# Why do they aim spotlights into the audience at pop concerts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2022, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-aim-spotlights-into-the-audience-at-pop-concerts/961819 "2022-03-28T02:44:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-aim-spotlights-into-the-audience-at-pop-concerts/961819/1 "2022-03-28T02:44:41Z")
Almost every time I go to a pop concert, there’s a thing where they aim spotlights into the audience. I really hate this. Bright lights shining into my eyes annoy me. Why do they do this? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-aim-spotlights-into-the-audience-at-pop-concerts/961819/2 "2022-03-28T02:46:41Z")
So the crew recording the performance can get a shot of the crowd’s reaction? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-aim-spotlights-into-the-audience-at-pop-concerts/961819/3 "2022-03-28T02:47:48Z")
If the concert is being filmed at all they want a lighted shot? There are theories that people who might be doing something illicit tend to knock it off of there’s a chance that a light might suddenly be shines on them? The performers have spent the entire time with lights in _their_ eyes and they occasionally like to get a look at their audience? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-aim-spotlights-into-the-audience-at-pop-concerts/961819/4 "2022-03-28T17:54:41Z")
> You know people think there are only five members of Spinal Tap. But… they’re wrong. (cough, cough) / Could we turn up the house lights please? That was the cue to turn up the house lights so we could tell the audience they’re the sixth member of the freakin’ group. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-aim-spotlights-into-the-audience-at-pop-concerts/961819/5 "2022-03-29T00:07:50Z")
Well that’s it, I think. It’s a way of making the audience feel included directly. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-aim-spotlights-into-the-audience-at-pop-concerts/961819/6 "2022-03-29T00:19:16Z")
The Simpsons saves the day, again. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-aim-spotlights-into-the-audience-at-pop-concerts/961819/7 "2022-03-29T01:01:14Z")
I guess I don’t mind if it happens every now in then, as to briefly light up the audience. What brought this complaint on specifically was that I went to a concert last night in which the opening act had a light shining directly into my eye for the entire set. I couldn’t even see the stage. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-aim-spotlights-into-the-audience-at-pop-concerts/961819/8 "2022-03-29T02:11:27Z")
I always thought it was partly so the audience can see how big the audience is. It probably brings up the energy in the room. Also, partly because, from what I understand, the performers, with the lights in their face, feel like they’re playing to an empty room. This would help them see the crowd. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-aim-spotlights-into-the-audience-at-pop-concerts/961819/9 "2022-03-29T02:15:31Z")
“Let’s have a look how you look. We wanna see how beautiful you are. Ahh, New York, you’ve been talkin’ a lot, let’s have a look at you.” —my favorite live album, _Get Yer Ya-yas Out_, by The Rolling Stones (recorded 1969)