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.

“f&b; we’ve been out of work for almost two years and artists are incredible expensive to book. The only profit for the organiser often comes from f&b.”

I see your point but if you don’t have any punters because you’ve made it too expensive and/or unenjoyable, then you definitely won’t be earning any money.

I’ve done running of events and we know that if we want people through the gates then they’ve got to want to come and be able to afford to come. We don’t fleece them for overpriced food and drinks, and we don’t put in place rules because we want everything to still be immaculate afterwards/don’t want to have to do bag searches etc.

Those kinds of rules would be impossible for us as a family with autistic members with specific food needs. A PP also mentioned the lack of being able to cater to allergies.

Let’s hope you never get an illness or infirmity , great attitude you have there .

Theres a place between having a medical reason for needing a chair and being able to stand or sit on a rug without support for hours. For a lot of us that place is called bring a bit older and a bit less flexible/agile. I'm fit as a fiddle, but at 53, I'd be put off by hours without being able to sit down.
I think this is actually quite discriminatory because with rules like this, these events will become only accessible to younger/fitter people.

Crikey I go to very different gigs from you lot. Liam Gallagher at the weekend was £70 for a standing ticket (no chairs or food or brollies in!) and about £35 for a seated one….

BST at Hyde Park for Elton John last week - gates opened at 2pm, he came on stage at 7.50pm - significantly more than 2 hours!

Not allowed to leave once you have entered. Queues at 6.30-7pm for every single food or drink outlet were absolutely crazy, super long lines

If anything, I agree with the no chairs rule, particularly in main arena as they could be a hazard. There should be an area where they are allowed

Some of these things are 12 hours long. You go without the loo, food and drink for 12 hours.

Or do you mean you only go to outdoor concerts that are only a couple of hours long.

f&b; we’ve been out of work for almost two years and artists are incredible expensive to book. The only profit for the organiser often comes from f&b. You’ll find that where the talent is less expensive (as in some of the examples you’ve listed) the rules will be different

Presumably you charge the catering vans to set up and don’t take a commission on the F&B sold so whether someone buys from the vans or takes their own food in there isn’t going to make any difference to your profits.

The problem I and others have is not just the cost of the food but also the availability.
You end up wasting hours standing in queues instead of watching the band you came to see and in the end it does put people off going.
Having done this once I wouldn’t go to one these concerts again.

Recently I wanted to see a particular band. They were part of a much longer gig. You had to get there for 10am and I presume as headliners they would be last on at nearer 9pm

I know myself and adult children. We couldn’t do all day without food.
Just 1 small bottle of water every couple hours and a bag of chips and a veggie burger and some more chips for later on in the day would have ended up costing me around £120 and I know Ds and dd couldn’t survive on that for the day. They would have needed more. I was looking at £140 for the tickets and probably £150 for F&B
Then add in parking for the day and you are looking at well over £300

It was too much for me and probably too much for other people because I kept checking the site to see if anything had been reduced or rules had been changed and the concert went ahead with still unsold tickets.

The last time we went to this pre pandemic where there were still food vans which we did use but more for a hot drink, snacks etc when our food ran out. The event was sold within days..
They even had an ingenious way to help with the tidying up and recycling and we all ended up with several t.shirts for free.

I went to Slane in 1999 and you couldn't bring a thing, we were searched at the gate. Not even a bottle of water, because if it had a lid, you could throw it and injure someone. So it was overpriced drinks in plastic cups only, and sitting on the muddy ground.

Love the user name btw, big Wodehouse fan. @MontanaMountains There were too many good ones to pick just one!

I'd highly recommend Glyndeboune if you like opera (or if you're not sure try it). It's a world class venue and the tradition is to take a picnic. Some people go very elaborate ie candelabra etc you can also get it all set up for you by them. The opera itself is inside and there are wet weather provisions.

maybe a candle in a jar for a bit of atmosphere

Erm what? I’ve been going to festivals since I was a kid and find that really strange.
Download the other week catered to all tastes and dietary requirements, and wasn’t expensive at all.

You're not being a fraud... If you can't stand for more than a few minutes due to a condition?!

For many concerts you can also get free ticket for the person you're with.

OK you may not need someone to help you use the loos... But if you need someone to queue for food etc.

@Kennykenkencat we charge them nothing, we take a % of takings to ensure it’s accessible for all of them and not risky as they are normally independents who have also suffered terribly in the pandemic. All meals are also £10 or less at our events so should be reasonably affordable given a meal deal is £4.

I agree with @Philisophigal but waiting for a seated ticket does us old fogies no good either. I recently went to an "all seated" venue to see a very famous artist and as soon as he took to the stage he told everyone to stand up! So I had a great view of someone's fat butt wiggling away for the entire concert. A great waste of £75 that was! I complained to the promoters and they gave me a voucher to the value of the tickets, but it expired during lockdown.
No more concerts for me. I prefer listening to the music in my own home on my hi fi!

Try Chilfest next year. You can take chairs, rugs, your own drinks. Car park is very close so you can go back to your car for a picnic...

fair enough thanks for explaining your vote

I would say I think it depends on the expected crowd density and whilst standing room only - bring no stuff of your own events are certainly allowed (now). Many events I have enjoyed have been more of a picnic in the park with entertainment vibe e.g. Shakespeare in the park. And I do think it should be made very clear what to expect before you buy the tickets.

I've a got a bit annoyed seeing the use of the Manchester Arena bombing to justify A4 bags. The bomber was not in the venue, they were in the concourse outside where the kids parents were waiting for them to exit, and did not have to partake in a bag check. All bags have been checked on the way into concerts since I can remember. Now it means you can't go to a gig straight from work, or take a rain coat/jumper for the walk home.

People can still stand outside venues with massive backpacks though.

@WendellGeez that’s where we differ , I often buy seated tickets and then stand for periods of time , when we saw Springsteen on his last tour I think I was standing for most of his set but with the illness I have I need to have a seat just in case as I never know when I’m going to need it and unfortunately I cannot sit on the ground for more than a minute or two due to other issues . Of course none of these illnesses warrant me having a disabled badge / pass .

Well I hope the person behind you enjoyed the sight of your bum!
I always think people who want to dance around should buy a standing room ticket. Obvs not possible in your case but it's still not nice for the person behind who paid for a seat for a reason!

do you not give a shit that you’re blocking the view of the people behind you? So selfish

I often buy seated tickets and then stand for periods of time , when we saw Springsteen on his last tour I think I was standing for most of his set

How utterly selfish.

But why should people be forced to buy from vendors who are normally overpriced? £8 for a burger, er no thanks. And, as the OP said, she wants to sit and relax. She’s paid fair and square
so why shouldn’t she?

@MontanaMountains I can see why you’re miffed. I hope they don’t do this next time I want to go to an outdoor concert 🙏

This hasn't happened to me but I totally agree that no chair and no good would kill an outside concert for me.
What a Shame.

I’ve just been to two outdoor ‘forest’ concerts. You could take and lots of people did take, all of the things you listed ☺️