Standing Up for a Whole Concert - Cool or Not ?
Thursday, September 20 2012 @ 08:12 PM CDT

I went to see Wilco perform the other night. Two couples, two rows in front of me stood up, immediately as the band took stage, and remained standing for the whole concert? People politely asked the (big and kinda scary-looking) guy to sit down, and he gestured that THEY should stand up.. I'm not saying right or wrong, cause, honestly I don't know. Which is why I ask..

Re:Standing Up for a Whole Concert - Cool or Not ?
Thursday, September 20 2012 @ 10:19 PM CDT

It's a mixed bag. A lot of times if you buy your seat outside of standing room only, you want just that ; a place to sit down and watch the show. I'm tallish, so I don't have a hard time standing up to see over the people in front of me, but my wife is short, and it bothers her. Plus, when I do have to stand up (or if I'm in the standing room only part) I'm always looking behind me to make sure I'm not ruining some other persons night by blocking their view. More often than not if I am, we just swap places or shuffle around, but thats not always the case. You kind of want to enjoy yourself and to let everyone else do the same even if its not ideal (like a 7' tall dude in front of you).

This year happened to be the first time I've ever lost my cool at a concert because of 'public'. We went to see Roger Waters in Austin, and the guy behind us broke out his little one hitter pipe, and somehow a flask, and somehow a camping cup, and somehow even sodas he brought in to mix w/ (I don't know where he kept it all). Pretty sure he was drunk by the time the show started, then when the lights went off he hit that pipe an obnoxious amount of times. Then he decided that talking to his girlfriend was of utmost importance, so he yell talked over the music. At first it was normal concert banter like 'holy crap, that was an awesome solo', but it progressed into him yelling to her about how he's pretty sure he forgot to feed the dogs, but i don't care I'm so f'd up. Roger Waters was doing The Wall in it's entirety, so this carried on for some time. Finally after the intermission, and who knows what kind of drugs ingested during the intermission, the dude just starts yelling jibberish right in the middle of the solo to 'comfortably numb'; which for whatever reason triggered something for me. I turned around and just unleashed. I yelled crap about how this would probably be the last time I ever got see Roger Waters live, and how I had to save up for the tickets, and how he was ruining it for all of us, and i added a bunch of expletives too. He started crying, and hugged me, and then cried more, and his girlfriend looked mortified, and they actually got up and left. W/ like 6 or 7 songs left, they got up and left. So then I felt all conflicted, even though I was pissed the guy had screwed up the first part of the concert; I felt bad that he'd left too (even though I'm pretty sure the music was a 2nd priority to getting fucked up at a Roger Waters concert for him). Anyhow, this resulted in a drive home conversation about proper concert etiquette, and just where the line is.

Re:Standing Up for a Whole Concert - Cool or Not ?
Thursday, September 20 2012 @ 11:29 PM CDT

I tend to move around at shows if I'm not comfortable. I find there are often empty seats or other options. If that doesn't work out I can come back to my own spot and see if it's any better or worse. However - if I have great seats and someone is yacking loudly - I have no problem asking them to quiet. Politely at first - and maybe a little less the next time - if needed.

Re:Standing Up for a Whole Concert - Cool or Not ?
Friday, September 21 2012 @ 01:07 PM CDT

If you went to see a movie and everyone in the theater was standing, it would seem silly. Shouting out "Sit down, you idiots!" would be the appropriate action to take. But not at a live music show. Well it depends on the type of music. People don't stand through a symphony. That would be weird.

I used to think that concert standers were just giving in to their own thoughtless rudeness --- "I'm so excited that I can't stay in my seat! The people behind me? Oh, I hadn't thought of that." But no. I think it's the result of a general principle of behavior that insists that the only way to properly experience a musical performance is to be on your feet, jumping around, shouting out, waving your arms in the air, and that EVERYONE in the room should be doing the same. If you ask someone to sit down, it's not as if they will realize that they are interfering with your enjoyment of the show. They would just think that you're an oddball if you're wanting to sit. It runs counter to their principle of concert behavior.

I think Zappa said something like, "Music should be listened to, not danced to."

Do people stand throughout because they think the band will appreciate the fans' display of excitement and appreciation? I suppose so. Maybe that's part of it. Looking from the stage at a bunch of people plopped in chairs maybe isn't as rewarding as looking out over a sea of motion.

Personally, if there are seats, I like to sit in one. I don't like standing hour after hour. I usually have to go outside and have a short walk, old geezer that I am. I think it's appropriate to stand and cheer after the band has pulled off something remarkable. But then sit back down for godsakes. The standing O at the end is fine, if the band deserves it (that's another subject for another day). I go to shows where I like to soak in what the band is doing. I like to listen, watch, and concentrate. That's easier to do from a sitting position.

Re:Standing Up for a Whole Concert - Cool or Not ?
Friday, September 21 2012 @ 01:30 PM CDT

Blame it on PHISH

Re:Standing Up for a Whole Concert - Cool or Not ?
Friday, September 21 2012 @ 03:49 PM CDT

Quote by: Les_Kloo If you went to see a movie and everyone in the theater was standing,

Whether it is right or not is one thing, but standing and cheering is expected to happen at a non-classical concert. My cousin and I had a gig where everyone sat down and listened and it was very disconcerting. I'm too used to music fans being obnoxious.

You'll just have to judge what kind of demographic group the band is going to draw before you decide whether or not to pull out the orthopedic shoes.

My dream show. D'Angelo, in July was one of the best shows I've experienced as far as politeness goes. I think it's because his fans now are all 30's to 40's music appreciators and not screeching banshees who want to throw undergarments. I may not have enjoyed his tour back in 2001 for that very reason.

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Sunday, September 23 2012 @ 07:14 AM CDT

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