Going to a concert can be an exhilarating experience. Tickets might cost an arm and a leg, but many fans consider it worth it to be in the same room as artists they love and hear their favorite songs performed live.
But there are a few risks that attendees take when going to a live show. The band can always get sick and cancel last minute, or the weather might take a turn for the worst during an outdoor performance. And, of course, you never know who’s going to end up next to you during the show. Below, you’ll find a story of Petty Revenge that one gig goer recently shared on Reddit after becoming extremely fed up with a woman who had awful concert etiquette.
This man was thrilled to attend a rock concert with his wife and friends
Image credits: Thibault Trillet/Pexels (not the actual photo)
But when one entitled attendee started making his experience miserable, he decided to teach her a lesson
Image credits: Freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: tastepdad
Concert etiquette has become a hot topic in recent years
Image credits: Josh Sorenson/Pexels (not the actual photo)
To most music lovers, how to behave at a concert seems pretty self-explanatory. Don’t make too much noise, don’t wear a large hat that will block the view of other attendees, be mindful of how often you take out your phone to record and be respectful of the fans around you.
Everyone is there to have a good time, but if you’re drinking too much or starting to steal attention away from the band, you’re probably going to make some enemies.
Concert etiquette has been a particularly hot topic in recent years because it seems to have gone downhill since the pandemic. After a year or two of almost all live shows being canceled or postponed, many people seem to have completely forgotten how to behave in public spaces, especially when there’s live music being played.
There have been dozens of dangerous incidents of fans throwing items onto stages while artists they supposedly love perform, and attendees complaining about disrespectful crowds.
As far as why this is happening, some speculate that social media plays a role, and others attribute it to a new generation of concert goers that weren’t old enough to attend shows until after the pandemic. Many finished their schooling online and spent a few of their formative years primarily in isolation, so they might not have seen examples of appropriate concert behavior.
“Going to pre-pandemic concerts, I just felt like everyone knew how to act, and concerts felt like this really safe space for people to kind of share, shared love of music with each other,” TikToker Hannah Hawthorne, 27, told NBC News.
It's important to be respectful towards the artists and the audience at live shows
Image credits: Thibault Trillet/Pexels (not the actual photo)
“When I went to a concert for the first time after the pandemic, it was such a stark difference … it was like everyone didn’t know how to act,” Hawthorne continued.
So what exactly is proper concert etiquette? Huffpost published a list of the “rudest things you can do at a concert,” so if you avoid these behaviors, you should be in the clear.
First, make sure that you know how to hold your liquor. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying some adult beverages while watching your favorite brand play, but don’t get too rowdy. If you’re spilling your drink or bumping into everyone around you, you might hear some complaints.
It’s also important not to talk too much during the show. Everyone there paid to hear the music, so if you’re yapping, you can expect to be shushed. In the same vein, don’t treat a concert like karaoke night. Feel free to mouth the words or sing along when the artist holds their mic out to the crowd, but don’t scream so loudly that nobody can hear the lead singer.
It’s also important not to be on your phone too much, block anyone’s view or demand that people move just so you can have your ideal spot. If you want to secure a good place, just show up early. And if you’re going to dance, be mindful of those around you. Nobody wants to be slammed into while enjoying a concert. And finally, remember to refresh your deodorant before the show. Your neighbors will thank you.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. Then, if you’d like to check out another Bored Panda article discussing concert drama, look no further than right here.
Many readers had similar stories of their own to share
And some shared their thoughts on the author's petty revenge
