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?

Or detention for everyone!

I think it depends on the etiquette of the show/genre of music etc. sounds like in this instance yanbu. But having said this, I would prefer a seated area where people sit down. The again, I don’t really go to concerts.

As has been said approximately 45,223 times on this thread. You don't always get the choice.

I find it weird that people buy seated tickets and stand for the show?! I assume this particular concert had standing room? Just get a standing ticket with the rest of those who are happy to stand. There are lots of reasons why people need or want to seat and they have bought the correct classification of ticket. I know some concerts are seated only but more often than not it’s a mixture.

They don't need to sit down they're not blocking anyone's view of the act/screens as they're in floor seating and the stage is high. It's in tiered seating it's mainly a problem.

This thread is bonkers (not the OP!). As a few PPs have said, venue and individual gig guides frequently say 'people around you may be standing up' or something similar. This quite literally means that you do not have to remain seated; the physical presence of a seat in no way changes this fact.

@beanii you can complain all you like but stewards and security staff aren't going to do anything, because standing is expressly permitted in the Ts and Cs. I've seen people try to complain a few times, and staff simply shrug and say 'sorry, but they're allowed to stand'. I'm London-based and this is certainly true of Wembley Arena and Stadium and the London O2 and its little sister, The Indigo. At Shepherd's Bush the balcony area is seated, but you can still stand if you want to (the tiering helps here) – honestly this is true of the vast majority of London venues I go to gigs at (14 so far this year, another 8 booked).

Like @MangosteenSoda I would 100% support an all-seated area where it is not permissible to stand and that regulation is enforced. But staying seated when I'm allowed to stand? Nope, not happening.

Well I sat down for a few songs as I have a bad back and I assure you i couldn't see anyone on the stage at all. I could just about see some of the screens.
The point people are making though is if it's seated you sit. Including if it's seating on the floors. This was seated. So by that logic people expect others to sit apparently.
The same logic applies though anyway. If an ENTIRE tiered seated block is standing and one person wants everyone to sit down how on earth are security meant to enforce it when firstly, it's not against rules, and secondly, short of an huge tannoy announcement how to you get hundreds of people to comply when they're in the middle of a show?

Last 3 gigs I’ve been to the seated areas have stayed sitting apart from a few numbers. I can’t stand for long periods as I’m old with bacj and knee problems so prefer to sit and enjoy.

Wow I imagine you've never been to a love concert. It really is completely different to hear music live than listen at home.

Again as a shorter person I've enjoyed hundreds of gigs without actually seeing a thing. Hearing the band play live is the main reason to go. If you're that bothered about seeing the band watch on tv or buy their dvd. It won't be any different watching that at home.

Those of you saying dance in the aisle the security guard would send you back to your seat to dance for H&S reasons.

Again as a shorter person I've enjoyed hundreds of gigs without actually seeing a thing. Hearing the band play live is the main reason to go. If you're that bothered about seeing the band watch on tv or buy their dvd. It won't be any different watching that at home.

Quite. I am going to see Taylor Swift in a few months. I will be standing* but I'll go to the back, will probably not actually see much but I'll enjoy the music and the atmosphere and the dancing.

*but if I wasn't standing I would be dancing as if I were seated it would mean I had under 14s with me, and they have no choice but to be 'seated'.

Yeah I realised that after I posted! You wouldn't be able to see if you sat down. But that area is floored seating where you'd usually expect to stand anyway. Some acts have standing tickets there and some are seated, depending on the fan demographic. I don't think anyone could really have a problem with people standing in that area.

An entire tiered block standing is unusual though except for the big numbers. Being selfish is standing when no one else in your block is and you know the person behind won't be able to see (not that I expect that to cross the minds of those types of people) and you're drawing attention to yourself as well (again not a problem for some) but I'm not one to do that. So when I went the only time I could see was the few times everyone stood for the big numbers.

I've been to numerous concerts, though admittedly a VERY long time ago (when people really didn't stand in seated areas). I appreciate it sounds different to listening at home, but not sufficiently so that I would pay for a ticket if I was going to be unable to see the band. TBH I'm baffled why anybody would want to stand if they could sit.

But things have clearly changed, and since I'm never likely to attend another concert, I guess it really doesn't matter to me.

Most people like to dance to music. That's why people also like to stand so they can dance.

I'm baffled that people would sit through a whole concert and not want to get up and dance at all.

Honestly it's normal to stand! I was at Taylor Swift in Liverpool and most people stood for most of it. A couple behind me stayed seated but I didn't feel bad at all!!

Their website states that they don’t allow persistent standing during an event.

"Play is in progress" sounds like they mean for a sports event NOT a concert...

Yes, for sports events. I agree with that. I wouldn’t stand in the theatre for a musical, except for at the end to clap. Ditto the opera. A pop or rock concert is a whole different experience.

Yes seating was brought in for sports - especially football - due to safety and people dying in crushes etc I believe.
I believe a lot of football fans would prefer standing areas again and they have safe standing areas in other countries.
People's behaviour at concerts isn't normally like people's behaviour at football so the reason for banning standing doesn't apply. Seating wasn't brought in so people could see better at football.

People on here aren't saying there shouldn't be fully enforced seated areas. I agree there should be. But it should be a designated area only not the entire seated area as in some cases that's most of the venue. Maybe do a 70/30 split to start and see how well that sells.

I went to a concert once where half the audience was standing and half seated, but it was left hand side seated and right hand side standing. It was the weirdest thing.

You ruined their evening because it was better for yours. Perhaps the reason she tapped your shoulder instead of him was so it was less intimidating for you. You could have bought a standing area ticket. I don’t know why you’ve posted here as I doubt you’d care about the responses.

Plenty of standing tickets for sports events - rugby usually has a huge standing only area and then separately there are seated areas.

Sorry admittedly I was referring mainly to places like Wembley Stadium and other places that mainly hold football matches at the rules regarding standing/seating at football matches is different.
I should have specified that.