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 go to quite a lot of gig/concerts and I would say it does general depend on who you are seeing.

BUT, in general the rules usually is if you have a seated ticket you stay seated for most of the concert. If everyone stays seated, everyone can see. Sometimes the odd song will come on and someone gets up for a little bit and then sits down.

what usually happens is near the end or the encore when a band plays its big hits then everyone gets up to dance and it is a free for all.

I would be annoyed if I had a seated concert and the people above me stood up for the whole thing and I didn’t want to. Sometimes I get tired standing for too long which is why I buy the seated tickets.

however, if everyone stood up at a gig then that’s the done thing. It really is gig dependant. The rule is not to the only one!

I think it's very much artist dependent. And venue dependent.

Some concerts are fully seated including the floor. I went to see Take That a few months ago and had tickets on the floor. But the floor was fully seated. But obviously no one really sat down. I sat occasionally when my back was sore and accepted I would miss those bits. I remember seeing them in the 90s and the entire arena was standing. I'm not sure it would be possible to get thousands of teenage girls to sit in their seats for take that back then! I'm guessing it would be the same for similar bands now.

I was up in the gods for ACDC at the weekend and most people sat for the majority of the show and only stood for the big hits.

For energetic shows (especially heavy rock bands) it's actually quite weird to see people sitting dead still just watching.
A lot of people seem to say that it's fine for people to stand for the big hits. But why? Surely if you can't see you can't see.

I think there should be dedicated seated areas and dedicated seats but can stand areas. I don't think it should be as simple as seat = sit down only as seats will massively out number the standing option. It also wouldn't allow for concerts like take that where it was fully seated.

Due to a bad back I also struggle to stand for hours so floor standing wouldn't be work for me. Also what about kids/teenagers that want to see the band and go a bit crazy dancing about but aren't allowed on the floor for safety reasons? The floor at rock gigs can be quite gross and unsafe. There was 2 teenage (14 ish) boys at the ACDC concert having the time of their life. They were the very back row so weren't obstructing anyone's views and were dancing and jumping and waving their arms about for the full 2 hours. They knew the words to every song and honestly seemed to be having the most fun of their lives. It wouldn't have been as fun if they'd have had to sit down throughout.

So yeah I think maybe certain blocks should be for seated only and some seating but can stand.

YANBU. Yes some people aren’t able to stand but IMO it’s an unfortunate tough luck. I had this exact experience recently and I couldn’t fathom why it was fine for the woman to loudly insult me for standing, yet she herself stood for the “big hits”. I’ve paid to see them live because I love all the songs and they’re all big hits to me? 😵‍💫 Getting up and dancing is part of the experience and I would assume that woman has just never been to a concert before.

Agree with this- there’s a bit of give and take because people know it’s enjoyable to stand but also that some people can’t or don’t want to. Please don’t assume that being able to stand for one song means you can stand for an entire concert.

Just standing throughout and ignoring someone asking you to sit is awful, IME, unless you had to stand because the people in front of you were standing.

Agree It would be better if venues gave clearer directions eg in these seats you have to sit, in these ones you may sit or stand. But as it is, I think if you want to stand the whole time you should buy a standing ticket.

It annoyed me that the woman had to ask for the guy

You don't know why that was though. It could have been as they thought it would be less intimidating for you. Perhaps the bloke has difficulty speaking to other people - I often have to order in restaurants for my husband if his mutism kicks in.

If I'm seated at a gig, I only stand if the people behind me are standing. I think it's really rude to block someone's view.

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

I live in Scotland and have been to several gigs in both Glasgow and Edinburgh since COVID. I've been to more that have both standing areas and seating, than to ones that are all seated or all standing. IME it depends on the venue rather than how long ago the gig was.

If you want to stand and dance book standing tickets. Really easy. Don’t spoil it for others who want to sit.

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

Surely unless you’re in a standing area you stay seated (which is why I would only buy standing tickets).

You certainly don’t stand up in front of other people and block their view, particularly if they’ve asked you not to.

If for some reason this person can’t stand all they’re going to be able to see is your arse and a screen, they could have got a better experience on TV.

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

This is me too. I have POTS and my blood pressure crashes so I’d end up collapsing so I can’t stand but don’t qualify for accessibility seats. I look really healthy so I’d just look like a miserable bitch who doesn’t like dancing.

I’ve had to stop going as had many a night ruined by people like OP. It’s happening in theatres now too.

Concerts need more seated only areas. Still…I find it very odd to pay for a seat but stand and block people’s views all night. If you want to stand all night book a standing ticket.

Exactly, had the bloke have asked you (if he was able and based on experience of reading MN posts), he’d have been accused of trying to intimidate you because he’s male and you’re female.

Yabu. They couldn't see.

This is my experience too. I’ll only book a seated tickets now so I can occasionally sit down and rest (during the less interesting songs..) but I don’t expect everyone else do the same.

The rule at fully seated gigs is to read the room. If you’re one of the only ones standing it’s incredibly selfish because the people behind you actually cat see anythng but your arse in their face. If everyone gets up, you just have to suck it up. Genuinely, if you’re one of the only ones standing, sit down.

Yeah it's pretty unfortunate being disabled. Just go out of your way to make it worse for someone.

I guess if you want to stand in a seated area, book seats right at the back of the seated area - that way you won't upset anyone.

Buying accessible tickets doesn't guarantee a separate area. The dedicated disability platforms are often only for wheelchair customers, those who can walk are usually given seats in the general seating area. They're likely to be on a row end or a few rows back to avoid too many steps but not in a whole separate area.

If the people behind me asked me to sit then I would. It would be bad manners not to.

There's a venue in Glasgow where the wheelchair section is at the side with a pretty crappy view to begin with. When someone in front (tiered seats) stands up it means you can't see anything.

It's pure selfishness and a lack of consideration for other people.

If there are seats and you are in them, stay in them. It’s incredibly rude and selfish to stand up.

YANBU - what’s the point of going to a concert to sit in a set and clap politely. I’ve never been to a concert yet where people didn’t get up and dance.
Staying seated for live music seems such a miserable soulless thing to do - unless you can’t physically obviously before I get pounced on. Stay at home and listen to music if you want to sit down.

I went to see Gladys Knight last week. The audience was obviously mature but everyone was up singing and dancing. That’s the whole point and what created the atmosphere

This happened to me at Madonna of all people, they went on and on and they kind of ruined my night despite the whole area standing except them. Standing tickets went in seconds and were also in the thousands. I think it's completely expected that people will want to dance,

I made the mistake of buying floor seats to a concert. Everyone stood and I didn't see the artist on stage at all all concert as obviously you have to stand where your seat is, so even when I stood too I couldn't see a thing. I've not made that mistake again.

Now I buy tickets on the sides where it's slanted so even if people stand there's a better chance of seeing.

This is why I never go to concerts. I'm 5'2 so never see a thing even if I stand.