Last night we went to to the Chris Isaak concert in town. He put on a great, energetic show, though there were times when he toned it down for more intimate songs, such as “Wicked Game” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
Most of the time, the audience sat unless there was a particularly raucous number, such as “Great Balls of Fire” and then everyone would stand up en masse. However, there was one couple who remained standing the entire time. They were about 8 rows from the back, so a good number of people were blocked from seeing Isaak, unless they, too, stood up. At one point, one man asked them to please sit down. They said they’d come to watch a live show and it was their prerogative whether to sit or stand.
Another lady in the front section stood and danced enthusiastically to every upbeat number, but sat down for the tender songs. A good portion of the audience was blocked from seeing the show except through her writhing body.
A few nights ago, at the Trans Siberian Orchestra show, everyone sat except the floor stood for the “Wizards in Winter.” As a result, the people in the first row of the loge couldn’t see the stage. A few stood, including a man and his son, to the left of me. The guy right next to me in row 2 reached down and tapped him on the shoulder, and ordered him to sit down.
“Hey, buddy, sit down.”
The guy said, “If I sit down, we can’t see!”
“Well, we can’t see over you.”
“That’s too bad.” He said, and they remained standing, but I could tell that the moment was ruined for them.
At a Neil Young concert, my friends reported that a similar situation occurred and Security had to be called because two men nearly came to blows.
So…I am soliciting opinions on the etiquette for live concerts. Are you expected to sit to remain courteous to the folks behind you (except when everyone stands) OR by virtue of attending a live concert do you have the right to immerse yourself in the music and sit or stand at your will? Does it matter where you sit? Does the genre matter?
Personally, I can see both sides but would like to hear other people’s opinions on the subject because apparently this is a very common occurrence.
I personally prefer to sit most of the time and stand for only some specific songs but if I find myself in a situation where the people in front of me are standing I’ll stand too.
However, people who stand on their seats should be taken out back and beaten.
Well, you certainly have the right to stand for the whole dang show. Now etiquette is a whole nother question.
Some songs/performances everyone is expected to be standing for. When Bruce launches into Born to Run or the like, everyone is up, and anyone sitting down is the outlier. On the other hand, songs like The River could be enjoyed seated.
I kinda use a “what is everyone else doing” approach. I don’t want to be the one jackass standing and blocking the view of a number of other people.
Had this same kinda thing as you describe happen at a Rush concert a few weeks back. A group to my right were standing through everything, until a group behind them asked nicely if they would sit down, they did, no harm,no foul.
Just courtesy though, they could have said screw you we stand, damn it, and that would be that.
Depends on the venue. If they’re playing Carnegie Hall, you sit. If they’re playing an outdoor theater, you stand. There are also some “in-between” venues where you have to use discretion based on what the rest of the audience is doing.
You certainly wouldn’t go to a film theater or a Broadway show and stand up the whole time.
The worst concert experience I ever had was circa 1987, The Who at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. We had floor seats, near the middle, at this outdoor venue, on a beautiful summer evening. The seats were those folding metal things that we all know and hate. The seats were all cable-tied together to make long integrated rows of stable platforms upon which everyone stood for the entire show. Three fucking hours perched standing on a metal folding chair so I could see at all. If every-fucking-one sat down we would have had the same vantage point. Dickweeds.
Yeah, I agree that it depends on the venue. I honestly can’t remember the last time I’ve been to a concert where there even was the opportunity to sit. Actually, no, I do. Harry Connick Jr back in 1992. To me, rock music just feels wrong from a seated perspective, but if you’re in a venue with seats, be courteous and follow the social convention.
Went to Ozzfest 97 and it was great except when tool came on everyone stood on the arms of their seats for the entire thing, which we weren’t about to do. I had no idea what the band looked like after they played, I didn’t get a glimpse of them. Ozzy was bad with people standing on the arms of their seats but not as bad. They didn’t do this for any of the other bands.
Had a very awkward example of this with an ex at Fleetwood Mac concert. We weren’t even on the floor, we were in the balcony (still sweet seats!) and she insisted upon standing up and dancing to too many songs.
She was asked by the couple directly behind us to please sit down, as they didn’t care to stand to see the show.
Her reply was the standard paid-for-these-seats-gonna-do-what-I-have-a-right-to-do.
I agreed with them and tried to reason with her, which didn’t work.
My vote: under most circumstances if there are seats, sit.
It’s a music concert. Unless it’s Lady Gaga there’s usually not all that much to actually see. If there’s some exciting dancing or something interesting to look at then usually that number will be upbeat enough that everyone will want to stand anyway. And even if there’s something to look at, you have to be fairly close to appreciate it.
I think the most reasonable approach is to stand during the exciting parts and sit during the mellow parts, unless you are a super fan in which case get seats close to the front or keep your exuberance to the aisles.
I would try to give extra consideration to the elderly and disabled who really can’t stand up.
I totally disagree. When I go to a jazz club, I always try to sit behind the piano side so I can watch the pianist’s hands. At the symphony, I want to watch the conductor and see the expressions on the soloists’ faces. There’s a very visual element to all music when it’s being performed live, and the energy the musicians convey visually translates into a more vibrant, enjoyable experience.
Here’s not Lady Gaga giving a visual performance that would have been ruined by the bozo in front of you that decided to stand.
I spent many many summers as an usher at live music performances. Our general rule was to support whatever the majority of people were doing. So if the whole crowd was up and dancing we wouldn’t tell them to sit because the two people in the middle of the section wanted to sit and couldn’t see, but if most of the section was sitting and a few down front were up and grooving we would just move the dancers to seats where they could enjoy the show without obstructing anyone’s view.
We had a good deal of leeway as far as moving people, and sometimes we found other (good) seats for the minority sitters if they were nice. If you need assistance at a show just ask an usher, we were always happy to help you have a good time.
I just can’t imagine sitting down to watch a concert. Seems like a great way to not have any fun. But I rarely go to old-people shows, despite starting to get somewhat old myself.
This is why I don’t go to concerts. I’m short, and once someone in front of me stands I may as well go home. I can listen to the music on my computer; I pay the money for the concert to see the artist or artists. Since no one sits anymore, I don’t go.
Same here, that and all the ruckus. I went to see Rush and there was so much whistling and shouting, could not hear anything but the bass parts. That was the last concert I have ever been to, an appallingly stupid experience back in 1982. I think a lot of people go to concerts just to say they went. Once they’re there they don’t really care about the music or the band. It’s just an out-of-control party, with lots of screaming, whistling, and yelling - even while the music is being played.
If that’s your favorite group, here’s an idea. Why not be quiet while they’re playing, cheer after the songs?
The vast majority of concerts I’ve been to it was a given to stand, though I’ve been to more stand-only (no seats at all) venues than larger ones with seats. Maybe it’s because of that it never bothered me that everyone stands even when they all had assigned seating. We would just stand, dance, yell “WOOOOO” whenever, and sit whenever we needed a rest, not bothered by whether we could see or not.
I’m a good social sheep, though, and would not be that chick standing and dancing like an ass if the vast majority were sitting. That would be like dancing during a rousing number during Wicked or something.
You really need to go with the flow and follow the majority. If you want to sit while everyone around you is standing, well, too bad. If you want to stand while everyone is sitting, don’t be a jerk.
A good performer should somewhat be able to direct the audience.
I do not get this at all. You need to stand to have fun? The concert is more enjoyable from a standing position, as opposed to sitting? Do people stand at sporting events, or do they sit in their seat?
That Who concert just absolutely did me in. Three hours of standing on a folding chair. Jesus Christ people. It’s 25 years ago and I still have angry feelings about it!
