Annoying Concert Behavior

[Colfax]

I'm a pretty laid back concertgoer used to large crowds. I don't mind bumping and jostling, so long as people are having a good time and into the music.

What kills me are people who talk during music. And having recently dived into some live shows, I hear an awful lot of talking on these recordings. What's up with that? Is talking an accepted norm in the MMJ crowd?

[Crispy]

I'm a pretty laid back concertgoer used to large crowds. I don't mind bumping and jostling, so long as people are having a good time and into the music.

What kills me are people who talk during music. And having recently dived into some live shows, I hear an awful lot of talking on these recordings. What's up with that? Is talking an accepted norm in the MMJ crowd?

Talking is VERBOTEN, and will earn the talker a sharp look and a shushing finger, depending on his proximity to certain peeps.

[Crayton09]

I'm a pretty laid back concertgoer used to large crowds. I don't mind bumping and jostling, so long as people are having a good time and into the music.

What kills me are people who talk during music. And having recently dived into some live shows, I hear an awful lot of talking on these recordings. What's up with that? Is talking an accepted norm in the MMJ crowd?

i think it happens alot these days at all shows being that many attending are just casual listeners who just go on a whim or for whatever other reason. if i'm going to talk during a show, i talk directly into the person's ear as if I was telling a secret to keep my voice low and so that the person can actually hear me and keep it brief. lately i've seen people who literally try to talk over the music. the first night of the port chester run my girlfriend started talking to some older couple who seemed cool at first, they were local and big phish and moe fans at their first jacket show. hell, they even gave us some herbal candies, but about 4 songs in the lady starts trying to talk to us about phish and moe and how we need to check out the black keys live, mmj was cool but not as good. yada fuckin' yada. she felt the need to remind us of this quite often too. we didn't have the heart to tell her to shut the fuck up and watch the show, but luckily i accientally clogged the lady's one hitter which really pissed her off and after that she would just occasionally glare and make loud declarations about her piece being clogged. but yeah, stubb's in austin is notorious for this, lot of people just go to go and say on the facebook that they went and they don't give a shit about who's even playing

[iLikeBeer]

but about 4 songs in the lady starts trying to talk to us about phish and moe and how we need to check out the black keys live, mmj was cool but not as good. yada fuckin' yada. she felt the need to remind us of this quite often too. we didn't have the heart to tell her to shut the fuck up and watch the show,

I would have tuned them out at the very moment they tried to tell me that the Black Keys are better live than MMJ...        

[Colfax]

or moe.

[MMJ_fanatic]

I remember seeing MMJ with M Ward at the Webster Theater in Hartford and this one drunk douche up front during M Ward's set kept blabbering loudly, "Bonnaroo! Bonnaroo! Gonna see you at Bonnaroo!" M held his composure for as long as possible then split.  Shortly thereafter the a-hole somehow flips over the rail and cuts his head open.  Had to leave and get stitched up I guess.  I spoke briefly with Matt after the show and told him about the guy's karmic moment and he immediately was like "oh my gosh is he all right?" classy guy that Mr. Ward 

[Fully]

I remember seeing MMJ with M Ward at the Webster Theater in Hartford and this one drunk douche up front during M Ward's set kept blabbering loudly, "Bonnaroo! Bonnaroo! Gonna see you at Bonnaroo!" M held his composure for as long as possible then split.  Shortly thereafter the a-hole somehow flips over the rail and cuts his head open.  Had to leave and get stitched up I guess.  I spoke briefly with Matt after the show and told him about the guy's karmic moment and he immediately was like "oh my gosh is he all right?" classy guy that Mr. Ward 

I'm not so nice. I'm laughing my head off hearing that. Karma indeed!

[MrWhippy]

I went to see Savages last night and they had these sings posted up all over the venue.  Very cool.  I love it when bands make statements like this.

I can appreciate well done photos and videos and I can appreciate the fact that some people who take photos and videos do so in an unobtrusive manner that doesn't bother other people, but the vast majority of photos/videos taken at shows satisfy neither of these criteria.

[ericm]

I went to see Savages last night and they had these sings posted up all over the venue.  Very cool.  I love it when bands make statements like this.

