Standing at gigs - finally some sense!

[StacksOfSnacks]

I love live music and frequently attend concerts and have been utterly baffled in recent years that people behave as they would in the cinema - plonked on their backside, mutely watching. For me it’s all about the immersive experience - dancing, screaming, swaying, singing, waving my arms… But not only are more people staying seated, but I’m actually seeing discourse where people such as myself are being criticised for acting exactly like a typical concert goer - singing and standing.

I went to a show last night and noticed this little note on my e-ticket “People around you may stand!” though I think it should go without saying, finally some sense is prevailing and those whingers can keep schtum now (which they advocate for at gigs anyway 😂).

Disclaimer: I know people will pile on saying that not everyone can stand, and no they can’t and I understand that. I’d support if they wanted to have a section where people stay seated if there’s demand for it. However, I have observed a change in behaviour that is out of proportion even when considering that.

I don't think you're unreasonable. Though I wonder why you haven't booked a standing ticket!

Just book a standing ticket, OP.

Dancing, screaming, swaying, singing, waving your arms sounds pretty irritating tbh.

It's very annoying when you buy a seat, want to sit and some selfish prat stands in front of you and waves their arms about, because they want to dance. Then you have to stand if you want to see more than someone's swinging backside.

Buy a standing ticket!

The problem is the standing tickets always sell out! I think asking people to stay seated at a music concert is unreasonable, I'm with you OP!

Sometimes I would prefer standing but I end up settling for seated if thats all I can get, standing tickets tend to be harder to come by than seated.

At other times I prefer the seated area as it has a rake, I'm on the petite side, so especially at heavy rock gigs where there are a lot of men in attendance I have no chance of seeing in the standing area.

Sometimes I attend with friends who can stand for the performance - and want to do so - but would be unable to stand throughout when you include queuing to get in, waiting for the support act, the support act (sometimes two of them), changing the stage for the main act, then finally the act themselves. You can easily add 2 hours to the time required to be stood.

What do you do at a gig then? Sit around like you're enjoying a David Attenborough documentary?

I think some of the issue is in the lack of options

As someone that needs to sit, im often not eligable for accessible areas.

Equally lots of the time the accessible areas are behind a few rows of normal seating so even when ive been in the wheelchair bit (because ive gone with someone else) people stand up in front.

I feel like they should sell a definate seated bit, where people who want to sit for whatever reason can be (eg. If you've got kids who need the rake), mixed sections and more standing.

I had a concert totally ruined by the person behind me, shouting singing loudly along to all the songs, couldn't hold a tune in a bucket, got all the words wrong. It was deeply frustrating and I just wanted to shout "Shut The Fuck Up" in her face.

It has actually put me off going to more.

Height related seating is the way.

The point about you being petite is a good reason why people like my wife choses seated. If she's in standing then one tall person in front of her and she's buggered

Its even more annoying in seated, if you get some tall person in front who decided to stand. Often the rake isn't enough to counter it so the view is worse than it is in standing

If we could all sit in height order she would be less annoyed by people standing in seated areas

Its also too late if its just appears on the ticket. Someone like me will have already bought them and be there but be no more able to stand through it

It makes me so cross in the seated area if someone stands in front and twats about. If I'd wanted to stand I'd have bought a standing ticket!

At other times I prefer the seated area as it has a rake, I'm on the petite side, so especially at heavy rock gigs where there are a lot of men in attendance I have no chance of seeing in the standing area.

Oh the irony...

how on earth does that work in reality. Last night I (5 foot nothing) went with my 5'10" friend - do you average our heights? Take the taller? Take the shorter? And what about parents with children?!

Oh the hypocrisy! "I can't see in the standing area as people stood in front of me blocking my view" Solution is to book a seating ticket and stand waving and screeching like a twat blocking the view of those behind you 🤦‍♂️

How does this work if (like most people) you want to enjoy a concert with friends and you don’t only befriend people the same height as you?

Brilliant case in point. Your 5 10 would likely block the view of my 4ft 11 wife when standing. Its bad in standing looking up, but far worse if you are in seated where you are meant to be able to look down on the act and it's designed that you see over the row below

Knees together and arms crossed.

I can’t stand up the whole time at a gig so I book a seat, I would only stand up if everyone else did perhaps at the end

Sounds like my idea of a nightmare.

We were at a gig that was all seated. Woman in front stood up on her seat and started doing most of the above so nobody could see a thing. Several people asked her politely, then less politely to sit down. She refused so security asked her and it ended up in a big fight.

Just selfish.

I have to sit down at concerts due to mobility problems but doesn't stop me from dancing in my chair 😁

I agree if there was demand I would be fully behind a "seated and STAY seated" area - perhaps venues should look into this. But that doesn't exist right now - at least I have never seen it. The majority of people attending a concerts enjoy standing and want to stand for the performance. My issue is people attempting to rewrite concert etiquette by suggesting that concert goers should behave like cinema attendees

Is it even a gig without a mosh pit?

I can only go seated for health reasons. Just book standing and get at the front. I wish I could.

standing on your chair is downright dangerous, I take offence at your implication that my dancing and singing could be compared to such behaviour.