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Concert Frustration

Posted by Agent Squirrel on March 4, 2009

Over the past year, I’ve been to about 9 concerts. Some at arenas and a bunch at bars/clubs. One trend I’m seeing that is really driving me crazy is people who are either talking to their friends or texting on their cell phones instead of listening to the music.

Last night I went to the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. to see Missy Higgins. While it wasn’t a super mixed demographic (most people there were probably under 28), I wasn’t the oldest person in the room.

Tickets cost $25 plus fees, etc. I bought my ticket to listen to Missy Higgins sing. When the show started, a lot of people grabbed their cell phones to start taking photos. No big surprise there. But A LOT of people grabbed their cell phones to start text messaging with their friends. At first I didn’t think much about it. I figured they were posting to Facebook and stuff that they were at the show. But they didn’t stop. Four girls that were right next to us were on their Blackberry’s through the whole first hour of the show (they moved before it was over so I can’t speak for the last half hour).

Not only were people text messaging, but they were talking to each other. The four girls mentioned above were talking when they weren’t typing on their Blackberry’s. A few songs into the show, someone asked them if they were going to talk during every song. He then told them that she is a good singer (I agree) and that they should listen to her music. They gave the look to each other like “can you believe this” but they didn’t talk anymore. I only wished that other people had followed suit. During every song you could hear people having conversations. During one point, Missy Higgins was talking about the inspiration behind one of her songs and I gather that a majority of the people wanted to hear what she had to say because you started hearing all these “Shhh” from all over the club. People did stop talking and for a few minutes you could hear only Missy Higgins talking.

This is the most recent example of a concert that I’ve been to where people seem to be doing everything but listening to the artist performing. When I went to see Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire last October, there were a few people behind me that were talking through the music. I looked back to say something but they stopped as soon as they saw me (I’m sure I got that “Can you believe that” look too).

I just don’t get it. Not only do I not understand why anyone would pay money for concert tickets only to talk to their friends the whole time – either in person or on their phone – but they show no respect for the artist performing or those of us that actually want to hear the artist. Wow, I sound really old. But I don’t think it is an age thing. I think it is a respect thing. And the majority of people at the 9:30 Club were being respectful. I know that when I’ve went to see Meg Hutchinson, she is the opening act and so many times the people at the show aren’t there to see her. What I’ve always found amazing about her is that within the first minute of her first song, everyone is listening. I’ve seen a few people talking to the person next to them, but they are whispering and not disturbing others.

Like I said, I just don’t get it. Seems like a lot of money to spend and not bother enjoy the music.