Who hasn’t had a weird interaction at a concert? Maybe somebody cut us in line, or someone was screaming in our ear the entire time. Sometimes, it feels like nobody knows how to act at live events anymore, especially post-pandemic. Maybe even some of us aren’t sure about the nuances of concert behavior. If so, never fear—let’s go over the basics of concert etiquette together! Here are some of the most important rules to follow so that everybody can have a good time.
Blocking Others’ View
When we go to a concert, we usually expect to see the artist with our own eyes. However, there are often very rude people who block the views of people behind them. Don’t be that person! A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is to keep phones, lightsticks, and signs below your head, at around eye level. Raising items above your head is inconsiderate and ruins the experience of others who also paid for a ticket. This is especially problematic with signs and banners, since they can block the entire stage and not just part of it. In fact, many venues have banned signs and banners, or at least limit the sizes of them, for this exact reason. We understand being excited, but remember that you’re not the only person there to see your favorite artist!
Pushing or Stampeding
Having standing general admission can be exciting—we can get closer to the stage. We can even stand at the barricade. However, safety should always be our top priority! Pushing each other in a crowd of people can lead to people getting seriously hurt, and in the worst cases, death. Pushing to the front, where it’s already crowded, can lead to crowd crushes and make it hard to breathe, especially for people who can’t get out. Stampeding and running are also dangerous since people often fall and get trampled. It’s also just super rude! Some people have waited longer to get their spot, so it’s not fair for people who showed up later to push their way to the front and crowd others. All in all, pushing and stampeding is awful for everyone, so we should all remember, safety first! Risking everybody’s safety is never worth it.
Read the Room
Sometimes live events can mean a lot to the artists. It could be their first time performing for fans, or their first concert in their hometown, or maybe it just made them really happy. Usually, they’ll express this during speaking segments, during which they pause the concert and talk about their feelings. Often, they’re even in tears from the emotion. This being said, it’s disrespectful and cringeworthy to start yelling and screaming during this time. Many people do this to be noticed by their faves, but they’re almost always ignored, and then they look silly. Let quiet moments be quiet moments, and remember not to scream and cheer at inappropriate times.
Screaming is ok… but be Mindful
Another piece of concert etiquette to be mindful of is not to excessively scream. Of course, everybody at concerts is screaming and making noise. However, there’s a difference between screaming like everybody else and sounding like a banshee! Even if we’re excited, we should all try to let others be able to hear the concert and not just our screeching. Honestly, the people who can scream that loudly the whole time are almost impressive!
Don’t Throw Things
Standing on a stage in a room full of hundreds to thousands of strangers can be nerve-racking. These performers have no idea how the audience will react every day, and their safety is never 100% guaranteed. So, it goes without saying to never throw anything onstage. Granted, there are fun videos of performers picking up flowers, toys, and plushies that people throw onstage, but there are also videos of people getting hurt by airborne objects. Performers have gotten black eyes and split lips from things being thrown and them, and sometimes objects are inappropriate. Some people have even put their babies on the stage. Other audience members have also been hit by thrown objects. So keep in mind that once again, safety should always be our top priority! Don’t throw things onstage!
Are there any concert etiquette rules that we missed? Let us know on our Instagram and X/Twitter!
Featured Image Credit: Tiffany Yep
