1- Adults who wear the t-shirt of the band they paying to see: Your presence at the show is generally proof enough that you're a fan, there's really no to belabor the point.
2 –Time Shifting: Time at music venues is a relative thing, if the band's web site says the will go on at a certain time you can be sure that means that the doors to the club will be opening at that time. Once you add on sound checks you can guarantee an extra 90 minutes tacked on to that advertised start time. Club goers just figure this relative time into their schedule, if it says 8:30...figure 10...9:30 means 11:00 and so on. I'm asking that we stop this practice or at least push the advertised start times back, let's just agree to list the start time at 7:30, but open the doors at 9:00 and start playing music an hour later. This means that the band you paid to see might actually take the stage before midnight. I know I'm asking a lot but this is plan is a winner for everyone...I get to see more shows because I know that I'll be able to get to work the next day...the venue gets more of my money and the band knows that I care...we all live happily ever after and get home at a decent hour. If I'm ever named king of somewhere this will be my first decree.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
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11 comments:
The latter issue probably has a lot to do with the fact that I'm just getting older.
Ooh, I hate having to guess what time a show really starts. I have about a 50% accuracy, which is way too low for my taste. (Rilo Kiley, sat around for two fucking hours. Clutch, arrived at my own bedtime and heard half of the opening act.)
I remember an attempt to see The Brian Jonestown Massacre at some concerted warehouse that finally ended with me giving up at 1 AM when there was still no sign of the band.
Just to clarify, I was trying to miss the opening act, so that one was a win.
I loooove live music, but I hate getting stuck behind Marge Simpson, near the couple making out furiously, the pot smoker, the girl screaming "I LOVE YOU!" or "Play [insert song here]!", the invading-your-personal-space guy among many other folks with poor concert etiquette. So, it's not so much about the artists but more about the people going to see the artists.
Let's not forget the 10,000 hipsters ironically yelling "Freebird". There's no need for that.
I have no problem with people wearing t-shirts of the band. Sometimes, they've just bought them and don't want to carry them. I like to wear shirts I've gotten, or found in parking lots after a show (!), to shows. I tend to see a few bands repeatedly vs. lots of bands, so this works out.
On the time issue--that is aggravating. I've taken to calling venues whenever I can to find out exactly the set times...especially if I want to skip the opening act. You learn that some venues run like clock work and others are a crap shoot.
I love, love, love going to see live shows though and have several coming up. It's hard being so short, but I have 4-inch platforms that I can wear and I've learned where I can see in various general admission venues and just make sure I'm there in time to get that spot.
The biggest concert complaint of last year would have to be the downpour that occurred at the Genesis show at the Hollywood Bowl. Man, that sucked.
I think you are a grouchy old man who has had one too many hobos playing on your front lawn. ;-) *smooches*
I have always wanted to be in a band so I could actually play Freebird when some idiot requests it. I love that song.
No one seems to go to concerts to ENJOY themselves anymore. More often than not, I am the only person up and dancing while the others around me either try in a very obvious way to avoid looking in my direction, or glare at me with a look to say "what ARE you doing?" (um, dancing... you know, to the music and such).
Or, when the band we have all come to see finally gets to the stage (see: late start times, and allow me to second that complaint), I get to my feet and clap and offer a hearty "whoo hoo" and again, those around me act as if they could really care less that the band is finally there. I wonder, "you did pay money to be here, right? You can't all have been dragged along by someone you are humoring..." Usually, it is a band I have been listening to for months in my travels in the world, and I am just thrilled to be able to hear them in person - I don't know. I just get a kick out of that.
Of course, I don't do this everytime I see the Philadelphia Orchestra... just kidding. But seriously. Why do people go to (rock) concerts just to sit in their seats, look at their blackberries, and stare off in the general direction of the stage with a dull expression? Aren't concerts supposed to be fun? Aren't they supposed to be an event?! Shouldn't people be excited to share in the experience of the music with the band and the fans?
Right on, brotha re: #2.
#1 I can get past. I would much rather see t-shirts than some of the skanky stuff I've seen people wearing at concerts. Seriously. Who goes out the door like that?
I may have told this story before, but last summer we went to the Hollywood Bowl to see Ben Folds (yay!) open for John Mayer (gag--sorry Nanners). Most of the people were there to see the headliner and these two women were being very obnoxiously chatty during Ben's set. I was writing down the songs he was doing, thinking I'd blog it, but later realized no one cared. Anyway, one of the women leaned over and asked what I was writing. I said, "Every word you and your friend are saying. I'm going to put it on my blog." They actually laughed, said I had a good sense of humor, and shut up. They got it.
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