Concert Rules.
Sep. 22nd, 2006 02:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lululuvsolI went and saw The Mountain Goats tonight. The performance was great and I loved the audience/band banter, it was a good time. The problem for me was with the crowd. I am getting worse and worse at being able to deal with crowds and just people in general. This is why I usually like to be in the front of a show so that all the stupidity can happen behind me and I don't have to deal with it and can focus on the music. I hate rude people, I hate people who don't use courtesy and who think they deserve things...I don't know if I am becoming more critical or if people are just becoming more obnoxious, but either way, I am having a harder time dealing with them.
But I was thinking...when going to see a film it is always a non-smoking experience. People are reluctant to get up and leave for a drink in the middle of the movie...they get what they want before the show usually and even if they want another they realize it'd be rude to make people move and interupt there movie-going experience so they can have another box of Goobers. It is supposed to be quiet during the show, often even the opening of the movie mentions being quiet and courteous. Also, typically if you go to a movie (most people, there are jerks everywhere though) you do not just stand to the side and talk to your friends the whole time, people think "why spend $8 and not watch the movie?" and you don't come in late to a movie, you go early to get good seats, you go when the lights are on and you can see where you're going and your head won't be in the way of people watching the movie...I guess I just wish the same rules applied to concerts.
Smoke. I completely understand how addictive it is and why it is hard to stop, but why do people start? They know it's bad, they know they'll have to quit (or die trying) eventually, yet they try it because of peer pressure, because they want to look cool or badass or something. I am astounded by how many people still smoke these days, really. Now, over-eating may be considered a similar problem in many regards, but at least it does not affect other people as much and my unhealthy habit is not unhealthy for people just being around me. Smoke everywhere at shows, and this one was particularly bad. Pretentious youngsters with floppy hairstyles wearing sweatbands and smoking pipes, blowing smoke rings (no joke, I saw at least 2 guys doing that)...you know they were just trying to look cool, they looked like idiots to me.
There should be a rule...you leave to get a beer it is absolutely not appropriate to say "excuse me" to 25 people to get back to where you were standing before. I realize that most people drink at concerts...I don't. I am there to see music being played, not get tipsy. And I have no problem with someone getting a beer or two before the show, but having to leave the audience 2 or 3 times and then pushing themselves back through the crowd and disturbing everyone else. No. You're disrupting everyone else's experience for your need for alcohol? Get a life, listen to the music.
BE QUIET. People at the movies talk through the previews, I HATE it. They say "oh, no one cares about previews"...I do, I enjoy seeing what is soon to be released. This is the same with opening acts, just because you haven't heard of it, just because this isn't who you paid your $10 to see does not make it not worth your attention to at least be respectful of them. Do not talk loudly through their set and then yell "It's about time!" when they say this is their last song. You know, they are PEOPLE, they have feelings...they are trying to do their jobs. And some people even go just to see the openers...be respectful. And don't come late because "oh, it's just the opener" either, that pisses me off...and if you do come late, don't think you deserve a spot in the first 3 rows, because you don't.
You are the one who went out of your way to get a ticket to the show...a sold out show too, so why the hell are you talking through the whole thing? Some people act as if the show is almost burdensome...they yell towards their friends because the music is too loud, they get annoyed when they can't hear their friends over their cell phone, WTF, you're at a show, be at a show! Not answering your cell phone or having conversations while the music is being played! If anything, is a concert not MORE worthy of attention than a movie. I mean, a movie experience could be re-lived, you could see the same movie 2 hours from then in the SAME theater even. A concert is by living people doing a performance, not unlike a play, you respect them and their art, you give them your full attention, you don't just go for something to do and stand there chatting and drinking beer, it's a LIVE performance that will only happen this exact same way once.
I know, it's music, it's about grit, it's about sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll afterall. But it's also an art, it's an experience...one that can be ruined by people being assholes and disrespectful to people around them. Just...be courteous.
But I was thinking...when going to see a film it is always a non-smoking experience. People are reluctant to get up and leave for a drink in the middle of the movie...they get what they want before the show usually and even if they want another they realize it'd be rude to make people move and interupt there movie-going experience so they can have another box of Goobers. It is supposed to be quiet during the show, often even the opening of the movie mentions being quiet and courteous. Also, typically if you go to a movie (most people, there are jerks everywhere though) you do not just stand to the side and talk to your friends the whole time, people think "why spend $8 and not watch the movie?" and you don't come in late to a movie, you go early to get good seats, you go when the lights are on and you can see where you're going and your head won't be in the way of people watching the movie...I guess I just wish the same rules applied to concerts.
Smoke. I completely understand how addictive it is and why it is hard to stop, but why do people start? They know it's bad, they know they'll have to quit (or die trying) eventually, yet they try it because of peer pressure, because they want to look cool or badass or something. I am astounded by how many people still smoke these days, really. Now, over-eating may be considered a similar problem in many regards, but at least it does not affect other people as much and my unhealthy habit is not unhealthy for people just being around me. Smoke everywhere at shows, and this one was particularly bad. Pretentious youngsters with floppy hairstyles wearing sweatbands and smoking pipes, blowing smoke rings (no joke, I saw at least 2 guys doing that)...you know they were just trying to look cool, they looked like idiots to me.
There should be a rule...you leave to get a beer it is absolutely not appropriate to say "excuse me" to 25 people to get back to where you were standing before. I realize that most people drink at concerts...I don't. I am there to see music being played, not get tipsy. And I have no problem with someone getting a beer or two before the show, but having to leave the audience 2 or 3 times and then pushing themselves back through the crowd and disturbing everyone else. No. You're disrupting everyone else's experience for your need for alcohol? Get a life, listen to the music.
BE QUIET. People at the movies talk through the previews, I HATE it. They say "oh, no one cares about previews"...I do, I enjoy seeing what is soon to be released. This is the same with opening acts, just because you haven't heard of it, just because this isn't who you paid your $10 to see does not make it not worth your attention to at least be respectful of them. Do not talk loudly through their set and then yell "It's about time!" when they say this is their last song. You know, they are PEOPLE, they have feelings...they are trying to do their jobs. And some people even go just to see the openers...be respectful. And don't come late because "oh, it's just the opener" either, that pisses me off...and if you do come late, don't think you deserve a spot in the first 3 rows, because you don't.
You are the one who went out of your way to get a ticket to the show...a sold out show too, so why the hell are you talking through the whole thing? Some people act as if the show is almost burdensome...they yell towards their friends because the music is too loud, they get annoyed when they can't hear their friends over their cell phone, WTF, you're at a show, be at a show! Not answering your cell phone or having conversations while the music is being played! If anything, is a concert not MORE worthy of attention than a movie. I mean, a movie experience could be re-lived, you could see the same movie 2 hours from then in the SAME theater even. A concert is by living people doing a performance, not unlike a play, you respect them and their art, you give them your full attention, you don't just go for something to do and stand there chatting and drinking beer, it's a LIVE performance that will only happen this exact same way once.
I know, it's music, it's about grit, it's about sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll afterall. But it's also an art, it's an experience...one that can be ruined by people being assholes and disrespectful to people around them. Just...be courteous.
