When at a gig, where do you stand? Up front to be close to the action or a bit further back so it sounds better. The last gig I was at I stood up front but if I'm honest I think it was too loud and distorted and I'm wondering if it might sound better stood back a bit.
In the middle? Can't go wrong there.
About 6 rows back, t-shirt off and with some random bird sat on your shoulders.
Or maybe that's just me then...
Sounds better with earplugs in wherever you stand 🙂
Gotta be at the front. If you want good sound then put the CD on at home. Live is all about being there.
Depends on the band really. Usually pretty near the front- not so near as to be squashed into immobility, for rock and roll you've got to be able to move right?
By the sound desk. If it doesn't sound good there then it will not sound good anywhere.
Earplugs.
Down at the front for the first couple, always favourites everyone knows.
'This is a new one...' = time for the bar and a rest.
Unless you're a Dylan obsessive, in which case you write down all the ad libbed lyric changes and complain about other people enjoying themselves.
Or the partner of a Billy Bragg fan, in which case it's considered good form to talk loudly to your mates all the way through.
Always at the front, if standing. Seated, bit more of a lottery regarding what seats are available. Do not go to the bar while the support is on/after the support has come off; elbowing your way back to the space you vacated half an hour before will be met with extreme displeasure.
And wear earplugs, and don't engage your mates in an ongoing conversation while the main act is playing; you [i]will[/i] be told to shut the ****up.
Of course, my forty-three years of gig going is only my personal experience, others may differ.
Oh, and don't take a frikkin ipad and try to take photos with it, and filming the entire gig is considered bad form too. Take photos by all means, where allowed, but shoot quickly and get your camera out of the way; burst mode is a good idea.
Even with a little compact camera you can get photos like this:
[img][url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/15519364812_7525fee0fa_o.jp g" target="_blank">
Love that Bassman.
I always seem to end up next to the bastard who insists on singing along with every song, out of tune, out of time,and not knowing the words except for the chorus.
That reminds me, must get some new earplugs. Tuesdays gig includes soundcheck so might be able to have an experiment re sound and a small acoustic set at some point.
Depends on the gig and my mood: If there's a good pit and I'm up for it, then right in the middle of the pit. If it's a stand and watch-type gig then usually somewhere around the mixing desk. However, it depends on the hall architecture and the location of overhangs or other features that may ruin the sound.
Ooh, nice picture CountZero - the divine Tanya Donnelly
In my case, it doesn't matter where i stand. Front, back, middle, side, i can assure you, one of the Harlem Globetrotters will magically appear directly in front of me.(They also like to sit in front of me at the cinema)
By the sound desk mainly. Too old for the front...!
One thing I've never understood from years and literally hundreds of gigs is why people need to throw glasses full of piss or beer about...? What the hell is that about?
Used to be right down the front in the thick of it, bouncing around for the entire set & going generally bonkers.
Used to go and see all sorts; Machine Head, Wildhearts, The Almighty, Megadeth, Metallica.......
But, now I'm older and don't go so often, I tend to hover a bit further back, where it's a little calmer.
Last time a mate & I decided it would be a good idea to have a jump around at the front, we lasted about 5 mins before deciding a much better idea would be to get to the bar for another beer and watch/listen from a more comfortable location!
People pushing through to get their pints and for another couple of mates who then spill it over me as they struggle back to their place always irritates the **** out of me... You're their for the music not to get pissed surely. Also people who talk all the way through get on my bloody nerves...
Er, I don't stand in the same place at every gig.
I usually stand where there's no idiot in front of me who can't enjoy the experience of a gig without getting their phone/ipad/camera out to record the event with their shitty little photos.
Up the front for one off gigs, latecomer usually pissing people off by "managing" to get up there. Festivals a little more relaxed as its nice to soak it up with mates and have the crack, but the odd band I'll make a dive for the front. Being on the stage and subsequently kicked off it literally by Phil Anselmo was probably the best place to be briefly!
Usually at the EXACT position where the plastic cup of warm "god I hope that's beer" lands - why do people do that?!?
Unless I'm at Glastonbury, when I relay on the goodwill of friends to match their way in days before I arrive and set up my tent right at the edge of the walking path facing the main stage.
