56 replies to this topic

[maninkilt]

Right at the start of Kasabian this year I started to feel very very sick so thought that it was probably best to try and get out of the crowd to somewhere less packed, the hassle and downright abuse we got from a small number of people was shocking, they seemed to think that this little piece of a field was thier, personal, numbered spot ITS A CROWD!!!!! you have no right to any spot and no right to deny people walking past.
It got to the point where I had to explane to one tw%t that I either went past him or stayed where I was and threw up on him. Some people really seemed to think that they had the right to grant or deny access.
Probably my most unpleasent Glasto experience.

[Glastoboy]

You could always stand at the front all day with a colostomy bag - problem solved.

I echo the comment on a previous page that pointed out that there is a big crowd of people everywhere at Glasto and nobody has a right to any patch of grass (mud). We all just have to get on with it as politely as possible.

[mandypants]

I'm quite short, so if I'm standing further back in the crowd, I will have a wander about and pick a spot where I can see nicely.  What really gets me upset is, once I have chosen that sweet little spot, someone tall comes and stands in front of me.  So I shuffle to the side a bit, where possible, and tall person's mate comes along.  So I shuffle a bit, and I can see a reasonable amount of stage through the middle of them.  But then they start talking to each other, leaning into that lovely space *sob*.  So I have another little wander, find another space, and it happens again *sob sob*.  

I've literally had bruises under my arms where I've had to protect my barrier spot at some gigs   Although I found it quite funny while waiting at the barrier for Soul Savers at Leeds fest, to sit on my folding stool.  At least half a dozen people came charging towards the space they saw above my head, only to be crushed by me sat there   The disappointment on their faces was so funny   I did fold the stool and stand when the band came on though.

[liquuid_fusion]

As others have said, it's very annoying when there's a constant stream of people walking past/in front of you. Once a few people create a path more will join it and before you know it you're standing in the middle of a human motorway!

I always say sorry/excuse me to people if i'm trying to get past, I hate rude ones that just push through.

One annoying thing in crowds is people sitting down, because from a short distance it looks like a free space in the crowd, then when you get there you end up almost tripping over them.

[Mel & Claire]

I can't remember the origonal reason we took our camping chairs down to Bruce Springsteen, but we did. We're both 5ft 1 and can NEVER see at gigs, unless we strike lucky and can find a space between people's heads. So, there we are with our chairs, just to the side of the sound desk at the Pyramid, so we weren't in the pit and there was room around us, and came up with the idea that we could take it in turns to stand on the chairs for a few minutes too actually see over the crowd (we were too polite to both stand on them at once and block people's view behind us), and they guys's behind and to the side were helping us balance. Then one suggested "Why don't you both stand up there together, we'll help you balance" - so we did. It was hard balancing on those chairs but MY GOD it was worth it. Now we've been to a lot of gigs, and normally go sitting if we can because we can never see anything stood up. Actually seeing a gig from a standing perspective for the first time was absolutely amazing. Even the sound was better, so much clearer. We couldn't believe how different it was, and we could actually see the stage and the band and could see just above everyone's heads! The guys around us were great, and helped us balance. But it was just incredible. And Bruce Springsteen as well!

Did it again for Blur the next night. It really, really made our festival. And although we didn't like the thought of blocking people's view behind us, we just thought "Well all you tall people have always blocked our view, we're having this experience whether anyone complains or not" (people didn't by the way - phew), and an older lady next to us who was the same height did the same and used her massive husband to balance and said it was amazing too.

So, for Glasto 10, we've already bought some folding steps to give us an extra 10 inches or so. It really does make the difference!

Edited by Mel & Claire, 11 November 2009 - 06:00 PM.

[mandypants]

Mel & Claire, on Nov 11 2009, 05:56 PM, said:

I can't remember the origional reason we took our camping chairs down to Bruce Springsteen, but we did. We're both 5ft 1 and can NEVER see at gigs, unless we strike lucky and can find a space between people's heads. So, there we are with our chairs, just to the side of the sound desk at the Pyramid, so we we're in the pit and there was room around us, and came up with the idea that we could take it in turns to stand on the chairs for a few minutes too actually see over the crowd (we were too polite to both stand on them at once and block people's view behind us), and they guys's behind and to the side were helping us balance. Then one suggested "Why don't you both stand up there together, we'll help you balance" - so we did. It was hard balancing on those chairs but MY GOD it was worth it. Now we've been to a lot of gigs, and normally go sitting if we can because we can never see anything stood up. Actually seeing a gig from a standing perspective for the first time was absolutely amazing. Even the sound was better, so much clearer. We couldn't believe how different it was, and we could actually see the stage and the band and could see just above everyone's heads! The guys around us were great, and helped us balance. But it was just incredible. And Bruce Springsteen as well!

Did it again for Blur the next night. It really, really made our festival. And although we didn't like the thought of blocking people's view behind us, we just thought "Well all you tall people have always blocked our view, we're having this experience whether anyone complains or not" (people didn't by the way - phew), and an older lady next to us who was the same height did the same and used her massive husband to balance and said it was amazing too.

So, for Glasto 10, we've already bought some folding steps to give us an extra 10 inches or so. It really does make the difference!

*wonders if lugging folding steps will be worth it......*  

[5co77ie]

mandypants, on Nov 11 2009, 06:00 PM, said:

*wonders if lugging folding steps will be worth it......*  

For the shortarses in our family we use these:




from Argos

they also make handy tables back at the campsite.

[5co77ie]

I never realised people in a crowd considered it a queue - i just go to where i can see hear well - and if someone is making noise i move somewhere else. If I go to the loo i go back to where my mates are - never considered i was pushing in!  