I can appreciate well done photos and videos and I can appreciate the fact that some people who take photos and videos do so in an unobtrusive manner that doesn't bother other people, but the vast majority of photos/videos taken at shows satisfy neither of these criteria.

Good for the Savages.      it seems we're seeing more, and more artists trend towards this, and I hope it continues.

Well said, and totally agree Jon.  It's been my experience also that the majority of fans taking pics/videos don't give a shit about anything or anyone but themselves. It's a shame that those people have ruined it for the few who do it right, and are considerate of those around them.

I'm not one to judge others, and have always given people the benefit of the doubt, but unfortunately it seems that when I see people with cameras/phones at shows anymore,  I immediately think they're going to be a pain in the ass.

[weeniebeenie]

I don't use a phone to take videos or pics but I do bring my camera to shows of bands I really like. I'll wait at the venue to get a spot up front so I'm not shoving my camera in people's faces or holding the camera up really high. If the shutter makes a noise I'll only take photos during loud songs so as to not disturb anyone and I definitely don't use flash photography. Most people I see though are always asking people to move so they can take five minute videos with their arm in your face or are using a flash. They ruin it for everyone.

[MrWhippy]

I don't use a phone to take videos or pics but I do bring my camera to shows of bands I really like. I'll wait at the venue to get a spot up front so I'm not shoving my camera in people's faces or holding the camera up really high. If the shutter makes a noise I'll only take photos during loud songs so as to not disturb anyone and I definitely don't use flash photography. Most people I see though are always asking people to move so they can take five minute videos with their arm in your face or are using a flash. They ruin it for everyone.

Exactly, the photos/video thing would not be a problem if everyone was respectful about it, but the vast majority of people are not, and as you said it ruins it for everyone. 

I would bet that most bands that speak out against this stuff don't care about people taking photos/video of them, but they have a sense of how annoying it must be for other audience members.

[Jeff Murray]

I don't use a phone to take videos or pics but I do bring my camera to shows of bands I really like. I'll wait at the venue to get a spot up front so I'm not shoving my camera in people's faces or holding the camera up really high. If the shutter makes a noise I'll only take photos during loud songs so as to not disturb anyone and I definitely don't use flash photography. Most people I see though are always asking people to move so they can take five minute videos with their arm in your face or are using a flash. They ruin it for everyone.

Why do people think their little flash bulb is going to light up the stage??  I mean it looks cool during the kickoff of the Super Bowl but that is about it... Even worse when they have the camera that keeps a constant beam of light projecting out... All they are doing is getting a better picture of the head in front of them. 

I also highly recommend turning off the flash on your phone camera if you are trying to be sneaky and take a picture of a nice looking lady without her noticing... Awkward when the flash goes off!!   

[Jeff Murray]

I don't use a phone to take videos or pics but I do bring my camera to shows of bands I really like. I'll wait at the venue to get a spot up front so I'm not shoving my camera in people's faces or holding the camera up really high. If the shutter makes a noise I'll only take photos during loud songs so as to not disturb anyone and I definitely don't use flash photography. Most people I see though are always asking people to move so they can take five minute videos with their arm in your face or are using a flash. They ruin it for everyone.

Exactly, the photos/video thing would not be a problem if everyone was respectful about it, but the vast majority of people are not, and as you said it ruins it for everyone. 

I would bet that most bands that speak out against this stuff don't care about people taking photos/video of them, but they have a sense of how annoying it must be for other audience members.

Since becoming more active again with my concert going these days (there were several years before discovering MMJ that I didn't see a single concert - many of my bands are not around any more or don't tour close by), I have tried to capture some memorable moments in photographs and on video at each show I have been too. However, I am very aware of how some people might be distracted and angered by my camera activity. That is why I try to hold my camera very, very close to my face or at neck or chest level when video-taping and always very close to my body. I also take care to not ever thrust my camera in the personal space of anybody when taking pictures. I want to preserve a portion of the shows to try to re-live them and to spark memories that I'm sure would fade away over time. I can remember when I first tried to sneak an older 35mm pocket camera into my very first Pink Floyd show (3rd row at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on May 8, 1994). I had it down my pants like a half-pint or a bag of weed. I had gone out and bought myself some hard to find 1,000 speed 35mm film, so I could capture images without using my flash and without getting blurry photos. It worked! I was quick and very stealthy when snapping those pictures. Anyway, I like saving a few moments for myself and to share on this here Forum, and I feel I have done a pretty good job of it lately. I just don't want to be considered one of those obnoxious concert goers you guys are talking about. If I am, please let me know. I love you guys!

