The Decline in Concert Etiquette
Written By Liz Garcia
Graphic By Cole Vest
Alive and well in 2023, live music performances have never been quite as lively. With some of the most anticipated tours hitting stadiums this year, concerts have reached a new peak in the post-pandemic performing industry. Audiences, thrilled to be attending live performances with little to no COVID-19 safety guidelines, have easily gotten riled up at the seeming return to normalcy. From throwing items on stage to aggressive behavior in the stands, the noticeable change in concert etiquette has unfavorably altered artist and fan experiences at live events.
A major catalyst shifting the concert dynamic, Harry Styles’ Love On Tour undeniably changed concerts and the relationship between performer and fan. After being postponed until 2021 due to COVID-19, Love On Tour was one of the first shows to hit the road again during the recovery stages of the pandemic. Styles’ flamboyant charisma and unique, engaging style of performing fostered an eclectic space for an exhilarated audience to thrive. The show quickly became highly interactive: it was par for the course for Styles to spend talk breaks conversing with a front-row-fan or reading a sign, even helping some come out as gay or propose to their partners. All in an attempt to perk his attention, fans inadvertently built an intimate concert environment with their creative methods to be noticed. Harry Styles embraced this newfound community after an isolating lockdown brewed a disconnect between everyone; thus, the new era of concerts was born.
Now that fans are no longer solely spectators of live performances, this unique demographic of participatory audiences are what many artists perform to now, embraced or not. Lately, concerts have become unsafe spaces, particularly due to items being thrown on stage by fans, putting artists’ physical safety at risk. At a show this summer, Bebe Rexha suffered a black eye and stitches after a phone was thrown at her during a concert in New York City. Only a month earlier, country singer Kelsea Ballerini had been hit in the eye by a bracelet on stage. Most shockingly, a fan tossed Pink a bag filled with their mother’s ashes on stage. These incidents are only a few in a long slew of unusual fan behavior.
Following the recovery stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing and safety guidelines no longer appeared to be a priority. Finally escaping the confines of lockdown came with a new sense of freedom—audiences are elated to exist in public spaces again. The gradual return to pre-pandemic conditions has eliminated these barriers; coupled with a severe case of parasocial relationships and an Internet addiction, concertgoers selfishly sacrifice the diversion of live performances for viral moments. Now that celebrities are more accessible than ever, this new era of concerts beginning with Styles creates an in for fans to get the attention of their favorite artist. Moreover, TikTok has played a large role in sensationalizing abnormal behaviors for a potential sliver of fame. The fan responsible for throwing his phone at Bebe Rexha claims he was simply trying to get the singer to take a selfie during the show, a trend that started on TikTok.
The interpersonal relationship between concertgoers has further sprouted new dilemmas. Fans on social media are getting aggravated by normal concert behavior like dancing, passionately singing with the artist, or trying to film a video. It’s common to find rants on social media complaining about other attendees’ behaviors.
In this TikTok video, a girl is seen ripping a sign from the hands of another fan for blocking her view. Some comments even go as far to criticize others for singing loudly or dancing.
There are inappropriate mannerisms that can disrupt the enjoyment of live performances, but expecting a hyper-individualized experience in a public setting is unreasonable. Due to lockdown being such a unique, isolating event, individuals may crave a tailored perspective at such an emotionally-charged event. Additionally, oddly-specific viral concert videos trick people into thinking every show will have some unmissable moment. So, people try to control every aspect of their experience to recreate that picture-perfect moment on social media. In reality, these clips are filmed by the lucky few with perfectly-aligning variables: front row seats, razor-sharp camera quality, and the moment someone’s head wasn’t in the shot.
Attending a concert is a fun, memorable experience. Being fully immersed in a creative environment cultivated by the artist and populated with other concertgoers who share an affinity for music is a powerful feeling. Concerts should be safe havens for audiences to escape reality and connect with the artist as they perform. Out of respect for all artists and fans, audiences should be more thoughtful of their actions. Inappropriate behavior, like throwing items on stage, disrupts the concert and puts the safety of the artist at risk. Likewise, selfish attitudes take away emotional experiences from other concertgoers. Concerts should be a celebratory place where everyone is unified through their personal connection to music. In the words of the man who pioneered the post-pandemic concerts we attend today: treat people with kindness.