What should you not do at concerts?

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 07:52 AM

Oops dyslexic fingers Phil * quiet Richard :-)

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 07:25 AM

That's fine, Lizzie - Seth invited the dancers. He has every right to as it is his gig. And dancing on the fringes is fine as long as it doesn't spoil anyone else's entertainment. Mosh Pits are good too - I have been in enough of them. But that is not what you was talking about. Is it?

I am not implying in any way shape or form that you have a downer on disabilities either. Just pointing out that putting earplugs in is not always "because they ain't interested in that particular part of the concert...and for no other reason.."

I would also like to know how, in any way shape or form, inserting earplugs or knitting detracts one jot from anyone's enjoyment of the gig. No need to get your knickers in a twist as I am not arguing - Just asking a simple enough question.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Newport Boy
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 07:12 AM

@Arthur_itus - Especially if it suddenly goes quite Richard.

Anyone care to offer an interpretation of "quite Richard"?

Phil

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 07:10 AM

'They' tried to ban dancing at the Seth Lakeman gig, backalong at Sidmouth..Even Seth rebelled...invited people to get up and dance if the wanted...

Of course, this was due to Elf 'n' Safetee, allegedly, but most folks poopooed it, broke free and DANCED! At the edges of the gig, I should say, so as not to spoil things...

Bitter? I'm not bitter...I wrote a lot of that with a smile on my face, but I do get pissed off on seeing folks put ear plugs in IN FRONT of artists, then get out their knitting or magazine, purely because they ain't interested in that particular part of the concert...and for no other reason..

Do stop trying to paint me as someone who has downer on folks with disabilites, there's a dear. I know it's your new Avenue, but sadly, you're driving up a dead end...

Disability is one thing....out and out rudeness is quite another..If you don't want to listen to someone's music, then quietly leave, in an unobtrusive way, so as not to upset the performer..

And now, back to all the things you must *never* do...


Oh, and everyone who attends Oysterband gigs knows all about the Mosh Pits at the front...I ain't never seen anyone complain, just rows of very very smiley faces, be they standing up or sitting down, or pogostick dancing... :0)

Onward and Upward in your 'Lizzie's a REAL ol' cow, ain't she, folks' campaign, Dave...

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 06:26 AM

I think you probably shouldn't take out an instrument and join the artist on stage.

What about joining the band in a dance if you name doesn't happen to be Bez "Bez" Bez?

:D

PS - Still chasing my lad up to mail you DC - He has been oddly busy!

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 06:19 AM

Mmmmm - I think your depiction of a regular folk concert is a bit misguided if you think that the concerts you describe are the norm, Lizzie. I have never been to one remotely like that but I guess that you must have been through some very bad experiences to make you so bitter. I do apologise if I had any part of making the concerts you go to so miserable.

Anyway, if I can just take you up on a couple of points. There are far too many to address them all and, as I said earlier, I would like this to be a thread on what you can do rather than what you can't.

I get the impression that you approve of dancing at concerts while you disapprove of people wearing earplugs or knitting, May I ask why? As I said earlier I find that knitting is non-disruptive and certainly would not spoil my enjoyment of the gig. Ear plugs are necessary for people with some type of aural disability and are non-invasive to anyone else and completely invisible once in.

Dancing, when invited to do so, is very enjoyable to both do and watch. However, when people dance uninvited, in front of the stage or down the isles the dancers often block peoples view of the people who have paid to see the artist. Is that really fair? What is more, I may not actually want to see someone dancing, particular out of step and rhythm as non-performers often are, yet I am forced to do so by the attitude that their enjoyment is more important than mine. Again, is that fair?

No need for the diatribe again - either sarcastic or otherwise. I know I am prone to sarcasm every now and then but I am trying to give it up so I will forgive you:-) Just let us know how kitting or earplugs spoil your enjoyment and let us know why you feel spoiling other peoples enjoyment by uninvited dancing is OK.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 05:40 AM

Vin Garbutt always asks his audience not to eat crisps.

I dance in my seat and tap my feet but I try not to spoil other people's enjoyment. Once a band congratulated me on my good sense of rhythm!

Don't wear a hat on your head or a child on your shoulders for longer than a couple of numbers.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 05:34 AM

I think you probably shouldn't take out an instrument and join the artist on stage. That would be a bad thing to do.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 04:52 AM

A D whistle or perhaps D whistles. I've a feeling it might be a Susato plastic whistle but I'm not good with makes and easily confused with who plays what - some people seem to have several just in the one key.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 04:48 AM

NEVER forget to take your................with you



Alternatively titled: 'How To REALLY Impress Your Folk Audience!"

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 04:42 AM

Is it a Knitted Whistle?

