Concerts are a lot of fun, both for the musicians that are up on stage and the people in the audience enjoying the music. Although each genre of music has a different set of expectations when it comes to how the audience should behave, there are a few universal rules that apply no matter what they style of music and no matter who you are with. With that in mind, here is a brief guide to concert etiquette that can be applied in any situation.
Be Respectful
No matter where you go, be kind to other concert goers. We all want to have a good time, and it’s hard to do that if people are being harassed, feel threatened, or are upset. We all want to have fun, and an easy way to set the stage for that to happen is to be kind and respectful to those around you.
Sometimes this is easier than others, especially when someone else starts out with a bad attitude. But two wrongs never make a right. If someone is being a jerk at a show, get away from them. If they continue, let security know what’s going on. There’s no reason to strike back. That just increases your chances of getting in trouble, too.
Keep Your Cell Phone Off
Phones have changed the way that we enjoy the world around us. Wherever you go, someone is on their phone, either talking or texting, playing a game, or surfing social media. You don’t go to a show to be on your phone. In fact, it can be downright distracting to those around you. When the lights go off, it’s for a reason. It’s so that the focal point of the people in attendance can be on the bright lights of the stage. When you’re on your phone, your phone becomes the focus, not just for you, but for the others around you.
One or two pictures during the show can be fine, depending on the musicians’ policy. Some groups do not allow pictures during the show and almost none allow video. It’s easy to take a quick shot to show everyone where you are but do know that this isn’t always the right thing to do. Again, phones can take away from the experience of those around you, so be thoughtful of what you are doing so that you do not disrupt other fans.
Avoid Unnecessary Noises
You go to a show to hear and watch the band play, right? You don’t go to hear the guy in front of you yelling. In fact, if this were to happen, you’d probably be pretty annoyed. Extend the same courtesy to the others around you and avoid unnecessary yelling and noises. Of course, there are times where cheering is acceptable. Some types of shows have a higher allowable threshold for noise than others. Knowing what is acceptable in your particular of genre of music is usually pretty easy; just pay attention to the others around you. Do your best to stick to an appropriate noise level and only cheer or yell when it’s right to do so.
This might mean that you don’t get to carry on a conversation with a friend. That’s okay—you’re there to see the band. If something important does come up, take the conversation to an area where no one will care if you are a little bit louder. If you’re at an indoor venue, head out to the lobby or go to the restroom area. If you’re at an outdoor show, go toward the back of the concert area so that you can hear each other and you’re not distracting others. Life happens, but you need to remember that you’re not the only ones at the show. If everyone were to follow this rule, it would ensure that you have a great experience. And if you stick to this rule, it will go a long way toward helping others to have fun, too.