Attending live music events

[Mudcat]

(talking about, like, rock concerts as opposed to musical theatre).

Is it customary now for people to stand through entire shows? I am told it is. Here is a quote from a recent discussion with a friend talking about his experience of the last 10 years or so:

For a “rock concert”, you would either have to be sitting in the front row, or be lucky to not have anyone in the row or two in front of you. Otherwise, people pretty much stand at every show regardless of venue.



In my younger days, I was a big concert goer. Unless it was a venue with a dance floor right in front of the stage, I don't remember ever standing other than standing ovations and maybe through an encore.

This is a phenomenon I don't like at all. There have been a couple shows I wanted to see in the last year and I have stayed away just because I was assured I would have to stand the entire time. Just seems crappy to me. Now Cracker is coming to Lee's palace and I would love to see them but I'm thinking no.

Is it just a Toronto thing? Is standing through entire shows the natural order of things now?

[AgainstAllOdds]

I have attended a couple of concerts over the years, both rap and rock, and they mostly stand for the whole thing.

[onthewhat]

Not sure, I have never been to a concert where seating has even been optional. I only go to ones with general admission standing type setting. Sitting would be boring to me

[element1286]

Standing is the norm, at least for the headliner.

[RogueScholar]

Yeah, sadly here out West it's very common to have to stand for the entire show, even when there's comfortable seating. People just have no concept of how to consider the experience of others with their behavior out in public. It's disgusting and makes me glad I don't have kids. With the exception of aristocratic "arts and culture", attending events with large crowds of the public has become nothing but a disappointment.

[Mudcat]

On the bright side, I figured I'd get called a fogie (or equivalent) at least once by now and that hasn't happened.

Yeah I don't like it. If I'm going to be in the same venue as a musician I like, I want to see what they look like and what they're doing. That's always the way it used to be. You'd listen to a song, you'd react, you'd go nuts or whatever - you'd sit down enthralled and see what happens next. Some acts like Peter Gabriel had rather interesting detailed stage shows that you would need to observe closely or you'd be missing something.

I saw a lot of bands in a lot of different venues going back 30 years. I have a ton of memories and they are mostly visual. I am glad I could clearly see what was going no.

I don't know when that all changed. I drifted away from concert-going at some point.

If I want to party and dance to their music, I can throw on a CD later.

[Casperwaits]

For a show like Cracker, I don't think you will have a problem. I saw them headline w/ Counting Crows opening in 95, and as good as Cracker was, nobody felt like standing the whole time.

[Mudcat]

According to my buddy, the particular venue for the Cracker show - Lee's Palace - almost guarantees continual standing. He has seen them there before. Just the way it is set up.

I might just go anyway. Maybe it won't be so bad as I am imagining. At least I'm completely healthy and fit. I feel bad for a rock music lover with a bad back or legs.

I'd really like to see Cracker.

[pavyracer]

I went to a Cure concert last summer. It was at a hockey arena. We were seating at the stands. The people on the arena floor were standing eventhough they had chairs. Some chicks in front of us were standing the whole time. I was about 75 yards from the stage and I could hear perfectly well the sound so I was texting on my phone to get updates for the games I had action. I didn't care to see the show but I listened to it loud and clear.

[jjgold]

NFL football is the same way, years ago everyone sat down and enjoyed the game, now we have drunk animals that attend games and stand the whole time. I went to a Guns N's Roses concert years ago and everyone was standing except me and i CALLED SECURITY TO HAVE MY WHOLE SECTION SIT until concert was over or they were going to get ejected from the concert. I needed security around me the whole time but I enjoyed the concert and my seat.

[onthewhat]

NFL football is the same way, years ago everyone sat down and enjoyed the game, now we have drunk animals that attend games and stand the whole time. I went to a Guns N's Roses concert years ago and everyone was standing except me and i CALLED SECURITY TO HAVE MY WHOLE SECTION SIT until concert was over or they were going to get ejected from the concert. I needed security around me the whole time but I enjoyed the concert and my seat.

[Casperwaits]

I went to a Cure concert last summer. It was at a hockey arena. We were seating at the stands. The people on the arena floor were standing eventhough they had chairs. Some chicks in front of us were standing the whole time. I was about 75 yards from the stage and I could hear perfectly well the sound so I was texting on my phone to get updates for the games I had action. I didn't care to see the show but I listened to it loud and clear.

