To warn you about the way outdoor concerts are going?

[MontanaMountains]

I love an outdoor concert, or at least I did. I've been going to outdoor concerts for decades and have seen many different bands and artists. It's a lovely tradition of taking a picnic, camping chairs, a blanket incase it gets chilly, maybe a candle in a jar for a bit of atmosphere.

The first I noticed things were changing was a concert at Ragley Hall in 2019. No picnics allowed, no drinks allowed except a small bottle of water per guest. This is all so they can squeeze more money out of you through drink/food sales. At least we could take chairs!

I've just received a concert information email about the Michael Buble concert I'm going to next month. No chairs allowed, no food, no drinks (not even a bottle of water), tiny A4 size bag allowed per person. You may take a rug to sit on but may be asked to remove it when the concert starts. You can buy food and drink from vendors at the venue.

This has taken all the enjoyment out of this event for me. I'd really rather not go. I'm late 50s with a history of back problems and DH is mid 60s, and the thought of standing for hours holds zero appeal. I'd happily return/sell my tickets but it's no refunds and no transfer of tickets. We're stuffed.

I've got another outdoor concert booked in August and I'm guessing the same 'rules' will apply. Sad as it is but I think our outdoor event days are over.

Just warning anyone with a similar history that things have changed, so think carefully before you book.

i think youve missed the point some people cant sit on the flat ground

Funnily enough I work at a grade I listed heritage property owned and run by a preservation trust. We hold several outdoor concerts and theatre performances throughout the summer. Our lawns are lovely and are not noticeably damaged by camp chairs. We lie a rope across the lawn - those in front (closest to the stage) on rugs, those behind on chairs and gazebos at the back. We allow picnics and we run a bar but guests can bring as much booze as they like (the trustees are usually the most inebriated by the end of the evening). We don't search bags (have you ever had a bag search at a NT or English Heritage site?). Works for us.

Thank you Carla, that's very useful information. I'll try to contact the organisers before the date to enquire about accessible seating.

Was just about to say that!
What do you think the age demo graph for the Radio festival in a day is?

Hyde park is plenty big enough to have the mosh pit, the standing crowd & then the people on picnic blankets or chairs watching the big screens!

Completely agree OP. Really takes the joy out of the occasion for me as well.

I am a wheelchair user with a blue badge and at least 50% off concerts and theatres (indoor and outdoor) still don’t allow me to buy an accessible tickets – which are rare as hens teeth in the first place! Plus you have to phone during office hours rather than buy online. More disability discrimination.

That's ridiculous, surely you can take a small chair! And not allowing a bottle of water is not on at all. I just wouldn't go.

The water bottles rule really annoys me. We have to travel two hours to a London concert and then another two hours home again. I have my water bottle for use on my journey home when nothing is open to buy anything. Went to a concert at Brixton, security guard wanted to take my bloody expensive Sodastream plastic bottle. There was no way I was having that, I argued and she eventually emptied it and handed it back to me. I actually think it's a bloody cheek saying you can't bring water, surely having water is a basic human right? Plus it's hardly environmentally friendly to say you can't bring reusable water bottles and have to buy drinks in disposable plastic cups or bottles.

Laughing at the person saying to just sit on the ground. That is what I used to think when younger. Now half an hour on the ground and my back is aching. Things change as you get older.

I voted YABU because I am sick of people taking the mick in chairs also bang in the middle of the open space for the audience.

I also find that big groups with picnics spread, and encroach on my sitting space as if I’m not there.

regularly take my sixty something aunt to gigs and concerts and we NEVER book seating because she’s first on her feet and almost got us chucked out of a fully seated Motown show 🙈 horses for courses and all that but once again mumsnet has shown me what a heathen I am 🤣

Your licence obviously allows for outside alcohol to be brought in, a lot of venues do not and will lose their licence if they allow outside alcohol to be brought in.

I have been known to bring my own bottle lids to gigs 😇

Are the promoters Senbla? Went to see Duran Duran at Castle Howard 10 days ago. The band were fab as ever, the location stunning. It seemed well organised on the way in but no food or chairs allowed in, with the same text about allowed a blanket but having to pack it away before the band on stage. Allowed one sealed bottle of water. Once inside it was woefully under catered with people reporting being in the queue for two hours only to find the food had run out or leaving the queue when the band came on stage. The car park was anarchy on the way out - we’d anticipated it would take a while as it always does at that kind of event so had a mini picnic out of the boot and chilled for an hour, but in that time not one car moved in our part of the car park. All the security buggered off, there was no attempt at marshalling the traffic and eventually we left site two and a half hours after the band left the stage. Really took the shine off the gig.

Just back from watching Diana Ross at Lytham Festival. No chairs but a small bottle of water allowed. It was a great show but a long time to stand up. There is a small area that’s allows chairs for an extra fee but it is side on to the stage so not a good view. We also noticed the big screens had been set so low the bottom was not visible in the crowd. I guess this is so people who sit on the green outside the venue can’t accidentally get a free glimpse of the artist !

I agree it's disgusting. They tried it on at our local cricket ground recently and at an Elton John concert.

I hope people don't go. Who wants to buy overpriced food and how can keep affording it.

Who would pay £180 to see HS.

These people are laughing all the way to the bank.

They mean simple for them. A local guy runs an annual family friendly festival and went cashless to run after covid. His profit shot up as the temporary staff couldn’t be light fingered on the til. Now all his businesses are cashless.

YANBU. DH can't eat gluten and concert food outlets rarely cater well to his dietary requirements and I have joint issues and can't stand for long. We simply wouldn't go.

There should be an area for people with disabilities/ unable to sit on the floor to use chairs but this should be a specified area.

I agree with others- the people who plonk their chairs in the middle of the standing area (and then moan they can't see) and the huge picnics that are in everyone's way are really annoying.

Will you be ok Sat on a rug or do you need a chair? If you need a chair can you ask the event organisers if anything like that will be available inside the event for people with health conditions where standing for a long time is painful?

I can sit/lie on a rug for a couple of hours (we've decided to eat at home and arrive just before MB takes the stage now), although would rather not, but the info re rugs states "you may be asked to pack this away when the concert starts", so I suppose we're obliged to stand 🤷‍♀️

How about the artists refuse to perform at the venue . I would.

You think the artists should refuse to perform because people who've booked standing tickets don't want to stand up even during the performance?

It's the lack of clarity when people book that is the problem

And I guess it isn't made clear up front because they know many people prefer to sit but they can get more people in if standing