Annoying Concert Behavior

[FiddleCastro]

I remember being told to sit by Security at the Izod Center when MMJ opened for Tom Petty...

[vespachick]

If you go  to a show to sit down, you probably shouldn't go to shows. I'm over 40 and I know what I'm in for. If I don't like it or I can't hang, it's really my problem isn't it. No one would tell someone at a sporting event to sit down. Go to a show at your local coffee shop or a classical concert if you want to sit. Or just accept that you are going to not be able to see.

Happens at sporting events too.  I've been to many Michigan football games where I've been told to sit down.  I've often asked these douchebags that can't stand why they just don't stay at home and watch the games on their Lazyboys if they don't want to stand up???

Shug, you are so right about the scene at Dead shows.  Nobody ever got in anyone's business as long as they were enjoying themselves.  If you wanted to sit and take a break, that's what you did and if there were people in front of you dancing and enjoying themselves, good for them!

I used to go the Ducks (University of Oregon) football games with my Dad when I first moved here because he had season tix and needed a compadre.  Oy. It's true what they say about men becoming grumpy when they get old.  All he'd do is complain about all the standing (they never, ever, sit at Autzen Stadium) and the beer drinking.  "That guy's had about 5 beers already, geez!". And the halftime exodus "these guys are going to miss the entire second half with all their beer drinking."  Good lord, I needed a beer.

[Jims Poncho]

It's a concert, there are (mostly) no rules. If you don't like that I stopped in front of you, walk in front of me. If you wander around for a couple minutes at the beginning, you'll find a group of like-minded individuals. If you want to sing and dance and rock out, you'll find those people. If you want to just chill with your girl and not get bumped into, go back a little bit and you'll find all the other happy couples. The PC run was a blast and with each night we found more people that were having the same kind of fun. On Sat, we found the best groups of people in front of the soundboard. There were high-fives & OMFG! looks exchanged, "YEESSSS!!'s" for favorite songs, everything we wanted. The easiest way to have fun is to not worry about what everyone else is doing. If you're in a shit mood or don't care about the band, STAY HOME! We will have a blast without you!

[Fully]

It's a concert, there are (mostly) no rules. If you don't like that I stopped in front of you, walk in front of me. If you wander around for a couple minutes at the beginning, you'll find a group of like-minded individuals. If you want to sing and dance and rock out, you'll find those people. If you want to just chill with your girl and not get bumped into, go back a little bit and you'll find all the other happy couples. The PC run was a blast and with each night we found more people that were having the same kind of fun. On Sat, we found the best groups of people in front of the soundboard. There were high-fives & OMFG! looks exchanged, "YEESSSS!!'s" for favorite songs, everything we wanted. The easiest way to have fun is to not worry about what everyone else is doing. If you're in a shit mood or don't care about the band, STAY HOME! We will have a blast without you!

How does one walk in front of someone who pushed their way in front of you and took up all the remaining space? I typically say something to the douchebags who do that, so they will know their behavior is not appropriate, but it was still a douchebag move to do it.

[MrWhippy]

I was amazed, at my first Grateful Dead concert, at Anaheim Stadium, when during parts of the show I saw entire sections of seated folks with just one freak dancing like crazy and not one person told him to sit down. The Deadhead concert-going ethos should be the model for all rock fans:  if you are not hurting anyone or engaging in egregrious anti-social behavior, do whatever you want.

Later in the show, when the whole goddamn stadium was rocking out together to a monumental joyous Touch of Grey encore, the energy in that place was staggering.  It was an overwhelmingly ecstatic moment and  immediately after that show I was scheming to go to another show as soon as I possibly could.

You mean people actually sat down at Grateful Dead shows?  Glad I never was surrounded by them in the 100+ times I saw the band.

I agree with you guys that the deadhead concert ethos was awesome and should be the norm.  There was just this general level of respect for others that I've never really seen at other big rock shows.

