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[billiumbean]

I got to wondering that when I was browsing through the archives and I saw this again.

I've always been one to stand around and enjoy the music and the performance.  I'm not a very people-oriented person, so the crowd is a bit of a compromise for me to see the band, I guess.  It doesn't really matter what band is playing, either.  Alternative metal, shoegaze, Hawaiian acoustic-pop, I'm relatively boring.

[look out! Ninjas!]

I usually just do what the crowd does. I'm not averse to moshing or swaying, or waving a lighter and a cup of beer in the air while a fading childrens singer sings songs that you liked when you were four years old and has decided to revive his career by playing the same songs in over-18's venues to the same people.
Peter Coombe is awesome.

[Hat]

I am either yelling WOO a lot from back at the bar or I am close to the front paralysed with fear at the fact that I am surrounded by a lot of people.

At Festivals I basically become the extreme version of either of these things

Basically when I stop treating rock shows as interesting places to get drunk I become a neurotic mess and do not have a great time but when I am drunk at a rock show I do not remember a lot and am probably a jerk.

[Thrillho]

Well I'm usually reviewing at gigs, so I'm usually sat at the back making notes. But depending on the gig, sometimes a moshpit is good - I'm more active onstage than I am watching it, and even that's not much.

[imapiratearg]

I like to move around a lot, but I also try to respect the people around me.  I also try to get everyone clapping in the right places.  I've succeeded a few times.

[Spluff]

I'm the guy at the front that head bangs so much he can't lift his head the next day.

[TheFuriousWombat]

I really dislike being anywhere except right up against the stage so generally I get to the venue really early, wait for hours, rush in when doors open, and secure my spot front and center. I don't move my body but I bob my head a lot (usually not too aggressively at all) or tap my foot. Obviously this isn't always possible. Certain shows are unavoidable mosh pits and I don't like standing in the back so I have to move around a lot there. Shows like Man Man, COnverge, Genghis Tron, An Albatross and a few others were like this. It's fun, but I prefer being able to stand relatively still and watch the musicians.

[suitupletsgo]

I generally position myself all the way in the back, right in between the speakers. the sound is best, I still get to see the people playing (I refuse to go to super large venues, just not my thing), and I get to avoid people. I'm the guy that is leaning against the wall and tapping, nodding, and all-around freaking out depending on who is playing.

[Liz]

I like to be front and center so I can take a lot of pictures, and that is most important. I will dance a little if the music calls for it, but I'm not going to anything crazy. I dislike it when people sing along because it seems to me that, no matter how loud the band is, I can still hear people in the crowd belting out lyrics that are a little off and notes that are not on pitch.

Also, I hate, hate, HATE when people in the crowd clap along with the song. I don't know why it bothers me so much, maybe it's just because the shows I go to attract the same crowd, and I always see the same little group of people trying to start some claps during every goddamn song. Honestly, if the band wants you to clap to their song they will start the claps themselves.

Related to that, there are these two girls I see at every show I go to in Fargo. No matter what show it is (all-ages or not), they always show up right before the headliner, drunk off their asses, push all the way up to the front, where I am at, and try to shove everyone out of the way so they can be front and center. And they do a lot of fist shaking. During every song. And sing along. They are the ones that start clapping all the time. Also they both have very large, curly, afro-like hairstyles that pretty much block your vision.

[supersheep]

Argh, I hate hate hate frontline soldiers. If being up front is that important, than get there early. If there is a gap in front of you, though, then I don't mind them. Also, what pisses me off even more is the people who barge there way up close to the front and then DO NOT DANCE. Seriously, what? That makes no sense, at least at dancey gigs. Also, people who are drunk and obnoxious and mosh about the place inappropriately.

Basically I am easily annoyed at shows!

[michaelicious]

I just try to be innocuous as possible. I move a little bit, but not in a way that would disturb other people. I sing along and clap when it is appropriate.

Sometimes when the show is really awesome and everyone in the crowd is really into it I let loose a little more, but mostly try to be low-key.

