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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

People dancing at concerts and blocking the view - annoying

236 replies

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 17/10/2023 08:50

Yes we all want to do it, well most of us do, I do, but hopefully we are mindful that some want to remain sitting but still want a view of the band they've paid to see, and make sure that we're not being selfish about it.

I was at a concert recently and a woman two rows in front of us was doing this. She stood up and started dancing like that woman on the Tales of the Unexpected intro, waving her arms around to the very first song and whoop whooping. She didn't block our view, but I could see others behind her were pissed off.

A man behind her eventually tapped her on the shoulder and pointed behind him (to people who couldn't see) and to the aisles where people were dancing. We heard him say they've also paid fifty quid, same as you, and are entitled to a view. She didn't move, but did sit down. Then got up again five minutes later and did the same thing for the rest of the evening. I saw people filming her. The man and his partner then got up and moved to the aisles and started dancing themselves.

I don't really know how it can be stopped, but it's annoying. The friend I was with said that in future she doesn't want to have any tickets in the circle or stalls for this reason, she'd rather be on a balcony with an unimpeded view, sit still and see whoever we'd come to see without people dancing in front.

OP posts:
KajsaKavat · 17/10/2023 09:51

Sallyh87 · 17/10/2023 09:38

I hate when people do this, they always look absolutely ridiculous dancing as well.

If you want to dance get the standing tickets at the front, otherwise sit down and don’t be so inconsiderate.

Sometimes there are only seated. I went to Wembley a month or so ago and the entire pitch was rows of seats, very few actually stayed seated. Some of us sat down occasionally to rest our legs.

LittleDitto · 17/10/2023 09:52

It’s a tricky one.

i was at a gig recently where everyone in seating remained sat. A guy in front of me stood up and started dancing and I couldn’t see a thing. I’d have stood up and started dancing too but being almost 6’ I would have in turn blocked the person behind me and probably behind them.

I had to ask him to sit down and I felt really mean about it. If lots of people had stood up I’d have been totally fine about it and joined in!

Equally I was at a gig where everyone was standing in the seating for the last song so I stood up too, but there was a guy behind me who asked me to stop and sit down so he could see. I did as he asked but it meant I then couldn’t see myself as I was blocked by who was in front of me. But not much you can do!!

it’s just about gauging the etiquette of everyone around you.

It’s still better than standing though because whenever I stand I will guarantee you 100% the tallest person in the entire venue will ALWAYS stand in front of me!!

Baffled1989 · 17/10/2023 09:52

I went to see queen with Adam lambert, it was AMAZING apart from the arsehole couple behind me who decided to scream profanity in my face and assault me by grabbing and pulling my arm with such force to sit me down they bruised my arm and left a burn mark. Literally every single person was standing but they wanted only me, not anyone else to sit down so they could “see”

I am still so proud of myself for not losing my shit, flagging a steward and they were asked to leave! I did say no need to kick them out and I think they just got moved elsewhere in the end.

People will dance, it’s a joyful thing, don’t like it, don’t go.

UsherPusher · 17/10/2023 09:53

This is such a problem at work.

When we have concerts it's hard to manage the expectations of the whole audience as we are a "proper" theatre not a concert venue. Some shows everyone is dancing to, the band encourages it even. Others, a few people want to dance but others around them don't. We try to reseat if we can so everyone can enjoy it but still...

If most people are dancing then those seated are the ones in the wrong, if most people are seating then those dancing need to minimise their impact on others.

AdventuresWithDogs · 17/10/2023 09:54

What am I reading? Of course people are going to stand and dance. Venues allow it so there's not much you can do. I presume they realise that lots of people wouldn't pay to have sit still or only nod along if things got really exciting. 😂

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 17/10/2023 09:55

PopSocksRock · 17/10/2023 09:40

I agree with this.
If the woman was disturbing the enjoyment of lots of people and the man had a word I think she must have been OTT and should have listened

She was the only one in that particular block who was dancing (and quite wildly) yes. We were seated in that block but moved to the side aisle.

OP posts:
DiscoBeat · 17/10/2023 09:55

Very annoying - go to the aisles! What I find worse though is all the noise - cheering and screaming throughout. I want to see and hear the talented artist I paid to see, not a bunch of screeching tone deaf women with arms flailing around like an octopus in a swarm of bees.

MsMoody · 17/10/2023 09:56

Every (pop, rock) concert I’ve been to that has seating has had the audience stand up when the performer comes on! YABU.

Michellebops · 17/10/2023 09:57

I'm of the opinion that if people want to dance they book standing tickets. If they want to sit they book seared tickets.
If it's an all seated venue then the organisers DONT want anyone up and dancing.
I live near the Hydro in Glasgow and there is no way you can dance in the seated areas.

So YANBU imo

GnomeDePlume · 17/10/2023 09:57

This is why I don't go to concerts.

No way do I want to pay several times the price of an album to hear a band play their album plus greater hits all the while enjoying the same view I would get if I sat behind my sofa.

