I just got back from a show, and every single I time I go see a band play, I oftentimes feel like there are so many people there who have forgotten about the music. Everywhere I look there are people texting while the band is playing, or taking pictures of themselves and their friends with their phones. Honestly, what is so important, that it must be texted at that very moment, and not just that moment, no, it must carry on for at least ten minutes. I believe, in most situations, it can probably wait for a more opportine moment. For one, I think this is so incredibly rude to the band that happens to be playing. Even if they can't see you, you are still being inconsiderate. Essentially, they are putting on a show for you, they are getting a point across through their art, and you are blatantly ignoring them. Even if you don't like the band, and they aren't who you came to see, it's not polite to spend more time on your phone than rocking out. And sitting on the floor while a band is playing is so rude I cant even think about it. It's not even like people were doing this for the opening bands though. Even when Rise Against was playing, there were gilrs taking pictures of themselves with the one girl's phone. Why? You can take pictures anytime, you can't just hear Rise Against playing your face off every day. I just think there should be certain concert etiquitte because so many people go, and then don't even pay any attention to the music. I mean, there are plenty of kids there who are there for the right reasons, but why are these other kids there. I honestly just don't understand it, and it makes me sad. Part of the amazing thing about concerts is, or so I used to think, was that you were in a room with other people who were passionate about the same music as you, who found meaning, hope, solace, and power in the same words you did, and for a few hours, you were all in it together, sharing that incredible feeling. I still feel that connection and that passion, but I feel like it has been made less intense and that makes me sad. Maybe I'm just not used to seeing shows in arenas, or maybe it's because I always have floor seats, and unfortunately tonight I didn't. Rise Against still put on a fabulous show, that was well worth attending, I just wonder about the kids at shows these days.
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In addition to this, some people talk in the theatres, bring babies, don't turn off their cell phones.... I know what you're talking about, and I the things I mentioned above annoying. What happened to common courtesies? I wonder if in the past, people had the same problems with people talking in theatres, and bringing babies. It would be interesting to know so we could compare the situations and determine if a changing society could be a factor in the change of courtesy.
By the way, you asked me about globalization. If you go back to that article, I replied to your comment with links to some information! =)
Happy Blogging!
TCho
Thank you s much, I really aprpreciate it!
I agree that would be a very interesting study, but I wonder if it could even be conducted as I'm not sure how much information exists on rude behavior in the theatre that long ago.
Concert etiquette has really gone down the drain. I am a music major, and other students even within the music department have completely lost all sense of propriety. Phones go off during concerts and rehearsals, people clap between movements, open doors during a piece rather than wait for the first applause when it won't distract the performer. and obviously at a rock show the band probably can't see you texting, but in a coffee shop or small college venue, i can say from experience they sure as hell can.
Hug a musician, they never get to dance.
Most people clap between movements because they don't realize the piece isn't over, or that when the conductor puts their hands down it's over. It seems like that should be something that everyone knows, because it is super distracting!
People think the piece is over because they haven't read the program. If there is more than one movement of a piece being performed, in most cases the movements are listed, and I have even seen asterisks and footnotes saying to wait until the end of the piece and not to clap between! This goes right back to poor concert etiquette; no one reads programs anymore either.
Hug a musician, they never get to dance.
I'm so glad someone else feels this way. The problem is that "going to shows" has become "cool." The vast majority of the kids at concerts don't really care about art or music. The girls who took that picture probably went home and posted it on their MySpace with a caption of "at the Rise Against concert!" and people probably commented it saying, "omg that's so cool!" It actually makes me depressed! I feel so weird about it, like I shouldn't be depressed over something so stupid, but I just feel like, when did my favorite thing in the world become a fashion statement? It really isn't fair.
You shouldn't feel depressed about it. It makes me really sad too. Music means so much to me, and gets me through so much, that I don't understand how people can disrespect the art that has made such a difference in my life and other people's lives.