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 in two minds about this. I wouldn't expect someone to get cross if people are standing in front of them at a concert as I know that's what happens.

However, I kind of wish it didn't as lots of people don't want to stand to watch it and there are specific standing tickets that can usually be bought. Some people are smaller than others and so can't see if a tall person is stiff in front of them.

I think if you want to stand then buy a standing ticket.

YABU. I go to a lot of concerts. If you want to stand you get a floor ticket, as I always do. I assume people who get seats are unable or don't want to stand for hours.

Perhaps it depends where you are in the arena - side of the stage different from the middle of a row further back/up - and with everyone else standing I'd have certainly followed suit. But everything I've been to has been definitely standing in those areas (or the entire gig was standing only) or definitely seated in those areas. Apart from parts where when you may be asked to stand if you are able.

YABU

Im disabled and do qualify for accessible seating. A few years ago we went to see Gary Barlow in Nottingham. As soon as he came out the people in front of the accessible platform stood up. We could see nothing. DH asked a steward to ask them to sit a bit we were told “the artist wants people to dance and enjoy the concert…” All of us on the accessible platform were unhappy about that because it meant we were just going to see people’s back sides and hear some music, so we made it known. The steward left then a manager came back about 5 minutes later and moved those of us who could walk to seats that were adjacent to the stage. It still meant the people confined to wheelchairs saw none of the concert.

It left a very bitter taste in my mouth. I won’t go to see anything to do with Gary Barlow or Take That again nor will I go to the Nottingham Arena.

YABU
I am going to a concert in August with a friend. We deliberately bought seated tickets because I will be recovering from a major operation and she will be 31 weeks pregnant. We will stand for the big songs but neither of us would be able to stand for the whole concert. If you want to stand throughout you should be in the standing area - that's what it's for.

It makes sense to me to have a "fully seated" area and a "seated with option to stand" area as well as a "fully standing" area. That was everyone knows what they have signed up for and doesn't feel disappointed.

YABU. Get standing tickets if you want to stand.

Yabu really, you should get the standing tickets if you want to stand all the way through and not just for specific songs when everyone stands up

I dont think it's Gary Barlow's fault that the arena didn't make your viewing accessible.

You weren’t asked to sit down because you’re an ‘easy target’, you were asked to sit down because you were blocking the guy’s view! He paid good money - as did you - to see the show. He couldn’t see the show, or at least not the view he should have been able to see, because you were standing in his way.

Also, the woman’s evening was ruined because you refused to sit down when asked, which ruined her and her partners enjoyment of the entertainment . If you pay for a seated ticket then you should be able to see the show from your seat. The fact you wanted to stand doesn’t mean your needs are greater than his! You say yourself that most of the crowd were sitting

So yes, YABVU. I feel v sorry for the other couple who’ve had their night ruined.

I say stand dance and have fun, I always choose seated now and stand for the majority recently been to 3 seated green day, Taylor swift, Liam Gallagher. I occasionally sit to take a break for my feet (Taylor swift in particular at 3.5 hours long was endurance) everyone was standing at all 3 in their seats. Also because I take my kids the staggered height seating gives them a better view

the flip side was I could only get standing for pink, will never stand again the sea of mobile phones ruins your view and I barely saw her

I didn't realise standing on a seating area was something that happened. This is a bit of a worry as I can't stand for more than a few minutes, I'm not disabled so that area would not be suitable. The few gigs I've been to, the seating areas were balconies and signs said remain seated. I'd hate to pay a lot for tickets and not be able to see.

If you want to stand then get tickets in the standing area, surely that's a no brainer. I'm actually a bit blown away by how rude it would be to stand up in front of a seated person and block their view.

I find it really, really annoying and selfish when people stand at a SEATED event. The events I've been to where people stand are ones with no seats. The ones I've been to with seats, most stay seated (and not doing fucking "windmill arms" in front of everyone).

Indeed.

I've been to loads of concerts . I always opt for seated as I can't stand for long periods. Everyone gets up and dances for the main act. I do a mixture of standing/sitting. I absolutely would not expect anyone to sit down . What a rubbish atmosphere if they did.

The accessible platform should definitely be higher than the people standing! That's really unfair.

I’ve had the opposite experience! Had seated tickets and decided to stay sitting as had a bad back. Loads of people standing - fine by me. Except one guy in front of me starting shouting at me for sitting and tried to make me stand up!

No idea why he was so distressed about the person behind him sitting down.

In this circumstance I'm not sure why you didn't just sit. You weren't actually standing or dancing, you were leaning on the seat.......so basically you were seated but just in the most awkward way for the people behind you. Personally I hate it when people stand for every song - dance songs sure! But everything else just sit down so everyone can see and stop being so selfish

It's a bit like reclining your seat as soon as the aeroplane takes off - yes you can but should you?

I think it's ok stand if the artist encourages it for a song or for the big hits/finale but other than that, sit down. Standing in a seated area for a whole concert, including slow songs and when the artist is talking, is pretty rude.

Generally, I think if more people approached public situations like concerts, travel, shopping with a "we are all in this together" attitude, the world would be a better place.

YABU. If you want to stand, get a standing ticket.

Have you tried getting an accessible tickets op? They're like gold dust. Sometimes it's not even worth trying.

It’s very selfish, just buy standing tickets if you want to stand.

When I'm seated I sort of play it by what's behind me. I went to a stadium gig last year where everyone stayed seated but I went to one recently where everyone stood up. I turned round at one point and noticed the man behind sat down and went to sit and he told me to get back up (I spoke to him a bit before and he knew i was a mega fan). I think it's just about trying to be considerate.

Personally I think your attitude was selfish.

It's possible to enjoy a concert sitting down, I've never understood why people stand up (although I'd not judge people who do).

I went to a music festival a few years ago and one of my mates got furious with me for sitting in my camping chair during one of the acts. He seemed to think it was somehow disrespectful? Is anyone able to explain the rationale behind this?

So yes, in general I think if you bought tickets in a seated area its unreasonable to stand and block the view. It's also unreasonable to imply that a concert can't be enjoyed sitting down.

Get the feeling a number of contributors haven’t been to many gigs for a while. On average I go to at least 5 a year and the majority are in arenas. The only times I’ve been to gigs where there were “standing” areas in the last decade+ were venues that didn’t have any seating.

It used to be the case for pretty much any arena and stadium gigs I went to that you’d have standing immediately in front of the stage (pitch level for stadium gigs) and the back of an arena and in the blocks above it was seated. Truthfully however I haven’t been to a gig where the layout was like that for a long time now. It’s seated even directly in front of the stage.

Reading some of the replies here it brings to mind interviews with The Beatles when they recalled what it was like playing concerts in Japan. The audience just sat and clapped after each song. Doubt many bands and artists want that at their gigs to be honest. I do a mix of standing up and sitting down.