Standing at gigs - finally some sense!

I did sit down for Prince but stood when required. He might play a slower number so no need to go crazy. I saw Nile Rodgers last year, utter danceathon and some people remained seated. I was up but checked the row behind were also standing

Saw Yungblud at the O2 on Friday. It was a fantastic show, and we were sat in the accessible section. I am unable to stand for long periods, so stayed seated for the show. I can appreciate that people want to stand up and celebrate whatever, and they did. I just looked around the side of the person in front to the best of my ability. I was just enjoying the vibes and singing along. I'm a more casual fan though. I think it's quite expected for people to stand and be excited at gigs

It is a tricky one. I personally much prefer standing at gigs so will avoid seats if at all possible.

The problem is some venues have no standing at all, or not enough, and all it takes is a few people to stand and then the people behind them need to stand, and so on. It must really suck if you can't stand for whatever reason. Some acts will actively encourage people to stand as well. I've seen a few bands at the Hydro in glasgow - which is a fucking awful venue - and most people are standing in the sitting sections, and there isn't always any standing allocation at all.

Maybe venues need to sell sections as strictly no stand, but I imagine actually enforcing that would be next to impossible.

The Symphony Hall in Birmingham will say ‘ some people may stand’ and can be very heavy going if people do sometimes do that.

wow I am jealous. bet it was good. @Danikm151 (misses point of thread)

Because people who actually study music want to make do with a recording? Get real. My teens study music and perform. All the bands they know personally don't care if people don't dance, they do appreciate people who go and listen to and enjoy their music live though.

I understand you wanting to stand up and dance, @StacksOfSnacks - but singing along is unacceptable, imo. People have paid through the nose to hear the band/artist, not you! Having someone singing near them will interrupt their enjoyment of the music.

If there are songs where the audience is encouraged to join in, by all means sing along, but the rest of the time, let the musicians do the performing!

Lol, I think the miserable people of the world alliance has found this thread and demanded its members all contribute. Artists HATE people not dancing at their gigs. Those who don't like it should stay home and listen to a recording.

With all due respect how on earth do you dance to ‘most beautiful girl in the world’? Are we all supposed start slow dancing with our partners? It is absolutely the sort of song you stay seated for and sing along. I don’t believe everyone was up and jumping up and down for it.

Wembley is hideous anyway. Seems to have it's own rules that apply just to Wembley. Went in my younger days and never again

So am I, and not at Wembley they didn't!

I'm old enough to go to the last circus tour. Funnily enough people remained sitting.

Good luck telling Take That fans to sit down at The Circus tour this summer 😂

Yes, people can enjoy themselves without dancing, but at a pop/rock concert, most people want to dance; it is perfectly normal to do so.

Yes I didn’t say they have to sit

Could sit, not have to sit. The driver for changing terraces to seating was not because people wanted to sit, in fact there have been campaigns for 'safe standing' rather than seating because the majority of fans want to stand.

And so that people could sit in them

Stadiums have seats for safety reasons after the Hillsborough disaster to control crowd density.

Watching an act live is about the experience- watching the performer and hearing the music. I don’t want to watch Susan and her mates shrieking and dancing two rows in front of me.
If I wanted to dance, I’d go to a disco.

People can enjoy themselves without dancing. And I cant believe you have never seen someone sit down….what did you think the seats were for?!

Prince also had a no phone policy at his shows, do you think young people today would tolerate that?

This is like a parallel universe. People sitting for pop and rock gigs 🤯. Literally never done it or seen it happen. Can you imagine sitting for Prince? He'd have lost his shit if people weren't enjoying themselves and dancing.

I'll be standing and dancing at Harry in June. I pay for a seat so I'm not rained on or in the sun. Along with 90k other people who will also be dancing.

Well it depends what sort of music you like doesnt it? Cant imagine Beyoncé is going to come to my local O2 Academy any time soon!

At the O2 a few months ago - which has a fairly steep rake - and 2 x 50 somthing old blokes next to me - off their tits on coke I suspect - being complete wank badger - screaming, stumbling, waving their arms 'dancing' - for two pins I'd have pushed them over. Fortunately there were 2 spare seats along from us I could shuffle into and get away from them. I kind of think that kind of behaviour is better in the standing area.

ETA I don't mind people standing in the sitting area - but have a bit of common sense.

Vast majority of gigs I go to are standing-only. Avoid the big and overpriced venues that have seating and problem solved.

This is why I stay home and stare into middle distance.