People who talk during concerts

Subject: People who talk during concerts
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 04:17 PM

I don't mean the discreet leaning to your neighbor to make a brief comment, I mean the insistent loud jabbering with no regard for performer or audience. You know, the guy behind you who goes BLABLABLABLA all evening and gets even louder if the music gets louder. Yes, I have an attitude about it, but I've come to believe that there are just as many people who don't understand why it bothers anyone. So, if there is anyone reading this who is a BLABLABLABLA person explain yourself because I am tired of having concerts ruined by rudeness.

David E.

PS- Just to clarify, I am not talking about people attending some huge outdoor rock and roll party-like festival, but concerts where it's expected that people are going to sit and listen.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 04:43 PM

Good question.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 04:51 PM

Just as bad is when paying to go to a theatre there is a group of people, usually a hospitality turn-out - all pissed out of their brains, and insistent on not so much talking over but shouting over the performance.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 04:58 PM

Plain bad manners. It irritates me immensely. I don't allow that at our concert venue. People pay good money to see an act and they do not want to listen to twat's talking incessantly, they want to listen to the act they paid to see. Banter in between songs is something else.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Mrrzy
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 05:00 PM

Ooh, while we're at it if you don't mind a little thread creep, what about people who sing along at concerts?

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 05:06 PM

Well if the act encourages you, that's fine.

Whilst we are at it. What about the twats that stand up and block your view. No concern for people who have a disability and can't stand up.

Whilst we are at it. What about the venues that allow standing only and that means that people with disabilties cannot attend.

anymore :-)

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 05:12 PM

I have been known to stop dead mid song, and ask a couple of motormouths whether my singing was interrupting their conversation.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 05:25 PM

Maybe they were complaining that your singing was interupting their talking John LOL :-)

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: skipy
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 05:26 PM

There are 2 people (both catters) who drive me to distaction by talking to me a the back of a concert when I am trying to run it! NO NAMES NO PACK DRILL!! They both mean well but it is wrong, soooo wrong.
Skipy

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 05:40 PM

With you there Skipy :-)

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Gurney
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 05:40 PM

Name the buggers, Skipy.
Both as compere and as performer, I've issued boll**kings.

But I've also been guilty of it.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: PHJim
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 05:53 PM

David E. said,
"Just to clarify, I am not talking about people attending some huge outdoor rock and roll party-like festival, but concerts where it's expected that people are going to sit and listen."

Not a Rock and roll party, but at an outdoor folk festival, my brother and I were interrupted by a man talking and laughing at the top of his lungs to a group of his friends. My brother said, very politely, "Could you talk over at the side. That guy's trying to put on a show up there."
The man replied with some very vulgar language and continued to laugh and yell throughout the act.
Imagine our surprise to see him appear as a performer later on that day.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: DMcG
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 06:00 PM

Just to clarify, I am not talking about people attending some huge outdoor rock and roll party-like festival

Not quite rock and roll, but I went to a 'Proms in the Park' a few years back where the entire first half was inaudible because of Hoorays yabbering constantly in front of us.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: CupOfTea
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 06:01 PM

Lately I've noticed that a few folks who are "staff" seem to feel immune to the strictures of politeness - what's with THAT? I'm not talking about discussions of sound, lights, performer logistics, but unrelated chats.

Several times lately I found myself glaring at someone who had some sort of staff teeshirt or name tag who was nattering away at the back of a venue that clearly had an inside/outside separation.

I just gawped at the woman who answered her LOUD cellphone by sort of hunching over it and holding her hands around it, as if that would make it acoustically invisible, then went on in what seemed like a stage whisper "I can't talk now, I'm at a concert" Pause "No, really, I can't talk now" Part and parcel of living in a culture where the norm seems to be that everyone must be in touch with everyone else they know at all times, perhaps?

Joanne (who does not text or tweet and tries not to be a twit)

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 06:01 PM

What about those who bawl out "harmony" voices that do not fit your chord scheme, and look around trying to catch appreciative glances from the audience? Then a cell phone starts tootling, someone dressed up as a businessman slowly searches all his pockets, and when he finally finds the phone, he shouts into it: "I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU, THE MUSIC IS JUST SO BLOODY LOUD! ... YES, CANCEL THE FLIGHT TO ZURICH, I'LL TAKE THE HELI TOMORROW!"

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 06:45 PM

Thank you for the posts. I would be glad to attend a concert with any of you.

David E.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Midchuck
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 06:58 PM

Not with me.

I have a tendency to sing along with the performer, if it's a song I know and like - and I'm not even conscious that I'm doing it until I notice someone glaring at me...

P.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 07:02 PM

I sang the harmony that Jonathan Coulton wrote when I last saw him perform. And I have a habit of singing harmony parts I know. Am I a bad man?