Also, I smile a lot. Concerts make me really happy.

[Liz]

Michaelicious, I think you and I could be good show buddies. Damn you for living in that far away land known as "Canada" to some.

[Christophe]

I'm usually up at front for a few reasons:

1. If I really like the band, hell yeah I will be dancing.
2. Taking photos and stuff
3. I'm 5'1", and tall people are jerks.

[imapiratearg]

Being six feet tall is awesome.

[Liz]

Oh, I forgot about that one. If you are going to talk, do it between sets or between songs if you really must. But during the music it is a big no-no.

[imagist42]

Basically, my routine for the last few shows I've been to (alone, to reasonably danceable shows) is show up, pick a spot somewhere in the middle-ish of the venue, and stand there. Pretty stoicly. I may be checking the time or texting every once in a while, but I stand and either watch the stage or glare at people randomly (and this is not an intensive, purposeful glare, just they happened to catch my attention momentarily and my expression was already pretty stern so it may come across as a glare instead of a glance).

If I have no idea who the openers are this usually continues through most of their set. I may smile once or twice if they impress me.

Then when the headliner (or a familiar opener I like) comes on, I am grins ear to ear. I am nodding and swaying and tapping my foot as they start to play, and eventually this devolves into full-blown dancing/freaking out. This continues for as long as they are on stage, unless I brought my camera and stop to take a picture or video or several. I am very very liable to be shouting whatever lyrics I know as loudly as possible, with as much of an open mouth as possible so everyone else knows I am really awesome. When the band ends, I either stand there and make as big a ruckus as possible for an encore or (after the encore) put back on the stoic face and make a beeline for the exit, perhaps stopping at the merch counter to nab a shirt if there are any nifty ones left.

I usually do not mosh but this is because if there are people at the show who are likely to mosh I am not near them. I will, however, clap when appropriate and glare (this is an intensive, purposeful glare) around at the fun-haters near me who are not clapping and dancing as if they have murdered my entire family. I am also prone to chatting with friendlies between songs, especially if we are making fun of fun-haters or douchefags (whom I will absolutely not move aside for so they can go "join their friends" up at the front, they can make their damn way around me if it matters that much to them).

I basically will not attend a show if I do not expect to be doing all these things. It's just not worth it for me.

[Oli]

I boogie.

BOOGIE ON DOWN.

[Zingoleb]

6'4" is an awesome height to be at. Except in midget venues. Damn you, midget venues!


I like to rig cheap lighters and take them to shows. I have to be careful not to fuck with them to the point at which they'll explode (it hurts, trust me), but I love being that guy in the crowd waving a lighter with a FOOT TALL FREAKING FLAME. I burn the stage lights. And the guy operating those lights.

So if you're at a show and a flaming guy flies out of the rafters and crashes through the stage, wave 'hi' to the guy sprinting like hell out the back door. It's probably me.

[michaelicious]

Michaelicious, I think you and I could be good show buddies. Damn you for living in that far away land known as "Canada" to some.

Fargocon '09?

[hipster jesus]

I try to get to concerts early so I can be as close to the front as possible, then I mostly go along with what everyone else is doing. If there is moshing I'll probably join in sooner or later and I have been known to partake in crowd surfing though, but I'm generally not all that wild.

[Be My Head]

I find a vantage point and stand there the entire show, with my nice view of the musicians. If it's in a stadium (which I don't enjoy as much) there's not much you can do but stand at your seat.

I tend to not push anyone really, unless they're in my way.

[Liz]

Fargocon '09?

Do you like Okkervil River? I am officially dubbing September 15th Fargocon '08 because they are doing a show here that will be attended by three forumites, myself included. You are welcome to join us. One of the attendees is actually coming from your mythical land as well!

[Sean Fury]

Typically, my friends and I just chill anywhere we can get a good view from.

I never get into mosh pits. Ever.

