Pet hate - talking through sets

[ghandi]

OK so here is my major whine at Glastonbury, and i know it's selfish but there you go. I only go to one festival a year and that's Glastonbury, I wait all year and once the line up is out i choose my faves to go and watch. It's not overly important i mainly see the bands that i really like and would otherwise pay to see at home in their own gigs should i be lucky enough to get a ticket. What really bugs me though is this mentality of going to a set and standing there chatting all the way through with no notice taken of the music being played. I have had this on numerous occasions over he four years i've managed to go, and yes it's a festival and people wait around for other acts to come along, and yes i could move. But imagine finding what seems a perfect position when along come a group of mates who stand by you and start talking about anything other than the band you have just come to see. Even at Portishead, the headline act! A couple of blokes behind me chatting about where they'd been etc and even having the gaul to mimic one of the tracks and substituting the lyrics in jest. If you have no interest and want to talk there is room within a fest up to the size of Exeter to go and find a space free from people trying to watch! it is just so f......ing annoying !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

These people are fucking morons. The standing areas in front of the stages are clearly for people who actually want to watch the band and get a good experience of the show. If you want to talk, go and sit on the grass closer to the back. My Stones experience was tainted by posh kids bellowing their own conversations right next to my ear, it's just rude. Kids these days (yes, I said "kids these days", fucking deal with it) have no attention span, they don't want to contribute to an atmosphere, they go along to see big named bands like the Stones and just stand around chatting, waiting for the rest of the crowd to build up an atmosphere to make the show interesting. If you aren't there to see the band, at least have the common courtesy to respect those who do.

[lucyginger]

In 2008 (I think?) I saw Massive Attack at Glastonbury, I think on the Other Stage. I can't really remember! Anyway, I was by myself, I had a smoke and a drink and was getting right into it. Then they started playing Unfinished Sympathy, my favourite song of ALL time. At that precise moment, a lady started chatting to me really loudly! I just politely said it was my favourite song and could she wait until afterwards so I could enjoy it fully. She was so apologetic! It was really quite funny.

[lucyginger]

BUt yes, I agree, if you want to get into it, get nearer the front. If you want to sort of have it as a bit of background, go to the back.

[ryan.smith]

Some stupid groups were just shouting and fucking about when Lumineers were on - really didn't enjoy it as much as I should have done because of that. Actually had to move twice during their (brilliant) set.

[Mr Splodge]

Had this problem during seasick Steve this year had to move three times, once for those bloody balloon idiots and twice for talking. Drives me mad.

[LondonTom]

Kids these days (yes, I said "kids these days", fucking deal with it) have no attention span,

[HoTWire]

At Hard Rock Calling I went to see Mars Volta specifically.. got near the front before the band started, in the epicenter of awesome sound wise. Just before the band come on the guy behind is joined by two mates, who then proceed to very loudly talk though the first two tracks, which pissed off pretty much everyone around them. Unspoken the crowd started to tighten around them until they were very squeezed and decided to move away. Why the hell go that far to the front of a gig to talk!

At Foals at Royal Albert Hall I was in a box (because fuck rubbing shoulders with the great unwashed*) and it was very nice, then the 4 women that were also in the box got increasingly drunk and loud during the support act, then talked ALL THE WAY THROUGH Foals, at the back of the box... what a waste of money

/Rant

Had it a little at Glastonbury... but never too bad and have always been able to move away. I was more distressed by the fact I saw at least two fights nearly start in crowds from people being very rude to each other

*For the humourless: This is a joke, the best view in the Albert Hall is from the boxes and they aren't that much more than normal tickets, but they sell out quickly

Edited July 10, 2013 by HoTWire

[little_jim]

Had this problem during seasick Steve this year had to move three times, once for those bloody balloon idiots and twice for talking. Drives me mad.

[Apone]

I was fairly close to the front of The Park for Dinosaur Jr when 2 girls and a lad joined me and proceeded to gossip about another girl called Linzi who had boyfriend troubles. I knew all about Linzi by the time the gig had finished

[pedmills]

I swear this problem is getting worse.

But anyway, to add to the anecdotes, in 2009 I was very near the front watching Neil Young by myself. He started playing a song which I now forget but it was a slow gentle song - I think just him and an organ. A girl, who seemed to be by herself, and from other behaviour seemed to be a big fan, said very loudly "Oh God I hate this song!" when it started. Now that would be fine, but she then continued to say variations on "I hate this song! Play another song! Why is he playing this song?" all the way through the song. And she wasn't even talking to anyone in particular; she was just shouting it out into the ether. Why? WHY? It could have been a poignant moment for me, but no.

This year, while quite near the front watching The xx, about halfway through the set two guys barge their way through the crowd and settle right in front of me so I can barely see. Then chat throughout the gig and crane their necks round to talk to friends behind/to the side of me, so I have to constantly be shifting my position to actually see. Again: WHY?

In neither cases did these people seem drunk or incapacitated by general stupidity, so how can they be so oblivious to other people?

Edited July 10, 2013 by pedmills

[G1T]

People always talk about how they chat to random strangers at Glastonbury, but this never ever happens to me. Apart from when I'm watching bands.

