The 10 Most Annoying Concert Behaviors...add your own too

[EJ]

Unless its an intimate, acoustic type of performance (a la Benaroya), it would be really bizarre to be at PJ concert with everyone seated. Not sure I'd get the same rush.

They made us sit for the acoustic set on 7/11/03.

Yup, and in that setting it was perfect.

[E.H. Ruddock]

How have I missed this thread!? I started one similar in old RM but in GD. I've got a bunch, most probably have been said. I can't wait to read this.

Guys who have to cling on to their girls the whole show. Relax and chill out, dude.

[E.H. Ruddock]

found it!

http://archive.theskyiscrape.com/viewto ... 2c&start=0

My list:

old dude who is just freaking out grooving with the music, unaware of his surroundings.

dude with a wool beanie on, even if it's hot as fuck.

guy who has to have his arm around his girl the whole time. Seriously, its a concert, let go of your insecurities and have a good time.

dude that gets drunk and has to constantly bump beer bottles with his friends or bro-hug his friends.

[Norah]

Unless its an intimate, acoustic type of performance (a la Benaroya), it would be really bizarre to be at PJ concert with everyone seated. Not sure I'd get the same rush.

They made us sit for the acoustic set on 7/11/03.

Were they rude about it?

Ed was actually quite polite.

[washing machine]

We had to settle for seating to the right of a footpath for the Flaming Lips' set at Summer Fest last July because we were rushing from another stage. The Lips' stage was centered in front of a steep hill and there were two main arteries going down to the beer and merch booths as well as the port-a-potties. So, for the entire set, instead of being able to see and hear the Lips famed stage show, I viewed hundred of legs loudly stumbling towards the beer. At no point in the set did this let up, even slightly. The logistics of the festival are really to blame here, but I'm choosing to get mad at the drunks.

[Birds in Hell]

If concerts have seats, I think it's kind of reasonable that people expect to sit and watch the show. If Pearl Jam expect people to stand, they should play GA. I'm pretty certain Pearl Jam's fanbase has progressed past moshpits by now.

I think it’s a little unfair to associate GA shows automatically with mosh pits. There’s a big gap between the “I don’t want there to be moshpits” and the “I want to sit down” feeling. I’m still nowhere near the second one, but I’ve kinda always had the first one.

That was one of my points: that I think Pearl Jam's audience has, for the most part, progressed beyond moshpits and crowd-surfing, so they're not necessarily fair assumptions to make in regards to GA shows. If anything, I think I'd take a GA show if there's a high abundance of irritating crowd behaviour - at least you can move to a more enjoyable position.

The other was that, if seats are provided, then it's mildly ridiculous to have a baseline assumption (which seems prevalent in the Pearl Jam fanbase) that everyone is expected to stand up. I've seen the band in both environments and, while I was one of those standing at the seated shows, I certainly wouldn't have done so unless I was absolutely certain I wasn't going to be inconveniencing anyone.

I find putting as "Pearl Jam's audience has, for the most part, progressed beyond moshpits and crowd-surfing" quite funny. I think it's more like Pearl Jam's music has regressed where they can't spark enough interest for moshoing or crowd surfing. I'm older and I'd still rather be at a concert that's going off with moshing and crowd-surfing knowing that relegates me to the sidelines mostly than a staid affair. I love youthful energy, people don't progress beyond that they just grow old, some earlier than others.

I think moshing and crowd-surfing are ridiculous in every circumstance. The idea that hurling yourself at other human beings is an appropriate way to respond to music is a pretty recent invention; in most cases, I think it's more likely a received wisdom concept of what you're "meant" to do at a rock concert rather some kind of natural response to the music. It's absurd.

I love watching old footage of late 60s shows by Zeppelin, Sabbath and Hendrix where the crowd are either sitting down and actually listening to the band or unobtrusively grooving in their own space.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

Unless its an intimate, acoustic type of performance (a la Benaroya), it would be really bizarre to be at PJ concert with everyone seated. Not sure I'd get the same rush.

They made us sit for the acoustic set on 7/11/03.

Were they rude about it?

Ed was actually quite polite.

didnt Ed say somehting like "we arent going to play an acoustic version of Blood" for the reasoning that everyone should sit down?

[Norah]

Unless its an intimate, acoustic type of performance (a la Benaroya), it would be really bizarre to be at PJ concert with everyone seated. Not sure I'd get the same rush.

They made us sit for the acoustic set on 7/11/03.

Were they rude about it?

Ed was actually quite polite.

didnt Ed say somehting like "we arent going to play an acoustic version of Blood" for the reasoning that everyone should sit down?

yes

[Self]

At the end of Augusta '96, ED made us sit down and be quiet for Patriot. He admonished us a bit for being loud.

[zeb]

When I went to see The Sixth Sense, some dude loudly exclaimed "OH MY GOD" at the moment Bruce Willis was revealed as a ghost.

LOL

[zeb]

11. When Skitch stands in front of me at a concert

Another LOL.

[zeb]

I love watching old footage of late 60s shows by Zeppelin, Sabbath and Hendrix where the crowd are either sitting down and actually listening to the band or unobtrusively grooving in their own space.

Me too. This is how I'd like to interact with the band and the audience at pretty much every show I attend.

[Kevin Davis]

sorry for offending you skitch, i didnt realize u were one of those boring people

I am. In fact, I would bet most of the people on this board are the boring people at this point. I would never yell at someone to sit down, but I don't behave like I did when i was 20.

I would be delighted if everyone at every concert I attended just sat down and shut the hell up.

its a concert, not a movie

I don't care.

how would u feel if people sang and danced at the movies?

People can do whatever the hell they want at the movies, I haven't gone to a theater in ages.

[Stickman]

Backpacks at shows?I just don't get it. The school bus ain't stopping through here, sonny.

good call.

[Jorge]

ITT: Pearl Jam fans are crotchety and annoyed by EVERYTHING

[Oh, Jimmy]

hardasses that try to pick fights and/or try to steal your shit

taking up more than your share of space

Bringing your halo-ed and motorized wheelchair-ed brother into the pit to use as leverage to get to the front

frat guy behavior, whether the perpetrator is a frat guy or not

people that treat a concert like a vacation and keep posing for photo ops

prudes that look at you like you're wielding a machete when you light up a joint, if you've got a problem just say something, anything

people that just stand and stare at the stage and show no emotion whatsoever

[i got bugs]

ITT: Pearl Jam fans are crotchety and annoyed by EVERYTHING

i was thinkin this as i read this thread

who the hell gives a shit about people taping on their cellphones, posting to facebook, making out, or whatever

just watch the damn band that you paid money to see

[Orpheus]

Yeah the only thing I really care about is people doing things that actually ruin the show like shoving and getting into fights. Otherwise, go for it.

[Reflection]

Uggg, discovered a new one: people skyping on their cell phones during a show

[Will]

I disagree about taking pictures and filming.