Just as I'm not going to one as I'm feeling a bit tired, how do you best like to enjoy a gig?

I mean do you like to stand near the front or back or side? Do you stand still and watch or do you like to be seated? Do you dance or stand in one position? Do you need a drink or do you like your hands to be free?

For me it depends on the venue.

Leadmill- i like to stand to the left hand side near the entrance to the backstage (chances of seeing someone famous - high) and have a pint on the side there.
Arena -I like water and to get fairly near the front and dance. Funniest time I've ever done that was during Kaiser Chiefs support, we are scientists, me and my mate jumping up and down to the disgust of everyone around us it seemed.
I'm not a right at the front person, too decrepit for the mosh pit now.
For a local gig(Harley, Grapes, Shakespeare etc) I like to get nearish the front and watch with a drink.
Plug I like to stand to the right near the curtain in about the middle with a bottle of water.
Academy I like to stand to the left with nothing in my hands.
City Hall. Unless you are near front, bobbins venue. No drink bothered about.
Montgomery Hall. Front row seats or aisle seats are best. Glass of wine.

Lol.... I have gig OCD! :D

Best I like to dance and with water so no hangover next day.

It depends where I am I think.

Leeds and Glastonbury I like to stand in the middle with the groovers (too hardcore at the front for me!)

Smaller festivals like Shambala and Glade I like to get right to the front and pogo.

For all the others I totally agree with you! Except Montgomery Hall where I havent been.

lol
youve been thinking about that a little too ahrd :P

im easy
no fave i just see what happens when i get there
after ive been to the bar for some beer, obviously :)

then it depends on how full, whos there, where i can get to, the atmosphere and finally if i actually fancy a dance or feel lazy

Sat down and civilised just isnt right for a gig, i need to be stood up (well, i did 10 years ago, now a padded seat and a cuppa sounds terrific) :(

It depends where I am I think.

Leeds and Glastonbury I like to stand in the middle with the groovers (too hardcore at the front for me!)

Smaller festivals like Shambala and Glade I like to get right to the front and pogo.

For all the others I totally agree with you! Except Montgomery Hall where I havent been.

I'm similar with festivals. V front is too much, v back and you are too far away.
Leeds festival, stood next to a COMPLETE pyromaniac :ofor Franz Ferdinand, was interesting!

As close to the band as is possible, with the exception of being right at the very front because you can't move. I'd say being about 2 people back is the perfect distance, as long as they're short people.

The only annoying thing is getting a surprise foot to the head every now and then as the crowd surfers go over you.

I'm similar with festivals. V front is too much, v back and you are too far away.
Leeds festival, stood next to a COMPLETE pyromaniac :ofor Franz Ferdinand, was interesting!

What were they doing? Throwing petrol bombs? Setting light to your trousers?

What were they doing? Throwing petrol bombs? Setting light to your trousers?

Lol honestly, it was hypnotising. She was burning anything she could get her hands on, particularly the cups with the waxy outside that smell disgusting. :gag: Someone had left a tartan blanket and she set that on fire. But it was her face, the intent on it as she set to. Everytime the fire marshalls would come round, they'd stamp it out and she'd start again, building her little fiery empire very carefully. I had to keep reminding myself i was watching the bands and not her.

Unless the performance is THAT good it warrants a standing ovation, I usually sit down all through performances of concerts and gigs, more often than not I also wait for a suitable break in the performance before deciding I need a wee.

Lol honestly, it was hypnotising. She was burning anything she could get her hands on, particularly the cups with the waxy outside that smell disgusting. :gag: Someone had left a tartan blanket and she set that on fire. But it was her face, the intent on it as she set to. Everytime the fire marshalls would come round, they'd stamp it out and she'd start again, building her little fiery empire very carefully. I had to keep reminding myself i was watching the bands and not her.

Blimey! As to the question in your OP, Edna, it's horses for courses with me - moderately impressive covers band down the Tavern on a Friday? I'll sit down with my pint ta. Monkeys at the Octagon - standing. I tend to avoid anything at all at seated very large venues - you may as well stay in and watch it on the telly.

You've GOT to be standing - you can't be at a gig and not standing! :o

My usual place at the Leadmill was at the back, just in front of the mixing desk. I HATE being squashed!

Although at my favourite-gig-ever - Marion at the Leadmill - I was right near the front - at one point Jaime's leg passed not too far from me during a crowd-surf! :P

StarSparkle

I get annoyed at being kicked in the head by crowd surfers, so tend to avoid the front these days.

