Attending a concert is the ultimate adrenaline rush.
From the hectic ticket pre-sale, to the traffic at the last highway exit, police guiding pedestrians to the venue, attendees rushing to find your seat and, of course, the final dim of the lights. That is what makes concerts special.
Knowing you had to fight for the chance to experience your favorite artists makes the day worth all the stress.
You’ve devoted your time to getting overpriced tickets, dressing up and standing in long lines just to experience your favorite music live. Nothing could possibly ruin that moment.
Then, just like that your expectations are ruined.
Whether it’s the venue, the audience or the artist themselves, poor planning can and will ruin your experience. Bad weather, heavy traffic and a rowdy crowd can turn your dream concert into a nightmare.
The most well-known case of a concert falling short and turning deadly is the infamous 2021 Astroworld Festival incident in Houston. The festival, which was in its third edition, saw 10 concertgoers die as a result of a crowd crush. An estimated 50,000 people attended the festival.
It is heavily debated on who is to blame: the crowd, Live Nation, or rapper Travis Scott, who founded the festival and was performing at the time of the incident.
Concerts require a lot of planning and preparation. Set-up usually begins early in the morning. Artists arrive ahead of time for soundcheck and venue staff are trained to properly enact safety protocols.
Even when venues operate within regulations, the crowd may not get the memo.
Many ignore the rules by smoking, holding large signs, sitting on people’s shoulders, yelling while the artist speaks, throwing items onto the stage and behaving violently around others.
It’s best when an unspoken code of conduct is agreed upon.
Take mosh culture for example. Moshing is a style of dance where concertgoers push and shove each other in a crowd.
It’s important that people in the mosh pit look out for each other. When someone falls, you pick them up.
Even in rave culture, where psychedelics are used, it is expected that you care for the people around you, and they do the same for you.
This is referred to as “PLUR”, Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect.
Depending on the kind of concert, there are different protocols for the audience.
In some instances, it’s common to sit and remain quiet for the majority of the concert, and to cheer only when the musician asks the audience to do so.
Some concerts are a free-for-all. You’re invited to dance for the entirety of the event and shout at the top of your lungs.
Regardless of the genre, audience, or venue, concert etiquette is something that everyone should be considerate of.
It helps to assure that shows run smoothly and encourages artists to return for another visit.
By being considerate, a hefty ticket price can become one of the most memorable nights of your life.
