This might sound a little ridiculous, but yes, there are certain ways you should and should not behave at a gig. At a gig, you want to go crazy and wild. In fact, it’s probably one of the few places where this is totally acceptable. But, to be completely frank, this is not an excuse to act like a total bellend. There are things people do at gigs which can not only annoy other people in the crowd, but annoy the band. It’s important to respect the band or artist you are going to see. If you’re not going to do that, what was the point in paying for a ticket? At the same time, respect the people around you. Ok so if you’re in a mosh pit sometimes you’re going to injure other people without meaning to, not to mention yourself. But this is something that’s accepted, and is a little bit different from pushing someone and starting a fight like your drunk in a bar, or shoving through right at the beginning only to stand in front of someone who is really small. I go to see a band or artist to have a good time, so lets not hinder it by acting like d*ckheads. Here are my tips:
Gig Etiquette Lesson #1: Don’t have a massive chinwag while the band are playing.
This was something I mentioned in my previous post about a Biffy Clyro gig, and was what inspired this post. Of course, when Biffy was playing there wasn’t this problem. The problem was before, when City and Colour were playing as the support.
I’m not saying, omg the band are playing DON’T TALK AT ALL. Obviously, communicating with people is OK. But this is the scenario I found myself in on Friday night:
City and Colour come on stage and begin playing. If you have not heard them before, they play acoustic music. Not loud, moshy music, just nice acoustic music. Next to me was a group of 3 guys/lads/idiots, whatever you want to call them. I didn’t want to move from where I was because it was the one place I had found where I could actually see (more on that later). These blokes were chatting VERY LOUDLY about, err, football. One in particular sounded like a loud, yappy dog with a strong Welsh accent. Not exactly the sound I wanted ringing through my ears while Dallas Green was singing live just in front of us. I thought maybe they’d stop, but they really didn’t. They continued like this for the whole half hour or so of their set. It was so distracting and annoying. Not only for me, but it wasn’t respectful of the band. I know they probably didn’t know, but I also know this happens in small venues where small acoustic artists play, and they know full well about it. I found the support a bit boring, but I didn’t start chatting loudly over them. If the support band bore you, stand at the back, or don’t show up for them. I don’t want to hear your opinion on the match. I want to hear City and Colour sing ‘What Makes a Man?’ instead.
Gig Etiquette lesson #2: If you’re practically 7 foot tall, don’t stand in front of someone who is 5 foot tall.
This is a problem I constantly face. I am small. I am only 5ft. I face it at pretty much every gig I go to, unless I’m fortunate enough to be right at the front. I get that you can’t always help it. You can’t help being taller than someone and you shouldn’t be forced to stand at the back just because you’re over average height, but that doesn’t mean you should literally stand in front of a small person like a brick.
On Friday night, I was waiting for the support to come on. Just as City and Colour took to the stage, a really tall guy and his friend were barging in front. I heard them say excuse me so I presumed they would keep on going. But no. This guy stopped dead in front of me. It was so blatantly obvious it was ridiculous. I tapped him on the shoulder and told him that I now couldn’t see. He apologised, moved for about a minute, then sort of gravitated back in front of me. that’s when I moved next to the yappy guys I mentioned above.
The point is, if you can help it, then don’t stand in front of someone small. They want to enjoy the gig too. Just be a little considerate.
Gig Etiquette lesson #3: Don’t be a brick.
Yes, you did read that right. Above, I mentioned tall people standing in front of me like a brick. To be honest, people who just stand like bricks in general annoy me. Not moving, just standing, solid. If you’re watching a nice mellow band, obviously you aren’t going to be jumping around and moshing. But Biffy Clyro can get pretty heavy at times, so at this gig there was loads of moshing, jumping, shoving, etc. You do one of two things in this situation: You go with it, you join in, you jump and shove and mosh and put your hands in the air and sing and scream along. OR, you stand somewhere you can still enjoy the gig, but don’t have to be at the hands of a mosh pit, like at the side, nearer the back, or right at the front. You might think standing near the front, in the middle is fine. Well it is, but if you are going to stand still with a dour look on your face, then it’s probably not the best place to stand when people start moshing, which they do. You just look like you’re not enjoying yourself. And if you don’t enjoy being pushed and shoved, you’re probably not. So move out the way. I hate it when I’m tryna have a little jump and dance to a band but the guy standing like a WALL in front of me is hindering it. Because they do hinder it. They bring the uplifting mood down. Life is too short. Get swept up in the moment of the gig. Either that or move out of the way of the people who do want to be swept up.
Gig Etiquette Lesson #4: Don’t push for no reason.
So a band is playing and everyone is sort of being pushed because the entire crowd is moving. Fine. It’s gonna happen. But don’t start pushing for no reason, when no song is playing, just to be a knob. I have witnessed this. A massive, tall, hench, bloke randomly pushing people because he thinks it’s banter, not considering that not everyone is huge in every dimension and not everyone enjoys getting their ribs crushed. There’s nothing wrong with a little mosh but don’t crush people. Crushing people is so not cool. I don’t want to die.
Gig Etiquette Lesson #5: Don’t bottle the band.
This tends to happen more at festivals, which kind of makes it even more inexcusable. I just do not understand people who bottle bands. You don’t like them? Well if you’re at a festival, go and see someone else. Instead of focusing your anger on an artist you hate, go and look at the other stages and find something you like. At the end of the day, throwing bottles won’t make you any better. They’re the ones on stage, who have carved some sort of musical success for themselves. They are still winning.
So there you have it, if you don’t want to piss everyone off at gigs, stick to the above. The biggest lesson, though, really, is to just enjoy yourself and enjoy the music, while remaining considerate. That’s all there is to it.
Is there anything I’ve missed? Any things that really grind your gears at gigs? That ruin the atmosphere or make it less enjoyable? Then comment below! I’d love to know what your gig-related pet-hates are.
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