Depends on the band and the venue. Upfront if its a band/artist I really like, otherwise middle. Of course at venues like the Half Moon in Putney the difference in those two is about 3 paces.
I usually stand where there's no idiot in front of me who can't enjoy the experience of a gig without getting their phone/ipad/camera out to record the event with their shitty little photos.
This. Really gets to me these days, was at Shepherds Bush this week and the girl in front was doing it constantly, even her boyfriend asked her to stop.
When I was younger dancing down the front. Now it's dancing further back with -20db plugs. At the last gig I was the sound man for my son. My ears rang for the whole next day as the guitar amp could only be adjusted squatting in front of it. The best place is obviously on stage performing.
And what's this about talking to mates? If a bomb had gone off outside a Slade concert in 72 no-one would have heard it.
jamj1974 - Member
People pushing through to get their pints and for another couple of mates who then spill it over me as they struggle back to their place always irritates the **** out of me... You're their for the music not to get pissed surely. Also people who talk all the way through get on my bloody nerves...
Depends on the gig, shirley?
I'm going to see The Wildhearts in December at The Forum, in London. The evening generally goes along the lines of meet mates in pub for a couple of pints, get into venue, couple more pints and chit chat while watching the support. Move forward to a better position for the main act (probably with another beer).
The odd bit of shove-shove-'scuse me-shove-shove (with the occasional beer slop) goes on in both directions and just seems to be part of the consequence of choosing to go to a packed venue where there will be beer flowing, raucous music and a general buzz in the air.
If I went to see David Gray or Adele, I might reasonably expect a calmer atmosphere with less shoving and beer spillage.
I don't think I've ever been to any music concert where you'd actually be able to hear people talking to each other once the music starts (unless it's someone shouting in your ear).
Being one of those fellows (Globetrotter types) to which skink2020 refers, it doesn't matter where I stand, because I'll always annoy someone. Sorry folks 🙁
Depends on the venue ,but close enough so it sounds good.
I used to be at the front.leave that for d'em yout these days.
At the forum, always to the left of the mixing desk...wild hearts should be good stumpy.....:-)
Near the bar.
senor j - Member
At the forum, always to the left of the mixing desk...wild hearts should be good stumpy.....:-)
Funnily enough, I think that's where we always end up; just down those few steps from the bar....
Really looking forward to it - Wildhearts must be my most seen band! Ginger's Birthday Bash has become one of our must see events. Near Christmas too, so always a good atmosphere.
I'm off to see the Dropkick Murphy's, on St paddys day weekend next year.
I suspect the answer will be "in hospital" by the end.
I try to get reasonably near the front because I'm quite short and I like to see what's going on.
Any pushing and shoving is usually good-natured but at the last gig I went to, we arrived early and were a just a couple of people back from the front before the support band even came on. Then 5 mins before the main band, a bloke who was a good foot taller and wider than me appeared from nowhere and tried to elbow his way in front of me, arguing that it was his place, the cheeky get. I refused to budge and he spent most of the concert standing to my left, glaring at me!
[i]I refused to budge and he spent most of the concert standing to my left, glaring at me![/i]
What a dickhead! I bet that's your lasting memory of the gig too!
I like to watch gigs through the screen of the person in fronts mobile phone which is being kindly held in my line of sight to the band.
If I went to see David Gray or Adele, I might reasonably expect a calmer atmosphere with less shoving and beer spillage.
I don't think I've ever been to any music concert where you'd actually be able to hear people talking to each other once the music starts (unless it's someone shouting in your ear).
Stand near the back (to have a bit more room) ever and even with louder bands you will here people talking. The occasional pint is not an issue - it's the pushing past for the 4th or 5th time during the main act that annoys. More rock and indie gigs than Adele or David Gray for me!
Close to the sound desk, with as easy access to the bar as possible! 🙂
If you want atmosphere, heat, ringing ears, sweat - front
If you want to listen to music - next to the sound desk
If you want to get pissed - bar
If you want to avoid any crowds - back
Behind the drums more often than not. Done more gigs than i've been to in the last 5 years