Things You Should Never Do At A Concert: Part 1

Live concerts are pretty much the best things ever. Getting to hear a band you love lay it all on the line as you drink been and enjoy your friends' company is about as good as it gets. For some of us it is a spiritual event, listening to the songs that hit your heart and evoke an emotion that leaves you breathless, sweaty and speechless. For others, it's an excuse to get together with friends and listen to your favorite band as you enjoy a casual evening of good music and even better times. 

An epic performance takes root deep in your soul, staying with you for months or years or sometimes even decades afterwards. 

Every great show I've been to has two things in common. First, a great band I love dearly playing at the peak of their powers and secondly, an endless plethora of jackasses trying their hardest to ruin the entire experience for everyone in close proximity to them.

No one wants to be "that guy" (or girl, for that matter), regardless of the context. To ensure you don't suffer that fate or more accurately, to ensure no one else has to suffer you, this is a two part series of some of the top behaviors to avoid at your next concert.

Taking incessant pictures
I get it. You're at a awesome show and you want to remember it forever- I can't fault you for that. But you know what literally everyone who cares about music hates?! Your hand high to the sky blocking their view of the band as you snap 100 photos you'll never look at again (expect the one you'll post on Instagram, just to prove to others that you're "cool" (insert eye roll here). Take the damn picture, hell, take ten, but once you've snapped a few give it a freaking rest.

Taking incessant video
You know what's worse than snapping a gazillion pictures constantly? Recording video. If the band is rocking it at 125 decibels there is no way in hell you're going to get any kind of good sound quality. As amazing as your iPhone may be there is no way it is going to capture any kind of good audio. And don't get me started on the overall visual quality. It's dark as fuck with bright stage lights and spotlights. Now I'm no photog, but any logical person can tell you that is nowhere close to an ideal recording atmosphere. The last thing I want to see is your sweaty arm in front of my face holding your phone up in the air while you record a video that will sound and look like absolute shit. We both know you aren't going to look at those videos the following day, and if you do, you're going to hit the delete button faster than you hit the record button the night before.

Not watching the show
There's an old saying: Never trust a band who doesn't sweat while on stage and never trust an audience that doesn't sweat along with them. Another pet peeve is when you are rocking out at a show and suddenly you realize a majority of the people around you are staring at their glowing rectangles instead of rocking the fuck out. If you are at a show, be at the god damn show. I mean, what's the point of buying a ticket, taking time off work, waiting in line for a good spot on the rail (unless you're a puss and buy seat tickets- not judging, just saying) just to sit on your god damn phone all night tweeting, facebooking, snapchatting or whatever the hell else it is you do. I remember being at a show recently and glancing over to the guy next to me who was watching a god damn movie while at the show. I swear, I can't make this kind of shit up. If you're going to be taking up space at a concert venue then watch the damn show instead of being an inconsiderate jerk to not only those around you, but to the band that is putting on a damn rock show.

Yelling things at the band
If the show is massive, say in a 25,000 person arena, the band can't hear you anyway so it doesn't matter all that much beyond your rock karma. But if you're in a more intimate venue and the band can hear you...don't yell at them. And to the jerks who think it's funny to yell "Freebird" at a show...EVERYONE INSTANTLY labels you as "that guy". Unless you're at a Lynyrd Skynrd cover band show, are *trying* to be a redneck (first: check yo priorities. Who the hell wants to be a damn redneck?!), or if you're trying to be funny...I hate to tell you, but you're failing HARD. Don't get me wrong, rock your ass off and cheer all you want, but don't yell things at the band. It's not funny and the band is tired of hearing the same old lame schtick.


Don't worry- this is a two part series of jerk behaviors that one should never exhibit while at a concert. If you don't see one of your top pet peeves listed feel free to comment below!