Most of the shows I go to are pretty loud. talk away, I won't hear it. I do get pissed off by people holding up phones. Enjoy the show, or get thrown out. As far as the generations go, it was much worse in the 70's, with all sorts of drunken brawls, and drugged out people throwing up on you.
I was thinking the same thing. When I first started going to concerts (my first was 1979) it was not unusual for people to be lighting firecrackers in the arena, smoke (pot and cigs) so thick that you could not see across to the other side, people pissing in the sinks and trashcans in the bathrooms, people passed out in the bathrooms and corridors. I don’t know, today seems rather mild compared to back then. There was always an element of the crowd that was there for the music and some that were just there for the party and a lot of people somewhere in between. I don’t think that part of it has really changed all that much.
Steve Sly
this is the most ridiculous generalization I have ever heard..but thanks, it was a good laugh. Actually, the current generation seems to be more self-consumed than most. Not everyone of course, nowadays it's all about the "I"-pod, "I"-pad, "I"-Phone, "MY"space, etc etc - it's all about "LOOK AT ME and what I just posted on Facebook". Come to think of it, every generation thinks there is the best and the ones before and after suck, so no point in even bringing it up!
In the several hundreds of shows I've seen since 1972, I might have had this problem twice or three times, and while the price of the ticket has changed, the environment pretty much remains the same. You deal with it the best you can. Most people are not intentionally trying to offend, but are just caught up in the moment, and when it's pointed out in an unconfrontational manner, they'll usually quiet down. If not, then you can take it to the ushers and see how that works for ya.
I've been going to concerts since the mid 70s, and with few exceptions, the amount of times where people were talking away LOUDLY and CONSTANTLY, with no regard for the people around them, and who got OFFENDED when asked politely several times to quiet down DURING the SONGS, has increased tenfold over the last decade or so. This younger generation of concert goers seems to regard concerts as some kind of communal social experience, not just between songs, but during songs, as if you are entitled to have loud conversations during concerts as if its their right, which is of course the opposite of the norm. Try doing that during a Beethoven symphony in a concert hall. There should be very little difference in terms of respecting other people's desire to hear the music.
and intention is not the issue. Its called disregard and lack of basic common courtesy. If someone behind me is yapping away in my ear during songs, that is intentional, because the mouthbreather is intentionally talking, not accidentally talking.
I agree with all of this and I try to keep my camera usage to a minimum and sit close enough and use a camera that I do not have to hold up over my head to shoot. I do however like to get some photos as a memento of the show and if they are good I will share a few but most of the stuff I have photographed remains on my hard drive. I never take a video unless permitted and only video of a few minutes of something I really like by the artist. Most of it, in my opinion, is not good enough to share and if I were the artist I would appreciate it not being shown. The video never leaves my hard drive unless asked by the band to do so. I have shared 1 so far. I don't use my phone at all unless it is to check the time. I hope to be courteous about it and if you ever feel I am not just ask me to stop and I will.
I truly miss the '70s concert experience. The best progressive rock music and a fantastic free environment. I still consistently have 2-3 shows lined up and there are very minor inconveniences but really no problem overall.
What can this strange device be? When I touch it, it brings forth a sound (2112)
yes dear
I guess we should be glad no is setting off fire crackers or cherry bombs, like the US Floyd shows in the late 70s.
I hate the phone cameras and all that, but I have to agree that overall the crowds (in the US) aren't too bad. BUT, I also agree that crowds at NEARfest were a blessing in that everyone was very likeminded. ProgDay too - I remember last ProgDay a dude set up his umbrella so it was really blocking my view - I went over and told him, and he was super polite in moving it right away. ProgDay is awesome, and the crowd is too.
In the case of the OP, the wife oprobably didn't want to be there in the first place, but was probably semi-forced if she wanted to spend a bit of time with the hubby....
But yeaj, I just don't get it myself.... unless I'd be bored to hell, because I didn't like the concert... and found ways to distract myself.... unfortunately, the audience part of the hall is too dark to read a book quietly
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on progrock.com
https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-a...re-happy-hour/
Gordon Haskell - "You've got to keep the groove in your head and play a load of bollocks instead"
I blame Wynton, what was the question?
There are only 10 types of people in the World, those who understand binary and those that don't.
I have no problem with electronics. If people want to waste their time and money, let them. If anything, I'm envious that everyone has a nicer phone than me! I take photos with a digital camera, and I don't use the flash, and I don't spend the entire show doing it, especially since my camera is a cheapo that takes mostly blurry pics anyway. It's nice to have a photographic memento of the experience, especially since I'm not able to attend a lot of shows.
What I don't like is the constant talking during the performance. I realize for some folks, this is a social event and they need to connect, but that is what a preshow or after-party is for. I mostly go to shows alone, if I can afford to go at all, and I'm there for the music. If I run into people I know, I'll say hello between the songs.
"The mountains are calling and I must go" - John Muir
"To breathe the same air as the angels, you must go to Tahoe" - Mark Twain
Rubber bands. A pocketful. Somebody holds a phone up in front of my face while I'm trying to watch a show, they'll get it whacked with a rubber band.
I agree about the 70s; never went to a bad show, where inconsiderate bastards ruined it. Nowadays? Consideration for others, and common courtesy, don't exist anymore. Thus, the rubber bands. And I'm a pretty good shot...
Gnish-gnosh borble wiff, shlauuffin oople tirk.
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