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.

The correct etiquette is that if you are in a seated area, you only stand and dance towards the end when they play their big hits. You may jig about in your seat before then. Screaming is not permitted once you’ve achieved puberty.

Well, yeah, that's annoying! I'm 5'3 and have to get pretty close to the front to be able to see.

But that's also just the luck of the draw. It's not the same as someone deliberately buying a seated ticket and then standing.

Ive been to tiered, flat, dance/rave type bands and endured the likes of Take That (so similar to op's gig). Genuinely not once seen anyone sitting apart from a few mins. I can imagine sitting at orchestras or mellow stuff like I dunno....Lewis Capaldi I suppose. Im honestly baffled that people get the arse over others standing at a upbeat gig

The important things at a gig are not to obscure the view for others, or to make so much noise that they cannot hear the music properly.

I can't stand at gigs all night now so you're B rather U. Singing loudly and/or filming on phones really bugs me.

People like the OP is the reason I don’t go to concerts 👍

Since standing in the seated area is generally allowed why not have a few dates for people who only want to sit?

@Megifer never seen it either

I'm going next week, we have seated tickets because we couldn't get standing. I will be shocked if there's a single bum on a seat (disabilities aside obviously). Mine certainly won't be.

The correct etiquette is that if you are in a seated area, you only stand and dance towards the end when they play their big hits.

No it isn’t.

At the gig last week there was a lady by me who had really long hair and it keep brushing against me. I know she wasnt doing anything wrong but shudder. I keep moving away but she took that as permission to spread out more so her hair still keep brushing against me. It's still making me 🤢 now at the thought.

She’s already said, she can’t get a standing ticket because she’s short and her view is blocked so she gets a seated ticket and stands. Sod the people behind her though that can’t see because of her.
😂🙈

Never heard of this etiquette

@evilharpy but remember etiquette says you should sit till the end!

Apparently there’s a big difference in concert goer behaviour in America vs Europe. I saw something TikToks saying it’s more usual in America for the audience to be a bit more sedate in their appreciation at a concert. Not sure if this is common across all genres of music or not.

Because it doesn’t exist. At most big venues, it clearly states that you can stand in the seated area so that’s the end of it.

I had the bad luck of being sat behind a couple who were both over 6 foot at the theatre once. But that's just how it goes sometimes, tall people shouldn't be relegated to having a worse view just because short people exist, and height ordered concerts would be really crappy for them

Louis Tomlinson's pit would be epic...

At shows I’ve been at, I expect most people will stand in the seated areas, for some or all of the gig. Maybe it depends on the type of act? Oasis: standing, Adele: seated sort of thing.
What I can’t abide, is when you’ve waited years to see your favourite band, and someone keeps repeatedly going back and forth to the bar so you have to let them past, blocking your view, and their tray of pints is always spilling!
Why book a ticket if you’re not bothered enough to sit through the main act?

In my experience, having lived in the US and England, the crowds in the US are not as loud when singing, but they do still sing, and standing in the seated areas is usually allowed in the US as well.

Precisey. These replies are baffling. You'd think I was the only one standing and moving to the music in the seated areas last night from the response, I'd guess over 95% of the seated area were stood throughout the performance. I wonder how many gigs these people actually attend if they are that shocked at me standing.

dancing, screaming, swaying, singing, waving my arms

This is why I don’t go to gigs as a rule. I’d commit a crime.

I go to see guitarists mainly, so standing isn’t the done thing.
I have been to pop concerts though and I can’t stand people standing and dancing. I want to watch the act, not the general public 😂

I’m 5’3” in my stocking feet and would LOVE to be able to stand and dance in the tiers. I invariably get stuck behind the 6’4” group of friends wearing fedoras when we stand which is most of the time. I’d like to see a proper seated area for people who can’t/don't want to stand, and a standing section in the tiers, OR, the first 5 rows of the tiers are for sitting and everywhere else is for standing and dancing / or you can sit further back but know there will be people dancing and standing around you. One of the best gigs I ever went to was The Wombats at the O2 ‘just’ after lockdown and almost the whole venue was on their feet singing and dancing their hearts out

Yes. Along with the vast majority of the other people. If you don’t want to stand book front row seats. Most concerts have a substantial accessible area for those unable to stand. At most concerts this is raised to allow people to see when others stand.

You are the one with a stick up your backside.