Are rowdy people now at every concert/theatre?

[TellySavalashairbrush]

I have been fortunate enough to go to two events in the last month (tickets were birthday gifts ) one a rock/pop show (not a concert as such) and then a theatre production. As tickets are so expensive these days I was so looking forward to them both as it’s a rare treat for me.
mom both occasions the evening was totally spoilt by one or two individuals in the audience . The first was three people talking all the way through so we couldn’t hear the music very well and then yesterday it was a small group of drunk people who kept switching the lights on their phones and shining it at people , then taking group photographs while the show was going on so they blocked peoples view and spoke really loudly.
four different couples left early as they couldn’t enjoy the show due to these people. After numerous complaints (I was at the back near the usher so heard people telling him how unhappy they were) they brought a security guard in for the final twenty minutes, who threw them all out - they literally had to sweet talk them to get them to leave.
Is this now a regular thing that occurs? It has really put me off going to shows/theatres again. Particularly when you pay a lot of money to go, then it’s spoilt by the crappy behaviour of others . Bars also seem to now remain open during performances (didn’t they just used to be open in the interval?) now people are in and out getting drinks causing further disruption.

Go to theatre very often and nope- never had anything close to this.

annoying sweet rustling yes but nothing more

Where was this? I go to the theatre in London regularly and not experienced this in West End venues. Ocassionally people using their phones/taking photos and ushers have been quick to step in.

Had this once when I went to see my favourite band. Group of girls clearly just there for the clout gossiping, screeching, phones out taking videos, selfies 100% not interested in the band.

Spoiled my night and made me wonder why they'd spent £30 a ticket to come.

I haven’t seen this in theatres but in pop/rock/tribute type musical shows trips in and out to the bar seem to be usual, unfortunately. I am the person who glares and shushes at talkers.

Classical performances IME remain silent and seated as should be.

I have not experienced this extreme but think venues need to enforce behaviour more clearly because it feels all left to the individual.

I have twice had cafe visits made pretty unrelaxing because on both occasions two dogs at separate tables were barking at each other. The owners were rude twats to allow it to continue.

We need more clear guidance issued and people chucked out.
-Well behaved dogs allowed, barking dogs will need to leave
-No phones allowed, people using phones during the performance will be asked to leave
etc etc

Last time I went to an event at the O2 I was behind a very drunk group who vaped constantly. It was gross so we asked them to stop. Told to F off, hope we die when they saw me using an inhaler etc… Usher asked them to stop twice and eventually the security guards removed them. The two women kicked off crying and screaming, the whole thing was ridiculous and completely ruined the event for everybody.

Where was this? Most theatres just won’t tolerate this sort of behaviour. There are announcements telling audience to switch their phones off.

YANBU. People are so self-absorbed and either unaware or don't care when it comes to those around then.

My employer has an executive box at the O2 in London. A staff perk is you can apply for free tickets for any event and go into a draw for tickets for whatever show you wish to apply for. You end up sharing the box with colleagues and their plus ones.

Anyway, I "won" tickets to Peter Kay in December. His first London date. Arrived at the box, really lovely in there, private bar, you order food to your seat, great view, your own staff member to take care of you.

Never seen PK, but had wanted to for years. So, it was a real treat.

The night was totally ruined by the absolute wankers in the box next to us, talking loudly / shouting to each other across their seats through the entire show. If they weren't bothered about the show, they could have gone to the walled off private bar at the back of the box, not in their seats in the open with other people either side of them.

Most of the time I couldn't hear Peter Kay over their racket. I discreetly complained three times to the staff and they conceded they'd had other complaints. They spoke to the offenders, but it made no difference. I image they couldn't throw them out, as the company that pays for that box pays a LOT of money to the O2 (like my employer does) for the VIP treatment. So fuck everyone else trying to enjoy the show.

I was so annoyed. It really ruined the night.

We've just "won" tickets to Micky Flanagan in May. I'm wondering what it will be like with those pricks next door again.