GreenShadow · 17/10/2023 09:57

I'm with you OP.
Our smallish local venue has 2 sorts of concerts - some it has the seats out for and some is standing only. At seated concerts it is expected that you SIT. Everyone complies (until maybe the last song...).

Partly the reason I'd rather go to a concert there than a bigger venue. We may not get the current big names, but we get plenty of good artists, some of whom were VERY big in their day.

DeadbeatYoda · 17/10/2023 09:57

zurala · 17/10/2023 08:55

I'm not sitting at a concert! It's a gig, I want to dance. I only book sitting so I know I can sit for a few minutes if I need to or if there's a song I don't like.
I don't understand people who want to sit down for a gig.

Aren't you lucky. Has it occurred to you that people with mobility challenges like music too?

Schoolhelp23 · 17/10/2023 09:57

Adele recently stopped a concert to tell Security to stop telling a man who was dancing to sit down (people behind him had complained).

beguilingeyes · 17/10/2023 09:58

I agree most, if not all concerts are standing at some point, some as soon as the lights go down, some part-way through the set.
I do think a lot of it depends on what's going on around you. If everyone around you is standing then it's weird not to (unless you physically can't). But standing on your own so that no-one behind you can see is selfish and a bit exhibitionist, IMO, like those people who get on their boyfriends shoulders at outdoor gigs, obscuring the view for everyone behind them. Move to the aisle or the back. I quite like an aisle seat for that very reason.

It's a lot less annoying though than people filming the whole thing through their phones (or an Ipad!)so that all you can see is a sea of screens, or singing/talking so loudly that you can't hear the band

DeadbeatYoda · 17/10/2023 09:58

Autumnleaves89 · 17/10/2023 08:58

YABU. If you stood up to dance too, your view wouldn’t be blocked.

If the person has a disability they may not be able to stand up for that length of time.

Riverlee · 17/10/2023 09:58

SoShallINever · 17/10/2023 09:48

There are disabled seats for those who can't stand.

Not everyone who wants to sit down is disabled, and there’ll be an uproar if able-bodied people took all the disabled seats. Maybe you’re elderly, or have an injured foot, or are pregnant. Lots of non-disabled reasons for sitting down.

Schoolhelp23 · 17/10/2023 09:59

(To be fair, there were signs in the venue saying although there were seats, it isn't a seated show)

U2HasTheEdge · 17/10/2023 09:59

It's a concert, of course people are going to dance.

The last few times that I have been to a big arena/ stadium concert I have booked seating tickets. There is a lot of waiting before the band starts and it can get crazy with people trying to get to the front etc. My back couldn't handle that much standing and I often go with my mum, who would also find it difficult.

People dancing and having fun just makes for a great atmosphere. If it's a big stadium you can't generally see the stage anyway, and rely on the big screens which you should be able to see with people standing.

Middleagedmeangirls · 17/10/2023 10:00

I'm also 5ft tall and have accepted that if I go to a concert I'm going for the music and the atmosphere. Sitting or standing I have no chance of seeing the artist/s.

over the years I've 'seen' many legendary bands - ABBA, Led Zeppelin, George Michael , Hawkwind, Queen, Simple Minds, Thin Lizzy, The Communards, Elton John, Billy Joel and many many more. But I use the word seen advisedly. All I've ever actually seen is the backs of the crowd in front of me.

I actually don't mind, I stand up and dance and enjoy it for what it is.

Theatre however is a different matter- people should sit down and shut up but sadly a lot of people seem to struggle with this.

theduchessofspork · 17/10/2023 10:01

It’s a concert.

When it’s all standing you often can’t see - nice if you can but doesn’t really matter it’s about the SOUND

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 17/10/2023 10:02

Schoolhelp23 · 17/10/2023 09:57

Adele recently stopped a concert to tell Security to stop telling a man who was dancing to sit down (people behind him had complained).

You can dance to ADELE? 🙀

OP posts:
Brefugee · 17/10/2023 10:07

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 17/10/2023 08:52

Its a concert. I don't think I've been to any concert that wasn't classical or semi classical where people weren't standing.

Most tickets will say something along the lines of "people around you may stand" as well

people pay a LOT of money. If they are in a seat it is often because they can't stand, or can stand only for a limited time.

Selfish twats like this should fuck the fuck off to where they aren't blocking anyone, or sit down.

(luckily where i am they would be ejected for doing that, by security)

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 17/10/2023 10:07

If it's an all seated venue then the organisers DONT want anyone up and dancing

Bollocks they don't! Tickets will say on them that people around you may stand. And they aren't going to remove thousands of seats for every concert people will stand at

purplecorkheart · 17/10/2023 10:17

Last concert I was at the performer made a comment about all the seated people to get up and dance.

I have only been at one concert where people who were seated were actively told to sit down if they got up to dance. They also gave out to you if you got up to use the loo or to get a drink too.

gabsdot · 17/10/2023 10:19

I went to Deacon Blue concert a couple of weeks ago and sat in the circle. We're all oldies I suppose but no one was standing up until the end and anyone who did was asked to sit down by the ushers.
However the women in the row behnd me talked through the entire thing at the top of their voices. They were so annoying,