First live gig tomorrow, what should I expect at Shepherds Bush Empire?

[GigNewbie]

Hello

NC for this. I'm going to see St Etienne tomorrow night at the Shepherds Bush Empire. Surprise birthday treat. I have never been to a live music gig. I go to lots of theatre but never any music or concerts. So, please can you all be kind and explain the timings and etiquette to me as if I'm from Mars?

eg do we arrive for 7pm on the dot?
the website says there's no cloakroom - where do you put your jacket as it's a bit cooler now?
I can have a very small bag but no bottle of water?

Thank you!

If doors open at 7 there will be support before the main act. Usually the main act is on about 8.30/9 at SheBu.

You won't be able to take a drink in and you can have a small bag.

There is a cloakroom there, I've used it before.

Oh and do we have to stand? I'm quite short...

There's usually/often a support act, so the main band won't come on stage for at least 30 mins. IME, no gig ever starts promptly! 7pm is probably when the doors open. Gives you time to get to the bar/have a drink etc.

Are you standing or do you have seats? If the latter, at least there's somewhere you can stuff your coat. If the former, you'll need to carry it/tie it round your waist - whatever works best. It is likely to be pretty warm inside, so as long as no rain is forecast, just go without a coat.

You'll have to buy your water there.

Do you have a standing ticket?

Standing on the ground floor seats (unreserved usually) upstairs.

It is one of my favourite venues.

You can’t take anything in except a small bag, tie your coat around your waist or stuff it some (a pile often develops) if you get there early you might get one of only a handful of seats (there might be none so don’t get your hopes up.) there will be a support act usually with typically the main act on at 8.30/9 no interval. Expect people to surge to the front so if you don’t like it choose the back / side.

I need to check as it sounded like only standing seats were available? And looking on the website it looks like seats are only if you dash upstairs to get them?

No, those seats will be taken by those with seated tickets.

I'm so jealous, have an amazing time.

thank you - I am very excited!

If you’re standing, wear comfortable shoes, and with so many people, it could get warm, so wear layers.

Have fun.

I'm short too, and it's one reason I don't enjoy gigs that much. You can guarantee that wherever I choose to stand, someone 6ft 7in will stand in front of me.

Best tip is to try to stand somewhere to the side. You can try to get to the front, but often that's really squashed and sometimes a bit of a mosh pit!

General rules-
no matter how tall you are someone 3” taller will stand in front of you.
you’ll resign yourself to having to peer around them but they’ll spend the whole night leaning over to talk to their short partner and blocking the space you were peering through.
Just when you think you have a nice spot a group of pissed women will stand next to you and one annoying one in the group (usually the shortest) will have no idea of personal space and keep banging into you.
90% of the audience will watch the concert through their phone screens.

I go to lots of gigs but am definitely getting more grumpy at this age 🙈 have a great time but try and just go with the flow.

I agree with all of that @worri3dmum!

And don't start me on people who start talking throughout the gig or, even worse, start singing along ...

The phone screens give me the rage.

At a St. etienne gig? The mosh pit will be where (polite middle aged) people are swaying a bit more than the people behind them!

Thanks everyone! It was fun. Had a good view for support act as fewer people, then had to go to the loo so ended up very squashed by tall people. I was amazed how many men there were 🤣 Towards the end went up the steps near the loo and got a much much better view.

audience very old and very civilised 🤣