Better to sit or stand at a gig?

[sebby aka pup]

I was on the barrier at an Aussie gig on Chris' side and it was fine. Very minimal pushing and everyone was friendly enough. Although my friends in the middle and on Matts side said the pushing was pretty bad. So I would recommend Chris' side if you want to try for barrier for the 1st time....

 

Oh and the sound desk is a pretty sweet spot too, great sound and a good view

[AnnaLu]

I am slightly worried about the whole festival thing though, since I guess you'd have to be pretty far back to not get completely squished, and I'm only short and am really unfit/a weakling. I envy all the 6+ foot muscly guys out there!

[Banksy.]

If you wanted to avoid a mosh pit I would avoid the middle of the floor. That's where I hear it happens most often.

 

As far as barrier goes, I was at barrier in a US of A gig and had plenty of room. I was actually really surprised. There was room to dance and jump around. I hear gigs in Europe are a lot more wild compared to US gigs.

 

Good advice there yeah. And having been at gigs on both sides of the pond, I'd say that at European gigs the crowd either tends to be mental or doing nothing, whereas at the US it's generally just middling levels of energy as a whole, although I'd expect that Muse would get a good crowd at either.

[MUSESTL]

I've only been to one gig and I had seats. I had an amazing time but there were several times (especially during Time is Running Out and Knights of Cydonia) when I really felt like jumping up and down but I couldn't

[QubiQ]

Good advice there yeah. And having been at gigs on both sides of the pond, I'd say that at European gigs the crowd either tends to be mental or doing nothing, whereas at the US it's generally just middling levels of energy as a whole, although I'd expect that Muse would get a good crowd at either.

 

Does it differ depending on the countries or areas/cities?

[Banksy.]

Does it differ depending on the countries or areas/cities?

 

I wouldn't really say so, not that I've noticed anyway, although in Britain I've only been to a few gigs, and I couldn't really compare. I mean, the crowd at London is generally good, but the bands I see in london tend to be bigger, as opposed to the bands I see in Yorkshire.

[Pip]

I notice people saying there's a 'great view' from the sound desk. That is not necessarily so, so don't rely on it. I was at the sound desk for the second Wembley night and I literally did not see anything of the stage from soon before Muse came on. My only glimpse of the band was when they were up on the platform, couldn't even see the screens.

 

At Oxegen last year I wasn't all that close to the stage and again, I didn't see a thing.

 

If you want to guarantee seeing as well as hearing the band, aren't very tall and don't mind possibly being squashed, try for barrier. If you're not fussed about seeing the band and can't cope with being squashed on the barrier, go further back or to the side.

 

I've sat (but stood at my seat) for four Muse gigs. It was great having space to dance/jump etc but I found the atmosphere to be nowhere near as good as it is in the standing area. My favourite place to be is on the barrier.

[hyper_chondriac_muser]

I still say the barrier is hugely overrated Mainly because I hate to be crushed and I like having space to be able to jump around to the songs, but I can understand why others would like it.

 

I've never once sat at a Muse gig and never will. Muse gigs are the one time you can really let go to all their songs with a bunch of people who are just as immersed in the music as you. The atmosphere is indescribable: you have to be there to really appreciate how electric it is.

 

It's fucking tiring, though, but well worth it! And depending where you are it can get a bit rough, so make sure you're not too close to the front if you don't want to get squashed, but not too far back that you're stood with the non-moving people who pretty much just bob their heads (lol!)

[hyper_chondriac_muser]

Does it differ depending on the countries or areas/cities?

 

Definitely. Audiences will always differ, subtly, around the world, but there are more obvious differences too.

 

The Italians were mental! In the UK, it's pretty much standard (I've found) in the standing area: the fans near the front are much more energetic and prob a bit more aggressive than ones stood further back, which is pretty much a general rule at any gig, tbh. But in Italy the fans were just mad anywhere you were stood . In a good way, of course. The thing is, it was an even bigger shock because most of them were stoned off their faces before Muse came on, but the second the lights dropped, they went mental!

 

I've heard the French fans are pretty insane, too. Fans are fans no matter what part of the world you're in but in some countries they're known to react a bit crazier than others.

[Matty987]

I wouldn't really say so, not that I've noticed anyway, although in Britain I've only been to a few gigs, and I couldn't really compare. I mean, the crowd at London is generally good, but the bands I see in london tend to be bigger, as opposed to the bands I see in Yorkshire.

 

I have to say i find Manchester to have the best crowds, but i like rough ones...which may not be everyones idea of a good crowd

[tulaplee]

In regard to the sound booth, I stood in front of one of the sound booths at second Wembley - had no problem seeing, but then again I'm 6'1". It was very, very tight, so if you have a problem standing next to people like sardines in a tin, it might not work for you. Good thing, though, was with the sound booth behind us we never had to worry about the crush coming from the back. Didn't really notice much of a difference between US/European crowds, but there was much more drug use in the pit at Wembley - lots of people smoking pot and lovely people in front of us doing heroin.

 

As far as the indoor shows go, I had barrier for most, seats for some. If you can see them more then once, do both. It was hard to appreciate what was going on with the stage set/lasers from the floor - being in the seats gave it the full effect so I'm glad I had it from that perspective. Plus barrier is a little hard on the neck from looking up all the time and with the Towers set it was really hard to see Dom.

[Furygirl]

In regard to the sound booth, I stood in front of one of the sound booths at second Wembley - had no problem seeing, but then again I'm 6'1". It was very, very tight, so if you have a problem standing next to people like sardines in a tin, it might not work for you. Good thing, though, was with the sound booth behind us we never had to worry about the crush coming from the back. Didn't really notice much of a difference between US/European crowds, but there was much more drug use in the pit at Wembley - lots of people smoking pot and lovely people in front of us doing heroin.