Was this at Phillips Arena? Pavy, I wouldn't have guessed you to be a Cure fan. Hope you didn't go all Goth at the show.

[FrozenMAN]

we stood the whole time, but thats cause it was the one and only JIMMY BUFFETT up on stage.

[Bread]

I always end up in the mosh pit because I am a psychopath.

[pavyracer]

Was this at Phillips Arena? Pavy, I wouldn't have guessed you to be a Cure fan. Hope you didn't go all Goth at the show.

No it was at the Gwinnett Arena. I know some of the Cure songs but I wouldn't sell my blood to see them over and over again.

[Mudcat]

The Cure was one of the shows my buddy mentioned as an example of where he went and everyone was standing the whole time.

That was at the Molson Amphitheatre which - as you might guess - is an amphitheatre. i.e. - there is seating. But I guess if some people decide to stand, it leaves no choice for a cascade of people behind them.

You know what? It gets my goat.

Do you hear what I'm saying?

I'm saying it gets my goat.

[AMBlai01]

Only concert I went to in which it was acceptable to sit was Billy Joel.....every other concert you had to stand the entire time..

[CaneDawg]

standing is the norm

we have a nice venue...chastain park...you can bring a blanket, wine, etc..

very cool for a first date

i am sure pavy has been there

[Wayfarer]

According to my buddy, the particular venue for the Cracker show - Lee's Palace - almost guarantees continual standing. He has seen them there before. Just the way it is set up.

I might just go anyway. Maybe it won't be so bad as I am imagining. At least I'm completely healthy and fit. I feel bad for a rock music lover with a bad back or legs.

I'd really like to see Cracker.

Mudcat,

I am also in Toronto and go to live shows regularly. Your buddy is certainly correct that Lee's Palace will ensure continual standing. I still think it's a nice venue all around and a fantastic location. I certainly don't think you should let it stop you from attending.

[pavyracer]

standing is the norm

we have a nice venue...chastain park...you can bring a blanket, wine, etc..

very cool for a first date

i am sure pavy has been there

I saw Tony Bennett there a couple years ago. It's different than arena shows but I liked it.

[Willie Bee]

I don't remember sitting for a rock concert back in the day. Occasionally we will sit during an acoustic show at Gruene Hall, but I thought standing was and still is the norm.

[MonkeyF0cker]

I sat during a Phish show once but I was tripping my balls off.

[Mudcat]

I don't remember sitting for a rock concert back in the day.

You don't? I don't remember anything but. What's up with that?

I remember stadium concerts like The Who's Farewell Tour of about 1982 at Maple Leaf Gardens. (Gosh it's a shame they had to pack it in and say good-bye. They were such nice boys. I wonder what they have been doing the last 25 years.)

I remember theatre type venues. All different kinds of acts.

The only time I remember standing was for David Wilcox at Spanky's bar in Brampton. They had a dance floor right in front of the stage so it was either stand or watch people dance with the band as background music.

Mudcat,

I am also in Toronto and go to live shows regularly. Your buddy is certainly correct that Lee's Palace will ensure continual standing. I still think it's a nice venue all around and a fantastic location. I certainly don't think you should let it stop you from attending.

Yes I have decided to stop being a such curmudgeon and just go.

[Mudcat]

I'm getting in the spirit now. WOOOOOOO!!!!!

[Mudcat]

Wanna be there for this one.

[shooterman]

First concert I remember this happening at was U2 about 20 years ago. I used to regularly attend concerts but I could barely walk out of that show after my back stiffened up on me. There is also another problem at concerts that is similar to the well known unpleasent movie theatre experience. Why is it that the people seated around me think that they are a vital part of the show? It seems to me that people are unable to ever STFU or act in a civil manner anymore. I am 52 years old but even when I was a teenager and in my twenties I never encountered the high percentage of complete FAHoles that are everywhere today. The actual music at concerts has seemed to have taken a back seat to the warped idea that "this is a party dude"!

[Matt Rain]

Don't recall being able to sit except for those mainstream rock shows held in arenas. I mostly recall being tossed around, stomped on and going back home with only one shoe.