Crowd Tolerance

[Dave_c]

Sorry, but the most annoying thing at Glastonbury is the noise of people blowing up balloons with Nitrous Oxide, fuck off and do it somewhere else! 

[kalifire]

General rule of thumb is to make a quick assessment of the people around you and stick or move depending on your gut instinct. Also keep in mind the kind of gig it's likely to be. In 2017, I braved the moshpit for Run The Jewels. I knew it was going to be raucous but that's the kind of experience I wanted from that act, so I was prepared to put up with the nonsense (and joined in as well, despite feeling about 15 years older than everyone around me!)

As a contrast, immediately before RTJ, Corbyn appeared to do one of his whimsical visions for a socialist utopia, and close aside from the crowd suddenly including lots of Labour stooges with carefully pre-prepared placards (who disappeared again the moment he left the stage), one very annoying, shit-faced guy was yelling out infantile bollocks and ruining the moment for those around him. Normally I'd have moved, but I knew RTJ would be on shortly afterwards so tolerated it.

One thing I found it difficult to handle was when a bunch of lads (always lads) force open a circle in the crowd, then some of them dance in the space that creates, before everyone around the circle rushes into it violently and chaos ensues. Has anyone else seen that? It's quite tedious.

Edited June 4, 2019 by kalifire

[Fishman]

I was at an Ian Siegal gig a few years back, at Dingwalls in That London. He's a cantankerous English blues guy and he stopped the show mid-way through an early number to tell the talkers to STFU and if they didn't like to to piss off to the pub round the corner. Certainly worked and should be encouraged.

[HotChipWillBreakYourLegs]

1 hour ago, FuzzyDunlop said:

I woke up with one of those once. I now have it in my front room. I make sure the policy is upheld at all times.

I've always wanted to steal one of those and hang it on my wall! 

[Giraffe Man]

The kids were at Bon Iver at APE on Sunday & the eldest hates being too close so they were about halfway back, I asked how it was &

"really good but loads of chat around us"

noticed this at The XX there last year too. London definitely seems worse. I think if possible moving is the best option.

On the flipside saw Brian Fallon recently & The Last Internationale last night & both crowds were perfect & it improves things no end. 

[Hugh Jass]

1 minute ago, Giraffe Man said:

The kids were at Bon Iver at APE on Sunday & the eldest hates being too close so they were about halfway back, I asked how it was &

"really good but loads of chat around us"

noticed this at The XX there last year too. London definitely seems worse. I think if possible moving is the best option.

On the flipside saw Brian Fallon recently & The Last Internationale last night & both crowds were perfect & it improves things no end. 

APE was almost certainly not helped by large numbers of people being there on free tickets and not overly bothered about whoever was on stage.

[SouthbanKen]

1 hour ago, mouserat said:

Everyone should ideally stand where they are most likely to be surrounded by like-minded people.

If you're going to be going to the bar every five minutes, stand where you can get to the bar easily, not at the very front where you'll be constantly pushing through people. Same goes for the toilet.

If you're going to be throwing yourself into people with reckless abandon, that's fine as long as you're near the front where that behaviour is expected. Don't be doing it at the back where people are trying to have a bit more personal space.

If you want to dance, be somewhere less crowded/packed than the very front or you won't have enough space.

If you want to talk, don't be in the middle of the die-hard fans singing every word.

If you've got a bag that you've put on the floor, don't stand in the middle of a soon-to-be mosh pit.

And if you've brought a chair to sit on, don't plant yourself directly in front of the Pyramid stage and expect people not to block your view.

This is the correct answer and i am likely to be everyone of these across the duration of a festival. For a band i love, down the front in the mosh pit singing every word. For a band i like but not that bothered about, 2/3rds back near a bar so i can get the drinks in. For a band i'm not that into but am killing time, at the back probably sat down (but not on a chair) and chatting. For a DJ i like, when i know i want to bust some moves, i will get as close as possible to the sound system but i will stop when it gets too busy for me to move around. For a more technical DJ like a scratch dj or something that i want to watch and listen to, right up the front where i wont be dancing as much as bobbing and watching. 

 

[Chef]

1 hour ago, Stocksey said:

absolutely this.....

I think its the total lack of either awareness/care that gets me. Maybe because its totally the opposite of me i cant get my head around it.

Im 6ft3 and so always very conscious about not wanting to be in others way, and not wanting to ruin it for them, so why doesnt everyone think this way.

I'm the same - 6ft2 and always conscious about people stood behind me. It seems though other tall people have no problem appearing from nowhere when the music starts and parking themselves right in front of Mrs Chef who is a great deal shorter.

 

 

 

[lobo]

37 minutes ago, Dave_c said:

Sorry, but the most annoying thing at Glastonbury is the noise of people blowing up balloons with Nitrous Oxide, fuck off and do it somewhere else! 

At least that seems to have calmed down a bit. 2015 was utterly horrendous for that. Could barely sleep due to the non stop huffing and clanging ??‍♂️

Edited June 4, 2019 by lobo

[Dave_c]

22 minutes ago, lobo said:

At least that seems to have calmed down a bit. 2015 was utterly horrendous for that. Could barely sleep due to the non stop huffing and clanging ??‍♂️

Funny you say that as 2015 was when it pissed me off so much, couldn't escape it when the chems were on it ruined that gig for me.

