I’ve only been to a few concerts. The kind where you tend to have battle scars. Every time before, if you fell, usually all those around you picked you up, a lot of the times before you hit the ground. If you wanted to crowdsurf, your neighbors would boost you up. No one got mad if they got hit in the head with a body part, mostly they’d just pay more attention next time (I sure did.) These things make the concert more enjoyable by all, even if you leave with a bruise or a busted lip. And you felt good about your fellow man, because even if he made you fall, he picked you up.
NOT SO IN WACO. My girl and I went to see Vanilla Ice this past Wed. (Go ahead, laugh, but I bet you know all the words.) The place was packed. I crowdsurfed for the first time (I’m down about 30lbs, so I feel better about doing it.) I got some hate thrown my way. I ALWAYS wear steel-toed boots to concerts, because, well, just because. I am pretty sure I hurt a few heads, but not intentionally, and I tried to keep my feet up…anyways, I got dropped on my head (I expected it and it didn’t hurt too much.) No biggie, I figured I’d just go back to where my girl and I were in the back (she’s 5’11" and I’m 6’1".) Some jerk won’t let me go to the BACK of the room. He tells me not to push him, well, in a frenzied crowd, you can’t help but push, or be pushed. It’s life. It’s a mosh pit. So, I pushed him and told him to fuck off. He swings. I swing. His 3 buddies swing. I drop down and punch testicles. (Fair? Who cares, it’s a fight) I lose my hat which I got back later. My girl got it for me, she wouldn’t let me go up there… I was proud of her, she stomped one of those guys, heh heh.
We left shortly after that, because she was hungry, but…
Can anyone get some concert etiquette courses out here to Waco???
Thanks for letting me vent.
“Rolling with the dopes you know. Rolling with the wrong gun on you”
“I dream that she aims to be the bloom upon my misery”
I hate to be the one to have to tell you this, but I believe your companion and yourself did breach etiquette at several points during the concert. Please refer to the list below in the future.
Things you should not do
[ul][li]Talk - the first and greatest commandment. Stay home if you aren’t in the mood to give full attention to what is being performed on stage.[/li][li]Hum, sing, tap fingers or feet - the musicians don’t need your help and your neighbors need silence.[/li][li]Rustle your program - restless readers and page skimmers aren’t good listeners and greatly distract those around them.[/li][li]Crack thy gum in your neighbor’s ear - this noise is completely inexcusable.[/li][li]Open cellophane wrapped candies - next to talking, this is the most serious offense to auditorium peace. If you have a bad throat, unwrap your candy between musical numbers. Trying to be quiet while unwrapping candies only prolongs the torture for everyone around you.[/li][li]Sigh with boredom - if you are in agony, keep it to yourself. Your neighbor may be in ecstasy. []Arrive late or leave early - it is unfair to performers and to the public to demand seating once the concert has begun. Try to arrive early. It is considered bad manners to depart before the conclusion of the concert.[/ul][/li]
Things you should do
[ul][li]If you’re in the lobby area and a signal is given (a chime, verbal announcement, lights dimming, etc.) proceed to your seat as soon as possible.[/li][li]When you enter the auditorium, be aware that you have entered a performance area, even if the performance has not yet begun. Proper decorum (soft talking with the person next to you, etc.) is expected.[/li][li]When the house lights dim, focus your attention on the stage and wait for what happens next. When someone walks on stage in front of the ensemble, they are making a formal entrance. You should applaud; if it is a member of the ensemble, it is probably the concertmaster, who will indicate to the ensemble that they would check their final tuning and wait for the conductor to enter. When the conductor of the ensemble walks on stage, the ensemble usually stands to acknowledge the audience with the conductor. While the conductor is the only one who bows, the mere fact that the ensemble stands while the conductor bows includes them in this acknowledgment.[/li][li]Unless you’re re attending a jazz band performance, do not applaud during the middle of a selection, even if there is a pause during the performance for different movements of an entire work. On the other hand, if you’re listening to a jazz band and someone “takes” a solo, do show your approval of the individual’s solo performance when they finish by applauding.[/li][li]Whistling, yelling, etc., are expected at athletic events. Applause is the appropriate response for a concert, thank you very much![/li][]NEVER enter the auditorium when a performance is in progress!!! If you arrive late, you must wait until the first selection is over to be seated.[/ul]
This is the kind of shit that goes on at a Vanilla Ice concert??
I’ve been to lots of concerts, most by bands that could be considered a little more wild than, say, Vanilla Ice, but I actually never encoutered any agression whatsoever.
Shrug
I do believe, however, that the way you come across influences the chances of a confrontation greatly. I mean, if I caught a guy crowd surfing at a Vanilla f%^&ing Ice concert, hell yeah, I would most likely give him a good spanking.
Most people at concerts are cool, but then again, there’s always a couple bastards.
Sure, I’ve been punched in the head (accidentally) in big ass mosh pits, but it’s part of the fun! I’ve given body-surfers a boost, and I’ve almost stepped on someone’s neck. A girl has dropped acid on my foot, and a six year old lit up a joint behind me at a concert he should not have been at.
Anyway…yeah, I’m going to see Coal Chamber, Type O Negative, and Full Devil Jacket in about 20 days…that’s going to have one kick ass mosh pit.
Studi
When I grow up, I want to be the Minister of Silly Walks.
Hmmm, and here I thought the OP was about crinkling cough-drop wrappers and not breaking into enthusiastic applause between movements. (Musical, you peasants!)
Anyway, adding absolutely nothing cogent to the discussion, what Arnold said.
Veb
(who also loathes “instant standing ovations” that mimick The Wave)
The Type 0 concerts I vsisited were not all that moshy, to be honest. Most people were just enjoying the music. The feared Nazis weren’t there, in fact I actually saw suburb-type guys with their wives! It was a happy gathering.
IMHO, most concerts where there is crowd surfing and the like going on are pretty lame. Usually non-talented yet loud-sounding bands like Rage Against the Machine fit this profile.
Loud music does not equal agressive conduct. Take it from someone who knows.