Like Halibut, I don't particularly like big, arena stylee gigs, so tend to avoid them. Tho I do like smaller festivals. My proximity to the stage will be band and weather dependent in such situations.

I generally like standing near the mixing desk, with the occasional detour to the bar, or into the crowd for a bit of a dance.

Very much mood, venue, music style / band dependent really. For instance, I and the gig, crowd etc were very different between the last Bison gig at Plug, compared to Motorhead at the Academy the other week.

Unless the performance is THAT good it warrants a standing ovation, I usually sit down all through performances of concerts and gigs, more often than not I also wait for a suitable break in the performance before deciding I need a wee.
oh give over rich, you sound like the bloody queen :P

Standing up, in the thick of it!!!!:headbang::headbang:

I'm a little too refined for gigs. I go to concerts or performances these days.

Actually i'm a boring fart and prefer to be seated(and everyone in front of me to be the same). But thats probably more due to venue and band. I did stand at The Jam. Madness, Jags and Human League but there was no other option anyway.

who sits down at a gig?

who have you been to see - Billy Bragg????

who sits down at a gig?

who have you been to see - Billy Bragg????

Thats why i stated i'm more refined - so they don't qualify as "gigs" these days.

As near to the sound man as possible usually, he's where he is for a reason :)

otherwise, it depends on the gig, I'll be seated for Tommy Emmanuel in a couple of weeks, as will everybody else.

It depends on the venue. I've stood at the Leadmill and enjoyed it, and sat down at the City Hall and enjoyed it just the same.

I enjoy a gig best sat in my front room watching it on a DVD.

When you get to a certain age, the thought of drinking overpriced keg beer, seeing a rubbish support band and standing for hours waiting for the main band to come on doesn't seem so much fun any more.

I guess it depends who I am going to see. If it's danceable music then right in the middle near the front is where you'll find me, but if not then I will happily sit down and take it in.

it depends on if iv seen them before or not, if im seeing someone for the first time i like to relax and take it all in, standing front middle, if iv seen them before then dancing and what not is in order

depends.. but the older i get the more i prefer seated concerts over GA.

i find people really rude at most gigs now and have very little tolerance for those who push their way to the front (hey you wanted a better view? shoulda got there early like i did) or people knocking their crappy beer all over me or people too drunk to stand leaning on you to support them up.

yes, i am a crabby old woman.

btw when i do stand general admission, its usually in front of the bassist or guitarist. never in front of the singer
or next to the sound board, because really thats the best place to listen (plus an easy way to snag a setlist...)

Standing, always !! And as close to the stage as poss, but not right at the front (nowadays). 20 years of gig-going have taken their toll and i just can't quite deal with being squished against the stage.

Sometimes i prefer gigs in a seated venue, where you know exactly where your *spot* is, so you can arrive at the last minute if need be (e.g. when the support is DREADFUL lol !), but i still expect/hope to stand up and have a bit of a boogie when the band comes on :D

I went to see Paul Weller last night in Notts. Went on my tod and last minute so went seated but had possibly one of best seats. Block next to the stage, row A and in the middle of the row.
Positives - I was able to see the whole of the band for once (I forget this when i stand on the floor I never see the drummer) I didn't get covered in beer or hit once in the face by a stray elbow.
Negatives - I kept getting really distracted by the floor show happening below me; the security guards stopping people passing backstage and people arguing with them and their excuses. Also everyone in my block was sat down until the second encore and I felt a bit of an idiot standing up on my own so i kind of perched on my seat and seat danced! :hihi:
So I'm still... mm, more a floor gal.

There was a similar thread on here about a week ago and someone pointed out that both the Arena and City Hall have policies banning standing except in the designated area at the Arena.

I am not sure how rigourously it is enforced, but if there was an accident they could be in trouble.

I've stood at every *seated* gig at both the Arena and the City Hall.

Thank god it's not enforced !!!

Ive only been to one gig at city hall and most people sat, but i guess of because of who was in concert (ben folds) and it was a little surreal but nice. though the last time i saw ryan adams everyone sat as well.

I think I am getting old. I love standing & dancing but I hate to feel to hemmed in. I love smaller venues like the Octagon, the Carling Academy & the Leadmill so I can stand at the back, near the bar (and with easy access to the loo) yet still have a good boogie.

I went to Old Trafford Cricket Ground last year & hated it as a venue. It was too packed for me & the toilets were a nightmare. Getting out afterwards was hideous. They herded everyone through narrow tunnels onto the pitch which was awful. Like I say I think I am getting old.