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AIBU?

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Original poster

Front row of seated concert - etiquette?

31 replies

CadburysTastesVileNow · 14/11/2019 09:03

If there is no standing area at the front of a concert (music), would you be aggrieved if you had a front row seat and people came and stood/danced in front of you? Arese literally in your face?

OP posts:
Original poster
CadburysTastesVileNow · 14/11/2019 09:03

Arse ...

OP posts:
DisplayPurposesOnly · 14/11/2019 09:05

It depends on my view of the stage.

TeenPlusTwenties · 14/11/2019 09:06

Yes.

I would expect the ushers to move them.

(But I don't go to that kind of concert so I have no idea really.)

Bodear · 14/11/2019 09:06

Depends what the concert was. Verdi, I’d be annoyed. Lizzo, not so much.

Limpshade · 14/11/2019 09:09

Hmm, it depends on the music I think.

I've been to concerts like this where almost everyone in the stalls was up on their feet because it was pretty up-tempo stuff, and if someone was blocking my view it didn't bother me.

However I've also been to a verrrrrry lo-fi music gig where pretty much everyone was sat down, and it was pretty annoying when the super-fan types in the front row were stood up whooping. Mostly because the whooping was completely wrong for the music and so was really distracting.

Who are you seeing?

NameChange84 · 14/11/2019 09:10

I would be really annoyed. However, whenever I have been to concerts like this, security or ushers have told them to return to their seats. At a recent concert, a whole row of a family got up and danced for about three songs immediately in front of the wheelchair seating. So, so, selfish. And they kicked up a fuss when they were told that if they wanted to dance then they needed to do it at the back of the theatre. They loudly announced "we won't be back.next year".

Best bit? It was a Michael Ball concert!

DingDongDenny · 14/11/2019 09:11

So you aren't allowed to stand and they are standing in front of you? Yes that would piss me off? I'd either get them moved or join them

Tortoiser · 14/11/2019 09:14

Yes I would and I’d expect security to move them.
Point being you say in your OP there’s a no standing area at the front, so why are they expecting to be allowed to stand (dance) there.

Clangus00 · 14/11/2019 09:15

Yep and I’d be speaking to the stewards.

Original poster
CadburysTastesVileNow · 14/11/2019 14:36

Oh good, seems I'm not being (v) unreasonable.

It was a tribute band thing I went to see last year in what is basically a theatre, so there is very little legroom in the front row.

Pretty much everyone was up and dancing, but I was constantly knocked back into my seat or trodden on by people trying to cram in front.

I've booked again for this year and am wondering whether I could invoke the stewards if it happens again. I don't mind people sending their little kids to the front, btw.

OP posts:
Bodear · 14/11/2019 23:16

Why wouldn’t you want to dance? Maybe don’t sit in the front row next time?

TheReluctantCountess · 14/11/2019 23:23

You might be better sitting further back.

Aroundnabout1 · 14/11/2019 23:27

Yes id be livid. So many cretins ruining other people's nights out. Its on a par with talking through a play, or singing along to a musical.

WanderingBar · 15/11/2019 00:14

If you want to dance, the back of the venue behind all the seats is the place to do it. Anything else is shitty behaviour.

GrumpyHoonMain · 15/11/2019 00:16

These people are idiots. Front row seats are often reserved for the disabled or those less able to walk, so definitely do involve the stewards.

WanderingBar · 15/11/2019 00:22

Bodear and Reluctant, you do realise that if people stand up at the front of seated gig, they're not just blocking the view of the front seats, but also those in the rows behind? Why do you think that's okay?

VenusTiger · 15/11/2019 00:39

Sit in the second row then

lyralalala · 15/11/2019 01:35

At a recent concert, a whole row of a family got up and danced for about three songs immediately in front of the wheelchair seating. So, so, selfish. And they kicked up a fuss when they were told that if they wanted to dance then they needed to do it at the back of the theatre

That happened recently at a concert we went too and it was so bad the stewards ended up telling people to either move or leave

They just didn't give a single shit that the "big empty space" as actually the access to the disabled seating area and it was only raised by 5/6 inches so they couldn't see over them

So selfish

Aroundnabout1 · 15/11/2019 05:40

We recently moved seats at a musical when the pissed cretin behind was singing along with the musical.

EmpressLesbianInChair · 15/11/2019 06:26

This would be why I always sit in a front row higher up. 4ft11 & if some rude pillocks decide to stand in front of me I haven’t got a hope.

Bodear · 15/11/2019 07:53

@WanderingBar - it shouldn’t block seats all the way back....
As per my earlier post I think it really depends on what the concert is. As it’s a tribute act it’s likely to be fun, possibly a little bit cheesy and therefore in my book, dancing is ok.

Bodear · 15/11/2019 07:54

Obviously not in front of the wheelchair seating area.

churchandstate · 15/11/2019 07:56

*Bodear

It doesn’t really matter why someone doesn’t want to dance. They booked a seat and paid more so they had an unimpeded view of the stage.

NameChange84 · 15/11/2019 08:01

@Bodear did you miss the fact that the area the people came out of their seats to dance in was designated as a no standing area?

Vulpine · 15/11/2019 08:09

Id love to know who the band are that people cant resist dancing to!