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 04:40 AM

Remember kids, home knitting is killing music!

I don't know about killing it that but one of the knitting group we had is a now fairly regular whistle player in the session. I'm not sure about the others and most are away now but I'd be more than happy with gaining one player out of a group of perhaps some weeks up to 10 people.

OK this one did play a little whistle before although not up to session pace with the faster tunes and short on Irish tunes but I might still suggest that gaining one in 10 as a participant is might be better statistically than with groups of people who do pay attention in the approved manner.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 04:19 AM

Don't have your mobile [ cell ] phone turned on, I went to see Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick a few weeks ago and within minutes of them starting to play 2 phones rang in the audience, feckin morons.

Dave H

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 04:12 AM

There's many a concert where I wish I'd taken earplugs, a good book (and sat in a different room).

It's the dedication of punters like yourself that's keeping music alive. Remember kids, home knitting is killing music!

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 04:10 AM

Note to organisers

Never attempt to sell the guest a raffle ticket whilst they are in the middle of a song. (happened to me once)

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 02:52 AM

"What should you not do at concerts?"

Well, some of the concerts I've been to, I'd say the answer to that is never let on your on enjoying the music.

Do NOT sit there with a sloppy smile on your face, nor sway to the music, NEVER dance to it, for that is a hanging offence...Do not move your face, stare straight ahead and listen for any bum notes, which can be discussed in detail later, when pulling apart said artist/s

NEVER forget your knitting, or indeed, your ear plugs, your magazines, or newspapers and NEVER sit in the back if partaking of these indulgences/obsessions, for one must always sit in the front row, to give the maximum message to the performer, who may have travelled hundreds of miles to sing and share his songs for and with you, that he is really *not* that important at all, and 'just another performer' after all, who's nowhere near as good as you, or your pals.

Never cough quietly, nor sniff softly, nor snort in a whisper.

Never sing along in tune, and indeed, never clap on the beat....

Never get dressed up. NEVER put make up on!!!!   Never wink at the performer, nor smile at male members of the audience. (make of that what you will)

NEVER wear your Show of Hands nightie to the concert, unless covered by a very long and shapeless grey jersey dress, which you knitted during your last Oysterband concert, which you never got to hear because you HAD to put your ear plugs in for that one, and you NEVER got to even see them either, due to the Raucous Ninnies (as you would choose to call them) who had the bloody audacity to not only DANCE, but LEAP up and down, en masse, so carried away were they with happiness and excitement over, what you overheard one of them say was some of the best bloody music in the universe!

NEVER go "Tut Tut!" in a voice that does not fill the room. This also goes for sighing when you are bored beyond endurance.

NEVER forget that to be a member of Cadavers R Us is vitally important at all times, and therefore, ANY display of emotion, or movement, indeed, even the tapping of feet or fingers is VERBOTEN at all times, for you are being watched!!


And NEVER do what a dear ol' lady did once at a superb gig of a Mudcat member, who, during the interval tapped me on the shoulder, from where she was sitting behind me and say "My dear, I just wanted to tell you, I saw you dancing in your seat and....and....it reminded me of when I was young!!"   Then she smiled, such a sad smile....as her elderly husband, who would have been old at 17 I've no doubt trotted to the bar, whilst walking in front of us, in the front row, stopping to *stare* hard at my children for a few moments...in disbelief that they'd obviously allowed children in, in the first place....

I think he could 'smell' them, like Roald Dahl's Witches... ;0)

Anyway, if you keep to the above rules and regulations, you *should* be pretty safe, but....not always, for folk music is a dangerous thing to love and the weirdest things can happen if you dare to 'let go' at a concert...

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 02:43 AM

Knitting and earplugs are good. There's many a concert where I wish I'd taken earplugs, a good book (and sat in a different room).

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 02:25 AM

So, is the general concensus that knitting and earplugs are OK?

DtG

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Genie
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 01:30 AM

1. Never fart or belch out of tune or not in time to the music.

2. Do not - ever - climb onto the stage, pinch the performer's (or performers') cheeks (either kind) and loudly shout "Woooo, dawgies!!"

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 10:53 PM

Snore.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 10:45 PM

Do not throw up on the audience. From the stage.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Don Firth
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 09:51 PM

Belch loudly, unless you have a good sense of rhythm.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: michaelr
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 09:17 PM

Do not climb the speaker towers.

Do not set off fireworks.

Do not spill beer on the sound desk.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 09:02 PM

If the seats are fabric, you can get away with farting as long as you fart vertically down into the seat. That way, people will think you're a bit stale but they won't realise you've farted. This does not apply if you leave your seat for any reason within five minutes of the last fart. Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Bert
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 08:26 PM

...She takes it to bed and now and again...

