanent theatre chairs. Much more suprise by motorpoint as I’ve never been to anything there with seats, but not been to a gig there for ages. Been years since I went to the O2.

As I said earlier, you get venues where there is a standing section, then the fence to fence it off and then immediately after, rows of seating on the floor.

On the rules bandied about on here, no one should be standing because they have a seat, despite not being able to see because of the standing section in front.

"It’s a bit shitty to buy a seated ticket knowing you’re definitely going to stand all the way through just because you can’t afford the ticket you actually want."

The venue tells you that you can, and most will, stand and dance at their seat. So no, it's not shitty. It's just fucking normal for anyone who actually goes to concerts. It's glaringly obvious that most commenting here never do.

Exactly. I swear half the people on this thread have never stepped foot in a music venue

Sadly even in the accessible viewing areas people are now allowed to stand. The last 2 big gigs I’ve ‘seen’ at the O2 were at points almost entirely blocked by the people stood up to the left of me - it’s utterly maddening. I was sat in my wheelchair on the closest platform to the stage and the staff were powerless to do anything.

A friend had booked access seating (as not needing a wheelchair but unable to stand) and had the exact same issue. Previously people had been asked to sit when she used the same seating.

It’s a bit shitty to buy a seated ticket knowing you’re definitely going to stand all the way through just because you can’t afford the ticket you actually want. I think it’s a bit entitled to decide you’re going to do whatever you want and screw what other people think.

I prefer to stand but due to a bad back, I have to get seated because I need to take rests. I also struggle in standing as I don’t like crowds. I very much judge what to do based on people around me. If everyone is sitting, I stay seated because I respect the fact I’ve bought a seated ticket and it would be rude to be up standing when no one else is. If the majority of people are standing, or even just a good proportion, I’ll then stand.

There have been occasions when someone behind me has asked me to sit back down. I always have because I respect the fact that it is actually a seated area. However I’ve always felt a bit humiliated and it takes the shine off the night because I then don’t know if it’s ok to stand up for anything, even when almost everyone else is!!! (I’m autistic so judging the “right” thing is hard!)

"Yes, my daughters were at TS in Dublin 2 weeks ago. Seated. I’ve seen the videos."

Ahahaha what absolute horse shit 🤣

Look at all the meek little Dublin Swifties, sitting down. Oh, maybe not.

But these are people complaining and insisting that the concert or gig, regardless of song being played, the venue or the band, should be seated and no one should be standing at all.

Or as someone said further up, they find it sad that people can't enjoy a concert sitting down. Why is it sad?!

Depends who the act is .Would be pretty weird to all be sitting down for Nial Rogers 'Take that , etc !

And what about when the majority are standing but a few want to stay sitting? Are they going to ask everyone to sit down?

I hope I'm not near any Mumsnetters when I see Bruce Springsteen!

"I might make an exception for standing for the final big number."

Oh how very gracious of you 🤣 you realise that you don't own the venue? Luckily it is clear on the arenas pages that you are permitted to stand at your seat and to dance. They are clear that it's expected that many/most will.

To the question, can I stand up and dance at my seat. The new coop stadium said "Yes, we want you to enjoy yourself and have a good time".

And here's the O2, Leeds and Resorts World all saying exactly the same thing.

I think all these concerts show is it really is show dependant. I went to see Train at the royal Albert Hall a few weeks ago. Everyone stayed seated pretty much the whole way though until the end but the atmosphere was amazing! But then quite a lot of the times are not really get up and boogey tunes. Even imagine dragons when we say them we pretty much stayed seated and so did everyone else . When seeing Bruce Springsteen last year most of the concert was spent seated until the last 35 mins where he played his catchy numbers and who can sit down for dancing in the dark?

I would be annoyed if a person got up and stood for a slow number tbh if everyone else was seated. But the big numbers it is expected. Or really does depend on so many variables

I absolutely don't believe you that no one stood up at TS. My friend was seated in Dublin and posted shots panning around and barely anyone was sat down.

What's the obsession with remaining seated and thinking it makes you a better person?!

Yes, my daughters were at TS in Dublin 2 weeks ago. Seated. I’ve seen the videos.

The disabled areas are very small.
About 8 seats and four places for wheelchairs.
These need to be made bigger.
I can't stand that long.. my daughter tries to book disabled but if not then an end Isle on the floor ( no steps).
I've often just had to look at the big screen.
I've had to stop going now.

This. Venues should take responsibility for this kind of thing. It is unfair on people who can't stand if people stand in seating areas so there should be provision made and expectations managed.

So what about placed where you get a standing area with seating directly on the floor behind that?

Unless specified that it's strictly seated, people can stand if they wish.

I’m with you and 100% for your follow-up post too!!

When I started going to concerts in the 90s, up until about the mid-2000s there seemed to be more options of buying standing tickets and being in front of the stage with seating in the blocks at the back of the venue and above.
However, every concert I’ve been to at the venue I frequented the most back then since has had seats even in front of the stage. That includes when I saw George Michael there in 2012 (one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to); The Jacksons in 2018; Chic & Nile Rodgers in 2018 and Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons in 2018. I saw Paul Weller there in 1999 and 2002 and it was standing only in front of the stage, likewise for Travis in 2002 and Jamiroquai in 2005.

Have you seen any of the footage from the latest TS tour?! The majority of people were standing and there were people paying hundreds for seats behind the actual stage.

Screens are there to allow everyone to see the band or performer close up and a lot of TS personal footage taken from concerts were of the screens because of how far away she was from the majority of seating.

YABU.

It's a seated concert, you can stand if everyone is standing, however if the people behind you aren't standing it's incredibly rude to stand and block their view.

The idea you can't enjoy the songs sitting down is quite sad to be honest.

"A seated ticket is SEATED. It being a 'concert' does not change that, if you wanted to stand and the venue allows it they would have 'standing area tickets' (which are separate, seated ticket holders have always been escorted back to seats when trying to enter standing zones). Abide by the ticket you have."

You are simply wrong @housethatbuiltme

The nature of the event completely changes it. Do you expect the arena to rip out the seats because it is something like King of Leon where the majority wish to dance? Maybe they can pop them back in in time for a classical evening. Or should they just not bother selling tickets for the fixed seating at their venue?

Go to the FAQs on any arena site and they agree with me. Here's Sheffield Utilita for example.

This is from take that's most recent tour this year. It's a "fully seated" concert. Do you think the atmosphere would have been the same if everyone was just sitting there? Watch some of the choruses etc. People on the floor are all standing and some are jumping around and waving their arms.
Honestly as i said if I was told i needed to sit throughout that show I just wouldn't go.

If I pay for a seat I expect to see the performer, not your back.
There's a reason there is a standing area.

I got your point; I'm not naive to think everyone in the seating area should keep their arse on the seat the whole time the concert is going - and as I said I too have stood up for certain songs. But not everyone in the seating area wants to stand up and dance, or have their view blocked by people doing so. I'd love to be in the standing area dancing the whole time, but I can't physically manage anymore!
I guess I'm lucky nobody has ever refused to sit, and I'd not be annoyed if they did. My experience might be less, but you can't control others actions.