[Old_Johno]

20 minutes ago, Chef said:

I'm the same - 6ft2 and always conscious about people stood behind me. It seems though other tall people have no problem appearing from nowhere when the music starts and parking themselves right in front of Mrs Chef who is a great deal shorter.

 

 

 

I’m 6ft7. 

Whilst I generally have no issue letting the odd short person in front of me if they ask nicely, there comes a point when I’d end up back in my tent if I kept moving back! If I got there first you’ll have to deal with it, sorry.

If I leave a crowd there’s not a chance on earth anyone’s letting me push back in front of them ??‍♂️

Short people have it good on aeroplanes, tall people gotta be allowed some benefits surely! 

I strongly recommend against getting on anyone’s shoulders unless you want to get hit by a cup of “body temperature cider” 

[mouserat]

33 minutes ago, Giraffe Man said:

The kids were at Bon Iver at APE on Sunday & the eldest hates being too close so they were about halfway back, I asked how it was &

"really good but loads of chat around us"

I definitely notice this at gigs where tickets were either cheap/easy to obtain. Given how many Bon Iver tickets were being given away in competitions etc, I'm not surprised. It was the same at Christine & The Queens the weekend before - felt like 60% of people had come to get drunk/high and see James Blake.

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

I find that my tolerance for any of the issues that have been mentioned above is directly linked to my own level of sobriety. If I know a gig is going to be intense or rowdy and I'm sober I tend to put myself in an area where I won't be affected, like a balcony or against a wall or something

[Chef]

https://www.planetrock.com/news/rock-news/watch-judas-priests-rob-halford-kicks-mobile-phone-out-of-fans-hands-at-gig/

 

[Skoo]

One of my mates is a talker. She loves it. Drives me mad and I do tell her off.

[lobo]

9 minutes ago, Dave_c said:

Funny you say that as 2015 was when it pissed me off so much, couldn't escape it when the chems were on it ruined that gig for me.

I dont even understand why people would do it at a set, it doesn't heighten the experience of seeing a band. Just a mongy little black out where youre actually on another planet for a minute. And the ball ache of carrying all the gear seems annoying. People are weird.

[Woffy]

@buddiepaul

Out of upvotes, but those vids are great. Thanks!

[Padjeq]

Every time I'm near a gig talker I'll tell them to shut up. They always get embarrassed and stop. Although some crowds, there's way too much of it, and I am only one man. Usually the FOMO gigs - people desperately buying tickets for a band they might not even like the songs of, just to check in and talk to their mates.

People filming gigs doesn't really bother me. Maybe that's due to my height. I do notice a lot of smaller girls filming, basically using their phones as a periscope. Can't fault them. Gigs like that get worse when the artists uses a vanity ramp, which contrary to conventional wisdom, makes the view worse for everyone but the fans immediately closest to it.

[Quark]

1 hour ago, kalifire said:

One thing I found it difficult to handle was when a bunch of lads (always lads) force open a circle in the crowd, then some of them dance in the space that creates, before everyone around the circle rushes into it violently and chaos ensues. Has anyone else seen that? It's quite tedious.

This one irritates me.  The circle pit is appropriate for a climactic point in a particularly raucous and/or heavy track.  Very much to be used in appropriate circumstances.

Unfortunately it's been picked up by lads at the equivalent of a Courteeners gig (not a knock on the band, just a useful example of the genre type) where it's not appropriate and doesn't work.  99% of the dickheads who start them for sets like that would get absolutely destroyed in a proper pit.

Old man grumble over.

[kaytee...]

While we're at it, ban anyone who verbally abuses someone for being 'too tall'. I'm only 5'8" and have had it so many times. Like if you're quite obviously short you can stand in front no problem but I'm of average height, feel sorry for anyone taller. 

[Joe Shez]

The most annoying of the talkers is when they're talking to you. So hard to not completely pie them but give them enough hints that you're not up for conversation.

I was at a festival the other year, and as the band came out on stage to applause, the friend of a friend next to me said, "so, what do you do?" - time and a fucking place pal

[Madyaker]

3 hours ago, Chef said:

I went to see Jaded Hearts Club Band last night and there was a guy a bit further in front of me who had clearly drank/ taken something to significant levels and his dancing can only be described as 'frog in a blender'. He was obliviously bashing in to those around him spilling drinks and knocking people out of the way.

It got me thinking, what are people opinions on this? He's paid his money and just enjoying himself or should people be a bit more aware of those around them? 

Personally I have got a fairly low patience threshold and get a bit annoyed when people bash in to me so as a general rule at gigs I tend to hang around towards the back to avoid it, but on the other hand at Glasto I get angry with the picnic blanket/ fishing chair brigade tutting every time someone walks past. 

Bashing into people and spilling drinks isn’t really ok. You’re entitled to enjoy yourself as long as you’re not ruining anyone else’s night. I like getting messed up as much as anyone but you can do it without impinging on others. 

[fred quimby]

Never jump to the conclusion that they are off their head please. People with special or challenging needs can dance how they like without everyone thinking they are a piss heads

[Abbathehorse]

1) Enjoy yourself

2) But don't be a dick

 

[Upside down frowner]

Hate it when it is a mate, you tell them to stop talking and enjoy it but it doesn’t register. When you can see it annoying other people it’s amplified. Had two friends doing it whilst Radiohead were on in 2017, I’m not a massive fan but wanted to listen to the set- end up walking off blagged out.

Im sure ive been a mess at raves however I try and be conscious of other people. Walked off and danced on my own a few times when mates won’t stop it