Excuse Me; May I Cut in Front of You?

By: Angelina Berube
Posted In: Opinion

Concert Etiquette. A term many concert goers do not know the meaning of. When it comes to a general admission show, people are going to push and try to get as close to the stage as possible. Everyone’s approach to how to get to the front is different and some approaches are better than others.

In my experience, concerts have lacked a certain understanding among attendees. Since when is it acceptable to pull the hair of the person in front of you or to elbow someone in the back? Yes, I understand some shows can get rowdy, some concerts have mosh pits and there is the occasional accidental kick in the head from a crowd surfer. Pushing is going to happen. I’m talking about the deliberate, unnecessary actions of some fans in the crowd who are purposely trying to make the person to the right of them miserable so they might take over their spot. Concerts need some sort of code that everyone will abide by to make the show a little more enjoyable rather than worrying if you will leave the show black and blue all over.

Be Considerate of those around you. Everyone’s pushy. Everyone wants to dance. Some people are going to mosh. Watch for those around you. If you hit or push someone by accident, don’t just completely ignore it. This would probably end in hostility with the person you pushed. For an overall friendly atmosphere, just say sorry, one simple word. Most will then brush off the shove and this will create a better environment for if it happens again, especially at more pushy shows with moshing occurring.

Don’t cut someone off. Okay, I know most shows these days are general admission, but there are ways to get in front of someone without being rude. Once the music starts, the crowd is going to move. Most shows, the audience pushes forward. This allows for people to get closer to the stage. Don’t try to push someone out of the way before the lights go out. It makes no sense and makes you look rude, especially if you talk about it right behind the person’s back. If you are going to try to get in front of someone, be subtle; gradually inch yourself forward or to the side. This strategy works. The last show I was at, I started off 10 rows back and by the main act, I landed in the third row.

Watch the elbows. Concerts are supposed to be enjoyable. One should not worry about an elbow to the face, whether intentional or unintentional. This also goes for those who are slightly taller than others and whose elbows might be at face height for others. I understand that you might not have meant to elbow me in the nose while you are dancing, but please try to be cautious of your surroundings and maybe move a little to the side if you notice you continue hit the person to the left or right of you.

Be cautious of your surroundings. Try not to intentionally pull someone’s hair or push the person in front of you into another person. See who’s in front of you. If it’s someone smaller than you, try not to crush him or her. It can get hard to breathe in a crowd of people, especially if your air intake is at the shoulder height of the person in front of you.

So next time you go to a concert, please be considerate of those around you. I’m not saying to not have a good time, but take notice of the people around you as you try desperately to get to the front so you might have a chance to breathe the same air as (insert band member’s name here).