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.

So you would separate friends, partners, and parents from younger children if they were different heights?

I went to see Generation Sex (remaining members of Generation X and the Sex Pistols). We had seated tickets and everyone remained seated. It was great! 😅 People standing did what people standing do.

If I go to see The Damned or Stiff Little Fingers etc, I want to be standing or in the mosh pit.

I don't want to be in a seated area with some arsehole jumping about next to me blocking everyone view!

so no-one taught you not to yuck someones yum?

You should have!! I saw bette midler years ago and she specifically told everyone NOT to sing along to wind beneath my wings, she said people have paid to hear me sing this not the asshole in the seat next to them so shut it. Fair play

No. Just sit down in the seated area. Or book a standing ticket. It's not hard.

Maybe the problem could be solved by the seated remaining seated?

You know you can sing along without the actual noise coming out your mouth.
I always sing silent unless prompted by the band.
I remember my boyfriend having a 10 year old screeching an attempt at Japanese in his ear for a whole gig. Not good. She thought she was fabulous though.

so no-one taught you not to yuck someones yum?

So no-one taught you not speak like a 5 year old when you're a (presumably) grown woman?

Perhaps just wait until you see the videos of the concert instead if not going to do what supposed to do?! Tho, yeah, screaming ugg - it's not the Beatles!

Tbf thats most of mumsnet

I enjoy the music and the performance without ending up in pain because I can't stand for several hours due to pain in my knees that doesn't qualify me for the accessible areas.

You enjoy music in your own way, but what you're doing here is judging people for enjoying it in theirs.

not everything all at the same time throughout, I don'[t have that much stamina. But yes, I did display normal concert goer behaviour, as did the vast majority of the people surrounding me.

Don't know if people on this thread are being intentionally obtuse or if they simply need to get out more, but the pearl clutching at someone dancing at a concert, singing along to the chorus, and waving their arms on occasion is astonishing.

I don’t care either way really. Although, I went to a concert recently and, because I’m so short, I could only see the artists on the big screen. I might as well have been watching them on Netflix 😂 A seat in the upper tier would have been quite nice.

Last time I stood a group of the people around me talked the whole way through so I couldn’t hear the music. It sucks being very short.

I think it probably depends on the band, and also on whether the seats are tiered or flat. I've been to concerts which were all seated where pretty much everyone stood as soon as the band or artist came on stage, ones where most people stayed seated until the last few songs, and ones where the people in the flat/floor seats stood from the start, but those in the tiered seats stayed seated.

In a theatre, yes. At a concert, no. Every concert I have been to I stood up, and sang along and danced.

Height related seating is the way

Presumably tall people at the back? how’s that fair? And can I only be friends with tall people?

Even in seated areas my 6 foot 6 OH can hear the groans from people behind when he takes his seat.

That's exactly what you're doing by suggesting people not behaving like you do at concerts are doing it wrong...

Who taught you?

Tbf, most people are just aying don't do it in the seated area.

At most of the gigs I go to, if you're standing in the seated area, security will tell you to sit down and kick people out if they do it repeatedly.

If you want to sing, dance, shout etc at a gig, there's nothing wrong with that but don't be the dick who spoils it for other people who needed to buy seated tickets and just get standing instead.

In the seated area? Then you’re as big a pain in the arse as op.

exactly!!! I sing like I do at a carol concert, there's not really any sound coming out. Certainly not enough to be heard - last night my friend had to shout over the music to ask if I wanted any water, and when I could hear her I only understood when she waved her water bottle at me. My singing could not be heard

Been going to gigs for 35 years, nearly always standing tickets. There used to be a few seats cordoned off for disabled people by the mixing desk, which I always thought was cool for them to be able to watch them at work as well as a clear view of the gig, but most venues I went to were standing only as they were smaller.

The only real exception was going to see Bowie at the Docklands Arena. Was a little dull because of having seats booked. Dancing, singing along is part of the experience. Mobile phones are an arse now though.

I think many artists would feel pretty down performing at huge arenas where everyone in a seat has to remain seated, can’t sing aloud or wave their arms!

Most venues say that you can stand in the seated area so it annoys me when people ask you to sit down. I just explain that we’re allowed to stand and then ignore them. Last year at a concert I was at, someone called over a staff member to tell others to sit down and the staff member told them that standing was allowed which they weren’t happy about. They should have checked the venues website because it clearly says that standing is allowed.

For people saying why not just get a standing ticket, I don’t want to be in a crowd where I get pushed around and lose my place if I want to go and buy a drink. Being in the seated area where I can sit or stand, and can’t lose my place suits me perfectly.

If you can’t stand for long, contact the venue and ask for seats that will suit your needs.