[GO4IT]

I'm way beyond most of you in terms of "experience".  Stand by me next time you want to stand up and dance while everyone else is being a dud.  No one has messed with me on this account for a long time and God help the next one that tries.

[Northern Neighbour]

One of the most annoying things is when people are on the rail or close to the front, they hardly move.  Instead, they stand there just watching the performer(s) on stage like they were watching TV.

True story - at a Sam Roberts show in Ottawa during the Ottawa Bluesfest a few years ago, there were four teenagers standing right in front of us on the rail.  Our friend and us immensely enjoyed the show, singing, dancing, yelling, etc.  The kids hardly moved.  At the end of the show, one of the two girls said, "The show was good, but I would have enjoyed it more if there wasn't so much screaming."

[Northern Neighbour]

Oh, another annoying behaviour - getting smoked on the shoulder at a MMJ show when TWTHS comes on.  Happens almost every time, eh GO4IT?   

[GO4IT]

Oh, another annoying behaviour - getting smoked on the shoulder at a MMJ show when TWTHS comes on.  Happens almost every time, eh GO4IT?   

Hey, it should be well known by now that TWTHS rules in my world and  you're going to get smoked if you're in my space when they fire this one up.

And don't you have universal health care coverage north of the border?  This is a covered illness under your health care plan and you are eligible for physical therapy after the shows - it's called TWTHS Smoked Shoulder Syndrome or TWTHSSSS.

[oistheone]

Ahhhh, the ol' 'sit vs. stand' debate! I was at a Paul McCartney concert a few years ago, and because there seats, people were sitting. Unlike some people that night, I realized I was in the presence of a fucking BEATLE and danced my ass off. The majority of my section was up and dancing with me, but I noticed a disinterested younger couple sitting directly behind me. As quickly as I turned around to notice them, the guy had already shoved a 20 in my face.

'Listen asshole, take this money and SIT THE FUCK DOWN!'

I took the money and didn't say a word. The next song was 'Back In The USSR', so I got right back up and resumed rockin'. The guy grabbed my shoulder aggressively.

'What the fuck man?! Sit down!'

I told him it was 20 a SONG. He left.

[MrWhippy]

oistheone, you are my new hero. 

[LD]

Ahhhh, the ol' 'sit vs. stand' debate! I was at a Paul McCartney concert a few years ago, and because there seats, people were sitting. Unlike some people that night, I realized I was in the presence of a fucking BEATLE and danced my ass off. The majority of my section was up and dancing with me, but I noticed a disinterested younger couple sitting directly behind me. As quickly as I turned around to notice them, the guy had already shoved a 20 in my face.

'Listen asshole, take this money and SIT THE FUCK DOWN!'

I took the money and didn't say a word. The next song was 'Back In The USSR', so I got right back up and resumed rockin'. The guy grabbed my shoulder aggressively.

'What the fuck man?! Sit down!'

I told him it was 20 a SONG. He left.

That's a great story!!!!

[Angelo]

Ahhhh, the ol' 'sit vs. stand' debate! I was at a Paul McCartney concert a few years ago, and because there seats, people were sitting. Unlike some people that night, I realized I was in the presence of a fucking BEATLE and danced my ass off. The majority of my section was up and dancing with me, but I noticed a disinterested younger couple sitting directly behind me. As quickly as I turned around to notice them, the guy had already shoved a 20 in my face.

'Listen asshole, take this money and SIT THE FUCK DOWN!'

I took the money and didn't say a word. The next song was 'Back In The USSR', so I got right back up and resumed rockin'. The guy grabbed my shoulder aggressively.

'What the fuck man?! Sit down!'

I told him it was 20 a SONG. He left.

Wow, what a dick. Why even bother going to a show if that's going to be your attitude? I love the way you handled it o.

[walterfredo]

I feel like every Wilco show there seems to be a split between sitters and standers.  Can't remember the exact date/show, but I have a Wilco recording from somewhere in Canada where tweedy calls attention to the whole stand vs. sit struggle that was going on in the crowd, then he says..."I don't have the solution to this problem, but would just like to draw attention to it" or something along those lines.  Classic. 

