While concerts have always been a bit like the Wild West, with mosh pits, drinks flowing, and singalongs encouraged, they’ve gotten out of control lately, as content creators film themselves screaming, people throwing items onstage, and concertgoers who don’t seem to know how to behave.
A controversial video made the rounds again earlier this week showcasing someone at a Drake concert blocking everyone’s view with a sign.
The video, shared by TikTok creator @itgirl, read ‘POV: You paid $700 to stare at the back of a sign at the Drake concert,’ as someone snatched away the sign that was blocking their view.
Etiquette expert Myka Meier weighed in on the controversy with an Instagram Reel and explained ‘in between acts and songs is when posters should technically go up’ when it comes to live music protocol.
On Instagram, many of Myka’s followers aired their own gripes – some believed venues shouldn’t allow concert attendees to bring signs, while others complained about people standing on chairs in front of them, concertgoers falling over and knocking into them, smokers, screamers, and vapers.
A controversial video went viral earlier this week showcasing someone at a Drake concert blocking everyone’s view with a sign
The video, shared by TikTok creator @itgirl, read ‘POV: You paid $700 to stare at the back of a sign at the Drake concert.’ Pictured is etiquette expert Myka Meier weighing in on the topic
‘Some people save the entire year to buy concert tickets to see their favorite artists, so it’s important to be considerate and respectful,’ Myka advised (stock image)
READ MORE
Music fans mock Gen Z and millennials’ go-to ‘concert uniform’ that’s taken the internet by storm
What kind of bad etiquette are people complaining about at concerts?
To find out how to act appropriately at a concert – and what to do if someone around you is behaving badly – FEMAIL reached out to Myka.
‘Some people save the entire year to buy concert tickets to see their favorite artists, so it’s important to be considerate and respectful so that everyone around you is able to enjoy the concert,’ Myka advised.
Loads of people have taken to social media to grumble about bad experiences at shows, with one woman saying her experience seeing Maggie Rogers was ruined after the people around her wouldn’t stop ‘gossiping’ and ‘talking over the music.’
Grumpy Swifties were angry with fellow fans during the sold-out Eras Tour.
During one performance in Melbourne, a screaming fan belted lyrics out of tune, effectively drowning out the pop star.
Another kept her arms in the air for the entirety of the three-hour show, causing the woman behind her to joke, ‘Does this count as a ticket with restriction views?’ as those tickets are less expensive.
Many young people only went to their first concert after COVID, and aren’t well versed on the etiquette, and with the rise of social media, others seemed to think the focus should be on themselves, filming their every action.
But with concert tickets harder to get with scalpers and bots, and more expensive than ever, you don’t have to have a bad experience.
To find out how to act appropriately at a concert – and what to do if someone around you is behaving badly – FEMAIL reached out to Myka for her tips
On Instagram, Myka’s followers aired their gripes – some believed the venue shouldn’t have allowed the concert-goer to bring their sign
When is it appropriate to politely ask someone to stop – and what can you say?
‘If someone is screaming loudly, holding up a sign blocking a view, dancing into you, or constantly filming themselves, it’s okay to speak up,’ Myka encouraged. ‘The key is to do it politely.’
Myka suggested saying something like, ‘Hey, I’m having a hard time seeing or hearing,’ because of the behavior in question, before asking them to lower their sign, move over, or film so you’re not in it.
‘I think the majority of people will understand the gentle nudge and adjust their behavior.’
Myka added: ‘Speaking to an usher or security guard and asking for help is the best option if you’re too nervous to address someone’s behavior directly or if you have already tried asking nicely and it didn’t work.
‘Security guards are there to make sure everyone has a good time safely.
‘Approach them calmly and politely and explain the situation briefly.
‘For example, “Excuse me, the person next to me is making it hard to enjoy the concert because they are standing on their chair and not only can I not see, but I’m afraid they are going to fall on me. Could you please help?”‘
And with everyone wanting to show off how they were able to score tickets to the Eras tour, Myka knows ‘it’s tempting to capture every moment on camera, but it’s important to be mindful of those around you.’
When is filming acceptable?
While it’s entirely acceptable to capture your favorite song or a surprising moment, having your camera up the entire time can be distracting.
‘Filming yourself at a concert is absolutely okay in moderation, but constantly doing it can be distracting because of the bright screen lights and selfie mode arms in the air,’ Myka advised.
‘As for filming the musician nonstop, it’s best to enjoy the moment live and share snippets rather than the whole concert because this way, you respect both the artist’s performance and your fellow concert-goers.’
Are singalongs okay?
Another recent trend isn’t just singing along to show you know the lyrics and enjoy the concert, but to scream sing louder than anyone else, which is, in fact, considered impolite.
If you’re performing louder than the artist, it might be time to lower your voice.
‘Scream singing the lyrics for your followers might be fun for you, but people should remember that everyone’s there to enjoy the concert – and followers probably want to hear the singer instead of you,’ Myka confirmed.
Myka warned that ‘certain accessories, like tall hats, blinking light jewelry and over-the-top boas, can obstruct views to those around you’
Why has concert behavior gotten so out of control?
It seems like everyday another example of bad concert etiquette goes viral on social media.
Myka agreed that ‘social media has definitely influenced concert behavior, causing people to get carried away,’ especially as people try to capture unique moments in an effort to go viral.
This desire to be the main character at an event with thousands of people also uploading content ‘ultimately encourages them to behave in ways they wouldn’t usually in order to make that over-the-top video or photo,’ Myka said.
‘It’s important to enjoy the concert for the experience itself, not just the online validation,’ Myka encouraged.
‘It’s of course great to share your experience and memories, but don’t let filming take over and ruin the day for someone else, which isn’t fair.
‘Social media often gives people “main character syndrome,” inspiring them to emulate the larger-than-life behavior they see on stage by dancing or singing along at concerts, where the real stars are performing.’