The Precarious Art of Concert Manners

Over the weekend, I attended a concert with the legendary Billy Joel at Wrigley Field and was blown away at the level of his musical ability. It was truly an awe-inspiring night with gorgeous weather, an amazing friend (who’s recap is much more sentimental than mine), and memories that will last a lifetime – such an honor to see him perform.

But the night was not without its annoyances – primarily in the form of other concert patrons – particularly in our row.

Now before you start hollerin’ at me about not being so judgy, I’d like to take a moment to say I empathize with some of these concerns, but it does not make it any less intrusive on the concert experience. My longtime experience attending concerts will attest to the fact that I’ve learned a thing or two and so I’ve put together some suggestions if you will rather than calling them rules.

Suggestion #1. Use the bathroom during lesser known songs, during an intermission, or before or after the festivities. 

Even Billy Joel announced that he was going to sing a non-hit song, so now was the time to use the bathroom. Have to pee? Now’s the time to go. Planning the use of your bladder might seem like a difficult task, but if you’ve already gotten up four other times, it is not a good time to exit. Just a thought.

Suggestion #2. If you believe you WILL need to use the bathroom multiple times, try to cool it on the drinks.

Maybe not hit up the beverage vendor for the sixth time that night? Beer is a diuretic. It is also known to make you thirstier. So you drink more, then you pee more. Then you get up more, then I stand up more, then the people behind me get upset more, and then the concert is over.

Suggestion #3. Consider those around you who’ve spent money to enjoy the music.

Apparently, you’ve spent money to come to the concert to drink, pee, and lollygag. I’ve come here to listen to music. I don’t give a rip if you don’t want to watch the concert, I do. And when every Tom, Dick, and Harry has something better to do outside of their seat, our row becomes like a series of jumping beans disturbing everyone around us in some way, shape, or form. Be it obstructed views or otherwise.

Suggestion #4. If you attend in a group, try to plan non-seat activities together.

If one of you gets up to leave, why not all take a little excursion together? Then you all leave at the same time, come back at the same time, and I’m getting up half as much because of your seat shenanigans.

Suggestion #5. Purchase an aisle seat.

Then someone else can bother you with their up and down antics. But you can also come and go as you please with little to no disruption.

Suggestion #6. Under no circumstances should you have to MOVE during an encore or the most popular song that any person within a 500-mile radius would know.

This is more of a rule than a suggestion. Needing to do ANYTHING ELSE during Uptown Girl, Piano Man, or We Didn’t Start the Fire basically means you should have stayed home and caught the hits on YouTube because you should be as still as a statue (or singing along) to be sure not to miss it.

And I promise – if I wasn’t such a frequent concer-goer, I probably wouldn’t be be as annoyed, but TRULY things to consider when planning your next musical excursion.

What are your concert pet peeves?

To name a few my experiences:

Nico & Vinz | Taylor Swift QUEEN | Miranda Lambert | Jason Derulo | Backstreet Boys | Pitbull | Colton Dixon | Cody Simpson