This was my first time in Birmingham arena. Great concert but I missed the first few songs due to hassle with my seats and people sitting a few rows behind me. When booking the seats (2nd row Upper block 10) I was assured that I could stand up and step towards and lean against the railing (am ambulant disabled and need to alternate between sitting and standing). First the stewards refused me, several times, to stand anywhere apart from immediately in front of my seat. Even a bit towards the left earned me a reprimande. "they will all be standing up anyway" they told me. So, I stood in front of my seat (not a single mm out of line). However, that was not to the liking of a few people in rows behind me who became very verbal and shouted "sit the f... down" and continued to shout at me what they would do to me if I did not sit down. Very unpleasant. So, I sat down. Started to hurt badly soon because there was hardly any room for my legs which were pressing very hard into the seat infront of me and I has to sit twisted. The seating area is very cramped (worst I have encountered in a music venue). Stood up. More verbal abuse. My companion then walked over to the stewards who refused again to let us move to other seats despite the fact that there were quite a few empty nearby. Eventually the supervisor moved us to other seats where there was no problem with standing up now and then. Brilliant seats because they were closer to the stage. So, that was good but it took me a little while to start to enjoy the show because I had become a bit down after the verbal abuse.
I was most looking forward to Psycho and Uprising. Missed both of these due to the hassle. Just watched them on Youtube. How crazy is that? Go to a concert and then have to watch what you missed on Youtube. Not the same atmosphere at all.
I looked around the arena and noticed that almost all of the people with seats were staying put in their seats. Not something I have encountered at other pop music gigs. I also went to the concert in Bristol and that was nicer. Muse was just as excellent of course, but the whole atmosphere was friendlier and more relaxed. No problems with standing up and bobbing up and down to the music. No problems with moving an inch away from your seat. No verbal abuse. I did not mind the fact that it was still light at the beginning of the show in Bristol. There was a spectacular sunset right above the stage. Beautiful.
Because I am relatively new to Muse (I know...where have I been) I was using my mobile a lot in Bristol for photos and video clips. Loved the show but came away feeling I missed part of it due to the filming. When they put on an extra show in Birmingham I immediately purchased two more tickets with the intention to leave the mobile in my pocket (whch I did most of the time). So, I am gutted that I missed part of the show and in such an unpleasant way. Muse, please come back to Bristol again later this year and I will get another ticket. Third time lucky? 😉
I am curious and wonder what anyone else thinks of Birmingham arena It certainly seemed to me that the people with standing tickets had a great time . Maybe I was just 'unlucky'
Birmingham Arena gig
in Gigs
Posted · Edited by joseklijn
This was my first time in Birmingham arena. Great concert but I missed the first few songs due to hassle with my seats and people sitting a few rows behind me. When booking the seats (2nd row Upper block 10) I was assured that I could stand up and step towards and lean against the railing (am ambulant disabled and need to alternate between sitting and standing). First the stewards refused me, several times, to stand anywhere apart from immediately in front of my seat. Even a bit towards the left earned me a reprimande. "they will all be standing up anyway" they told me. So, I stood in front of my seat (not a single mm out of line). However, that was not to the liking of a few people in rows behind me who became very verbal and shouted "sit the f... down" and continued to shout at me what they would do to me if I did not sit down. Very unpleasant. So, I sat down. Started to hurt badly soon because there was hardly any room for my legs which were pressing very hard into the seat infront of me and I has to sit twisted. The seating area is very cramped (worst I have encountered in a music venue). Stood up. More verbal abuse. My companion then walked over to the stewards who refused again to let us move to other seats despite the fact that there were quite a few empty nearby. Eventually the supervisor moved us to other seats where there was no problem with standing up now and then. Brilliant seats because they were closer to the stage. So, that was good but it took me a little while to start to enjoy the show because I had become a bit down after the verbal abuse.
I was most looking forward to Psycho and Uprising. Missed both of these due to the hassle. Just watched them on Youtube. How crazy is that? Go to a concert and then have to watch what you missed on Youtube. Not the same atmosphere at all.
I looked around the arena and noticed that almost all of the people with seats were staying put in their seats. Not something I have encountered at other pop music gigs. I also went to the concert in Bristol and that was nicer. Muse was just as excellent of course, but the whole atmosphere was friendlier and more relaxed. No problems with standing up and bobbing up and down to the music. No problems with moving an inch away from your seat. No verbal abuse. I did not mind the fact that it was still light at the beginning of the show in Bristol. There was a spectacular sunset right above the stage. Beautiful.
Because I am relatively new to Muse (I know...where have I been) I was using my mobile a lot in Bristol for photos and video clips. Loved the show but came away feeling I missed part of it due to the filming. When they put on an extra show in Birmingham I immediately purchased two more tickets with the intention to leave the mobile in my pocket (whch I did most of the time). So, I am gutted that I missed part of the show and in such an unpleasant way. Muse, please come back to Bristol again later this year and I will get another ticket. Third time lucky? 😉
I am curious and wonder what anyone else thinks of Birmingham arena It certainly seemed to me that the people with standing tickets had a great time . Maybe I was just 'unlucky'