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?

In a minority of two 😂

Yeah you said kids "god love em" can't go in the standing area so they "have to sit". Then rambled on about how disappointed they'd be if some "selfish person" stood in front of them at the Eras tour.

You were soon challenged about the fact everyone stood, kids included and said clearly. Yes, my kids were there. SEATED 🤣

Backtracked when I put a picture of lots of standing people and then got a bit mad.

Why?

😂 Go and have an early night now will you. Fool.

"I meant they had seats that’s all. No one challenged me. You wouldn’t have the brains. Asswipe."

🤣🤣🤣 wtf is wrong with you?

Asswipe 🤣 fucking killing myself here. Are you actually the 12 year old kid?

This actually causes fights at football games. I always mindful of people behind me but depends on the band. Not as selfish as sitting on someone’s shoulders at Glastonbury. That is really selfish,

This is literally the most ridiculous thing I have read on Mumsnet! Yep, I'm sure artists would love it if 80% of Wembley stadium (for example) got evicted and only the seated were left

Most people go to HEAR the artist and enjoy the atmosphere, the likelihood of seeing much in a 90,000 capacity stadium is slim. Unless you are next to the stage, the artists themselves are tiny figures in the distance, and most are watching the screens anyway

so, they weren't sitting throughout?
You've posted multiple times on this thread ranting about how completely selfish anyone who stands at a concert is.
Unless it's your daughters, then it's okay?

I must admit it's several decades since I last went to a concert, but I don't recall ever seeing people standing in a seated area. Things have clearly changed!

We were standing over 3 decades ago @Borborygmus

Skunk Anansie and Bon Jovi. The stands were bouncing back in the 90s

At every concert I have ever been to most people in the seated sections stand up for the majority of the concert. YANBU op.

My first concert was Bryan Adams in the late 90s, we were in the seated area and dancing along with pretty much everyone else. It's certainly not new!

Same with Spice girls, Taylor Swift, Take That, Steps, Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters, Fall Out Boy, The Hoosiers, Stereophonics, Oasis, Alanis Morrisette, Blondie, The Killers and many more

Possinass
What if there isn't standing tickets? For example take that at the 02 in April.

Then it’s a seated gig and no one stands up. Surely that’s obvious?

Seriously?????
I can't imagine what gigs you go to.

It doesn't seem as if the audience agree with you on that one...
go to about 3mins in, pretty much everyone standing..

Bon Jovi in concert in the 90s....that takes me back. teenage me saw them a few times, they were at their best then and everyone was up and dancing. 🎸 💃

I'll admit that my experience of large music gigs is almost non existent but it seems to me that the venues could sort this issue out so easily.

It's undeniably normal to stand up and dance at a music gig. Even if you don't go to them, that's clear from tv and social media.

What this thread shows is that very few people who go to these big gigs want to sit down. It's more that they have to sit or partially sit due to their health and/or age.

So why not make a large, solely seated accessible area for everyone who wants it to use? Officially disabled people, people in poor health and older people could all use it and there would be no need to restrict access to it because it wouldn't be popular. If there was the occasional healthy person who wants to use it then that wouldn't be a problem because it wouldn't be seen as a perk and wouldn't get full.

"Bon Jovi in concert in the 90s....that takes me back. teenage me saw them a few times, they were at their best then and everyone was up and dancing. 🎸 💃"

Them were the days. Amazing. The fireworks and huge wobbly things at the side of the stage. Nobody sat down the whole night. Amazing

Nothings changed. It's a concert, stand and dance with the rest of them!

If tall people stand in front of you in the standing section you can move .. you can’t just change seat.

i think if you want to stand and dance you should get a standing ticket, not buy a seated ticket then stand in front of someone for the whole show, it’s selfish.

if you want to stand up from your seat then at least make sure you aren’t blocking anyone’s view, especially someone who may have a problem with standing themselves for a long time, it’s just basic manners.

"So why not make a large, solely seated accessible area for everyone who wants it to use? Officially disabled people, people in poor health and older people could all use it and there would be no need to restrict access to it because it wouldn't be popular. If there was the occasional healthy person who wants to use it then that wouldn't be a problem because it wouldn't be seen as a perk and wouldn't get full."

Because it wouldn't get full, as you point out. And these concerts are a sell out. I'm sorry but the majority want to get up and dance and that is allowed and expected then that's what will happen. And it's what should happen.

I'm just on my way home after seeing the Killers at the O2. We were in a seated area and we stood up as soon as they came on, as did the majority of people around us including an 83 year old man, who was stood next to us, it was awesome

Takeonflea But surely it's common for accessible things not to be full? The venue is still required to have them regardless. All they'd have to do is increase capacity to the point that they think would be wanted and would sell (they must have the market research/experience to know that) and remove the need for proof of disability. If it's not an area that's going to be abused due to it being a compromise/lesser experience for 99% of concert goers, then it's silly to demand a 'level' of physical need for it.

I agree with you that a rock/pop/country etc concert is designed to be stood up and danced to. But there are people who can't do that. They're already losing out by not being able to join in fully and get the optimum experience. So they shouldn't end up losing out further by not being able to see. Their enjoyment matters too. Not more than physically able people's. But the same amount.

We were standing at concerts 30 years ago, how far are you going back??

I refuse to go to seated gigs now for this reason. If I want to just sit I can do that on my sofa at home with Spotify on.

The last gig I went to that was (mostly) seated (no standing tickets available when I bought) was a really upbeat, energetic band I love and EVERYBODY sat until their last, biggest song. Zero atmosphere.

But then I like to get in the mosh pit and/or right up front by the stage dancing my arse off at gigs so maybe I'm the wrong person to ask!

Ps thank you for reminding me about The Bucket, I don't generally love Kings of Leon but that song has such good memories for me 😁

For everyone saying 'just buy a standing ticket' you must be aware that some venues either don't have them or a very limited amount??

My friend is disabled and loves gigs so yes there should be accessible areas of course, but fully seated is just boring IMO.

Far from sections being empty - accessible tickets can be near impossible to get, venues have very limited amounts of them and they sell out very quickly. Changes in the way tickets are booked mean that the areas previously reserved for wheelchair users are now booked by people that can and do stand. In the case of places such as the O2 (closest platform) and Wembley arena where you sit side on to the stage, your view can be blocked almost totally if the person nexts to you chooses to stand.

Ambulant disabled people that are unable to stand but can walk to their seat are often placed in the back row of a section (so only one step down), this means despite booking the correct ticket, their view is instantly blocked when people stand. Previously those sections were all seated.