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?

Do you think sitting down means being ‘po-faced’?

Wanting to see the show they paid to see is spoiling the fun for everyone else. Your selfishness is breathtaking.

People who are physically unable to stand should get over themselves????? Fuck me.

Edited, sorry. I thought that was your view. I have re read your post properly now

Yes, I would absolutely agree with this and I would buy at the seating area. It’s tricky to me to stand and dance ( or just stand the whole concert) I don’t have a disability but I have some health issues.
I get what you mean by easy target but you were in front of them as I understand not someone else so highly likely that’s why they asked you, plus him standing up could have worse knock effect. But I absolutely get your point that they probably won’t risk asking 6 ft broad shoulder type of bloke.
I really struggled at the last concert because of people stand up straight away and now I’m not sure that I ready to pay for this sort of experience again.

Tricky. I go to a lot of concerts and gigs and in the past I've always been standing, despite being 5'4" and not able to see much. The atmosphere always seemed lacking in the seats.

Fast forward to now, I have a slipped disc and also scoliosis that went undiagnosed all my life. I struggle to stand for long periods, so I bought tickets to see Rammstein, The Hu and Slipknot in the seating blocks. All bands I'd seen before in while standing.

At the Rammstein concert, some people stood, not many. The Hu, everyone remained seated, Slipknot is in December and my 7th time seeing them, but the first time seated. Not sure what to expect. If people stand, it's fine, I will stand too, but I'll need to take a song or two seated every now and then, even though I can't see anything, I can still hear it.

I see arguments for both sides about standing in seated areas.

I'm going to Manics and Suede next week, it's all standing and no camping chairs allowed in. I'm half dreading it, as I know I'll be in pain. If the weather's dry, at least I can sit on the floor for a while, if it's wet or muddy, I'll be screwed.

I was at Download festival last month, it was muddy as always. We could take camping chairs into the arena, but the miles of walking killed my back.

It sucks being old! I hope it doesn't start to really impact my live music events. It's my main hobby.

Just been to Sting and Bryan Adams at Delamere Forest. You could bring your own camping chair, picnic and alcohol- now that's my sort of concert !

Tell me you're entitled without telling me you're entitled...

"I want to stand, sod everyone else who now can't see if they don't want to conform to what I believe a concert should be".

This is like saying "I want to hold a sign saying "I heart Taylor".. I think this is normal, I paid £200 for the seat, everyone else can go to hell despite them paying the same". Imagine if someone held a sign in front of you for example.

Sorry, not sorry.

I’ve found going back to the smaller venues (under 500 capacity) has made midlife gig-going much more manageable (unfortunately this means going to see bands considerably younger than I am! 😂)

I get you! I go to our local music venues a few times a month, and at least I can go on the barrier like I did at big concerts in my younger days! 😆

YABU. My husband has access issues and we have to pick our venues carefully. We would never go seated as we want to stand - him partly - so usually go to venues we can sit and stand as appropriate. Others may not be able to stand so its extremely selfish to block there view. You want to stand go standing.

Very selfish behaviour. If you buy a seat then you should sit on it most of the time. Stand to applaud or for the finale and encores but otherwise be considerate of others.

I know! I’ve been to 4 outdoor gigs here in Dublin in the last 2 weeks and they were all so enjoyable.

So according to some posters, I’m perfectly normal and according to others I’m the concert going reincarnation of Pol Pot.

100% of the people were standing and dancing for most of the night, it was just the first handful of songs where only parts of the crowd were standing and I don’t think I’m big enough to block the view of two screens and a stage so on balance, I don’t feel too bad about standing for The Bucket and Taper Jean Girl (songs meant for dancing 😳).

But seeing on here just how many people want to only sit really reiterates that there should be protected seating areas so that everyone can enjoy concerts and so that performers can still have a good crowd.

I just don't understand or agree with the people here saying you should be seated all the time, especially in a rock gig like Kings of Leon. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Like I said before, we should exercise some common sense; if the artist has a mix of slow and fast songs you don't expect people to stand during a ballad, but stay seated during "Sex on Fire" is absolutely ridiculous. There are screens, be happy with that.

I'm going to see Kasabian in November at the O2 and I'm going to be in a seated area up there with the gods because it was cheaper than the standing tickets which were a lot more expensive and I couldn't afford. Thank fuck absolutely no one stays seated during their gigs (I've seen them many times), because if anyone tells me to sit down during any of their bangers I'm just going to ignore them.

Was there no standing area available? I usually book seating due to a back injury and I have asked people in front of me to sit down

I was at KOL in Dublin last week. They were amazing and yes everyone wants to dance etc. It was outdoor so much easier. My issue with the op is why didn’t you buy a standing ticket if you wanted to stand and dance all night? To say there are screens so people should just be happy with that is incredibly selfish and entitled.

People have when I've asked them, and quite happily done so!

The people bleating about "Why didn't you get a standing ticket?" are ignoring the precious fact that standing tickets usually cost a LOT more than seated ones. Or maybe she doesn't want to stand the whole time? I want to seat during the slower songs and if the people In front of me want to remain standing and I have no qualms with that, there are massive screens.

Standing are often the cheapest tickets available!

If you asked me to seat down when Adele is singing"Someone Like You", then yes, I would agree.

If you asked me to sit down when Kasabian is doing "Shoot the Runner" I would quite frankly just ignore you.

It's all about common sense at the end.

I’d say the seats are for sitting (until some big numbers at the end etc) and the general standing area is for standing. This is basic and common decency

Selfish. Or are you just trolling?

How lovely for the people who will be sitting on these seats afterwards.