After attending both Chicago shows last weekend, I would like to voice my complaint about people who insist on sitting through a Rock Concert (c)!! First of all, I have philosophical issues with sitting down for a rock concert, but if that's the way you want to spend your 2+ hours, know yourself out. What pisses me off to no end is people yelling out in the middle of the show for those of us who enjoy a little dancing to sit down. in fact, at the Chicago show, some asshole actually got security to ask the ENTIRE SECTION to sit down. [sidebar: if literally everybody in front of you is standing, doesn't that tell you something?] The security guard thought it was as ludicrous as I did, but had to do his job, so no malice there. But the lazy SOB's behind me - well that's a different story.

It was obvious from the incredibly rude behavior of those at the Chicago theater that there was some idea that my choosing to stand for the concert was infringing on somebody else's right to sit and see. What was obviously not considered was that somebody else's choosing to sit (and calling security on my ass) was infringing on my right to stand! Don't let the fact that your yelling distract from the show enough to get the ushers to act on your behalf (most likely in an effort to get you to shut the hell up) fool you into thinking that you're on some moral higher ground. Whatever evil you thought I was doing to you by standing, you did right back unto me.

Now, one could certainly argue that if we all stood, then it would be easier for you to lean to one side or the other for a better view than if we all sat. I, for one, couldn't see half the stage while sitting because of a rather tall bloke in front of me. But when we sere standing, I was able to lean to the side enough to see right past him. But beyond the practical line-of-sight reasons, there's an energy consideration. I can tell you from experience that performing on stage is a two-sided conversation. If the audience is sitting on their asses, politely clapping after each number, the performer is going to give an adequate performance of the material and go home. If the performer sees that he/she is connecting with the audience - that they are dancing, singing along, cheering at the recognition of the next song - he/she will be inspired to up his/her own energy and give even more to the performance. It's the difference between rehearsing and performing. Look at Prince's performance for Christ's sake! Watch the grin when the audience cheers in the middle of a good solo. Listen to how many times he asks us to sing along or dares us to stay in our seats (all of which he did last weekend!)

So in short: if you come to a concert, it is your responsibility to the artists to show them when they are making a connection. If you want to sit and listen in peace to the music, take your ass home and put on the CD, or sit quietly in the back and close your eyes, but don't you dare tell me that I can't reach back to the artist on stage and let them know that they're moving me!


~Tom
..::The Chicago Nation::..

i did not feel this was the type of show u stood for from beginning to end.....but i agree, when p himself tells u 2 get up and dance, DANCE! and if u choose not to, don't bother the people that r....

I couldn't agree more.

I attended the Chicago shows also, and it is fine to stand at your seat, but I had third rows seats that I paid a lot of money for and a bunch of inconsiderate idiots from the back rows blocked a lot of the peoples views that were sitting at their seeats,standing in the aisle.What gives these people the right to stand in the aisle when they are supposed to stay in their seat?

Love:

NO SHIT! It's quite understandable that people want to rush the stage when Prince is inviting people to dance on stage. IT'S ANOTHER THING ALTOGETHER WHEN PEOPLE WILL NOT GET THE FUCK BACK TO THEIR SEATS.

Next time, I swear, I'm clocking mutha fuckas like it ain't no thang.

Dayum, i had such a hard time trying to stay in my seat. i know i was up and down and up and down, people yelling for me do sit down .....then dayum he did it to me again and i was up on my feet clapping and singing and dancing.i was at a concert right, oh yeah we were at the Detroit Opera House.( betcha it will never be the same now,now its a bit FUNKAY) i guess the confusing part for me is why was it only ok to be up on one feet for say Take Me With U and not Family Name. yeah i know, those whom i am asking this question of wont be on this website.

gemini319 said:

Gemini--we basically DID stand up from beginning 2 end, almost.


