concert etiquette

[smopo24]

am i alone, or should they require this as a class before you go to your first show? here are a few "rules" (off the top of my head) that i live by, and wish others adopted as well. this is by no means a complete list, so please post some others if you have some:

1. no cell phones.

unless you are a doctor or lawyer, forget bringing one in (this counts for movies too)! no one wants to be next to, or in front of the guy chatting about how f'd up he is, or who he's sleeping with. the person you are calling to broadcast the concert to thinks you are a douch as well. it's annoying, and it sounds awfull.

2. no moshing until the music plays.

i can't tell you how many times some lone tool has slammed into me......before the concert even begins! or, even between songs! this is not 1992, and we are not in the video for "evenflo", get a life and stop this.

3. NO MORE FREEBIRD!

it wasn't funny then, it isn't ironic now. be a moron on your own time, i don't want you yelling in my damn ear about a song the band wouldn't play even as a joke. that brings me to my next rule...

4. stop yelling dumb s**t durring the set.

we know the bass player is hot and you want to marry her, we just don't care. if you want to tell her, wait till after the show so she can ignore you to your face.

5. no autographs while the show is going on.

i've seen this several times, and it still kills me. someone thinks it's clever to hand the band a marker and a t-shirt to sign during the set. can't you just wait? if you get their autograph, ask after the show; it's still going to look the same.

6. bands should keep the chit-chat to a minimum.

we paid 30 dollars plus that outrageous ticket master fee for a reason, and it's not because we want to hear that you hate the government for 20 minutes. i saw the brian jonestown massacre recently, and a full hour was dedicated to his rants (it was funny for a bit, but after a while it seemed contrived and un-necessary). some do the stage banter well; if that's not you, don't talk (we're better for it). be a rock star, and keep your mystery.

7. don't throw things.

this is not a sign of affection, it's a safety issue. bottles, coins, shoes...no one thinks this is funny, espically the police. drunk or not, projectiles ruin everybody's fun.

8. if you want to talk, don't see a show.

how many times have i had to shoot a few dirty looks to the chin-scratchers next to me who go to a show debating how this band is overrated...for the entire thing! we paid to be entertained, but not by your pointless drivel. it's story time children, sit down and shut up.

9. if someone bumps you, let it go bro!

it's not always the guy next to you's fault that you were bumped and spilled your beer a bit, look around you....perhaps the 5,000 other people behind him had something to do with it? fighting over someone bumping you isn't a good idea to say the least. it's a given that you may have some physical contact with actual humans at these things; and for some, it's a selling point.

10. it's alright to have a good time.

just because you are too cool (or too un-coordinated; which is the case 99% of the time to: clap along, dance, or jump up and down because the band plays your favorite song) don't take it out on me, just ignore it. some people feel it's their job to be the cool police and make fun of or pick on people who are having fun. i'm not jaded, and i want to have a good time...and you will too if you learn to let go for once. bands usually like people showing their appreciation, and it usually results in a better show for everyone.


good night, and thank you! drive safe!

[johnS]

Originally Posted by smopo24

1. no cell phones.

unless you are a doctor or lawyer, forget bringing one in (this counts for movies too)! no one wants to be next to, or in front of the guy chatting about how f'd up he is, or who he's sleeping with. the person you are calling to broadcast the concert to thinks you are a douch as well. it's annoying, and it sounds afull.

My favorite thing about public cell-phone use is that you always know where you are. If you're riding the el, the idiot next to you will invariable yap into the phone: "Yeah, I'm on the el!"

If you're walking down the sidewalk on Belmont between Clark and Sheffield the idiot walking behind you will invariably yap into his cell phone: "Yeah, I'm walking down the sidewalk on Belmont between Clark and Sheffield!"

If you're sitting in a dark theater watching the end of Star Wars, and Darth Vader is about to go "Nooooooooo!" Some idiot behind you will invariably yap into his cell phone: "Yeah, I'm still at the theater. But it's almost over. Darth is about to go "Noooooooo!'"

