Concert behavior

I love going to live concerts! It’s one of my favorite things to do. I love the connection of the musicians with the audience. It’s a special moment in time. I feel it, and I love how music brings people together.

Interestingly, today I heard a listener’s letter read on the Bobby Bones Show and the writer had just been at Bobby’s recent concert at the Ryman. Bobby and Eddie, from the radio morning show that I love and listen to often, perform as the “Raging Idiots,” fun comedic musicians. They often do charity events. The letter writer said he was disappointed by the noisy people around him and how it made it difficult to enjoy the show.

Then a bit later today I listened to the NPR podcast called the “Political Gabfest” and at the end of it one of the commentators talked about going to see country music artist Morgan Wade in concert last week and that young women were around him and they were constantly on their phones: sometimes holding them up videoing, and other times checking messages, sending some, etc. and rarely just listening to the performance.

My daughters can attest: I have a problem with obnoxious concert goers. The girls have been with me and have heard me complain about loud talkers, about people going in and out all the time for more beer and bathroom needs, in the same row and needing to go by me all the time, and just not caring about the people on the stage and seeing the talent, enjoying the moment. Ugh!!! I mean – please!!! Why are you even there???

To top it off these people pay BIG BUCKS for these concert tickets! Most of the time I try and get good seats, and I pay pretty good money to be there. I want to be as ‘up close and personal’ as I can be. So, the people around me do too.

Now, I know we all enjoy music in different ways. I get that. But, we are there together, enjoying it as a group – and my gripe is about the fact that some feel ‘entitled’ to do what they want to do, without concern with how it affects the experience for others. Some people say ‘I paid for it so I can do what I want’. And, there lies the problem. Right?

Music should unite people, and often it does. There are concerts I go to, and music festivals, where I feel a true connection with most of those who are there. Country music especially really has a family feel and that is one of the many reasons I love it so much.

But there are a few (not the majority – thank goodness) who can ruin it for many. It’s humanity. it’s the few but they are the loud and the selfish.

They need to take a class in concert behavior. They need to care about the music experience for everyone.