Kendall, there is this picture in my mind........

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 07:45 PM

Especially if it suddenly goes quite Richard. Can make the guest jealous as you steel the show :-)
Les

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: GUEST, Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 07:43 PM

Fart

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 07:38 PM

Jacqui is unique and I thought it was lovely to see her crocheting. In fact Jacqui's Avatar on Facebook is a picture I took when she was in the UK at Gainsborough Folk Club.
Les

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 07:33 PM

Eat popcorn - it's not the eating but the scrabbling in the box that makes the noise.

And should be obvious, but doesn't seem to be to some:
DON'T TALK WHILE THE MUSIC"S PLAYING!!!!!!

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Ref
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 07:32 PM

What Kendall said. Anything that impinges on another concert goer's experience is a no-no.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: kendall
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 07:28 PM

Jacqui crochets all the time where ever she is. She's one of those people who can do two things at once. She takes it to bed and now and again she wakes up and throws out a shawl.
Foot tappers in the audience should be discouraged.Making any kind of noise is a no no.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 07:16 PM

The audience should not eat crisps, they should suck them.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 07:12 PM

Don't sit in front of me if you're over five foot nine. If you do sit in front of me, whatever your height, if you're bald just check that I haven't brought a felt-tip pen with me.

Many moons ago I attended a concert in the Albert Hall at which Yehudi Menuhin played the Brahms concerto. From the beginning to the end of the performance, a chap sitting across the aisle from me and slightly in front jangled the bunch of keys in his trouser pocket very loudly. So keep your hands high at all times.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 06:55 PM

Anyone with a body mass index of 1.2 or higher should not remove any of his or her clothing.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 06:50 PM

Thay are mid-20's Jon. Started knitting a few years back. Very popular indeed with young folk - The other I mentioned is young too.

D.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Bert
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 06:47 PM

Leave before the end. Unless you are making a statement.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 06:46 PM

OT but but of curisosity, Dave with you saying "the girls", is knitting becoming more popular with young people? The group we had coming were A level students, most of whom have now gone to universities elsewhere in the country.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 06:35 PM

Good point, Jon. To be honest, I don't recall the girls ever actualy knitting at a concert but I suspect they would given a chance! I was told of someone quite famous who knitted through the Sheffield Carol do's. I thought it was very Christmas-y of them:-)

D.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 06:27 PM

A couple of years ago we had a regular group of knitters in coming to sessions I go to. I don't think anyone was put out by that.

As for what I'd do or not do. I don't think I'd do anything that made it look as if I wasn't interested if I was at a performance in a small room or in the front rows of a concert but I guess I might be less likely to worry if I was further back.

It that sort of situation I suppose I might be concerned for example that arm movements while knitting were distracting to the people sat next to me and not knit for that reason but I don't think someone else in the audience getting upset on behalf of the artist because they feel I might not be giving a performance the attention they feel it deserves, etc. would be of concern to me,

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 06:08 PM

Hmmmm - On reflection what you should NOT do has been done to death. Any chance of an elf changing the title to "What CAN you do at a concert?"

Cheers.

D.

Nice one Greg :-) Maybe that would help with the farts too.

Subject: RE: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Greg B
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 06:05 PM

Do not eat hard-boiled eggs, and especially do not eat egg-salad-sandwiches.

Subject: What should you not do at concerts?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 06:01 PM

This came up on another thread and rather than detract from that one I think it deserves a thread of it's own

Someone commented that they saw people knitting at a folk concert and others putting in ear plugs. They thought it very rude. I commented that knitting at concert would be no issue at all for me - My daughters take their knitting to the pub with them! There is even a knitting group at a local pub where they also stage live music of all types. I think that folk music and folk crafts, like knitting, sort of go hand in hand. I don't knit myself but I understand the act can, and often is, performed along with other activities. It is quiet, discreet and, as far as I can see, non-disruptive.

As to the ear-plugs. Well, my wife has a condition that results in severe pain in the ears during any loud, particulrly bass-centric, episodes. At the cinema she has to wear ear plugs all the time. At some concerts she either has to move away from the speakers or do the same. I am sure there are other people with similar disabilities.

What do you think? As either artists or fellow audience would you find either activity upsetting? Maybe I should stop taking the family out if they are that offensive! And that is saying nothing of my farts...

What I find to be rude at concerts is anyone spoiling other peoples enjoyment. Be it talking loudly, jumping up and down to take photgraphs or insisting that they have the right to stand on chairs, dance in front of the stage or make those odd whooping noises at the oddest of times! I think they have all been done to death in other threads though.


Cheers

DtG