Nieha: You can obviously sing along to the performance and vibe with the audience but do not try to outsing the artiste.
EVER been to a concert where the person right before you kept holding up a sign, effectively blocking your view of your favourite artiste on stage?
Or had your mood been ruined when someone pushed their way past you to the front row?
Are you yourself guilty of these? If yes, you are lacking basic concert etiquette.
So, before you head on to the next concert, here’s some of the do’s and don’ts.
1. Don’t treat the concert as your personal audition for a talent show.
You can obviously sing along to the performance and vibe with the audience but do not try to outsing the artiste. Avoid screaming the lyrics. You came to see the singer, so let him or her do the job of entertaining you.
If you love dancing during a concert, dance only at your own spot. Don’t go ruining someone’s concert experience.
2. Arrive early.
Try your very best to reach the venue in advance. It is rude to arrive late, and finding your way to your seat would be a hassle.
By arriving early, you get to know the people around you too and who knows, you might just make a few new friends.
Most importantly, you get to watch the opening act as you never know where you will discover your next favourite artiste.
3. Put your phone away.
Stop posting on your Instagram story about how you’re finally meeting Taylor Swift and actually enjoy the concert! It’s fine to take a few selfies but constantly being on your phone is a huge no-no.
The screen light can distract people around you too.
Immerse yourself in the music and have a blast with your friends.
The experience of truly enjoying what’s on stage is a hundred times better than being caught up in your phone.
4. Don’t push forward after the concert has begun.I
f you want to be at the very front, arrive early and queue up like everyone else.
I had experienced being pushed by people just because they wanted to get to the front.
What about the people who waited for hours just to get a good spot? It’s extremely rude and a mood killer.
If you failed to secure a good spot, just enjoy the concert from wherever you are. You can still get a good view if you are seated at the back and it is much more comfortable not being in the sweaty crowd.
5. Follow security rules.Each concert has its rules, so run through the list of regulations in advance.
Some venues allow big bags while others don’t. Likewise, some venues allow handheld signs while others don’t.
To avoid your precious belongings being thrown out, all you have to do is research beforehand.
If you’re still not sure whether a certain item is allowed into the venue or not, just give the organisers a call.
They’ll be more than happy to help.
Nieha, 20, a student in Melaka, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. To join Star-NiE’s online youth community, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