[20 jazz funk greats]

at shows i am usually dancing.  i honestly don't remember what i do when i'm not dancing.
i've given up on trying to take photos, and i don't bother striking up conversations with strangers  because that's not what i'm there for. and i'm not that annoying girl that is talking to her friends really loudly since i usually go on my own because my friends don't listen to the same music as i do.

[godinpants]

im that guy that walks up the front before anyone is really there to check out what gear everyone is using, then i kind of make my way back behind where the mosh would be because i dont really like being jumped into.

when i went to see ben lee, that show started with the best atmosphere, everyone was just sitting on the ground, it was really laid back.
then one guy right at the front stood up. and everyone else followed. it sucked.

but apparently at whitley shows, there has been a precedence set, where you sit on the ground. i need to go to these shows.

[KharBevNor]

[Johnny C]

Rockbush Clawsurf?

Gay porn name found.

[RedLion]

I'll mosh occasionally, but more often, I just dance. This occasionally causes people--who are usually the ones just standing around drinking, doing nothing--to laugh at me derisively, particularly if it's at a "heavy" show, but whatever. It's fun and I always feel rather happy that I'm not being a pretentious cockmouth.

[Chorbalan]

 Since it's mostly metal I get drunk belligerent and ram myself into other dudes as hard as I can...nope...no homosexual overtones here.

[Christophe]

Nope, metal isn't the least bit gay at all!

The crappy metal band who I knew in high school had a drummer nicknamed "Thunderbutt", which he said was a reference to his drumming style, and not about "packing a man's asshole". He was also a massively homophobic douche, and an absolute cock in many other aspects.

I would love to get into a mosh pit sometime if I didn't have such a high regard for not getting the shit beaten out of me. To each their own.

[orangepeas]

Also, I smile a lot. Concerts make me really happy.

aw hehe. me to!

because i'm small i tend to keep out of the moshpits and usually just stand there,smile and sing along. Usually at every show, someone makes a comment about my height. Sometimes, people are kind of enough to let me go in front of them, like at the sonic youth show were I ended up in front Thurston Moore.

[Sox]

I am either yelling WOO a lot from back at the bar

so you're the guy ruining bootlegs?

Guys, if you're at a show, keep your head moving but your mouth shut. That's the rule.

[valley_parade]

Dunno, Daz. I'm all about going WOOOO if I'm getting thoroughly rocked by the band.

[pinkpiche]

I like to mosh. And may I just say that if you're not allowed to say "Woo!" or hoot at least once, you're not having a good time.

[Hat]

I think it is really anal and ridiculous to  care about people yelling WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO but if you keep doing it incessantly right in my ear for 70 minutes I'm going to tell you off for it.

As for ruining bootlegs, who does bootlegs from all the way back at the bar?

Also I don't really think that is a good enough reason to say you should keep your mouth shut at a show. Maybe if you are ruining the enjoyment of other people at the show you should take a look at your actions, but I am under no obligation as a payer to keep quiet for the sake of some music nerds bootleg.

[Johnny C]

WOOOOs are good when appropriate.

Please don't WOOO during the quiet moment of a song. Yes, everyone can hear you the most during that part. No, nobody wants to.

Also, having a conversation during the entirety of the set isn't something I see as rude, necessarily, but kind of a waste of your own time if you're chatting.

[Ptommydski]

Guys, if you're at a show, keep your head moving but your mouth shut. That's the rule.

I couldn't disagree more with this. People want to sing along! They paid for a show and part of the experience is a certain amount of participation. Most of my favourite live recordings have the crowd singing along and it's amazing.

Bootlegs are of absolutely no importance compared to the enjoyment of the people at the show.

[imagist42]

Tommy every time you post now I hear your avatar saying the tagline underneath it and it breaks my heart.

Also, I would just like to comment that if I were not able to sing along very loudly and probably off key to the entirety of "I'll Believe in Anything" when I went to see Wolf Parade, that song would have been rendered worthless forever.