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 07:26 PM

the ones I truly love are the clods who insist on tuning whistles, guitars or even harpsichords while getting ready to follow the performing artist.
RUDE RUDE RUDE

Have to admit, I once had an uncontrollable giggling fit mid Bill Staines. I owe him an apology.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: IvanB
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 07:38 PM

I've been known to turn around (or tap on the shoulder if the offenders are in front of me) and inform them that "I came to enjoy the concert and I'd just as soon do it without their input." Usually those around us have been quite supportive of my stand.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 09:00 PM

I'm all for singing along, as part of "folk" and "folk-alike".

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Effsee
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 10:19 PM

As a promoter of a concert who refunded £48 to 4 people at half time in a concert, just to get rid of one of them, who came to me during the interval and complained that an adjacent table had asked her to shut up during the performance, and argued that, "No you hadn't", when I told her that she was clearly audible across 50 feet of the room where I was standing, and that I had heard her...I know where you're coming from!
Pure bloody ignorance, inconsideration...and why TF come to the concert in the first place if they don't want to listen?

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Neil D
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 10:32 PM

Here's a twist on the subject, performers who talk during concerts. I went to see a well known Zydeco performer last summer and he wouldn't shut up. I don't mean just introducing songs and an occasional anecdote, but 5 minutes of idle chit chat after every song. He spent more time talking than playing, literally.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: open mike
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 12:13 AM

i always love it when a performer invites the audience to sing along..
but it is not appropriate unless invited to do so..

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 04:54 AM

I remember one night at the Player's Theatre when the hospitality brigade were getting louder by the minute - Jan Hunt was on stage and let rip with a well paced - well projected "OH SHUT UP". That got the best applause of the evening. Trouble is the hospitalities - obvious overpaid bankers or that ilk were too stupid to realise it was directed at them , and carried on regardless. No wonder the economy is in a mess!!!

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 05:01 AM

I am rather taken by the "rights of admission are reserved" approach, pursuant to which organisers would eject braying jackasses.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 05:02 AM

Out of interest, has a promoter ever had to refund the majority of an audience because of the disruptive behaviour of a minority?

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Ana
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 05:15 AM

I hate it when people tap to a tune (doesn't necessarily equate to tapping in time) especially if it means they are jiggling coins or kicking the back of my chair.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: melodeonboy
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 05:51 AM

I've noticed people in singarounds who like attention when they're performing, but then natter, albeit quietly for the most part, when someone else is performing.

On a related matter, at a gig with my (fairly noisy!) zydeco band at a pub in Whitstable last year, there was a bunch of blokes who stood near the band and right in front of one of the speakers. They (and one bloke in particular) talked all the way through the gig, and didn't applaud or even recognise the existence of the band. It didn't affect the gig much, as the PA was louder than their voices, but it just seemed curious to me that they decided to stand there rather than in other parts of the pub which were much quieter and, presumably, more suited to conversation.

And, blow me, at a gig later the same year at the same venue, the talkative one was back again in exactly the same place and did the same again! It's beyond my ken!

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 08:05 AM

and what about the people who fart at concerts.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 08:16 AM

"what about the people who fart at concerts"?

If they fart in harmony, that's fine with me. Otherwise they should be exorcized.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: jacqui.c
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 08:25 AM

I, too, cannot understand why people go to musical events and want to spend their time talking.

I go to music events to listen to the music and find it annoying when someone in the group wants to chat at me while a singer is performing. Even if I don't respond they will quite often keep going and have to be shushed to shut them up.

At Old Songs this last weekend, during one of the workshops, there were a couple of people behind me who were droning on while one of the performers was talking about the song they were about to sing. I did my usual - turned round and glared - and they shut up.

At an open air concert featuring Jose Carreras a group near me were chatting through the opening number by a choir (The Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves)and I tried to ignore them but when they continued to chat while the great man (IMHO) was performing I just told them that I had paid to listen to the music, not them.

Sometimes one needs to be a bit rude to shut rude people up - just fighting fire with fire.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: stevi
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 08:52 AM

Not a concert but at my session the other night one guys phone rang not once but again 10 mins later 3 times infact! He had a few drinks down him but just carried on talking on it through the playing regardless.
Bl..dy annoying but what can you do.

Stevi

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Midchuck
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 09:07 AM

Take the phone away from him.

Stamp it into fragments.

Ram the jagged fragments up his...

Oh, sorry. I feel strongly about this matter and sometimes get carried away.

