Fan etiquette 101: Sorry isn't optional

We talk about concert manners and behavior every once in a while here, because rude neighbors can ruin a good show, even an exceptional show, like the recent Springsteen show at Sprint Center. A fan from St. Louis was there, and vented about an experience tainted by a thoughtless neighbor. Read it here.

Comments

[mankvill]

My #1 concert-going pet peeve are these people that stand real close to the stage in the pit and then complain and get mad when they get bumped/run into. Where do you think you are?

[Bob L.]

I was at the Ha Ha Tonka show at Record Bar on Thanksgiving eve, and it was one of the worst crowds I've been around in terms of talking during the show. I swear the volume of the chatter between songs was louder than the show itself. It must just be the times we live in. All of these mobile devices and social networking makes people think they HAVE to connect ALL the time.

[LiveMusicFan]

My #1 concert pet peeve is people who talk during shows. Unless you're saying "get me a beer", "do you want me to get you a beer", "pass the joint", or "this is f-ing great" you need to STFU. The rest of us are there to hear the band. If you want to talk, there are literally thousands of places where you can go and not bother the people around you.

[onthemark]

I nominate LMF for posting the comment of the year!

[St Louis]

LMAO!! Cheers to the person who spilled their beer on the idiot whiner from St Louis. AHAHAHA!!!

St Louis sucks, has always sucked and always will suck.

[Ralph]

hope that won a bet for someone in the BTR backroom... it was pretty predictable.

[Dick]

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema should start being in charge of telling people to STFU DURING CONCERTS !!

Have you seen their video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L3eeC2lJZs

[Musicgal]

LMF: Exactly.

[Bubba Brown]

What REALLY pisses me off at some of these standing-room-only gigs - usually at the Beaumont Club or even the Midland is when these towering over six-foot-two gargantuan morons 'center themselves dead center in front of the stage. You get there a bit before the show starts and soon there after, you notice that this particular fan SMELLS! P-freaking-U!! I was at the Beaumont to see KITTY, I believe it was and this goth-looking cat was up front and he (honestly) smelled like Clorox perhaps mixed with perspiration - as if this clown hadn't showed in days. Get WITH the program, you ingrates!! Did your mother have any kids that lived?

Well, did she? Bubba asked it.

[kcmom]

Agree with all of the above, and will add my concert etiquette pet peeve: people who think they should be able to dance (using the term VERY loosely) no matter how little space is available for said activity or how many people they inconvenience--I don't want your elbows in my side, your ponytail flipped in my face or your feet in my calves, thankyouverymuch.

[slashnburn]

here's mine. standing room concerts with chicks who bring the biggest purses (duffel bag) they own. They're constantly knocking you with the stupid thing and when you stand your ground and don't move they look at you like you're doing something wrong. If you need that many tampons in one evening, you have other issues that you need to be addressing.

[Elaine Benes]

At least we all agree that Springsteen is responsible for this travesty, and if springsteen didnt suck so bad this fan would have been happy, but being springsteen suck as much as he does this other fan had beer spilled on her, and she deserved for going to a crappy concert.

As for dancing? I am a great dancer, so dont tell me I cant dance, just get out of my space, or I will knock you out of my space with my purse full "personal items"

[Bubba Brown]

SlashBurn, I got on for you - I was at Rockfest in 2008. STONE TEMPLE PILOTS was the headliner. Just before STP took the stage, I managed to get close to the stage. A very large woman - with a huge handbag was 'crunched' right up against me. Within five minutes she was accusing me grabbing her ass. I'm like "Honey I'm not - but PLEASE don't flatter yourself!" I soon there after moved to the other side of the stage. I won't likely again attend another Rockfest simply BECAUSE of the crowd. I mean, AS ADVERTISED - that annual festival really has 50,000 patrons in attendance.

[Green]

Haha Tonka did have a lot of chatter, but the back of the Record Bar always has that. If I am in the back, I would most likely skip the show, front of the house or nothing for me. Worst this year was Avett Brothers, damn P&L cool kids in front of me had to discuss their entire life throughout the entire show. When we confronted them, they responded with, "Can't you hear the music, we can." Damn near started throwing punches! What a rude, self centered hole, enjoy the music and take the conversation home. Show the artist on stage a little respect.

[Green]

Pet peeve, those crowd pushing holes who thrash through the crowd and steal your spot by pushing you to the side after you have been there an hour or more.

[Joel]

I hate tall people at concerts,
there should be a rule, a law, at least a limit- NO ONE TALLER THAN 5'10' and no one fatter than 250 pounds and no pushy people allowed and only mutes allowed( and you have to prove on the way that you know how to STFU!)

[hamster]

I personally hold the belief that short people shoud be banned from concerts. In the words of the prophet:

Short people got no reason to live
They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That go beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin' peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They're gonna get you every time
Well, I don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
'Round here

But more mutes would be nice.

[Steve]

Spot on hamster. My thoughts exactly.

[pellboy]

And btw, a Happy 69th Birthday today to Mr.Randy Newman.

[Kurt]

I had a negative experience at a TSO show in Dec 2010 at the Sprint Center. A man next to me before the show said watch my jacket lady so, he could buy nachos.

I was wanting to defend myself but, decided to not risk being kicked out of the show and miss TSO. I took that comment from him as an insult.