[Ed209]

5co77ie, on Nov 11 2009, 06:17 PM, said:

I never realised people in a crowd considered it a queue - i just go to where i can see hear well - and if someone is making noise i move somewhere else. If I go to the loo i go back to where my mates are - never considered i was pushing in!  

You're not. There's a few people here who need chill out.
people leaving, people arriving, Short people, tall people, People sitting down, people standing up, people on shoulders, flags waving, people sitting on chairs, people sitting on the ground in the dark, people going where they want, people talking, people doing silly things. That's Glasto! And I f**king love all of it!

[ninja-style]

people need to get over it. if there is a space in front of you and your not willing to take it, then you cant moan if someone else does, especially if they are polite when moving past. and if you still want to have a moan, then tell it to the back of my head.

what does annoy me though, is when people sit down on a blanket right near the front of the stage when there is a performance. Blatantly being stubborn because everyone around them is stood up and standing on their blanket. Same with chairs near the front. Its just selfish.

[mandypants]

5co77ie, on Nov 11 2009, 06:16 PM, said:

For the shortarses in our family we use these:




from Argos

they also make handy tables back at the campsite.

Think I shall be investing

[G1T]

This thread's interesting, made me reflect on what i used to do. I did used to push past people a lot, but it was always on the way to the moshpit, and there's always room for one more in a pit. The trick is to find a chain of people moving forward and join it, which is why you can get such long chains sometimes. My record so far is nearly 50 people all moving in a chain towards a stage (not that i count them that often, honest).

The streams of people walking past can get annoying, but then I find it's generally worst around the middle of a crowd, so if it does annoy me i just move back or move forwards until i get out of the place where it's most concentrated.

The only time I've ever actually annoyed people with it was during Radiohead in '97. Turned up a little late due to the mud, and tried to make my way forward a bit as the crowd was pretty dispersed near the back. Due to the way the ground had been so churned up though, small hillocks had appeared here and there, and not seeing one i slipped down it due to the mud, taking out a few people on the way. Got some angry comments, but was hugely apologetic and all seemed ok.

Think I've only once had someone tell me that there was no room next to them when stopping after moving forward, and telling me to get lost, but I just pointed out it was a gig, and within 5 minutes we were all packed in like sardines anyway as everyone else moved forward too.

So yeah, meh, if it gets annoying i move a bit and it stops. Leaving chairs unfolded in front on the stage though, where in rubbery hell did that antisocial nonsense spring from? It's a gig for god's sake, make some space!

[krisskross]

the worst thing i had being stuck to the railings at the front of a gig was watching defenestration at reading in 2000/1.  The guy behind me started randomly headbutting me to get me to move.  I didnt really know what to do cos he was a bit mental and I didnt want to piss him off more - even if i wasnt going to move.  After a little bit the nice girl next to me got security to pull him out, without too much of a fight

[jamiejc]

mandypants, on Nov 11 2009, 06:32 PM, said:

Think I shall be investing

hehe me too!!!

[Glitter+Vodka]

I saw Kasabian tonight and turned up for doors opening, so I could be at the very front. It was pretty quiet thru the support acts, but when Kasabian started obviously loads more people were pushing into the front, which is fine, thats what happens. But these 3 girls turned up, and there was just about space for one of them to squeeze in beside me, then she said to me "can u just let my mate get in" I was like errrm theres no space? where would u like to me to go? they continued pushing me and generally being complete fannies, elbowing me intentionally, kicking me, and I heard them saying "f**k sake just let us in". The front was jam packed and people were gradually being pushed away from the barrier as it was, and they expected me, who had waited 2 hours on my own to be there, just to move out their way.

A bit later, I ended up being pushed away from the barrier and ended up directly behind one of these girls,who was still at the barrier, and one of the mates was about 2 people behind me. It was jam packed, and I was pretty much stood on one foot coz there was no space to put the other down. She asked me to get her mates attention, so I tapped her mate on the shoulder, she turned round, they grabbed each others hands, and then she said to me "now u need to let me through"... I just laughed at her and carried on dancing, and she shouted to the girl at the front "SHE wont let me through". Damn f*cking right I wont, again, where did they want me to go?!


I dont mind getting pushed about, thats what I expect, or people pushing past me to get closer to the front, if theres space to get in, go for it. But I do object to people who get pissed off and act like brats because theres no space for them to get in.

[Glastoboy]

Ed209, on Nov 11 2009, 06:21 PM, said:

You're not. There's a few people here who need chill out.
people leaving, people arriving, Short people, tall people, People sitting down, people standing up, people on shoulders, flags waving, people sitting on chairs, people sitting on the ground in the dark, people going where they want, people talking, people doing silly things. That's Glasto! And I f**king love all of it!

I agree with every word, except for the flags.

Obviously I don't want this thread to degenerate into yet another pro/anti flagdom debate (especially as Eavis says they can stay) BUT getting rid of the flags would solve a lot of the problems mentioned on this thread.

[wiltshireham]

I have no problem with anyone trying to get closer to the stage as long as they do it carefully and politely. They cannot assume that they will get closer. Manners cost nothing. The only time i got p****d off last year was when they barged their way through regardless of who was standing / sitting in their way. At the JP tent waiting to watch Doves, a group steamed in (late) and took out a couple who were sitting on the floor. No regard and no manners. Just ask nicely and if they can, peole will let you through. Just don't assume that because you are cute/small/in a group you have an automatic right to barge to the front.
Chill and enjoy. There is plenty of room for everyone.