[Christophe]

What about when the lead singer purposefully doesn't sing a verse and the oh-so-devoted fans in the club/theater/stadium all sing along?? I don't think that I've ever been to a show where that has happened, I'd like to go to a show where it flops because no one knows the words.

Also, I'd like to see a show were the band just stands there and the audience just sings everything. Vocals, guitars, drums etc. It would be hilariously horrible.

[maxusy3k]

I sing along and 'dance' as much as I can without being disruptive. I tend to yell and cheer a lot between songs (never during) but if I see I'm upsetting / annoying the people nearby then I'll cut it back, or move to a different part of the crowd.

The past few gigs I've been to I've ended up holding hands with random female strangers during particularly emotional or meaningful songs, too. Though I'm never sure how exactly I do it, since I'm shy as hell about that kind of thing.

Generally I try not to be an ass during shows, while enjoying myself. Hopefully I pull it off.

[GMM]

I have this thing I like to call the "Almost-Dance" which isn't dancing but nearly. Other than that, I like to be as close to the front as possible am prone to singing [but I do feel guilty about this].

[Hat]

I have this thing I like to call the "Almost-Dance" which isn't dancing but nearly. Other than that, I like to be as close to the front as possible am prone to singing [but I do feel guilty about this].

I have something like this that I bust out for certain types of music

My head may or may not sashay from side to side, I might occasionally swing my hips out of time to the beat, and if I am really into the music I might just move my feet slightly!

Some music will get the full dancing treatment, but for when dancing is in appropriate or just plain ridiculous, gotta love the almost-dance.

[GMM]

I have this thing I like to call the "Almost-Dance" which isn't dancing but nearly. Other than that, I like to be as close to the front as possible am prone to singing [but I do feel guilty about this].

I have something like this that I bust out for certain types of music

My head may or may not sashay from side to side, I might occasionally swing my hips out of time to the beat, and if I am really into the music I might just move my feet slightly!

Some music will get the full dancing treatment, but for when dancing is in appropriate or just plain ridiculous, gotta love the almost-dance.

I'm not sure if this means we should join forces and get t-shirts printed up, or if it means we should make sure never to attend the same concerts. One or t'other.

[michaelicious]

Do you like Okkervil River? I am officially dubbing September 15th Fargocon '08 because they are doing a show here that will be attended by three forumites, myself included. You are welcome to join us. One of the attendees is actually coming from your mythical land as well!

I do like them quite a bit! But I am in school at that time and probably couldn't afford to take 4ish days off to bus it down there, which is a shame. Maybe I will just drop out.

[imagist42]

If there is ever a band worth dropping out of school to see, it is probably... well, no, there's not really a band worth dropping out of school to see.

KIDS, STAY COOL. STAY IN SCHOOL.

[Jimmy the Squid]

I kind of stand in the middle of the crowd, just behind the moshpit if there is one, stock still and watching the band. I'm usually generally interested in watching the performance and I find that if I'm dancing around and stuff I miss out on a lot. Given that the bands I usually go see have a certain level of theatricality about them, it's usually better to actually watch them than just hear what they're playing. I mean, I could do that at home.

[Liz]

I do like them quite a bit! But I am in school at that time and probably couldn't afford to take 4ish days off to bus it down there, which is a shame. Maybe I will just drop out.

You should. It's going to be a party, man. You could stay at my apartment too, we'll make it a sleepover!

[Christophe]

If there is ever a band worth dropping out of school to see, it is probably... well, no, there's not really a band worth dropping out of school to see.

KIDS, STAY COOL. STAY IN SCHOOL.

One of my professors told me that I should skip class to see Mission of Burma in San Francisco.

Why, oh why, didn't I heed his advice?

[imagist42]

Dude I would have skipped class quite a few times last year if I had a way to travel further than one city away. Truancy is awesome, it's just ignorance that's dumb.

[Hat]

I have definitely skipped classes to go see rock shows. After the Laneway festival I was so fucked up I missed all my classes in the following week.

Good times!