Why is going to concerts by yourself looked down upon?

karaokeman

So my question is, why is it such a big deal:eek:?

Concerts aren't social anyways because everyone's looking in the same direction, they're not talking.

And sometimes its easier to meet people this way than going with friends because you can wander off on your own without worrying is your friend alright.

FatherLen

loooooooooooooooooooooseeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrr

orourkeda

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzmXQY0l5Xs

I think I'll bring my next date to the moshpit

I really don't think it is. Most of the posts from those links agree that there is nothing wrong with going to a gig alone. Infact, the only people who seem to actually think it's wrong, are the alone people.

I'm a bit of a waffler, and will talk to anybody. If I see someone on their own at a concert I usually end up chatting to them.

I was at benicassim last week, I was there with friends but they aren't into all the same music I am so for a good chunk I ended up on my own, by choice, the amount of people I met when I was wondering round on my tod was brilliant! I wouldn't have met half the amount if I had stuck with the girls the whole time

Guill

Share the experience, it's part of what humans do.

amacca

I went to AC/DC in Punchestown on my own couple of years back

best concert I ever went to......fcukin rocked...no pandering to, lets get something to eat now, i feel sick liabilities missing the greatest guitar solo on earth stuff


(some people think they dont have lives if there are not human decorations at every single event they go to that reflect their mooncowishness back at them)

Links234

orourkeda wrote: »

I think I'll bring my next date to the moshpit

I've done that.

Dinner and Death Metal, there is nothing more romantic

Richard Hillman

I went to a festival recently with a few friends and spent most of the time the bands were on by myself. I buy concert tickets without checking if any of my mates are going but somebody else usually ends up going. Ive been to a few gigs by myself and you do end up chatting to random people. I usually have more fun on my own than with friends. I like to be able to roam around to find the best spot rather than going through the ordeal of a group decision. I enjoy the freedom by myself.

Irish Guitarist

You only have to look at audiences and the way they act (screaming rather than listening, filming the stage with their phone rather than watching) to know that a lot of people don't go to concerts for the music. They just go for the sake of saying "I saw Kings Of Leon [or whoever is cool this week] play live". Most people think of concerts as a social occasion rather than being about music.

I went to a festival in Kilkenny years ago where Bob Dylan, The Flaming Lips, The Violent Femmes and a load of other lesser known bands played. I was glad I was there on my own and that no one was distracting me by talking to me (apart from a stupid woman in the crowd that fell over when Bob Dylan was playing and grabbed my arm to get up, nearly pulling it out of its socket).

moomooman

I've gone to a good few gigs on my own, its very hassle free. Dont have to worry about who else is going to see some obscure(for ireland) band, making arrangements and drinking 8 cans of dutch gold before the gig starts... :rolleyes:

I-Shot-Jr

Two of the greatest gigs I've ever been to, I was by myself, Kings of Leon in le Bataclan in Paris in 2007 and The Hold Steady in the Academy here in February. Both excellent experiences and to be honest I probably enjoyed them more as I didn't have any distractions.

pappyodaniel

I drove up to Galway on my own a few years ago to see Jens Lekman in the Roisín Dubh and had a great time, had one pint at the start of the night, made chitchat with a few strangers in the smoking area, danced and sang along at the gig and then drove home 2 and half hours later. All in all, there was no pressure in bringing a friend who could have completely hated the act onstage... so success.

dr.bollocko

I removed the links to PI / other forums in the OP...
Not really necessary to the discussion and could only lead to bad things.
Probably.
I dunno really. Sounds ominous.

dr.bollocko

dr.bollocko wrote: »

Not really necessary to the discussion and could only lead to bad things.
Probably.
I dunno really. Sounds ominous.

--Kaiser--

I went to see Slipknot on my own a few years back (none of my friends like them). Best metal gig I was ever at.

