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
Poll Question
Thanks! Check out the results:
Many moons ago in 1988, my friends and I ( the only girl ) went to Pink Floyd's A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour in Seattle. My buddies had formed a wall around me while we were in the jaws of héll near the stage. We were jam packed and could barely move. My friends and I tried to make our way out to no avail. For one short fateful moment, our little circle got broken by people knocking into us. There was this guy behind me who kept kicking at my legs as if to kick me out of his way. My buddy saw this and screamed ( to be heard above the music ) at him to knock it off. A few minutes later, I feel a warm wetness down my leg. This aśśhole gleefully píśśed on my leg in retaliation. I yell out to my boys and seconds later, start slapping and punching the side of his head. Sorry people, but sometimes reacting with violence is warranted.
I had both a similar experience and the complete opposite happen at the same Jack white concert in NY. I was there with my 10 yo, we're both huge fans and we're so excited to go to see him at a smaller venue, only issue was it was all standing tickets. We came super early and got to get pretty close to the stage. And these younger groups started shoving us backwards. Now, if I were alone, I'd deploy my sharp elbow to the rib tactics but I didn't want to freak out my kid. So we were getting shoved back more and more (mind you I'm 5'7 but she's 5'0 and 10). Suddenly these two awesome dad types about five rows ahead of us that totally came to chill (both large men) turned around and saw this, they just created a bulldozer motion into these jerks and brought us up front saying they love seeing kids in concerts. They made my kid have such an awesome experience. Most concert goers are a chill group that just come to enjoy a good time. One a**hole can easily ruin that.
About 20 years ago I went to a Placebo concert. Behind me was this b******e jumping up and down and absolutely ramming into me. It was very packed, and I honestly feared for my life, because if I fell I'd most likely be trampled to death. So I lifted my skirt for maximum effect and donkey kicked HARD. The heels of my boots had a really sharp edge and my kick landed perfectly. He stood still the rest of the concert. I know that I hurt him, probably even drawing blood. That was the only time in my life that I hurt someone on purpose, but I have zero regrets.
Many moons ago in 1988, my friends and I ( the only girl ) went to Pink Floyd's A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour in Seattle. My buddies had formed a wall around me while we were in the jaws of héll near the stage. We were jam packed and could barely move. My friends and I tried to make our way out to no avail. For one short fateful moment, our little circle got broken by people knocking into us. There was this guy behind me who kept kicking at my legs as if to kick me out of his way. My buddy saw this and screamed ( to be heard above the music ) at him to knock it off. A few minutes later, I feel a warm wetness down my leg. This aśśhole gleefully píśśed on my leg in retaliation. I yell out to my boys and seconds later, start slapping and punching the side of his head. Sorry people, but sometimes reacting with violence is warranted.
I had both a similar experience and the complete opposite happen at the same Jack white concert in NY. I was there with my 10 yo, we're both huge fans and we're so excited to go to see him at a smaller venue, only issue was it was all standing tickets. We came super early and got to get pretty close to the stage. And these younger groups started shoving us backwards. Now, if I were alone, I'd deploy my sharp elbow to the rib tactics but I didn't want to freak out my kid. So we were getting shoved back more and more (mind you I'm 5'7 but she's 5'0 and 10). Suddenly these two awesome dad types about five rows ahead of us that totally came to chill (both large men) turned around and saw this, they just created a bulldozer motion into these jerks and brought us up front saying they love seeing kids in concerts. They made my kid have such an awesome experience. Most concert goers are a chill group that just come to enjoy a good time. One a**hole can easily ruin that.
About 20 years ago I went to a Placebo concert. Behind me was this b******e jumping up and down and absolutely ramming into me. It was very packed, and I honestly feared for my life, because if I fell I'd most likely be trampled to death. So I lifted my skirt for maximum effect and donkey kicked HARD. The heels of my boots had a really sharp edge and my kick landed perfectly. He stood still the rest of the concert. I know that I hurt him, probably even drawing blood. That was the only time in my life that I hurt someone on purpose, but I have zero regrets.





























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