I stood at a concert

[MangosteenSoda]

Went to a concert and had a seat to the side of the stage. In my experience, everyone stands when the act comes on. This didn’t happen universally, but probably around a quarter of the crowd started by standing. I was a little in front of most of the other ‘standers’ and sort of leaned on my seat a bit to minimise myself I suppose, but wanted to enjoy the songs and not sit.

A few songs in, a lady behind me tapped my arm and asked me to sit because her boyfriend/husband (sitting next to her) couldn’t see. I just said, ‘I’m sorry, but this is a concert’ and carried on standing. I’m pretty small and there were massive screens and a stage. I don’t think I blocked it all out.

A few songs later, the ‘very popular and famous’ song was performed and everyone stood up including the woman and her boyfriend. After that, most of the crowd continued standing and a bunch of people were dancing like windmills and nobody bothered them. The angry man and his girlfriend stormed out at this point.

I don’t have a particular aibu, but I felt that I was only asked to sit because I looked like an easy target to ask. It annoyed me that the woman had to ask for the guy and that it was put to me that I should sit because this guy’s preference was all important. I also felt sad for the woman because she was wearing the band T Shirt (so I assumed she was the fan) and this guy seemed to ruin her night with his moans and complaints while she just seemed to want to dance and enjoy the concert like everyone else.

So, should there be areas at concerts where everyone has to stay seated? I don’t think all the seating areas should be this way because they outnumber the floor and it would make for pretty sedentary concerts but maybe a compromise somewhere?

I’m with you and 100% for your follow-up post too!!

When I started going to concerts in the 90s, up until about the mid-2000s there seemed to be more options of buying standing tickets and being in front of the stage with seating in the blocks at the back of the venue and above.
However, every concert I’ve been to at the venue I frequented the most back then since has had seats even in front of the stage. That includes when I saw George Michael there in 2012 (one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to); The Jacksons in 2018; Chic & Nile Rodgers in 2018 and Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons in 2018. I saw Paul Weller there in 1999 and 2002 and it was standing only in front of the stage, likewise for Travis in 2002 and Jamiroquai in 2005.

So what about placed where you get a standing area with seating directly on the floor behind that?

Unless specified that it's strictly seated, people can stand if they wish.

This. Venues should take responsibility for this kind of thing. It is unfair on people who can't stand if people stand in seating areas so there should be provision made and expectations managed.

The disabled areas are very small.
About 8 seats and four places for wheelchairs.
These need to be made bigger.
I can't stand that long.. my daughter tries to book disabled but if not then an end Isle on the floor ( no steps).
I've often just had to look at the big screen.
I've had to stop going now.

Yes, my daughters were at TS in Dublin 2 weeks ago. Seated. I’ve seen the videos.

I absolutely don't believe you that no one stood up at TS. My friend was seated in Dublin and posted shots panning around and barely anyone was sat down.

What's the obsession with remaining seated and thinking it makes you a better person?!

I think all these concerts show is it really is show dependant. I went to see Train at the royal Albert Hall a few weeks ago. Everyone stayed seated pretty much the whole way though until the end but the atmosphere was amazing! But then quite a lot of the times are not really get up and boogey tunes. Even imagine dragons when we say them we pretty much stayed seated and so did everyone else . When seeing Bruce Springsteen last year most of the concert was spent seated until the last 35 mins where he played his catchy numbers and who can sit down for dancing in the dark?

I would be annoyed if a person got up and stood for a slow number tbh if everyone else was seated. But the big numbers it is expected. Or really does depend on so many variables

"I might make an exception for standing for the final big number."

Oh how very gracious of you 🤣 you realise that you don't own the venue? Luckily it is clear on the arenas pages that you are permitted to stand at your seat and to dance. They are clear that it's expected that many/most will.

To the question, can I stand up and dance at my seat. The new coop stadium said "Yes, we want you to enjoy yourself and have a good time".

And here's the O2, Leeds and Resorts World all saying exactly the same thing.

And what about when the majority are standing but a few want to stay sitting? Are they going to ask everyone to sit down?

I hope I'm not near any Mumsnetters when I see Bruce Springsteen!

Depends who the act is .Would be pretty weird to all be sitting down for Nial Rogers 'Take that , etc !

But these are people complaining and insisting that the concert or gig, regardless of song being played, the venue or the band, should be seated and no one should be standing at all.

Or as someone said further up, they find it sad that people can't enjoy a concert sitting down. Why is it sad?!

"Yes, my daughters were at TS in Dublin 2 weeks ago. Seated. I’ve seen the videos."