[Bubba Brown]

To - Hamster & Steve, for me short people really are not that much of an issue at concerts. I do remember that awhile back at Sandstone - I was in the fifth row to see POISON once and the couple - I sort of knew the guy - but his hot-looking very short girl friend / date was only 5' tall. They both kept telling people to "Let her see". Obviously got on a lot of other people's nerves after a point as well. Bubba said it, he don't regret it.

[Average]

Short people and tall people should be banned from concerts.

[Bubba Brown]

I got one, how about patrons in HUGE-ass wheel-chairs? Several years ago, I was at the Uptown and this one REALLY over-weight fan was in his super-wide wheel chair - as he KEPT going up to the stage - many times during the show. MY problem is two factors: 1) the security didn't say squat to him while they were chasing back everyone else who geared toward the stage (a few times with their cel phone cameras, etc.) and 2) when I went to the men's room and as I was returning to my seat, this 'gentleman' in a wheel chair ALMOST wheeled over my right foot. OUCH!

Believe this fan even got a guitar pick - as the band DID notice him. There are two other patrons in wheel chairs that I've hung out with before and during a show - usually at the Beaumont or the Uptown - those two guys are VERY cool and considerate toward everyone.

[Bewlay]

Talking about obnoxious concert goers the other day with a veteran: how about the musicians that can't keep their mouth shut during the main act? Last show I went to at RecordBar the first act hit up some girl all night. This wasn't in the back of the room either, they were near the door to the smoking area.

[Big Joe]

It sucks when you go to Knuckleheads for a rocking good time, and then everybody stays in their seats. Then if you want to stand up front you can't because the whole place is glaring at you. It feels like a museum exhibit or something. Doesn't happen all the time, but sometimes it happens, and it's really weird.

[Naddy]

As a rule of thumb if you avoid lame ass mellow fests and stick to REAL rock shows, the talking is not an issue.

[Mojo Nixon]

Big Joe, I hope you aren't the one I see at Knuckleheads all the time, thrashing about and acting like a spaz. That may be why people are glaring at you.

[Dave]

It's sort of a mixed bag for me. I glad that people go see shows at recordBar and Crossroads. I am sure the bands appreciate playing to more than five people. BUT yeah, talking about your freaking cat in the middle of the Avetts harmonizing a ballad probably isn't the best choice. It's simple, if you want to talk, go back by the bar. If you want to rock, go up front. I practically got buggered up front at the Teenage Bottlerocket/Dropkick Murphys show. I got teabagged by a crowd-surfing dude in a kilt. But it's all in good fun. Don't let the annoying people hurt your love of live music. The bands need us there!

[BigPatty]

As a former security guy for these shows, If you are in the front row, you are going to get pushed, and likely it is not the person's fault that is standing directly behind you, but the 2000 people standing behind them. Deal with it. I don't like to contend with the constant crush of people so in places like the Uptown I go to the back row of the balcony where I can see everything, and stay in my seat, and not get pushed from behind constantly.

[Big Joe]

I go to Knuckleheads about once a year, so that hardly qualifies as "all the time" so not me. I only go up front when there is a huge crowd packed up front. That is what makes it an amazing experience. I am surrounded by great energy from the crowd and the band. When the dance floor is empty and everybody sits quietly in their seats and calmly claps after each tune, then what's the point of being there? It's obvious that the energy of the band is lessened from that too as a good show is a symbiotic relationship between band and crowd. Bottom line, it's annoying when a show is ruined by boring southern Johnson County types who sit there like statues.

[CH]

My biggest pet peeve is crowd surfers. I didn't pay good money to go to a concert and frickin' hold you up or have you kick me in the head or face.

Some others:

The one idiot who wants to mosh and no one else does. Love it when people get tired of their crap and knock him on his a$$.

People who windmill. Don't mind the standard headbanging, but hate getting slapped in the face while people are windmilling.

The people who get there late and shove their way up front and try to move you out of the way.

And I'm one of those short people and I do get up front at club gigs because otherwise I would see nothing. But I try to pick a strategic spot, like over by the speakers or left or right several people of center. So I'm used to getting smashed and realize that's just part of it.

[SinCityDisciple]

Since there's no review of the show, thought I'd chime in on the crowd at Chris Isaak the other night @ the Uptown. With the exception of a few younger hipsters, the crowd was mostly middle age. Dockers, mom jeans and a few Hawaiian shirts. Our seats were under the balcony and I was completely floored by the behavior of those around us. Behind was a large group that felt obligated to shout to each other as a means of communication. Since this was a seated show, there was no shortage of folks voicing their displeasure when someone would stand in front of them (it was particularly nasty during Wicked Game). The two youngish ladies in front of us were more interested in keeping up on Facebook than they were watching the show. Where's Alamo Drafthouse when you need them??? During one of the early songs, when Mr Isaak made it out into the aisle on his way to the balcony. I've never seen so many middle aged women move so quickly to get a good view.

Having never seen Chris Isaak before, I was pleasantly surprised by the show. Good energy and at times they really don't take themselves too seriously. But I thought the crowd was brutal.

PS - Don't park on Broadway between KC Life and The Uptown. 4 cars (including ours) were broken in to during the show. Nice way to wrap a fun show....

[kcmom]

Thanks for your comments about Chris' show. I was near the front of the balcony. You were spot-on regarding the demographics; the crowd around me was quiet and polite--no complaints here--sorry you had a bad experience--I hate when that happens!

It was my first time seeing him as well and I enjoyed the show. Tickets seemed a little pricey though, and it seemed as if he could have played a longer set especially after making several "teasing" comments to that effect.

I parked on that awkward upper level parking structure across the street and had no problems.