Concert Etiquette

[Siennaa]

I have spent years going to many concerts, and it's getting shitter and shitter with people killing the atmosphere who just want to film it on their phones. I went to see Pink last night, and I can't believe so many people just want to sit there quietly at this type of concert! Is this just life now? We just accept that atmospheres are being killed so people have Instagram worthy videos?

So in this situation, what do you do? Do you stay seated and quiet so you're respecting the people around you, do you stand anyway and dance and enjoy the show how you want to?

Wouldn't it be better if venues offered areas that you weren't allowed to stand in? So I know you get standing tickets but not everyone can get hold of them, does that mean they should either sit for the whole show, or follow what's happening around them?

then you just have to accept that you can't dance. You can't, as the Stones sang, always get what you want.

If the majority of the seated people stand and dance and 100 people who have to sit because they can't stand for long are fucked - that's pretty shitty.

TBH i'm not tall. I go to a LOT of gigs. I can barely see anything, oftentimes the best view i get is from the tall wanker who stepped in front of me to film the show - i look at his screen (it is always men).

The best thing to do to the perma filmers is to get right up close and sing, very very loudly, and badly. Preferably a different song from a different band. They soon move.

People are always going to stand up in the seated areas if they can, unless theres a blanket rule and imagine policing that!

I didnt say it does. I am very aware of people around me, so actually their wish of sitting quietly takes priority because I won't stand in their way. Which is why I made this post.

That sounds implied doesn't it...I can't stand for ages but also dont want to. I've paid just as much as whoever around me for a seat... Sit in it and don't spoil it for people behind you (not you, op, just generally)

Of course you can stand if you have a seated ticket. The mass standing area isn't safe for children. You can't go to a gig and not be able to dance.
I sat down at Eras a couple of times but the rest of the time I was bobbing around and waving my hands DD struggles with crowds so she sat down a few times too.

And this is one reason why, being 4ft 11, I don’t go to concerts where people are likely to be standing in front of me.

Have you seen how many people on this post are saying if you have a seated ticket you sit? Or get standing! Like it's that simple.

But I do think there should be some designated areas for compulsory seating, just like there's already standing areas but obviously there's not enough of them. Then maybe anyone else in the seats knows they are taking the risk that people will stand and dance. But that's just how I'd work it.

You can't go to a gig and not be able to dance.

Of course you can. And I've been to plenty in many countries where this is enforced. Anyone that stands up is told to sit down by security. If you want to dance, get a standing ticket.

I go to a lot of metal gigs and if I can get seated tickets I do. Not because I want to stay seated for the whole thing but because I want a better view, I’m also long past the days of mosh pits! I like to have a seat and not have to queue. If the majority stand up from their seats, then I will too. If everyone is staying seated, then I’m happy with that as well.

As for filming stuff, I sometimes like to get a minute or so of a favourite song then I’m done. I always watch them back though. I don’t understand how people can film the whole thing, that is bizarre!

Went to see Foo Fighters this last Saturday and i spent the whole concert seated. I did not film or photograph any of it however, that’s just how i enjoy listening to music! I didn’t begrudge those around me standing, dancing, singing or videoing, thats just how they enjoy listening to music. It really doesn’t need to be more complicated than that in my opinion!

I often take a picture or a quick video clip - especially if it's a song on our Family spotify list. But filming the whole gig? unless you're in the front and/or not impeding anyone's view, and if you don't get grumpy at out of tune singing* (i may be guilty of doing that on purpose) - have at it.

Tell you what, tho, while we're complaining about fuckers at gigs. My biggest bugbears are

1. tall people just pushing right in front of me and standing there (so i have to move back because meh) b) people constantly pushing past me going backwards and forwards with beer. I note they don't push past the men i'm with, just me. (at an NMA gig last year i twice - on purpose - elbowed the same guy who did it to me. On his 2nd and third visit, after standing on my foot and hurting me. Shame he lost all that beer and most of it landed on him.) iii) people who fucking talk all the fucking way through so you can't fucking hear the song. (come the revolution)

There used to be a great venue in edinburgh that dealt with the seat/stand problem by having standing only downstairs, and upstairs on the balcony had these like, massive pouffe islands and benches so you could go up for a seat if you wanted one. Worked brilliantly. Place is a bloody Wetherspoons now - a sad loss!