Wouldn't have made much of a difference if my friends were there, I spend all of my time moshing at metal gigs anyway

karaokeman

dr.bollocko wrote: »

I removed the links to PI / other forums in the OP...
Not really necessary to the discussion and could only lead to bad things.
Probably.
I dunno really. Sounds ominous.

Thanks.

I think you're right it wasn't a very good idea so I'm sorry for that.

Karona

Ì have gone to a few gigs by myself, I don't see anything wrong with it. I'm a bit of a chatter so will talk to anyone.

gbee

.... what sort of concert?

If it's my generation of free love ala Woodstock, then you'd be considered a perv, peado or predator.

If it's the Royal Philharmonic, then you're sophisticated, cultured and respected.

CardBordWindow

Gigging solo is the job if you really like a band. Nobody chatting to ya and distracting you from the reason you went: the music!

gbee

CardBordWindow wrote: »

Gigging solo is the job if you really like a band. Nobody chatting to ya and distracting you from the reason you went: the music!

I take back my post. QED the above. Job done.

micayla

Been to two gigs this year on my own, got there and back without any of the hassle of waiting on people or looking for them, somone nearly always gets lost. My sister refuses to go to gigs alone, so now I'm being dragged to Josh Groban:rolleyes: I think some gigs can be great alone but others are enjoyable with people, for example going to Prince with my older brother this Saturday, we're making a weekend of it and it'll be a laugh cause we're fairly like minded:) If you want to go to a gig buy a ticket and sure if no one you know is going you'll still have a great time. My issue with gigs today is people who get so wasted they don't even know the band they came to see are on stage, what's the point of going if you're not going to be sober enough to enjoy it

Potential-Monke

karaokeman wrote: »

So my question is, why is it such a big deal:eek:?

There's no big deal, unless it's a Justin Bieber concert and you're wearing you're "easily accessible" pants, while carrying around a video camera worthy of RTÉ and not getting more than a minute of Bieber on it...

Frank Black

Who would you talk to about the concert after?
An experience is one thing, but a shared experience tops it every time.

Say Your Number

I've gone to a few gigs on my own, don't think anyone thought I was a weirdo. I would always try to get a friend to come with me, but sometimes they're not available/interested. If I really want to see a band I'll go it alone and I don't really mind.

bnt

black francis wrote: »

Who would you talk to about the concert after?
An experience is one thing, but a shared experience tops it every time.

Um ... isn't that what the Internet is for? :rolleyes:

I never knew that going to a concert by myself was "looked down upon" ... and I still don't. It's just part of life, sometimes.

Lumbo

Was at Glasto last month. Was camping with mates from England who are a few years younger then me. Our musical tastes are sometimes similar but I spent most of the weekend going to other gigs and meeting up with them after. They were more of mentality of staying together all weekend. I'm all for being a team member but if they want to see Paulo Nutini, I want to see some else.

I've been at EP & Oxegen and spent a lot of the weekends hitting stages on my own. At EP 2005 I spent a good hour trying to get mates to the Electric Arena to see the Arcade Fire, none of them had heard of them and I ended up in there on my own

Anyone who hasn't gone to a gig on their own hasn't lived.

Frank Black

bnt wrote: »

Um ... isn't that what the Internet is for? :rolleyes:

I never knew that going to a concert by myself was "looked down upon" ... and I still don't. It's just part of life, sometimes.

I don't look down on it.

Just would far prefer to go with people than on my own.

SilverScreen

I went to see the Smashing Pumpkins in the RDS 3 years ago on my own because none of my friends would go. I must say I'm glad I did and I ended up talking to some pretty cool people whom I went for food with afterwards. Sometimes at festivals I wander off on my own so I can see whatever bands I want and not what my friends want to see. I know nothing beats watching a band you like with your mates but sometimes you've just got to break off on your own to get a really great musical experience, and I usually end up talking to a complete randomer.

hatrickpatrick

I went to Gorillaz by myself in the O2 last November.
One of the best nights of the year.