 

 

Wow, I had not idea you were so tall! And heroin? Criminy!

 

I've had barrier twice and it was great both times! But then, US shows are a bit tamer, as people have mentioned. And I couldn't see the bottom of Dom's kit, but I could see most of him. True, you don't get as good an appreciation of the visuals and lights when you're that close up, but being so close like that is worth missing the other stuff imo. However, in August I'll be in seats, so I'm looking at the bright side by telling myself how cool it will be to see the visuals better this time. I have no intention of sitting though, that's for sure!

[Matty987]

Wow, I had not idea you were so tall! And heroin? Criminy!

 

I've had barrier twice and it was great both times! But then, US shows are a bit tamer, as people have mentioned. And I couldn't see the bottom of Dom's kit, but I could see most of him. True, you don't get as good an appreciation of the visuals and lights when you're that close up, but being so close like that is worth missing the other stuff imo. However, in August I'll be in seats, so I'm looking at the bright side by telling myself how cool it will be to see the visuals better this time. I have no intention of sitting though, that's for sure!

 

There was a heroin taker infront of me at Manchester too, not nice.

[haze015]

There'll be drugs at every gig. Especially more dance orientated bands. Never been to a Muse gig where there hasn't been a whiff of weed in the air at the very least.

 

Sitting or standing doesn't really make any difference. If you are standing, just remember not to take anything valuable with you, because pickpockets do turn up to all massive shows and if you're in a crush, it's very easy for them.

 

Barrier is overrated and more for talk than anything else. People do get violent over having their hands on the barrier, it's really not cool.

 

 

I'd probably sit at a Muse gig now, they don't exactly rock like they used to.

[Dominic.]

Barrier is overrated and more for talk than anything else. People do get violent over having their hands on the barrier, it's really not cool.

 

I've got a friend who really annoys me...she went to a Paramore gig last November at the O2 in standing and arrived so that when they got in she was about 20 rows back. Next few weeks she brags for ages about how she managed to push her way to the front and touch the barrier

 

...I mean why? So you can say that you got close to the band for 20 seconds? Amongst hundreds of others. I feel sorry for the people who had queued for ages to get to the barrier and ended up getting squashed by her and other people

[Sventington]

for me it depends largely on the band. When I saw Bowie and Queen I sat for most of it, when I saw Roger Waters I wanted to stand. Sometimes you'll end up in an area where people around you don't want to stand, and you'll anger those behind you. My aunt and uncle got kicked out of the Roger Waters concert for not sitting, people complained.

[haze015]

I've got a friend who really annoys me...she went to a Paramore gig last November at the O2 in standing and arrived so that when they got in she was about 20 rows back. Next few weeks she brags for ages about how she managed to push her way to the front and touch the barrier

 

...I mean why? So you can say that you got close to the band for 20 seconds? Amongst hundreds of others. I feel sorry for the people who had queued for ages to get to the barrier and ended up getting squashed by her and other people

 

Queuing up all day doesn't give anyone the right to the barrier though.

 

Sometimes it's impossible to go backwards and you have to go for any space you can get.

[Dominic.]

Queuing up all day doesn't give anyone the right to the barrier though.

 

Sometimes it's impossible to go backwards and you have to go for any space you can get.

 

Oh no, but her goal was to get to the barrier, and I think if you decide to queue up for an ungodly amount of hours rather than turning up half an hour before that gives you more 'right' to be on the barrier than other people

[Niall]

Queuing up all day doesn't give anyone the right to the barrier though.

 

Sometimes it's impossible to go backwards and you have to go for any space you can get.

 

What, legally?

 

I think being forced forwards and turning up 2 minutes before doors opening and barging your way forwards are two different things.

[AnnaLu]

I feel really thick because I hadn't realised it's within etiquette to leave the queue for a loo stop etc., hence haven't bothered queuing. On the other hand, I've only been to one gig (Old Trafford) and I happened to be right outside a previously unopened gate, waiting in another queue, so when they opened it and said everyone queue here aswell, I got in about 10min after doors opened.

[Banksy.]

No idea why people would do something like Heroin at a gig when you could just do it at home and not pay £90 for the privilege, not to mention it isn't pleasant for others.Also, barriers alright, but you can never expect it to be a comfortable experience at a good gig. I prefer about 7 rows back, that's where the pits are. haha

[haze015]

Oh no' date=' but her goal was to get to the barrier, and I think if you decide to queue up for an ungodly amount of hours rather than turning up half an hour before that gives you more 'right' to be on the barrier than other people[/quote']

 

Barging past people and all the rest of it isn't nice, but that's the problem with going to large gigs, the ratio of tossers increases. But no one has any more right to be anywhere than anyone else, how is anyone meant to know someone has queued all day?

 

No idea why people would do something like Heroin at a gig when you could just do it at home and not pay £90 for the privilege, not to mention it isn't pleasant for others.Also, barriers alright, but you can never expect it to be a comfortable experience at a good gig. I prefer about 7 rows back, that's where the pits are. haha

 

It is addictive for a start.

 

I'd imagine the people who are shooting up are the ones cheering Feeling Good.

[Sventington]

!!

[Banksy.]

It is addictive for a start.

 

I'd imagine the people who are shooting up are the ones cheering Feeling Good.

 

Most likely true.

[Furygirl]

Barging past people and all the rest of it isn't nice, but that's the problem with going to large gigs, the ratio of tossers increases. But no one has any more right to be anywhere than anyone else, how is anyone meant to know someone has queued all day?

 

 

 

Well, when you approach a queue, seeing all those people in front of you should be a pretty big clue that they were there before you. Sure, once the madness of getting a spot begins, it gets confusing, but I think a person knows if they're being a douche or not by trying to barge their way past others.