[Shug]

Yeah, he often does that.  I've not heard him outright tell people to stand up, but he drops pretty strong hints that that is what he prefers: an engaged and energetic audience to feed off of.  It really helps when the band steps in and encourages people to stand up.  Go Tweedy!

[APR]

The people in front of me at the MPP show, who were taking tons of pictures the entire show, turned around right in the middle of the best part of the jam in Lay Low and asked if I would take their picture.  I couldn't hear what they were asking but they persisted until I fiinally figured it out and said No, Not Now.  They probably thought I was the rude one.

Next time I'm going to say I charge $20 a photo.  So great that guy left the McCartney show.

The worst is when someone is taking video of a song while talking to their friend and paying no attention to the actual concert that is going on.  Like the crap sound on the small phone will be better tomorrow than the actual performance going on in front of their eyes.

[e_wind]

It's a concert, there are (mostly) no rules. If you don't like that I stopped in front of you, walk in front of me. If you wander around for a couple minutes at the beginning, you'll find a group of like-minded individuals. If you want to sing and dance and rock out, you'll find those people. If you want to just chill with your girl and not get bumped into, go back a little bit and you'll find all the other happy couples. The PC run was a blast and with each night we found more people that were having the same kind of fun. On Sat, we found the best groups of people in front of the soundboard. There were high-fives & OMFG! looks exchanged, "YEESSSS!!'s" for favorite songs, everything we wanted. The easiest way to have fun is to not worry about what everyone else is doing. If you're in a shit mood or don't care about the band, STAY HOME! We will have a blast without you!

How does one walk in front of someone who pushed their way in front of you and took up all the remaining space? I typically say something to the douchebags who do that, so they will know their behavior is not appropriate, but it was still a douchebag move to do it.

yeah this is wrong. If i waited for 6 hours to get on the rail or one off, dont walk you pussy ass up and shove your way into my space. its just inconsiderate (as in, you arent considering anyone but yourself)

[Crispy]

Ahhhh, the ol' "it's a rock concert" defense...don't we all get that rock shows exist solely to give everybody permission to be extremely intoxicated and act in ways we would never ever do in real life, and nobody should really take any offense? Yeah, I'm really tired of that argument.

[LD]

Oh, talkers during shows.....Shug and I were seeing Wilco at RR last summer for a 2-night run.  We were next to a group of people that seemed pretty cool at first.  During the show, one of the women stood by Shug (I was on the other side of him) and kept talking to him and touching his shoulder during songs.  He politely told her to please not talk during songs, but between songs was okay.  She then would keep apologizing to him during songs, hence still talking.  She wanted him to stop holding my hand so he could cup his ears to hear the sound better.  We finally realized that she must have been hitting on him in a weird way or something. She was being so disrespectful and annoying that Shug finally went off on her as she wasn't getting the message.   I finally switched spots with him. The behavior stopped, except when her group decided to leave early during the encore, she came up and whispered in my ear "fuck you."  If my left ACL wasn't completely torn in half, I would have ran after her and yanked her long hair out of her f@#*ing head.  Most of the encore was spent dealing with this psycho and I wish we could go back in time and re-live that moment differently.  Having cool/like people around ya means so much at a concert.....

[LeanneP]

I saw Wilco at Hamilton Place on February 23, 2010 (John Y, go throw that one on your birthday list    ) for my birthday and Tweedy told everyone to get up and dance. The staff didn't want dancing in the aisles, but standing at your seat was fine. The forward half of the hall complied but the back half sat on their duffs. He said something along the lines of, "If you are going to go out for a night on the town and listen to music, you should at least dance and enjoy it." I like that he does this. Lord knows, I cannot sit still for good music. Heck, even standing around at gigs I don't care for leaves me unable to stand still.