The Concert Code
Is there a ‘right' way to enjoy a concert?
To stand or to sit? To scream or stay silent? Is there an actual rulebook, or so-called "concert code", for concert etiquette? Everyone is entitled to enjoy concerts the way they want to, especially after all the blood, sweat and tears that went into buying that single ticket. But when does the enjoyment become unreasonable? Let’s take a look.
POV: You’re out-standing.
Photo Credit: The Guardian
Is it okay to be standing in a seated pen? The expectation of seated sections is the promise of comfort, convenience and (sometimes) better views of the performance. But is it really so wrong to be standing? Personally, I think it boils down to who you're seeing and the vibe of the crowd itself. If the concert has choreography or music with a loud deep bass, you most likely can’t help but groove. If the set leans towards a slow beat like R&B or Indie, you’ll probably be seated for most of the performance, swaying your head to the beat and singing along to the melody. While I do feel standing for the whole concert in a seated pen might be a bit of a stretch, it’s really about reading the room… more like the concert hall. You get the point.
Photo Credit: Music Festival Explorer
POV: Lost in the moment?
Is it okay to jump and dance? Definitely. Is it okay to disregard the people around? Definitely not. While energy levels in the standing sections are often times high, as the crowd feeds off one another, that energy fades when you’re pushing others in a crowd that is already fatigued from all that standing. The adrenaline can only keep one happy for so long. At some point, the awareness of personal space matters. This is the only undebatable point. Don’t crush someone’s toes or shove into an already tired crowd. In the standing pen, the concert experience is dependent on the people around you.
Photo Credit: Business Insider
POV: You’re looking at a board
Yes, I’m still in the standing pen. It’s bad enough that some are vertically challenged and keeping that board up definitely doesn’t help the view. While having interactions with the artist is definitely special, I didn’t pay all this money to look at the back of your board. There is never a right or wrong time to hold your board, but I think it’s pretty selfish to have it up the whole time and affect the crowd behind it.
Photo Credit: The Guardian
POV: Your phone saw more than you did
It isn't just the boards; it's the sea of phones in the air. Are you truly experiencing the concert or filming it just for the gram? Understandably people have different ways of enjoying a concert, but to the point where you’re just standing still and not feeling the moment? That’s kind of sad. What's the difference between meeting your idols in real life and watching them online, if you’re just going to look through the screen (again)?
Photo Credit: Glamour
POV: Be your idol?
On the other side of the dead crowd, are the noisy ones. Singing along and screaming is great, but it reaches a point where I'm listening to you and not the idols I paid to see. Although I agree that one shouldn't be restricted on how loud they can be, I would much rather be serenaded by them than you.
So, is there a concert code? Nope, there isn’t. The concert culture may have changed since it first started, but that shouldn't stop us from having fun. Ultimately, it's just being respectful of one another. Just remember, no trampling, pushing or obstructing the view and you should have a blast at your next concert. Having a good time shouldn’t be that hard. Right?