Sounds like you are respectful with your photos Mr. White... I wouldn't worry about it.

[ericm]

I don't use a phone to take videos or pics but I do bring my camera to shows of bands I really like. I'll wait at the venue to get a spot up front so I'm not shoving my camera in people's faces or holding the camera up really high. If the shutter makes a noise I'll only take photos during loud songs so as to not disturb anyone and I definitely don't use flash photography. Most people I see though are always asking people to move so they can take five minute videos with their arm in your face or are using a flash. They ruin it for everyone.

Exactly, the photos/video thing would not be a problem if everyone was respectful about it, but the vast majority of people are not, and as you said it ruins it for everyone. 

I would bet that most bands that speak out against this stuff don't care about people taking photos/video of them, but they have a sense of how annoying it must be for other audience members.

Since becoming more active again with my concert going these days (there were several years before discovering MMJ that I didn't see a single concert - many of my bands are not around any more or don't tour close by), I have tried to capture some memorable moments in photographs and on video at each show I have been too. However, I am very aware of how some people might be distracted and angered by my camera activity. That is why I try to hold my camera very, very close to my face or at neck or chest level when video-taping and always very close to my body. I also take care to not ever thrust my camera in the personal space of anybody when taking pictures. I want to preserve a portion of the shows to try to re-live them and to spark memories that I'm sure would fade away over time. I can remember when I first tried to sneak an older 35mm pocket camera into my very first Pink Floyd show (3rd row at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on May 8, 1994). I had it down my pants like a half-pint or a bag of weed. I had gone out and bought myself some hard to find 1,000 speed 35mm film, so I could capture images without using my flash and without getting blurry photos. It worked! I was quick and very stealthy when snapping those pictures. Anyway, I like saving a few moments for myself and to share on this here Forum, and I feel I have done a pretty good job of it lately. I just don't want to be considered one of those obnoxious concert goers you guys are talking about. If I am, please let me know. I love you guys!

Sounds like you are respectful with your photos Mr. White... I wouldn't worry about it.

Exactly Jeff Murray. No worries Mr. White. It's not hard to spot the people I'm talking about. As a matter of fact they're hard NOT to notice.

[bartel]

recently I have used my iphone/camera/video a lot to record various songs at shows but do try to be respectful. Never doing it again I hate to see others do it. Hate to see 1000 iphones flashing.

[MrWhippy]

I just don't want to be considered one of those obnoxious concert goers you guys are talking about. If I am, please let me know. I love you guys!

The very fact that you think about what you are doing means you are not one of the people we are talking about. 

Cheers Mr. W.   

EDIT:

Guess I should say "Cheers Other Mr. W."

[weeniebeenie]

I don't use a phone to take videos or pics but I do bring my camera to shows of bands I really like. I'll wait at the venue to get a spot up front so I'm not shoving my camera in people's faces or holding the camera up really high. If the shutter makes a noise I'll only take photos during loud songs so as to not disturb anyone and I definitely don't use flash photography. Most people I see though are always asking people to move so they can take five minute videos with their arm in your face or are using a flash. They ruin it for everyone.

Exactly, the photos/video thing would not be a problem if everyone was respectful about it, but the vast majority of people are not, and as you said it ruins it for everyone. 

I would bet that most bands that speak out against this stuff don't care about people taking photos/video of them, but they have a sense of how annoying it must be for other audience members.

