AIBU to think drunken behaviour is ruining outdoor gigs?

I remember going to a gig at Hyde Park- Radio 2 thing. We got the train snd accommodation, so it was a costly affair. I was amazed at the amount of people who were falling around drunk. I remember thinking they must have been spending a fortune. I also thought why bother coming to the gig

I never understand why people pay a lot of money to go to a concert or the theatre and then talk (loudly) thoughout.

I have been to a few outdoor concerts where people had their back to the stage and were just talking, singing loudly out of tune and drinking, drinking, drinking.

Some people just don't seem able to have an evening out without drinking far too much.

I was there for the cure last Friday and had a similar experience- fabulous gig but the drunken twats shouting conversations at each other loudly during the gig was really annoying. We go to gigs fairly regularly and it seems to be worse at outdoor ones.

I was there too. Some rowdy ones jostling, but they were all 20s and 30s. The older ones were enjoying it without being off their faces. Great night though.

The all day drinking such as the post races gigs does not surprise me. The point about those who are not regularly going to gigs is also well made, perhaps because of the cost when you have to add in all the rip-off extra charges and possible dynamic pricing.

I find that this kind of behaviour is much worse at “old person” gigs, where it’s a rare night out and people get far too drunk

Ive seen fights and arguments and all the recently at these types of gigs whereas not in the past

My son sees no trouble at the concerts he goes to

As a regular gig and club goer I see this big ticket outdoor gigs like NYE - amateur night and avoid them like the plague.

People who don't go to gigs very often see these gigs as a big night out and get over excited/don't understand gig ettique.

This has been exacerbated in recent years with the decline of small music venues and clubs so many just don't do this regularly. Also the increasing popularity of "event gigs" exacerbates this behaviour. People aren't just going to see a aband, they are having a big weekend, maybe looking to recapture their youth or that feeling. Having spent hundreds of pounds they want to try and have the best time and oftrn end up overdoing it or ignoring the fact there are other people there as well.

It is the same with big festivals.

Almost every gig I've been to recently there have been people just chatting shit not watching the band......I don't get it

I was at Tottenham in some really expensive (for me) seats and people were still yacking. On one of the only videos I took you could here them. And in seats you can't move

I don’t get why people pay a fortune to go to a concert then get hammered. My friend and I only ever drink minimal water at a concert, so we don’t have to miss any going to the loo!

I was there too and said much the same. The number of people chatting to their mates during the set was crazy. Why pay so much money for a catch up!? We moved several times to avoid groups of people talking and eventually found like-minded folk who were singing and dancing along - and actually paying attention to the show. I've seen Pulp a few times in the last couple of years and this was my least favourite; the vibe wasn't quite the same. Still a great show.
Similar issues with people chatting through Self Esteem and I was much nearer the front. It's so rude.

We were there Friday night and didn’t see any lairyness or trouble, guess we were lucky from the sound of it, slightly off to the side but in the first sixth of the crowd I’d say. And no trouble leaving either, though there was a v v long queue for the shuttle bus. Lots of middle aged people. One v drunk guy cut in front of me at the bar but the servers ignored him. It was a fantastic gig. Jarvis was awesome and the band and singers.

but…saw, against my better judgement, depeche mode at the O2, Christ talk about coked up middle aged lairyness…I’d never go and see anything like that again. It was awful.

saw the same at ABBA voyager…pissed on Prosecco forty year olds (I’m late 50s) just making a spectacle of themselves. There’s this constant push to sell booze at the theatre, gigs etc…to people who are already pissed as farts.

and the talking through something you’ve paid to see? When did that start…at our local venue it’s become a serious issue.

I went to an outdoor gig last night, had a great time but I mustn't get out much because I was shocked by behaviour!

People actively snorting coke in the middle of the crowd, so drunk they could hardly stand, yelling slurry nonsense to each other, constant vaping and smoking, felt like I was in a cloud of fog and then over use of flares when the main act came on, couldn't see at one point the flare smoke was so thick!

I feel like I'm just not used to big crowds of intoxicated people anymore. I felt intimidated by the lairy behaviour from many when we were all trying to exit the venue as it was so cramped, people staggering and falling over, vomiting, starting rival football chants, it was a relief to get to my car as I had my young teen with me. Bands were brilliant though.

The behaviour the OP posted about sounds absolutely obnoxious.

Yes, Mapletree I agree with you. I was there. Love Pulp. Terrible drunk middle aged people chatting and not facing stage. Tried moving only to be stood by other people in their 50's shouting out names and openly selling drugs. Atmosphere just wasn't there for me. Two drunken women squabbling when one blew vape in the others space. Could barely see stage most of the time as everyone was taller around me or waving phones in my view, plus a flat field with crap layout. Absolutely gutted. I won't go to Wythenshaw Park again.

Ok Mary Whitehouse.

Well this is insane. I can’t have a cider while listening to Viking Skull at Bloodstock because coked-up middle-aged chavs can’t behave at an Oasis reunion? Imagine seeing a band at the Dev or Underworld and not being able to have a drink - every venue in the country would be forced to close.

I think they need to do something with concerts like they did with football when hooliganism was rife. Ban drinking alcohol and concerts when in view of the stage. Crack down hard on drunken violence and unruly behaviour at concerts, with lengthy jail sentences and banning orders from all concerts within Britain, and confiscate passports when there is a likelihood of them travelling abroad to cause trouble at overseas concerts.

But there was about 35000 people there each night. By the law of averages, a large chunk of them will be arseholes. I think I was lucky not to be surrounded by any of them, whereas you obviously were. It's a shame but I don't think you can blame outdoor gigs. Possibly if you had been stood just a short distance away your experience may have been very different.

Yes, I was at Pulp last night and the crowd around me were really into the music, thankfully - my only problem was just how tightly packed together we were, which isnt something that used to bother me. I did see people getting quite aggressive on the way out though.

I was at The Cure, stood around about there 😄. We saw no trouble at all.

But you can see the size of the crowd, there could easily be outbreaks of all sorts throughout the crowd, the majority would still carry on having a great time, but if you're stood next to it then obviously it will affect your experience.

I wasn’t complaining my view was ruined. I was saying that I was watching people standing having a chat. She had a foot problem and had been standing for hours and actually that woman looked like she wanted a fight with anyone who slightly annoyed her. We’d been to another outdoor concert a few weeks previously and my DH did same for a couple of songs. No one cared.

I was saying to DH that I don’t get why people film it. They’re never going to watch it so it must be for social media. But it was an older crowd and I imagine the number of phones at gigs with a younger crowd is probably even higher. Maybe it’s just a sign that I’m old now and out of touch.

We were at Pulp, it was brilliant. But yes other people can be very annoying. There were 3 young lads in front of us who kept getting on each other's shoulders. So no-one around them could see. And don't get me started on people filming the whole bloody thing!

Agreed, why the need to talk so much!? Just watch the frigging music you’ve paid for.

It was the youngsters here - surely they could go to the back to talk ? It would be better for their voices too : and it happens indoors as much as outside - selfish idiots

Apparently the Cure gig at the same venue had the same problems not sure why!