Portishead was especially special, as the person talking to me was a bit younger than I am, and proceeded to tell me that whilst they didn't know Portishead themselves, they were one of 'their dad's favourite bands'. So not only was I no longer able to listen to the gig, I now felt like some old wrinkly too. Marvellous.

A few years ago someone off here (but no longer on here) bumped into me during The Orb at the Glade. I'd just finished presenting a three hour show, was in complete wind-down mode, and intent on doing nothing but getting merry and watching one of my all time favourite acts in the warm evening sun. I'm afraid I may have been a little rude.

[frostypaw]

It has got worse as they've pushed harder for new visitors and the general wild-holiday market. They're just not familiar with the etiquette

All the more reason to include a Fine Guide with the tickets - people are waaaaaaaaaaaaay too lazy to go download and read it as evidenced by the vast number of people unaware of various things in it. Heck most didn't even read any of the program (witness the rafts of Arcadia complaints for starters)

The festival has to change with the times and at this point it means being a bit less subtle about telling people what behaviour is anti-social and selfish

[fatyeti24]

talking through shows is another manifestation of the ugly sense of entitlement that seems if not prevalent, then increasingly common. it's the "i've paid £200 to be here, i have a right to do this" mentality that also sees people bring huge flags into the crowd or constantly set off noz cannisters or drop litter without any apparent thought on the implications of their actions on others. there are no shortage of places on site where you can do what you like without troubling other people.

a bit of consideration for others - which surely is important in a festival of almost 200,000 living on top of each other for 5 days - can work wonders.

[monkey1989]

people who stood right infront of me at nick cave obviously waiting for mumfords wouldn't shut up , when he said to his girlfriend who the fuck is this guy singing I had to walk away they were so annoying

[airwaves]

It seems to be getting worse over the years. It used to be a problem mainly confined to the middle or further back in a crowd and not much problem 'up front'. But the problem seems to have been ever moving forward over the years.

I was 1 person short of being on the barrier, in the centre, for Portishead and I still had problems with a group behind me talking.

But, I've reached the age where I'm not afraid to be the 'grumpy old man' I've reached the age I've entitled to be. First such people get a 'hard stare', and maybe another. The I WILL and DO ask if they could be quiet. It does work more often or not.

However, there was a case last year at End Of The Road - I cannot recall the artist but, as is so with a lot of EOTR acts, they are on the quieter side and 'talking' can be really disruptive. Some bodies had really really pissed me off over 3-4 songs, been stared at, asked to stop, but still they continued, to the obvious annoyance of many of those around the. So there was only one thing for it - a loud shout, straight of them, between songs of 'PLEASE SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!" That worked, and drew a round of applause from those around us.

[MoorB]

Had this during Bobby Womack, non stop talking and the sucking of balloons. No stop pumping of their little gas bottle, selfish pricks!

[parsonjack]

Agree with all of the above. These folks are for me in the same camp as those who pay £60 to see an artist/act, and then get wasted to the point of delirium, annoying all those around with their hilarious pissed up antics....and then with little doubt tell their mates at work that said artist was 'immense', when actually they only remember the first 2 tracks.

Idiots.

[cokebabies92]

The worst I've been around for this was at an Arcade Fire gig in Birmingham, where the group of 40 year olds didn't know a single song, talked loudly the entire gig, spitting everywhere and even threatened my brother and I when we tried to move past them/told them to be quiet. Always going to be ignorant people at gigs like this, but it seems much less at festivals.

[Mr_Grump]

It's not just restricted to festivals - lots of gigs these days have groups of chattering selfish morons who do give a toss about others.

Went to see Jake Bugg in York a few months ago and in the seats in front of me were 4 women (25 - 30) who did nothing but talk, text & laugh (unnaturally loudly)...whenever the audience clapped at the end of a song, they held their hands up and clapped whilst maintaining their conversations.

Annoying!

[giantkatestacks]

Yep all through Primal Scream a man in a top hat no less and a group of people chattered in middle class tones about their jobs and their friends wedding (cue pictures to look at on Iphones etc). It was clear they were just waiting for The Stones. One of them needed a wee beforehand and they wandered off anyway having talked all the way through the set. Pointless.

We were 3 back from the second barrier.

[Dan R]

The worst I've been around for this was at an Arcade Fire gig in Birmingham, where the group of 40 year olds didn't know a single song, talked loudly the entire gig, spitting everywhere and even threatened my brother and I when we tried to move past them/told them to be quiet. Always going to be ignorant people at gigs like this, but it seems much less at festivals.

[Dan R]

Double post.

Edited July 10, 2013 by Dan R

[G1T]

Was really annoying but they then asked us at one point to stop singing along as they could barely hear each other!

[moremi]

Watching Mumfords a group in front talked all the time. Would then dance for a well known song and go back to talking again. With another song linked arms and bumped into everyone else around - no apologies. Eventually I could see everyone was getting pissed off so I approached them and said that we were all in for the Glastonbury spirit but that they were spoiling the experience for those around them. As a teacher I have no problem with telling them this. Others looked worried to approach them.. As this was just as the encore was about to start one of the girls - the worst offender who talked the whole way through, often with back to the stage, said Ok we are going now. Shame they didn't piss off before.