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?

This is really interesting because we went to see the Killers on Wednesday and had seats. My daughter is 4’10 and the people in front were quite tall- I think the man was 6’ ans his dp not much less and even standing, with the raking, she really struggled to see past them at all, even the screens.

I’ve torn the ligaments in my knee, so while I can stand, it really isn’t for long and sadly happened after I had booked the tickets so couldn’t change them for accessible seats.

I think it’s really hard. We all stood for a lot of the songs, but I probably hadn’t expected to not be able to see for a lot of the show after they arrived. They were also quite drunk, spilt beer everywhere and I was stuck with him groping her arse for a lot of the show (I am neither prudish or opposed to PDA, but didn’t pay £100 a ticket to watch him grope her arse!)

So I think it’s a balance. We were lucky that the woman next to us had an empty seat and moved so my daughter could see (she just naturally saw and offered which was really kind and the row in front only had them on the end and loads of spaces). I think being aware of size and space of you and others is important. I was able to move across the aisle and sit behind some people who weren’t stood, when I needed to, but they were rude and annoying. They didn’t sit at all and did completely block the view, even when we stood, so we had to work around them- which I think was really selfish.

Housesmouse

That is for when sport is shown. It refers to 'when play is in progress.'
There will normally be different rules/guides for a concert rather than sport.

The other parts of their site (some comes under disability access, some under the ticket seller websites) suggests that standing is fine in some of the seated areas. Blocks A and B for definite say it, plus a couple of others I've seen.

A couple of the blocks say they are very steep but don't mention if people will be stood up, so it may be less acceptable there.

Yes girl! I wanted to go to a NYE Prodigy show when I was nearly 7 months pregnant. Sadly my ltb wasn’t keen on the idea and my New Year plans were shit that year.

This happened to me.
I was at an all female line up, can’t remember the name of the show but it was Chaka Khan, Anastasia and Lulu I think. Here Come The Girls. Anyway, I’d been having a low time in my life and it took a lot for me to go but my friends were going and really wanted me to be there so I went.
Feeling the vibe, I got up to have a little boogie (we’d just been told by the artists that this is not a sit down show so come on everybody, get out of your seats!), when the man behind me pushed my shoulder and barked at me to sit down. Due to the fact my mental health was poor I slinked into my seat. If I was on form I’d have put him in his place. This was a very long time ago now.

Nowadays I ask the people behind if they’d mind me being upright.

I've had this. I went where nearly everyone sat. Another where nearly everyone stood. I don't get it.

If there was a dedicated standing area, but you chose a seated ticket and were going to stand the whole show - then yes, you ATH. Sorry.

As has already been explained several times @LoftyReader , numerous venues do not have any rule whatsoever regarding people who have a seat to remain in them, and stewards will not request that they do so. If you want to be sure, you need to check venue / gig details as to what is permitted or not.

That’s why I said IF :)

I've come back to this thread. I too feel something needs to be done, but I know it won't. Ideally you could have a concert with standing, seated areas, and seated/standing.
I watched the killers at the emirates a few years ago and most people sat, we were very high up. This time the killers at the 02, everyone was stood. I sat in my chair for a lot of it. Could barely see. Only stood for the massive hits. It dawned on me that this just isn't working for me anymore.

Arena gigs are pretty horrible all round. You basically end up watching the telly because the stage is so far away.
Most of the gigs I go to these days (old person) are in theatres and are a much more comfortable experience.
Last night we saw the singer from The Jayhawks do a solo gig at Bush Hall in London which holds about 300 people, all seated. Lovely.
My tolerance for enormo-gigs is shrinking.

Oh lucky you. He has a fabulous voice.

I bet you're a fan of the Union Chapel too- beatiful , seated venue.

I do love Union Chapel but the unreserved seating can be a pain with the queueing, although it does mean if you want to be at the front you can.
Generally I prefer nothing bigger than Hammersmith or the Albert Hall.

Oh yes, I love Union Chapel, one of the best (all-seated) venues in London for smaller and/or acoustic gigs.

As to the main point of the thread though, I was at both Springsteen and Pet Shop Boys this week and the majority of people at both were standing throughout, whether they were in seats or not. Stewards were a constant presence but no one was told to sit down because standing is permitted, as it is at the majority of London venues. I follow all the rules of a venue and/or specific gig, I'm not obliged to follow some rule arbitrarily made up by other people at the gig.

I usually find if you're happy to be at one side at Union Chapel you can get pretty close, either at floor level or in the balcony if it's open. The bigger pain is that you can't take alcohol into the auditorium as it's still a functioning church!

There’s definitely a reminder of the old covid masks divide in the thread. Those that do something because it helps other people have a better time and those that put their own enjoyment first .

People definitely fall into one camp or the other.

I couldn’t agree more.