I LOVE YOU, PRINCE!!!!.....(4 NOW)

I can't stand people who want to stand up and dance in front of me, I go there to listen to the music, I can do that quite easily sitting down .... I don't need fools standing in front me being obnoxious shits to me because I choose to remain seated.

FunkyStrange said:

Dancing at a concert is not obnoxious. However, telling someone in front of you to sit down IS obnoxious. What gives you the right to tell someone what to do with the space they paid for at a concert?

FunkyStrange said:

FunkyStrange, u r in the minority when u sit down so u r not going to be successful in getting people to sit. On another thread U say u have feet probs--then perhaps u should get a seat for the handicapped so u can sit?

Moonbeam said:

what gives someone the right to stand up and block another persons' view with their big, fat ass?

anyone remember Whitney Houston telling someone standing in the front row "your ticket says SEAT, doesn't it?"
[This message was edited Sat Mar 9 22:21:29 PST 2002 by twonabomber]

I didn't say dancing is obnoxious but as you all are proving in you posts - your response when politely asked to sit - IS obnoxious -

If you want to dance go to a nightclub that is what they are for. He is a performer, watch the performer, and enjoy it but don't spoil the other's enjoyment of it just because they have a different preference to you.... Dancing isn't gonna enable you to HEAR the music any clearer .... probably the opposite actually..

My problem with my feet is minor but I can not stand for a long period time without some pain so I obviously choose to sit. It isn't serious enough for me to qualify as handicapped but I definitely will enquire about getting a front seat with no obsctructing fatasses in front of me.....
[This message was edited Sat Mar 9 23:02:41 PST 2002 by FunkyStrange]

FunkyStrange said:

I was not asked politely to sit...I was approached in a confrontational manner, but relented to sitting anyway, although unhappily.

If you want to sit through a performance, go to a musical, play or an opera- the majority of concert-goers go to dance. As others have indicated, concerts are about intimate connections with the performer as well, and if Prince asks us to stand and dance, I'm going to do it! Concerts envelop much more than simply listening to the music- they encompass the spectacle and the connection as well. If you simply wish to hear the music, you are entitled to do that- others dancing in front of you does not obstruct the sound whatsoever.

And as for the attitude, I'd say it comes from the arrogance and ignorance of those who believe that they have the right to tell other concert-goers how to act during a show, particularly if they nitpick about such regular and EXPECTED occurrences as standing and dancing. I generally avoid confrontation at all costs, and therefore relented to sitting when asked (or demanded), but it definitely impeded MY enjoyment of the show. I did not overreact when asked, nor did I insist on an argument (that would be rude to those not involved), but I still continue to be baffled by those who feel that they carry the right to control the behavior of others at a concert.

I don't mean to sound confrontational- I simply wish to express my viewpoint that concert-goers may stand during the entire show if they so desire.

let's face it. some concertgoers act like they never get out of the house, so they're up, down, spilling beer, talking, scratchin' their ass...fuck that. tickets cost too much anymore to go to a show and screw around. i don't think it's unreasonable to ask someone in front of you to sit down if they are blocking your view, you owe them no explanation of any possible medical or whatever condition that prevents you from standing also. i have no problem asking someone to sit down if my date is having problems seeing the stage. i haven't had to get security involved once, people are generally pretty amicable to a request.

FunkyStrange said:

Now I know this may sound bizzar, but bear with me: listening to music is one thing. Experiencing it is something totally different. You can listen to music with just your ears, but to really experience it takes your body, mind, and soul. For me, experiencing music means letting it move my body, channeling the sound and the energy through into dance. I am being completely serious with y'all here. For my $125, I want the full experience.

One of the contributions to the problems at the Chicago show was that the music club was so spread out. I know I don't speak for all of us, but certainly most of us in the club would prefer to stand and dance (at least among those I know). It was rather humorous to look around and see pockets of two or three people dancing all by themselves in a sea of sitters. I think if we were all together up at the stage, then whomever wants to sit can go to the back and enjoy our wigglin' arses from afar.