Ahahaha what absolute horse shit 🤣

Look at all the meek little Dublin Swifties, sitting down. Oh, maybe not.

It’s a bit shitty to buy a seated ticket knowing you’re definitely going to stand all the way through just because you can’t afford the ticket you actually want. I think it’s a bit entitled to decide you’re going to do whatever you want and screw what other people think.

I prefer to stand but due to a bad back, I have to get seated because I need to take rests. I also struggle in standing as I don’t like crowds. I very much judge what to do based on people around me. If everyone is sitting, I stay seated because I respect the fact I’ve bought a seated ticket and it would be rude to be up standing when no one else is. If the majority of people are standing, or even just a good proportion, I’ll then stand.

There have been occasions when someone behind me has asked me to sit back down. I always have because I respect the fact that it is actually a seated area. However I’ve always felt a bit humiliated and it takes the shine off the night because I then don’t know if it’s ok to stand up for anything, even when almost everyone else is!!! (I’m autistic so judging the “right” thing is hard!)

Sadly even in the accessible viewing areas people are now allowed to stand. The last 2 big gigs I’ve ‘seen’ at the O2 were at points almost entirely blocked by the people stood up to the left of me - it’s utterly maddening. I was sat in my wheelchair on the closest platform to the stage and the staff were powerless to do anything.

A friend had booked access seating (as not needing a wheelchair but unable to stand) and had the exact same issue. Previously people had been asked to sit when she used the same seating.

Exactly. I swear half the people on this thread have never stepped foot in a music venue

"It’s a bit shitty to buy a seated ticket knowing you’re definitely going to stand all the way through just because you can’t afford the ticket you actually want."

The venue tells you that you can, and most will, stand and dance at their seat. So no, it's not shitty. It's just fucking normal for anyone who actually goes to concerts. It's glaringly obvious that most commenting here never do.

As I said earlier, you get venues where there is a standing section, then the fence to fence it off and then immediately after, rows of seating on the floor.

On the rules bandied about on here, no one should be standing because they have a seat, despite not being able to see because of the standing section in front.

How bizzare. Virtually all the ones I’ve been to have been outdoors though, principality stadium, castles, parks etc. Places like the palladium/st David’s I’m not surprised are seated only as the chairs are permanent theatre chairs. Much more suprise by motorpoint as I’ve never been to anything there with seats, but not been to a gig there for ages. Been years since I went to the O2.

I regularly go to gigs. All types of music. If it's a seated ticket I bought then I don't want people standing if front of me

So if everyone else stands around you, do you tell them all to sit down?

It is absolutely ridiculous to stand at a seated concert. Even when stood up, if there is an average-height guy in front of me, I can't see a damn thing. I paid the same for my ticket and I get to see nothing. There are usually standing areas - if that's what you want to do, buy a ticket for the standing space and leave us short-arses to enjoy the concert.

Well it depends on the venue doesn’t it?! Not every venue says that and often the wording is that people “may” stand up - I still think it’s shitty not to consider the majority around you.

I always go in seated for the reasons I’ve explained. I’ve sat through plenty of concerts where frustratingly, everyone has remained seated. I very much prefer it when people are standing and dancing but I still think it’s extremely rude to buy a seated ticket and stand up if everyone else is sitting. That’s what is “fucking normal” in my experience of the many, many years I’ve been going to concerts.

Maybe the disconnect here is the artists. Maybe the people who insist that it’s always ok to stand only go to shows that appeal to a younger, more lively audience? My preference is rock and bands which the audience almost never stays seated for, but I have attended gigs with a family member/friend to see an artist of their choosing that had a different vibe. IIRC the Simply Red concert was pretty much everyone seated the entire first half and then up dancing the second half!

Is it "universally accepted"?

The last non classical concert I was at was The War on Drugs at Glasgow Hydro a couple of years ago. Nobody was standing in the seated sections- there was a huge and crowded floor area of standing only.

I've seen Foo Fighters at least 3 times, always in the seated section of venues and people weren't standing there. I've seen Belle & Sebastian at least half a dozen times and the same. Same with Scissor Sisters and Rod Stewart. Even QOTSA I don't recall people standing except possibly right at the end- if you (general you) wanted to stand you could buy tickets for the standing area.

I've been to loads of concerts where standing is the only option and a few where there's a small amount of unallocated seating at upper levels, and that part remains seated.

Where did I say everyone was sitting? I said my daughters had seated tickets. Get your fucking facts straight.

Where did I say everyone was sitting? I said my daughters were there with seated tickets.