As both a concert photographer and frequent show-goer, I have seen a lot of different types of music crowds. From metalcore mosh pits and underground indie shows to bluegrass hoedowns and outdoor festivals, I’ve been to my fair share of concerts. For the past few years, however, many others and I have begun to notice a decline in general concert etiquette.
Concert etiquette is generally regarded as the set of social norms fans should follow at shows. This includes respecting others’ space when possible, not scrolling on a phone while the artists are performing, not holding up signs for the entire show and overall just being a considerate person towards others' experiences. Unfortunately, these simple norms have broken down post-pandemic.
From fans shoving their way to the barricade to talking during sets and harassing others, reports of poor etiquette at concerts have been on the rise since the end of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Much of this has to do with a combination of a new generation of concert-goers coming in after the pandemic, mixed with social media giving fans a sense of wanting a “main character moment.”
With the rise of TikTok and other social media platforms during the pandemic, many fans began to form parasocial relationships with bands or musicians, thinking they actually knew each other or were friends. To some degree, most fans have a parasocial relationship with their favorite artists, but where it becomes harmful is when obsessive fans lean into it and push boundaries.
Pop-rock band The Home Team recently posted a statement on its Instagram telling fans to stop holding up their phones to try to get the band to read messages. When enough people do this, not only is it highly distracting to the artists, but it also puts fans at risk if there’s an emergency and the band doesn’t know how to stop the song. The Home Team even went viral on TikTok, bringing in new fans not familiar with good concert behavior.
Sleep Token is another band that blew up on social media. For their entire career, the members have opted to remain anonymous, simply going by “Vessel,” “II,” “III” and “IV.” They wrote a song, “Caramel,” about how poorly fans treat the band. Last year, the identities of the members were leaked, and it became common for fans at shows to shout the names of the members.
Sleep Token fans have also been heavily criticized for their lack of concert etiquette, from dropping crowdsurfers to being rude to others.
In my personal experience, much of the decline in general concert etiquette is more noticeable at larger shows and venues, but it can happen anywhere. I’ve seen examples of poor concert manners at The Union here in Athens and other small venues, mainly in the form of ignoring personal space.
While there are different standards for different shows, people getting packed in like sardines or getting crushed against the barricade ruins the experiences of everyone. Add in constant shouting, recording the entire show and trying to get noticed by the artist, and everyone else’s experience of the show is lowered.
Though the general rules of concert etiquette are unwritten, that doesn’t mean people should not know, follow and respect them. Especially with the rising cost of concert tickets, fans pay good money to see their favorite artists, all for different reasons. The overall experience of a crowd should not be brought down by a certain percentage who do not know how to behave.
Ethan Herx is a junior studying photojournalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts? Let Ethan know by emailing or finding them on Instagram at eh481422@ohio.edu or @ethanherxphoto.