Peace to Cygnus

I had the same problem at the concert. I asked if I could move somewhere else on the side and the usher said yes. When I moved, another usher told me to go back to my seat. I asked for the supervisor and he told me that if I did not sit down, people would complain and they would have to get the "Goon Squad", he actually said Goon Squad to sit me down. It really took away from my high. The Brother doesn't perform as often as I would like in Chicago so I try to absorb every minute. But it is an ongoing battle against those snobs that come to see the litttle Black man dance on stage. I'm not against someone sitting down, just don't impose on my right to stand. I do agree there is certain etiquette that must be used. Sitting is usually taken at the opera. Maybe those people were at the wrong show. They figured because it said "Chicago Theatre", it meant opera. Who knows. Hopefully if they fix this ticket and seating thing, all NPGMC members will not only be closer, but also together. I would like that.

This has been an ongoing problem for me, not only at prince concerts. Everyone paid to see the show, and everyone should do what they want to do. If you want to sit, sit; but don't get pissed at the people who choose to groove. And if you groove, groove!!!!!

During the show lastnight in Indianapolis, Prince was slammin', and lots of people were standing up and dancing or just feeling the music. Two guys behind me who spent most of the show making fun of everyone around them were upset that people in front of them wouldn't sit down. One leaned up to me and said "Hey, she can't see," pointing over to his girlfriend. I was polite and sat down since we were at kind of a Mellow part of the show, anyway, but as soon as Prince picked up the ax, I was back on my feet, and I didn't sit back down most of the night. Funny, the two jerks didn't ask the rather tall, muscular men standing in front of them to sit down! If you aren't into the music enough to get up and shake your a**, leave everybody else alone

I totally agree Cygnus. I live in the U.K. and whenever I've seen Prince here everybodys stood up. The first time I saw him everyone was stood on their seats. I couldn't believe it when I went to the concerts in Minni(at the end of the celebration). What the hell was going on. Sit for slow numbers, stand again for others, up down, up down, like a f***ing yoyo. I need to dance. Sometimes I think I must be hearing different music to other people.
Another thing, are people that hungry that they have to step out of the show,climbing over me, and fetch something to eat, or do they really have hold an indepth conversation about jack sh*t,next to me, instead of listening.

the title sez it all "Stand Tha Hell Up!!!" it's a Concert not a Funeral. i'LL b standin my Ass up when P comes 2 Florida

FunkyStrange said:

well...if you go to listen to the music then you don't need to see right? so what are you complaining about.

I guess I'm just used to it...I am so short that I can never see...even if I'm standing in the 6th row!! so I stand all the time...and I stand on my chair if I can get away with it!
At the worcester hit and run last year I felt really bad but I couldn't see jack unless I was standing up and this gurl behind me kept telling me that she couldn't see...well what was I supposed to say to her? What I told her was I couldn't see either so...too bad. I know that sounds harsh but...geesh what am I supposed to do about her problem when I'm doing the best I can at resolving my own problem.

Boy, some of you are really showing your age! I have ALWAYS stood up at a concert and I always will. I can't believe that some people expect you to sit down during a Prince concert. WTF is that all about? If I were Prince and people were sitting down at my concert I'd be insulted!


Next time stay home and watch a live taping of Prince if you can't deal with people dancing and having a good time.

I had major problems when Chaka was performing during Jam of the Year -- people were yelling at me to sit down. Well, actually, it was no problem -- when they first started yelling I was in my own little rapturous world, so I didn't notice. After that I just ignored it. My friends sat down, though. When Prince came on, everyone stood.

Fish gotta swim, girl's gotta dance. If you aren't feeling it, you shouldn't be there. I saw James Brown in a club where we couldn't dance and it was MISERY. Sheer torture.

I think I'll ask Prince to say something about it during his shows if I get to the soundcheck. They can't make you sit if the performer has asked everyone to stand, can they?