Many people have recently been going to social media to discuss the rise of concert attendees’ lack of respect. Brittany Broski and Kelley Heyer, creator of the “Apple” dance, were both pushed out of the way at two separate Charli XCX concerts during the song “Apple.” Attendants at music festivals like Coachella and Gov Ball have horror stories of aggressive and rude encounters citing a lack of concert etiquette.
Both artists and fans alike have to keep themselves safe. With incidents of violence, crowd rushes, and objects being thrown, concerts have slowly become a more dangerous place. This is extremely unfortunate since concerts and music festivals are such an integral part of our culture.
These types of incidents have seemingly been on the rise, especially after the pandemic. Is there a disconnect when it comes to concert etiquette, expectations, and rules? Are people still getting used to being in large crowds again? Could it be merely a lack of self-awareness, or is this behavior rooted in a cultural phenomenon within the next generation of concertgoers?
Concert culture of the past and present
Concerts were seen as an intimate event. Famous composers would showcase their pieces in concert halls. The music that would be showcased would often be classical music with composers like Beethoven or Mozart. This all changed in the 1960s.
The 1960s started to make concerts into a more lively event. With the rise of rock, concerts became a mass event for attendees to see musicians they viewed as celebrities. Think of bands like The Beetles and The Who and events such as Woodstock 1969. This culture has continued well into the present day.
The introduction of technology has made concerts more accessible. Now, they are recordings of concerts, whether they are archival footage or professionally shot. This has allowed concert culture to become more accessible to a wider audience of fans.
Evolution of concert etiquette
Concert etiquette has been a term thrown around for decades. It is a set of expectations on how to behave during concerts. Some of the most common rules are to be kind to the people around you, be mindful when you clap or cheer, and follow the rules established by the venue or event.
Often, these rules vary depending on what kind of event or show you’re attending. For example, you aren’t going to form a moshpit during a Mitski concert, and you aren’t going to be silent during a Tyler The Creator set. It is up to the attendees to be aware of their surroundings and what is appropriate.
With concert etiquette, there is a large emphasis on maintaining a great experience for all concertgoers. Pushing or shoving people is widely looked down upon and could also be dangerous. Screaming at inappropriate times is seen as a distraction. Most of these rules are common sense but are often forgotten.
Astroworld and the aftermath
When discussing concert etiquette, it is important to talk about the horrific incident that occurred at a Travis Scott concert. Travis Scott was embarking on his Astroworld tour in Houston back in 2021. The concert soon turned fatal leading to the death of eight people.
During the concert, there was a huge surge of fans running towards the stage after seeing Travis Scott make an entrance. Due to the sheer amount of people in the crowd, this caused a crowd crush, an overcrowded area of people that can be extremely dangerous. During the crowd crush, people began to fall and the crowd then became panicked.
Fans began trying to escape by climbing over barriers. People began screaming for medical help. Travis Scott ignored the crowd’s plea for help and continued performing. This incident led to the death of eight fans and left many injured. This incident acts as a cautionary tale about the dangers of concerts and how artists should strive to keep their fans safe.
A new generation of concertgoers
Many seasoned concert attendees have noticed an uptick in bad encounters with other guests. A new generation has begun to attend concerts, with older attendees blaming them for the rise in a lack of concert etiquette. Citing they care about getting TikTok content rather than enjoying the experience.
There has been a rise in people filming during concerts. While it is okay to capture a memory, constant filming can be inconsiderate to the people around you. People are now bullying concert attendees by filming them and making fun of them. Often taking videos of minors and mocking them for being “cringe.” What is also not okay is filming people without their consent and bullying them.
Finally, there has been a rise in people making signs for their favorite artists with funny inside jokes or showing their praise to their “fav.” Holding signs and flags could be fun, in theory. It could get the attention of your favorite artist and could be a fun way to show your support. Yet, holding up signs and flags blocks the view of the people around you. People around you could become frustrated and it could ruin their experience.
Social media awareness
Many people have begun to express their frustrations and concerns about the behavior and lack of concert etiquette of modern concert crowds. Some are sick and tired of the lack of consideration and empathy for others. Some are also trying to devise solutions to these problems.
There have been discussions about drinking culture at concerts and how that could be contributing to bad behavior. When you are inebriated, your self-awareness and control often slip away. This could result in much more reckless behavior that could result in danger and violence towards the drunk guests or fans around them.
Artists should also be kept safe as well, according to people online. There has also been a rise in fans throwing things onstage while an artist is performing. This behavior is incredibly dangerous and could lead to injury. For example, Bebe Rexha was injured due to a fan throwing their phone at her while she was onstage.
Future of concerts
I believe the discourse online will lead to changes that will make concerts a safe and fun environment for attendees and artists alike. Keeping an open dialogue between fans and artists is important and will ensure safety throughout a show. Especially since the artist has a responsibility to keep their fans safe.
Educating new concertgoers is also incredibly important. Explaining the expectations and unspoken rules makes it much clearer for everyone involved and leaves little room for bad encounters. Plus, refreshing seasoned attendees on the rules helps keep everyone on the same page as well.
No matter the environment, concerts will always pose a risk. Large crowds will always be different for a plethora of reasons. Phones are not going anywhere. People will continue to film. People will also continue to cheer and hold signs for their favorite artists. Yet, if we stop shaming others for their “cringy” behavior and approach it from a place of kindness, concerts will definitely become a much safer and fun space in the future.
