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 didn't attend a gig I really wanted to go to last weekend because of people that buy seated tickets and then spend the whole show standing.

I'm 8 months pregnant, bought the tickets a few weeks before finding out I was pregnant and I've wanted to see Greenday for years, was thrilled when I got tickets and then had to sell them because I've had some pregnancy complications that mean there's no way I can stand for a whole show because apparently sitting down means people can't enjoy it.

If you want to stand, buy standing.
It's so arrogant.

Err, to enjoy the music, see the music act live, etc.

You’re quite welcome to dance in front of the tv at home.

You say they exist but you’ve got to jump through hoops sometimes to prove it. I had back surgery a few months ago so I’m still recovering but I wasn’t allowed to access an area where I could sit at a recent concert I attended as you had to prove you had been disabled for more than 12 months. If you’re desperate to dance in a seated area you can always choose the back row as a compromise.

I think the problem is that the standers assume everyone is like them because as soon as they stand then everyone behind them is forced to stand so they then look around and see people standing and think well everyone loves to stand. But actually it's a minority that want to drunkenly (and badly) dance in the standing area for the entire gig.
Plus the types of people that do it are often hard to confront so you end up not enjoying the show/being forced to peer round them/be uncomfortable/in pain AND not even see the artist you've paid money to see.
Standers be aware you are being selfish and annoying others around you even if you believe you aren't.

@Airspice

Because I don’t want to be squashed into the standing area. In years gone by NO ONE sat at concerts, I don’t know where this ‘I can’t be bothered to stand’ attitude has come from. Boring fuckers!!

Ffs can't you make your point without having to call people with different views names?
What's wrong with you?

It's a kings of Leon concert not last night of the proms. I went to see Linkin Park years ago at the NEC in the seated area, we stood for the whole concert as did the people around us. At one point the band even shouted for all the fuckers sitting down up top stand the fuck up. I'm with you OP. Thought it was a given that going to see a band that plays music you can dance around to or rock out to people stand. You want to sit down for a concert go see something more sedate.

I can't enjoy music if I'm just sitting still. Music is a whole body experience for me and I need to move. Maybe that's because I'm autistic, I don't know, but I absolutely cannot sit for a concert but I also need a seat and to know where I'm sitting and that I have my own space or I'll get anxious.

I don't understand how people enjoy music by just sitting still quietly. Music has to be felt.

All well and good for you but you are not the only person in that room that has paid their hard earned cash to be there.

They can still sit and listen to it, but concerts have never been sedate unless classical, so if people want to just sit they need to accept others will be standing at least part of the time. I don't know where this staying seated thing has come from.

Assuming the OP was at the new Co Op Live arena then it’s a fabulous space and all the seats have a great view.
However. I’m the same height as the OP and firmly that tickets should be allocated in height order as I am totally fed up with not being able to see at festivals and outdoor standing gigs.

I really am finding this thread very odd.

People are denying the majority stand up and dance in large arenas even when a basic google will show that is clearly not the case (granted some of those may be standing against their wishes as others have stood up first) but to suggest that people don't when the evidence they do is clearly available is frankly odd.

People who stand in the seated sections are being called 'so arrogant', 'the types of people that do it are often hard to confront', 'selfish and annoying others' (and worse) even when it has been proven that standing is allowed and expected in the terms and conditions of the venues. Why do the 'you must remain seated people' on the thread think they know better than the venues - I'm struggling with their determination that they are right and the venues are wrong.

People (inc the OP) have suggested a 'seated never allowed to stand up section' at all concerts but that isn't good enough for those who say that people who ever stand and dance in the seated section are completely in the wrong.

Why is it not possible for those who want to sit to agree that a 'seated never allowed to stand up section' (and larger sections for disabled concert goers which are positioned for maximum sight lines) is the best way forward to accommodate both types of concert goer?

Why not get standing tickets?
I'm also autistic and find the expectation to bob to the music very awkward. It's not natural to me and I assumed everyone else was doing it to fit in too.

That's why I always go the standing part of venue as my experience of sitting has been others do just sit til that one song! Xx

Agree-and that's if you can even see the screen. One guy blocked my view of the stage AND screens the entire concert. I was quite close to the stage and he was directly in my eyeline for both. I don't mind standing for the big numbers-that's expected, but I'm someone who isn't going to stand unless most others in the block are. Honestly it did ruin the concert for me. I love the music but I definitely want to be able to SEE my idols! Surely not being able to stand and dance is only a minor inconvenience whereas not being able to see a thing the entire concert is quite a major thing? Yet some on here seem to think their right to stand up and dance trumps everything.

I always got tickets for standing section of my fav band( james) . And love to dance about right up the front.Have done so for years and lived the experience.Then I got long covid and dh bought additional seated tickets so I could attend an upcoming concert as he knew I would be too fatigued to manage standing. Total nightmare. Concert ruined by people standing blocking my view. Got a row from people beside me for not standing up cos it made it more difficult for them to push by us when they repeatedly went to bar or to loo or to dance in aisles.
Those of you saying folk should just get up and dance even if they have a seated ticket at a concert are so selfish. You have no idea why people may be unable to stand for the concert. And your decision to stand impacts on those who want or need to sit. Remaining sitting , even if you want personally to dance, does not.

If you wanted to stand, you should've gotten a standing ticket. People choose seating for a reason, maybe he's not able to stand up for very long. You probably in all honesty ruined a disabled guys evening for no reason. They asked you nicely so I don't get your issue. Standing up for one big hit is very different to standing the entire time.

Because you generally have to be 14 or 16 to go in the standing area, and you can’t always do that if your children are too young. Plus, not all concerts have standing areas

Because not all concerts have a standing area

Reasons not to go into the standing area:

• Children under 14 (or 16) aren't allowed
• The need for a seat at some times
• Standing areas are claustrophobic
• Needing to lean against a seat for stability instead of potentially being knocked over because of your lack of balance
• Standing tickets have sold out

Personally I think you acted like an entitled arsehole. If you wanted to stand, then buy a ticket in the standing area. Not everyone can or wants to stand.

I said a bit in my post. I would get anxious if I didn't have a known place to come back to after going to the toilet. I also need space around me and can't do the crush of the standing area. I'm also older these days and might want to sit down for the odd slow song so I want a seat available so that I can.

There is literally multiple videos from hundreds of people all over social media showing people standing in the seating areas for all of the recent Eras tour.

Why are you still insisting everyone with seats remained seating?!

So everyone has to do what you want to do, ie stand up, but you’re unwilling to do what others want to do, ie, sit down.

As others have said, there’s a difference between being disabled and not being able to stand for long.

I don’t think it makes for a great atmosphere if everyone stays in their seats so I always opt for the standing section if there is one.

If not, I think the venue should allocate ‘stay seated’ areas for those who want them.

70s