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.

that is unfair, but I don't think the fault is the other concert attendees acting in an entirely predictable way. It is the fault of the venue for not ensuring the designated disability seating has a proper view when others stand.

MCR are touring at stadiums generally used sporting events, and in such sporting events standing is very normal too - sometimes throughout the match, but other times only at high octane moments like shots on goal - in these instances (exactly what the spaces were designed for) it fails wheelchair users just like you were failed at your recent concert experience. What should be done is campaigning and publicity around how these are venues that make ££££ from various events are failing a sector of society by not providing them an area which guarantees their view regardless of other spectators standing - something which is entirely possible for them to do.

If you want to stand then book a standing ticket. If you book a ticket in a seated area then you remain seated because if you stand then people behind you can’t see.

Who decided concert etiquette had to be standing? It’s stupid and ableist. Just because a few obnoxious people don’t care about the people around them, everyone else has to struggle.

you are acting like it’s not fun to enjoy a concert while seated. Your way is not inherently better.

That’s mean. Some of us are capable of just enjoying music without the need to jig about.

I just think it is unfair to stand up to the detriment of the people behind you. I like a concert, but I can't be standing up all the time....I sing and 'dance' in my seat. Most concerts I've been to people were considerate, but there have been a few where I had no choice but to stand because the people in front had no empathy. Just because people are sitting doesnt mean they are not enjoying themselves!!!
Tickets are a lot of money and I want to enjoy the view as well as the music!

Was at YungBlud on Friday night and he was telling people to stand up, stand on seats, even get on shoulders. Thats how a concert should be in my opinion !

I'm genuinely amazed that some British pop and rock concert goers think you should sit at a concert and not take part. You stand, dance and sing along. If you want the audience to be silent go to a classical concert or musical theatre. And the existence of seated areas are only a side effect of some multipurpose venues, it's not an instruction.

Standing can sell out pretty quickly depending on who it is, ive only managed to get standing a handful of times

I'm short too, and disabled, and have exactly the same problem. I've ruefully come to terms with people standing in front of me and impeding my view as something I can't do a lot about. The OP here though has decided she can't see from standing areas but it's fine for her to stand in seated areas and block the view of others who may be unable to stand at all. If there's ableism present here, that's where you'll find it, along with an assumption that no one else is as important as you.

Me, me, me eh OP? As long as you’re happy.

@StacksOfSnacks
You are right in a way. Venues do need to think of the disabled in a different way and provide better seating choices but often you have to jump through so many hoops to get any seats at all that are classed as 'accessible'.

I've been gigging for over 30 years and since I became terminally ill I have stopped buying standing and now have to choose seating. MCR was going to be my last hurrah but after having gone to 5 gigs this year where I seen virtually nothing except people's backs I have decided to give up. Seeing your photo of your ticket I realise that I'm never going to be able to watch another gig ever again where I can sit, see, listen and sing. I'm throwing in the towel so to speak :(

If you have to sit for an entire show then you should get a ticket in the disabled area.

I've been to more concerts than I can count, and apart from the odd slow song, I've never seen people sit down in the seated tiers; everyone is always up dancing and singing along (I'm not talking about obnoxious pissheads). The Ts&Cs always say people around you may stand and dance.

If we are talking about a rock/pop concert, people will sing and dance, it has always been the case. I don't know why people are pretending this hasn't always been the way.

Book a flipping standing ticket then. I don’t pay extra for seats just to have someone full of their entitlement to joyous self-expression block my view, clout my face, and share their sweaty underarms with me.

I book standing tickets if it’s an event where I’m likely to want to shimmy, and seats when I want to watch and listen to the artist.

That's just not correct. Plenty of people might struggle to stand for that length of time - it's far more wearing to stand than to walk if you have joint pain, back pain etc. without being anywhere near the standard where they'd qualify as disabled.

You do seem to have an unfathomable amount of self worth and righteousness, to the detriment of others. Your way is your way. It is not the right way. When roughly 2/3rds of people are currently telling you you are wrong you are the attacking those who disagree with your behaviour and criticising those who want to sit. You sound thoroughly self centred, and seem to lack the awareness that others feel it is actually you who is behaving selfishly.

If you want to stand you should get a ticket in the standing area.
Much better idea than people taking up accessible areas whrn they are capable of making it to a circle seat.

‘You stand, dance and sing along” ..says who? Just cos some people want to why does that mean everyone has to. There’s some real stereotyping going on here..people who like to sit can only go to classical concerts etc.

How does that work when you've got a husband a foot taller than you?

The real problem is too many music venues shut down and everything is now multi purpose so it doesn't really work for anything

People will have paid for the privilege of hearing the band perform, not to listen to you squawking along beside them.
How do you actually get to be this self absorbed? It’s quite something.

I like to sit, the type of stuff I go to see people don’t generally dance anyway. That would probably annoy me, bit like phones do.

I'm sorry @CatRestaurant but where are the 'disabled' areas?
At most arenas there is an area for wheelchair users but ambulant disabled visitors do not have separate areas and to be honest you seem very ignorant about disability. The fact is when I have to book accessible tickets at an inside venue I never get given seats anywhere other than back rows. The easiest place to shove people like me is the back row with everyone else in front of me because 'accessibility ' is mostly lip service and means nothing to the venues or people like you who think that we should all be shoved into little seated ghettos out of the way of normal patrons.
So @CatRestaurant - how exactly would YOU solve this issue?

Agreed, it's attention seeking behaviour. They don't want to do it in the standing area because then they wouldn't be special.

Just ba use people don’t demonstrate enjoyment of a gig in a way you seen acceptable doesn’t mean you should be an arse about it