Uncomfortable concerts for oldies

[Old Yard Dog]

Why do some concert organizers make attendance so difficult and uncomfortable for older patrons?

I would love to go and see the Wolfe Tones at the Pier Head in Liverpool tomorrow night.

But tickets are £50, it's standing only, you're only allowed to bring one small bottle of water in and no food. And bags are a no no. The main act isn't on till 9 pm but there's no admission after 7 pm so you have to go in and watch the support acts and spend money at their stalls. And there is no cover - fortunately no rain is forecast.

There's no way I can stand for 4 hrs at my age - 2 hrs at non-league football with a railing to lean on is bad enough. So this old codger sadly won't be going to see a group of equally old codgers perform. It's just so unwelcoming. There's a huge seated indoor arena almost next door which would have been far more suitable.

 

[Bletchleyite]

My parents go to lots of "old codgers'" gigs and almost all of them are in theatres with everyone seated. This won't be aimed at that market. The younger market prefer standing - at stadium gigs standing tends to sell before seating and sometimes even costs more!

The bringing stuff in thing is "Martin's Law", post the Manchester Arena attack, and is standard for pretty much all gig venues except the very smallest. The reason it went that way was that having airport style X ray security (besides being costly) would just move the vulnerability to the queue. That is true of airports too of course, but it's not practical to ban bags from airports, whereas it is practical to ban them from gigs. The upside of course of queues being seen as a security issue is that there isn't much of a queue to get in most of the time now!

Obviously those selling food/drink inside love this too, though normally there's the option to refill a water bottle. Part of the thing about not bringing in many liquids is to stop people smuggling in a litre of vodka or something.

No admission after 7 is just silly for a gig though. I've not yet come across a gig venue (rather than a theatre) where late admission at any time wasn't allowed.

 

[Harpo]

No consolation I know, but it sounds like a standard gig to me. However, while I’m of advancing years myself, I hate seated rock gigs. But one day my body will call time on that.

 

[gordonthemoron]

I try to avoid standing only venues if at all possible, the only ones upcoming are at Bedford Esquires, and they usually let you take a chair from the bar. and 229 in London, which does have some seats for us oldies along the sides. No more festivals for me, so that rules out Forever Now on Sunday

 

[dosxuk]

Contact the organisers about assistance - there will almost certainly be a seated area provided for those who can not stand for the duration of the concert - it's generally a term of the venue (temporary or permanent) licence to provide such a space - and with a clear enough view of the stage such that enjoyment is not affected. You may need to provide some evidence of your inability to stand as they are not general-admittance areas and spaces normally need to be reserved to ensure that those who really need it are able to.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Getting on to the accessible viewing platform is akin to getting a camel through the eye of a needle - see

Accessibility

Accessibility

www.onthewaterfrontfestival.com

I wouldn't qualify anyway. I'm not a wheelchair user.

Wheelchair users themselves don't always qualify for disabled spaces in many locations if they aren't disabled enough to qualify for a blue badge. Many mobility impaired people fall into this category.

 

[bleeder4]

I only ever go to seated concerts. Notwithstanding the fact that it's more comfortable, I also find that those who prefer seated concerts are far less likely to whip out their phones and spend the entire time time watching proceedings through the bright light of their phone screen.

 

[Harpo]

I also find that those who prefer seated concerts are far less likely to whip out their phones and spend the entire time time watching proceedings through the bright light of their phone screen.

Public Service Broadcasting have a superb announcement before their shows about how rubbish most concert videos are and asking people not to do it. Seems very effective too, in seated or standing venues.

 

[THC]

Why do some concert organizers make attendance so difficult and uncomfortable for older patrons?

I would love to go and see the Wolfe Tones at the Pier Head in Liverpool tomorrow night.

But tickets are £50, it's standing only, you're only allowed to bring one small bottle of water in and no food. And bags are a no no. The main act isn't on till 9 pm but there's no admission after 7 pm so you have to go in and watch the support acts and spend money at their stalls. And there is no cover - fortunately no rain is forecast.

There's no way I can stand for 4 hrs at my age - 2 hrs at non-league football with a railing to lean on is bad enough. So this old codger sadly won't be going to see a group of equally old codgers perform. It's just so unwelcoming. There's a huge seated indoor arena almost next door which would have been far more suitable.

Is this the final final tour? The Wolfe Tones have been going since I was a boy and I know pretty much all of their songbook word for word - that's what growing up in an Irish republican family does to you. First saw them back in 1980 or so. ("Come out you Black and Tans...")

To answer your question more generally, other than seating there tends IME to be little allowance made at gigs for the older patron. We are expected to avoid the moshpit of our own accord! I've seen many a man of my own age (and it is always men) come a cropper amidst flying arms and legs down the front. They're welcome to it.

THC