Peter

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Elmore
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 09:09 AM

This is a problem without a solution. It's been bugging me for fifty years. I used to try to stare offenders into quietude. In recent years that has proven to be too subtle.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 10:57 AM

So it sounds like ninety-nine percent of concert goers are polite and respectful and one percent are obnoxious and ruin the experience for the rest of us. A lot like life itself isn't it? Thanks again for the posts, I was beginning to despair that it was only me...

David E.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 12:08 PM

Stevi,

> what can you do

If you happen do be something like Franz Liszt, do as he did, according to Siloti's memoirs 1920:

Liszt and Czar Nicholas I

...
[Liszt is quoted:]

"I was giving concerts in Russia, and received a command to play before the Emperor, Nicholas I; while I was playing the Emperor beckoned to his aide-de-camp and began talking to him, whereupon I stopped. There was an uncomfortable silence. Then the Emperor came up to me and asked why I had stopped. I said:

'When your Majesty speaks everybody else must be silent.'

He did not take my meaning at first, but looked at me for a moment as if puzzled. Then all of a sudden he frowned and said curtly:

'Monsieur Liszt, your carriage is waiting.'

I bowed in silence and went away. Half an hour later a police officer came to my hotel and ordered me to leave Petersburg within six hours, which I did. That is why I can only return to Petersburg at the personal invitation of another Emperor, and that is what I am waiting for."

[Siloti continues:] And he was right. There came a letter written by the Empress Marie Feodorovna's own hand, with a note added by Alexander III in which Liszt was invited to stay at the Winter-Palace ...

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 12:51 PM

good on ya Liszt matey, f### all these control freaks, whether they be emperors or folk festival organisers, or just plain ignorant people who believe music is wall paper.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 02:18 PM

What do you mean by "folk festival organisers" GSS. Is that a knock becuase they don't invite you?

Folk festival organisers work very very hard to provide entertainment for the folk world, very often, just for expenses or sometimes for nothing. I find you comments to FFO offensive to say the least. I hope they never book you in the future.

Maybe I have misunderstood you, in which case I will duly apologise, if you can explain your comment.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 03:26 PM

Cue now for another thread on how dreadful folk clubs are for expecting people to keep quiet during the performance.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: GUEST,999
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 03:33 PM

I figured by now someone would have suggested asking politely for the talkers to please be quiet. I've done that a few times and it works.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 03:49 PM

it seems to me that different clubs have different ethos.often at one club,no-one seems to listen,and talk.this may be dislike or familiarity or just the way it is.however,if someone new and outstanding performs, talk tends to subside.it is just the same at open mics i,ve played at,and i can get either response.there are thankfully folk and open mics that do value the performer,even those less experienced.so if it comes to a choice;which will win my support?!

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 03:55 PM

arthuritis, it was an attempt at a joke,i agree rather a poor joke, i know they work hard and I am pleased someone organises them.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 04:01 PM

Ah OK You should have added a :-) Then I would have seen that humour was intended. :-) So aplogies from me for misjudging you.

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 05:24 PM

What sign should you use if humour is not intended?

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 05:30 PM

I totally understand why they talk at bar performances and at open air events..like Folklife...

It should be a job of the M.C. to say what expectations are and how far away to move if you want to carry on a conversation.

At a concert I would assume silence, butthe M.C. should ask people to turn off cell phones and not talk except during intermissions. Never heard of anyone not like toe tapping before though. It has never bothered me. What if you tried to stop that in Quebec? mg

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: skipy
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 05:39 PM

In a lot of cases organisers work for a lot less than nothing! By not claiming any form of expences at all to keep ticket & door prices as low as possible to make sure there is a good enough crowd at an event to make the event work. Also by leaving whatever "profit" a festival makes in the festival fund to buy in the best that can be afforded the next year. Artists as well have worked for me for a lot less than they could be paid at other festivals to keep it going.
Skipy

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: Rumncoke
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 06:50 PM

There would be a special place in Hell for all those who yatter when others are trying to listen - if I had anything to do with it.

It would be double booked with a beginner bagpipe workshop where the tutor was perpetually late and no one had a tuner.

Anne Croucher :ootd:

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: bruceCMR
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 06:58 PM

Re telephones ringing, I remember watching a snooker match on TV. At a key point in the game, someone's phone rang, shattering the silence for the second or third time.

The referee turned round to the audience, looked at the guy and said "Go on, answer it. Tell them you're on your way home..."

Subject: RE: People who talk during concerts
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 08:00 PM

poster appears to be gargoyle.

---

RE:expected that people are going to sit and listen.

Du7de - Why be a whinner - obviously yor KNOT a WINNER

More, perhaps, are you a Weiner?

A passingly good entertainer - can keep an audience enthralled for 40 minutes.... a weak one maybe 30.

Go back to Your Material and reconsider the choices and times the audience became dis-engaged.

NO ONE TALKS - When you have created "Alpha State" -