When did standing for a two hour concert become too difficult for the average person to accomplish? I think somewhere in between purchasing and printing online tickets, making sure the digital camera or phone is fully charged, and getting enough money out of the bank to buy beer and t-shirt; the average concert goer forgot about the magic of a concert.
So what, where, and when does this magic occur? Good question. It starts with a love for music. No matter what genre or style a person enjoys, it is the love for music that first inspires someone to buy a ticket to a concert. The magic happens when the artist arrives on stage and personally performs in that moment songs that you listened to all day/night, music that filled your ear buds while running those long streets, music that wakes you up in the morning, music that keeps you company for those really long road trips, music that pumps your team up before a big game, music that brings complete strangers together in one theatre to all sing along at the same time, music UNITES people – that’s the magic.
If you only take away one thing from this rant I hope it’s these helpful suggestions:
I. Stand up, dance, sing, tap your toes, clap – your enthusiasm will be returned by stage performance
II. Leave your phone, camera, recorder at home or in your pocket – you’ve paid good money, don’t lose out on the show because you can’t get the right flash setting
III. Don’t talk during the performance – you could be ruining someone’s favourite song
IV. Don’t shout out requests – artists are not juke boxes, appreciate their efforts and enjoy what they prepared to play for you
The average concert goer has forgotten what an actual concert is about. Instead of living those magic moments, face-to-face with the performer/band – they’re more focused on focusing their camera lens. Wake up and realize that a concert is just as much a magic moment for the performer as it is the audience. The audience is there to inspire the musician as much as the musician inspires the audience. The more you sing, clap, dance, tap your toes, hoot and whistle; the more the artist enjoys their performance. The logic is clear – you show your appreciation and undivided attention to the artist and they will give it back to you. I’m sure we’ve all been to those concerts where the performer belts out “You guys are the best! I think we could play all night with this energy!” Good vibrations are contagious, spread them around.
Now not all concerts are great. I’ve been to a few where the album playing from my stereo would have been more entertaining in my living room than the actual live performance. However, I have never been more disappointed in the last two concerts I have attended, but the disappointment didn’t stem from the performance, but rather the audience’s performance or lack thereof.
After being asked to sit several times by fellow seated audience members during a concert I was enjoying and dancing along to, I and my friend got fed up. I had been looking forward all summer to these two concerts and had driven significant distances to witness them. As an audience member I wanted to show the artist that I appreciated their talents and I want them to know their music truly moves me.
Do me a favour -- if you see someone truly enjoying themselves don’t ruin it because your view from a seated position may be impaired. Instead, stand up and join in the event that will most likely only last a few hours. If it’s an issue where someone is being obnoxious tell a staff member and have them handle it, so that tempers aren’t tested.
I know the rebuttals that will stem from this rant, “each person has the right to watch a concert how they feel comfortable” and yes, I do realize sometimes there are shows in which it is appropriate to sit, but in an outdoor amphitheatre and when the performer/band is clearly trying to get the audience “into it” – stand, sing, clap, dance, and more importantly: WATCH. Put down your cameras, phones, recording devices and truly enjoy the magic of music. There will always be some person who just does not get what I`m writing about that will capture that shot you are looking for and it will be on the internet that night – but be better than that. Absorb the image in your head; remember how you felt during that moment when the song you’ve been waiting for all night finally is played. And if that song doesn’t get played don’t shout it out at the band to play it. The artist/band is not a karaoke machine or juke box, appreciate the music they planned to play for you and enjoy it.
As a concert goer and audience member, if you cannot stick to those simple suggestions - - I suggest you follow your favourite artist via compact disc, mp3, radio or YouTube because they probably don’t want you to attend the show regardless of the loss of a ticket sale.