[GearJunkie]

Originally Posted by smopo24

6. bands should keep the chit-chat to a minimum.

we paid 30 dollars plus that outrageous ticket master fee for a reason, and it's not because we want to hear that you hate the government for 20 minutes. i saw the brian jonestown massacre recently, and a full hour was dedicated to his rants (it was funny for a bit, but after a while it seemed contrived and un-necessary). some do the stage banter well; if that's not you, don't talk (we're better for it). be a rock star, and keep your mystery.

I actually opened for those knobs over the summer at a Lollapalooza aftershow party. They're as annoying offstage as they are onstage. They also skipped soundcheck, told everyone they were playing a different club, and didn't show up until we were just starting our last song.

Originally Posted by johnS

If you're sitting in a dark theater watching the end of Star Wars, and Darth Vader is about to go "Nooooooooo!" Some idiot behind you will invariably yap into his cell phone: "Yeah, I'm still at the theater. But it's almost over. Darth is about to go "Noooooooo!'"

That "Nooooooo!" was the clincher of that movie that made me walk out. God that movie sucked.

[smopo24]

last night i went to wilco at the auditorium......total nightmare! the drunk (everybody in my section STUNK of cheap beer) stupid couple in front of me kept talking loudly durring the show. i wanted to punch them both in the throat. i just hope they are sterile and don't pass their dumb ass genes to another generation. it was assigned seating, but i moved as soon as i was able. it really tainted what was otherwise a great show.

[MarlonBrandoCalrissian]

Originally Posted by smopo24

it was assigned seating, but i moved as soon as i was able.

Seating, at a concert? I never knew such a concept exits. How do you mosh if everyone is sitting?

[smopo24]

well this couple proved, there's more than mosing in you annoyance arsenal at a concert.

[drewsifer]

I personally find any audience to be quite annoying. Its not so much the people, but the applause. Prehaps its from listening to too many live albums, but I find the bigger the crowd, the more annoying the applause. In europe people actually listen to the music as opposed to themselves screaming and clapping live a bunch of seals. applause is for after the song is over. Most people at big shows dont understand that. This is why I prefer that nobody comes to my gigs.

[dolivas]

i guess this would be probably aimed at girls going to concert:
tall guys or fat lardasses in front of short ladies!! hello dumb beanstalks and butterpints half the shorties behind you cant see the concert because you're right in front blocking their view for no apparent reason than you being able to talk to your buddy and drink beer.. have a little courtesy for the shorties in the crowd.

[smopo24]

i have infinately more respect for the stills after seeing them last week. the band was in the middle of a song, when at the front of the stage, two grown men were fighting because one bumped into the other. the singer pratically stopped the song, told the men to stop acting like children, and that it wasn't acceptable behavior. he couldn't believe that it was happening at one of their shows.....and i agree, their music doesn't incite moshing or fights; and i'm glad they don't encourage them either; unlike rob zombie. that tool played a show some friends were at and encouraged the audiance to "F*** each other up!"; the audiance went nuts and a bunch of them wound up hurt. artists, you can stop the show and make sure the audiance is safe; all it takes is telling everyone to calm down, take a step back and that you won't continue the show if the audiance gets out of hand. i wish more people would do that.

[mikegee]

Originally Posted by johnS

My favorite thing about public cell-phone use is that you always know where you are. If you're riding the el, the idiot next to you will invariable yap into the phone: "Yeah, I'm on the el!"

If you're walking down the sidewalk on Belmont between Clark and Sheffield the idiot walking behind you will invariably yap into his cell phone: "Yeah, I'm walking down the sidewalk on Belmont between Clark and Sheffield!"

If you're sitting in a dark theater watching the end of Star Wars, and Darth Vader is about to go "Nooooooooo!" Some idiot behind you will invariably yap into his cell phone: "Yeah, I'm still at the theater. But it's almost over. Darth is about to go "Noooooooo!'"

yea, i agree. cell phone misuse/abuse is reaching an all time high. i have heard very explicit things being said by cell phone users on the commuter trains. im not a prude, but ya gotta scratch your head and wonder (not aloud of course...) "do these mopes realize they are announcing to the every person on the whole freaking train the detailed freaky things they were doing last nite when they were drunk outta their gourd? and they say it so loudly, its like they got a megaphone and they are making an announcement to all the other riders! or do they not give a care? whas up with that???" makes ya wonder...