Nodferatu

been to almost all my gigs on my own. i don't have many friends due to having social anxiety and had depression for years. don't know anyone to go to gigs with thats into music i like or gigs i want to see. been to maybe 9 concerts on my own. id feel weird or awkward going with anyone to a gig at this stage. being on my own feels normal.

HardyBuckFan

ac dc on my own in melbourne 2 years ago coz none of my mates were interested
no regrets and a brill game
i think its just a subconscious thing most people have of "i'm going to a gig on my own"

Samich

why do the words "**** on a plane" always come to mind when I see the word frowned upon???

sock puppet

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

You only have to look at audiences and the way they act (screaming rather than listening, filming the stage with their phone rather than watching) to know that a lot of people don't go to concerts for the music. They just go for the sake of saying "I saw Kings Of Leon [or whoever is cool this week] play live". Most people think of concerts as a social occasion rather than being about music.

Whats wrong with concerts being a social occasion as well as being about the music?

gbee

sock puppet wrote: »

Whats wrong with concerts being a social occasion as well as being about the music?

Again what concert? In a fuddy duddy classical, apart from the mad midsummer cork fest, you can't even cough .......

SilverScreen

Samich wrote: »

why do the words "**** on a plane" always come to mind when I see the word frowned upon???

It feels good though.

Dudess

Deleted User wrote: »

I really don't think it is. Most of the posts from those links agree that there is nothing wrong with going to a gig alone. Infact, the only people who seem to actually think it's wrong, are the alone people.

Yep, and I assume those who actually take the time to look down on a person for going to a gig solo are just children?

That said, going with another or others would be preferable for me, but sometimes people want to see an act that none of their friends like. It's not like there's the scope to do much social interaction anyway. Like Whoopsa, I've been to outdoor concerts where I've enjoyed having the freedom to wander off by myself and listen to an act intently whenever the fancy took me.

krudler

saw Explosions In The Sky in Vicar St on my own recently, amazing band, amazing gig, being alone didnt bother me in the slightest. I scored that night too

cocoshovel

It is? Oh well, I don't care.

strobe

I'll be doing this on Sunday in Marley Park. I'm easy either way tbh. Positives and negatives to be found both in heading out on your own or going with a group of people. The two gigs I've most enjoyed in my life, one there was 14 of us in total, the other I was on my lonesome and didn't so much as acknowledge another human being the entire time I was there.

Can't imagine how anyone would 'look down on' someone for going to a gig on their own unless they were deeply insecure people themselves. To be honest I don't think I have ever met anyone (that wasn't legally and emotionally a child) that would 'look down on' someone for it.

lawra

Because it's weird

Dudess

lawra wrote: »

Because it's weird

Aw... a kiddie.

Way past your bedtime love... :-/

In fairness, it isn't always weird.

Pace2008

lawra wrote: »

Because it's weird

Christ, no need to write a bloody essay on it. I mean, it's great to be able to substantiate your views and all, but it's getting late and some of us would like to get to sleep tonight.

Diabhal Beag

Group mentality. It's natural.

People like to do things in groups. A lot of the time it may be due to a bit of insecurity. But those same people will judge others for being individuals sometimes which is unfair.

The best example is the fact some people consider it weird to go to the cinema on your own. It shouldn't be.

KnifeWRENCH

I'm probably going to be going to Electric Picnic on my own this year ('cause my friends are all either poor or philistines!) I've never looked down on anyone going to a gig alone because there's nothing wrong with it but I've never had the confidence to do it myself; I've missed stuff before because I was too nervous and self-conscious to go by myself.

Looks like that'll all change this year, though!

Xavi6

Getting to see Interpol and Death Cab by going by myself >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> not seeing them.

No brainer tbh

jill_valentine

I'd probably be happy enough going to a show on my own, but I probably wouldn't enjoy it as much. Happily, I've built up a cosy little network of local music nerds over the years, so I can generally bank on running into somebody I know at the venue even if I don't plan it in advance.