Crowd unrest at the o2 !

[kev mey]

When I received my tickets for the NIA (floor seating near to the back). It stated quite clearly on the front of the ticket (check yours if you're going), "People around you may stand up during the performance" (or words to that effect).

I didn't like the sound of that as I am not the tallest of folk and didn't want to waste money peering through gaps between peoples heads and standing on tippy toe all night.

I have to admit - I sold the tickets on ebay, lost a load of money in the process. Bought more tickets off ebay but for the O2 (last night) and had a brilliant, brilliant view - albeit from what felt like sitting on the side of a mountain. Think it's what the Americans call the 'nose bleed seats' !

I give up.

Saw the Searchers in my local town on Sunday, capacity crowd of about 250. Sat 4th row from the front, great band and a great nights entertainment for £17.

Cliff and the Shads were excellent last night mind, man of the show for me was Brian Bennet .

Cheers all,

Kev Mey

[BrianD]

John,

I attended 5 of the Shads "Final Tour" Concerts including what, at the time, we all thought would be the last time Cliff and the Shads would appear together - the London Paladium. We had a fantastic time at every one of them with great enthusiasm from the audience but no-one stood and spoiled anyone elses enjoyment until the final standing ovation. It is all about consideration for others so that everyone can enjoy the show, particualrly those who are physically unable to get up and leap about.

Brian

[Risky]

I can't understand anybody who goes to see a concert of one of the greatest rock and roll groups in of this and the last century and complain that people are stood up dancing . The audiance are not being sellfish its called enjoying yourself . Its a good job thousands of us are attending the concerts or there wouldn't be a DVD

The audience ARE being totally selfish when they are blocking the view of the people around them. I am 6ft tall and if I stand up, anyone behind me less than 6ft (most women!) will see nothing even if they also stand. It is completely SELFISH to stand up in front of people, especially people who are incapable of standing.

I could hold a barbeque on my front lawn and turn up the volume on my music system to 11. That would be "enjoying myself", but it would also be self-centred, arrogant and a nuisance to my neighbours.

The last time I saw the Eagles people stood in front and my wife and I were restricted to watching the video screen. My wife said that if she wanted to watch a video screen she would have stopped at home and watched the DVD instead of forking out over £100 - which is what many others have stated on this thread. We moved from our seats to the side aisle at half-time and a kind steward directed us to two empty seats on Row 3 - we were lucky!

I have no objection to people dancing and enjoying themselves at concerts, but the concert must be geared up to do this. When we went to see Queen and Paul Rogers recently, there were no seats at all on the flat, so you were expected to stand and do your thing. However, if the concert organiser provides seats then you should SIT

We will be in Birmingham on Saturday. Can I make a personal appeal to those who want to stand up and jig about? Move over to the side aisle and don't get in the way of the rest of us

[JimN]

I can't understand anybody who goes to see a concert of one of the greatest rock and roll groups in of this and the last century and complain that people are stood up dancing . The audiance are not being sellfish its called enjoying yourself . Its a good job thousands of us are attending the concerts or there wouldn't be a DVD

I'm sorry, John, but I certainly can't agree with that.

Ticket prices for concerts are phenomenal these days (and you haven't finished shelling out after buying them, not by a long chalk).

The concert-goer attends in order to hear and see the artiste(s). I was luckier than some in that I was quite high up on Saturday night, so that the people who "are just having fun" (at the expense of others) didn't affect me, but I'm totally with Brian, Rob, etc, above. They're quite right - blocking the view of other fans is selfish and unjustifiable. In fact, we were all warned (some time ago) what would happen in the event of a Cliff/Shadows tour. Fortunately, the ticket allocation was done in a way that bypassed the massed car-park campers, but we were forewarned of this bad-mannered habit of running down to the front of the stage by those who are familiar with it from other Cliff concerts.

Of course, bad behaviour by audience members is nothing new. I can recall being intensely irritated by a field of (as it happens) American high-schoolgirls at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre during a performance of "The Tempest" (featuring no actors of less stature than Sir Michael Hordern, David Suchet, Ian Charleson, Richard Griffiths and Alan Rickman).Those teenage girls had clearly been dragged along there as part of an educational effort to instil some culture into them - and it didn't work. They just kept rabbiting on at normal conversational levels throughout the early part of the performance (this in a large theatre where the actors are not amplified). Thank God it was before the era of the mobile phone. Grrr!

JN

...who hopes that his seats at the Liverpool Echo Arena (7th October) are unaffected.

[Martin Page]

...and don't get me started on those people who insist on talking non-stop whilst watching a film at the cinema...

Martin.

P.S. lucky I was up in the Gods the other night...

[Pat Seaman]

I totally agree with Risky and Jim.
There is absolutely no excuse for spoiling other peoples enjoyment on the pretext that they were "Just enjoying themselves".
That is a regularly over-used excuse for being downright inconsiderate to people who may not even be able to stand for any length of time, or those who feel that the seats were provided for sitting on...radical, I know, but equally valid.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Pat.

[bassgod]

Yes John, instead of using your **** to talk out of, Next time YOU go to a concert, use it to sit on and show a bit of consideration for people who have shelled out money for a ticket and maybe aren't able to stand easily, such as myself for instance. Selfishness seems to be rife in this country. Time we returned to old fashioned good manners!!!!!

Andy

[kenuk]

Hi John "The audiance are not being sellfish its called enjoying yourself " if that is at the expense of other's not enjoying the show it is inconsiderate. I for one cant stand for long without collapsing. So I hope they dont do it everywhere regards Ken

[Tab]

Deliberately blocking someone's view by standing in front of them is nothing short of rudeness, could lead to spectator rage and injury!

One of the reasons football grounds went all seater.

[tony parnham]

On my ticket it says..... Row J.... SEAT 5.
Not STAND AND JIVE 5.
If I can't see I'll get out of my seat and go right to the front and if its unnoccupied by people Jiving I'll sit in it.
Or I've paid £66 not to see.
Tony