Since becoming more active again with my concert going these days (there were several years before discovering MMJ that I didn't see a single concert - many of my bands are not around any more or don't tour close by), I have tried to capture some memorable moments in photographs and on video at each show I have been too. However, I am very aware of how some people might be distracted and angered by my camera activity. That is why I try to hold my camera very, very close to my face or at neck or chest level when video-taping and always very close to my body. I also take care to not ever thrust my camera in the personal space of anybody when taking pictures. I want to preserve a portion of the shows to try to re-live them and to spark memories that I'm sure would fade away over time. I can remember when I first tried to sneak an older 35mm pocket camera into my very first Pink Floyd show (3rd row at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on May 8, 1994). I had it down my pants like a half-pint or a bag of weed. I had gone out and bought myself some hard to find 1,000 speed 35mm film, so I could capture images without using my flash and without getting blurry photos. It worked! I was quick and very stealthy when snapping those pictures. Anyway, I like saving a few moments for myself and to share on this here Forum, and I feel I have done a pretty good job of it lately. I just don't want to be considered one of those obnoxious concert goers you guys are talking about. If I am, please let me know. I love you guys!

Sounds like you are respectful with your photos Mr. White... I wouldn't worry about it.

Exactly Jeff Murray. No worries Mr. White. It's not hard to spot the people I'm talking about. As a matter of fact they're hard NOT to notice.

I totally get what you mean by preserving a portion of the shows you go to. That's why I take my camera too.

[Ruckus]

This seems to be an endless debate and I really do get both sides.  If I had to choose, I would side with Dylan's policy every time.  I get into the moment at shows intensely and while half the time my head is down grooving without even looking up at the stage, when I do, I'm not a huge fan of the glowing lights and arms up.  Another forum member posted a number of excellent vids from a recent show I attended and many were excited to view them.  Unfortunately he stood right in front of me the entire show and I'm 5' 7" on a good day so it detracted quite a bit from my show experience.

Conversely, for those that live further from areas that get shows on a regular basis, I get the joy of seeing footage of shows you can't get to.  With the forever exponential growth of technology, it will be a year when everyone will be walking in with google goggles filming hi def video from their exact viewpoint without holding up an iphone.  Those will inevitably be banned but they won't be able to take the nano camera embedded in my pupil in 2019 when my friends will be watching my 3D feed in their living room that I am streaming to them.

[Jeff Murray]

This seems to be an endless debate I really do get both sides.  If I had to choose, I would side with Dylan' policy every time.  I get into the moment at shows intensely and while half the time, my head is down grooving without even looking up at the stage, when I do, I'm not a huge fan of the glowing lights and arms up.  Another forum member posted a number of excellent vids from a recent show I attended and many were excited to view them.  Unfortunately he stood right in front of me the entire show and I'm 5' 7" on a good day so it detracted quite a bit from my show experience.

Conversely, for those that live further from areas that get shows on a regular basis, I get the joy of seeing footage of shows you can't get to.  With the forever exponential growth of technology, it will be a year when everyone will be walking in with google goggles filming hi def video from their exact viewpoint without holding up an iphone.  Those will inevitably be banned but they won't be able to take the nano camera embedded in my pupil in 2019 when my friends will be watching my 3D feed in their living room that I am streaming to them.

Just try to remember to turn off the camera feed when you hit the restroom... We really don't need a 3D feed of that!! 

[Tired Eyes]

This seems to be an endless debate I really do get both sides.  If I had to choose, I would side with Dylan' policy every time.  I get into the moment at shows intensely and while half the time, my head is down grooving without even looking up at the stage, when I do, I'm not a huge fan of the glowing lights and arms up.  Another forum member posted a number of excellent vids from a recent show I attended and many were excited to view them.  Unfortunately he stood right in front of me the entire show and I'm 5' 7" on a good day so it detracted quite a bit from my show experience.

Conversely, for those that live further from areas that get shows on a regular basis, I get the joy of seeing footage of shows you can't get to.  With the forever exponential growth of technology, it will be a year when everyone will be walking in with google goggles filming hi def video from their exact viewpoint without holding up an iphone.  Those will inevitably be banned but they won't be able to take the nano camera embedded in my pupil in 2019 when my friends will be watching my 3D feed in their living room that I am streaming to them.

Just try to remember to turn off the camera feed when you hit the restroom... We really don't need a 3D feed of that!!

Good point Jeff!  That reminds me that there is a Neil Young & Crazy Horse show from Clarkston, MI (think it is the Greendale tour) at which the taper had to use the restroom during Neil's set & simply let his tape roll the whole time!