People’s phones in the air detracts for the people behind them though.

i thought you were going to say that phones were ruining the concerts, but you are massively BU

If your behaviour impacts others, and prevent them from watching/ hearing the concert, then it's not on. It's not the ones trying to listen who are ruining it!

Did you read where I said how the atmosphere is being killed by people sitting quietly and recording most of the show?

Completely agree OP. I take the odd photo, but the people who film massive chunks of the gig - just, why?

It’s distracting, annoying, and I don’t see what they get out of the gig at all. Each to their own I suppose, but they should maybe apply to join the media team as a camera operator.

It doesn’t for me. Going to a large stadium concert means you’ll be with thousands of people and all will have a different way of enjoying the concert and you need to accept that and work around it for the most part. In the UK standing up and dancing from your seat and filming concerts on your phone are normal and should be expected unless the venue or performer has banned it. When I was at Eras I was seated and everyone in my block was standing and dancing for almost the whole show. People in front of me were taking pictures and videos and I didn’t notice or care. I didn’t stop dancing or singing and there was no expectation that that should happen.

Is this post about sitting or phone use or a bit of both? Some people will always have a stand up dance in a seated area unless it's banned. Some people will piss about recording it all and never look at it again or just post it on the Gram to show off.

As for sitting quietly, I guess thats some peoples way. May as well watch it on the TV. Isnt going to watch football similar with regards the standing/sitting and phone use.

I recently went to a concert and it was a double feature kind of thing. The first band on I was actually a bigger fan of, but most people were there for the second act. I was dancing and stood up for most of the set for the first band and no one said anything. For the second I was sat down for most of it, but got up for some songs that I knew and liked. I did notice people didn’t seem happy about it when I was stood up, but I didn’t really care. If someone asked politely I would 100% sit down or move out of the way if that was possible, but if you’re not going to use your words that’s not my problem.

Yes. If they didn’t want to sit they shouldn’t have bought a seated ticket.

What do you do?

If you still want to go to gigs, you concentrate on enjoying yourself and don't think of anyone else. None of those other fuckers there are thinking of you!

Disclaimer: obviously not to the point of pushing and shoving people who don't like it...

So in that specific example above that I gave, the answer is the 30,000 who can't get standing tickets just don't go and leave the 30,000 seats empty? Obviously that's just ridiculous.

I enjoy going to gigs less and less these days. A friend and I went to an OCS gig last year which was standing. It was absolutely rammed. We got there early and stood in a good spot (not right near the front). It was ok until 5 minutes before the main act gig was due to start 4 people came along and shoehorned their way in next to us. No thought to there being no room, and constantly knocking into my friend who eventually 30 minutes in ended up being shoved, and he knocked into me. I said to the kid (he was about 19/20) to be careful in a polite way, and I got a mouthful of abuse back. Ended up leaving the gig in tears, as he kept being quite menacing.

I do prefer being seated and will buy a seat if able. People standing in front of me is annoying - I’ve paid for my seat too, your need to stand does not trump my need to sit. I dance a small bit in my seat and sing along. That’s how I enjoy gigs. My lower back is knackered, I can’t stand for long periods. People who buy the front row and then stand the whole way through are the most frustrating. I understand that you mightn’t be able to get a standing ticket, but for the love of god show some consideration for those around you. I haven’t paid a lot of money to stare at the back of your body for the whole gig.

I was at Eras and most people were stood for the whole time, a few people ran out of steam (mostly kids) and sat for latter potrtions, other people sat for a few songs dotted throughout. I do think it's a shame for the people that their view is blocked by everyone else standing if they need to sit, but I also think you know what you are getting into with certain gigs! People in wheelchairs wouldn't be obstructed in most stadiums because the stairs to get to the seats would be wholly unsuitable, they have access to disability seating which is not the same seating area.

The point of - you should have gone for standing then - well that is a completely different experience. I arrived at 3.45 and would have been standing until I got back to the car at 12.15, I do not want to do that, I don't think I can do that without my back really hurting. With a seat I could sit before the support, during the gap until Taylor came on, and in the short interludes between eras, I could also mill around on the concourse exchanging friendship bracelets, go to the loo and reclaim my spot, and have somewhere to tuck my bad and merch without holding it the whole time. I would not have wanted standing tickets.