A few years ago we went to see 'The Full Monty' at the Lyceum in Sheffield.
Unfortunately it was the same night a drunken hen party were there. Ott laughter, loud chattering, photos taken and heckling the actors.
Numerous people complained, we didn't pay to listen to their hen party (who tf holds a hen party in a theatre?) and in the interval they were all thrown out.

Of course we all applauded😄

I recently went to a gig and the audience were shouting at people to put their phones down. The odd photo is ok put stood behind someone filming the event is not.
We recently left a pub when a man in work clothes liked the sound of his own voice too much and would not stfu. It was 5pm and we had gone for a quiet drink straight from work. As we left dh said 2 other women were saying they were leaving as the same man was getting on their nerves.

We've had people arrested near us for attacking staff trying to kick them out for this type of behaviour. And according to the venue this type of behaviour is becoming more common.

I'm getting really sick of spending £100 on concert tickets to be surrounded by drunks, people who film the entire thing in front of you holding their phone and blocking your view, and behaving incredibly antisocially. We have got tickets for Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen later this year and I'm really honestly questioning keeping them after a horrendous experience at Wembley last year when we got caught up in a drunken brawl around us standing on the pitch. It was really frightening and security took a long time to deal with it. Why people spend all that money on tickets/travel then get so drunk that they don't know where they are is beyond me....

It's everywhere isn't it? A whole new breed of entitled people. Chatting and phones on in cinemas, violence on public transport, kids running around squealing in restaurants...

Lots of times singing along, kicking seats, swapping seats, filming no way of contacting anyone until the interval and children brought in who have no interest but families didn't do the research so they chat....London Theater. Sometimes the cast stop it has got that bad.

Yes it's so true. I have also stopped going to most things because of this. My hearing is getting worse as I get older and that doesn't help either.

We're off to Micky Flanagan tonight and sitting near the back and if someone is loud in front of us, I know it will be the last time I bother to go to any event!

I've not experienced this myself but read of it happening more often.

They have learnt this kind of behaviour is acceptable from Boris Johnson and his supporters.

Some people should stick to the cinema ... or better still, their own homes. They really ought to know their social limitations, and not inflict themselves on the rest of us. YANBU.

I have a friend like this sadly. We will pay £££ for a show and she will sit on her phone sending messages etc..... ushers tell her off time and time again but it doesn't stop her. I have stopped going with her now as a) it's embarrassing and b) it distracts me and others from the show.

Yes, it’s a common and major problem. Often drunken groups, hen nights, singing along, if it’s a musical.

Absolutely everywhere. We went to a small community film showing last night and the people around us talked most of the way through.

Nope, never experienced anything like this at any theatre, show or concert I've been to.

I think venues need to train their ushers better.

I was asked to delete my photos and film by an usher at Harry Potter and the Cursed child at the interval. I whipped my phone out, open the photos and asked her which ones, pictures of my kids, my dogs, our last holiday? What was she after?

The group two rows in front HAD been filming however. The group had absolutely no resemblance to me and my daughter whatsoever, different age, different race, a few of them, and only two of us. When I pointed this out the usher agreed then nothing more was said about it, this group were left alone. The group taking photos and filming were rowdy too, I wonder if that's why the usher bottled out of approaching them?

Crikey! Sounds like many of you have had the same horrible experiences. The shows I went to were in London and the other was in Kent. Like many of you have mentioned, it is a mystery why some people pay all that money for tickets to see something and then spend the time talking or messaging on their mobiles.

I went to a concert in a theatre before Christmas - my 1st time since Covid. I came away telling DH that behaviour and standards have definitely deteriorated since pre covid. There were people constantly walking in and out to get drinks from the bar during the performance. It was rows of seats not cabaret style. I don't have a problem with bringing drinks in then getting more at the interval but if you buy tickets for a concert then I assume that you are actually interested in hearing the artist perform so why spend half your time in the bar?

I'm going to another performance in a couple of week's time - different theatre/County. I'll be interested to see if it's the same there.

I have - on occasion - been known to spoil my manners and tell them to shut the Fu@k up.

This poster by the wonderful Martin Bedford says it all:
www.martinfbedford.com/shop/sale-and-offers/shut-up/