Concert Etiquette Question:



I was at the Blind Pilot/Gregory Alan Isakov concert last night at the Vic Theater in Chicago. All of the tickets were general admission for around $32. The theater is fairly small. On the ground floor, there is the standing area near the stage and then behind that there is a raised level where there are several bars. The second floor has a large seated area (again, these seats are GA, so no one has an assigned seat).



This was a “joint” show, where BP went on first and Isakov came on second, and then there was a joint encore. Two friends and I showed up mid-way through the BP set. We stood in the raised area of the back of the first section behind everyone else. As you may expect, when BP was done, the area in front of the stage cleared out as people went to the bathroom, to get drinks, and likely to leave if they weren’t interested in Isakov. When that happened, we sauntered up and stood in about the fourth row in front of the stage (there are no seats in this area). At this point, no less than three people told me I had to move because they were saving that area for a friend. When it happened the third time, I politely said, “Dude, this is general admission and not a seat, you can’t save a standing area.” The guy backed down and sauntered off to the side. So, who is in the right here? You can’t just save a large swath of the area in front of the stage for friends, right?

I wouldn't blame them for trying but you're right.

was there any more room near that spot? I would have just moved over so their friends can come back to the same spot.

i have been in some pretty packed pit areas and you are always moving a few steps here and there as people come in to a spot

how much space are we talking about?

Not really and it was the third empty spot since I moved for the first two requests.

This was the time between shows so there was plenty of space to fit three people comfortably (it ended up being fine since a lot of people choose to go up too)

I see it as generally okay to try and save spots between breaks, though it's bad form to do before a concert begins, which is generally first-come, first-serve. There's nothing worse than a packed floor and then trying to adjust as people try to snake through to the front after it starts.

I think you were both fine in this case.

I used to use that tactic all the time, was never challenged on it. If it got ugly I suppose I would tell the saver to summon an usher or security guy to sort it out.

That's right up there with standing in an open parking spot and shooing other cars away while your friend circles the block.

Yep, a standard situation all around.

Concert space saver guy is 5X worse.

9,

I think you can hold spaces at approximately a 2:1 holders:spaces ratio. The closer to the front you are, the less space you can hold.

Going to disagree with the (normally on point) ED here - there are no reservations in GA.

You can try, I think it's a dick move though. My favorite are the *******s who push to the front claiming their friends are in the front. While it might be true, when you hear it every time someone pushes or forced through, you know their full of ****.

Min,

It's not holding in terms of claiming empty space as reserved, it's the remaining people expanding to take up a larger amount of space while friends go to the bathroom, get drinks, etc.

That doesn't really work either. Out on the lawn or something sure, but up toward the pit space is for whoever WIM.

Worth pointing out that the majority of shows I've seen in GA have been hard rock-metal, and a lot of them over 25 years. Just part of the experience, especially when younger I remember getting up there early with friends and staying there even through the some pretty ****ty opening acts. I had to watch the ****ing Bulletboys just to be in a good spot for Ozzy one time

I'm not proud of it

Better than the garbage that inspired this thread.

And general admission means no holdsies,every true concert rat knows the rules, sneak in whatever you're taking,if you gotta take a leak, learn to hold it or discretely let it dribble out.

Or you lose your spot

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Min, Eey:

Google the acts in OP. This is a polite hipster audience with room to sway and stuff.

Not a mosh pit with the first few rows crushed up against the edge of the stage.

Different rules for different audiences!

I didn't want to google, it already made me sad without knowing for sure

I bet there wasn't even a wall of death

The guy has 3 names so you know he's either a hipster or a hardcore country singer

South African old dude.

Just wait until I seee mandolin orange next month. So maudlin!

nine - you were obv in the right, and you shouldn't have moved the first two times either. There is no holding standing space at a GA show, it is 100% use it or lose it.

I kind of need an ms paint to analyze this properly

Hey, I resemble that remark!
spent their entire set hanging onto the rail at the front, but was rewarded with a fantastic spot for Ozzy complete with a bucket of water to the face!

There was a third band on that tour that is escaping me, was it living color?