The definitive 'people talking loudly at NMA gigs' thread...

[Master Ray]

OK,  this gets mentioned a lot on various other threads... thought I'd lay it down on one single thread so we can all get a definitive opinion down on it...

It pisses me off, to put it mildly.  Now I'm not suggesting a gig should be a thing of church-like reverence, like we're Catholics bowing down before The Pope or something (although I've got more respect for Justin than The Pope... but that's another argument...  ) but the continued arrogance of certain gig-goers who think they have the right to drown out the more mellow tracks with their idle chatter / banter at the expense of the enjoyment of all those around them...  it truly shocks me.

Seen it at several gigs. Now, you don't attend an NMA gig by accident.  You must be into the band.  And maybe you don't like the more mellow stuff?  Fair enough... but why do you have to **** it up for the rest of us?  Some say 'well, you should have been further into the pit, no talking there...' As I've said before, certain health problems negate me from the pit nowadays.   

I sometimes might want to say something to my fellow gig goers.  Guess what... I leave it until a song has finished... or if I REALLY need to say something, like it's an emergency or something, I'll grab them and say it right into their ear, at a low enough volume so I don't disrupt the enjoyment of my fellow NMA fans... simple respect, ain't it?   

I'm genuinely surprised that it doesn't 'kick off' more often... we must be very polite people... there were a bunch of folks chattering away like utter fuckwits at a VERY loud volume on the 13th about some irrelevant bullshit or other... they obviously didn't see the, ahem, 'rather large gentlemen' throwing them dagger-like looks... the tension was palpable... 

So, I say again, WTF is wrong with these insensitive, ignorant numbskulls?  And how can they be so disrespectful to a band (and their 'fellow' fans) that they profess to admire?

[Pol]

I totally agree with your post ray and can't understand why people do it. It very hard to pin point the guilty parties though. Yes I'm also surprised that it doesn't kick off more often though i don't want to see kicked out a gig for confronting someone. I've noticed that there a lot more younger people at the gigs maybe one or two of them need educated though i don't want to lay the blame anywhere.
Imagine what could have happened if Justin had walked off and not came back on. I know i would have been extremely angry

[Amandistan]

The younger people I have seen are more polite than older. The worst i have seen were from middle-aged drunk people.

 The truth is in large crowds you are dealing with a lot of people. There are bound to be some assholes there. Sometimes there are more than others. They tend to drink a lot and care more about that then the music. In fact they are often stuck in the 1980s era of NMA and do not even care about the anything past T&C. It seems to happen most in the U.K. as the crowds are larger. I have seen it during acoustic gigs and it's the worst. Those people need to be confronted and told to leave now as it interrupts the music for the majority of the audience.

The two thing is life that anger me most are. 1. Inconsiderate people. 2. Stupid people and these sort of people fit into both categorizes.

The answer to the last question is that they do not care about anyone but themselves and their beer.   

[Anna Woman von NRW]

I really think this thread should be at the top of the NMA board where the people who need to read this may see it. I doubt they lurk down here in Everything Else with us sad lonely fools...... but since you asked....

It really is very very simple - SHUT THE **** UP

I would like to add directly to the Chatters: On average there are what 2, 3 of the close your eyes and listen songs in an average set and that's what 12-15 minutes. Really ? your voice is that important that you can't turn off for 15 minutes? What you're talking about is that important you can't not say it for 15 minutes? Then why are you at a gig, shouldn't you be off winning the Nobel Peace Prize or saving the ******* world? Over the years I've heard a number of pleas from the stage asking for a bit of quiet ranging from the typically polite English way of speaking through to the rather more direct and forceful comments at Nottingham -where even at 4 rows from the front I could hear you. So just in case you weren't there, didn't understand or , perhaps more likely, didn't hear because you were so busy ******* talking: CANT BE QUIET? DON'T COME, NO-ONE WANTS YOU THERE.

I was at the Spitz when they walked offstage and I really don't want to see that happen again. I do wonder how much longer the quieter songs/sets/gigs will continue because how disheartening must it be to stand up there and have to ask people to be quiet let alone when the noise is so bad that a " Veteran  " accomplished musician loses his thread and has to start again because he can't hear what he's playing properly? How long would you keep bothering?

Its not sackcloth and piety or reverential silence. Quiet word or comment to your mate standing next to you fine. Its the "Pub Bore" conversations that carry.

I'm with Amanda, I think it is largely older fans who are the worst culprits (not necessarily Beer fuelled - it's a character type: self important, pig ignorant, inconsiderate arseholes) I've heard conversations along the lines of "Oh I heard this in 1733 at the Turnip and Carrot on Lute, Fife and Drum, it was much better then". I might be interested in hearing that story in the Pub afterwards but not while I'm trying to listen to the song concerned. Obviously there's the pissed person as well and many of us may have been guilty of that in the past but drunks get everywhere and there's no logic if you're that hammered  . There is another type of Chatter as well - although you've heard that song 6 times this week because you've done every gig, I haven't and would like to hear it just the once.

I know that's an Angry Anna post (honestly I'm quite nice, kind and gentle really  ) but this does make me angry. I have to work hard, scrimp & save, duck & dive to get the money to go to gigs. I don't do that to hear inane crap, I could get that for free just by turning the telly on or by going to Wetherspoons on a Friday tonight. I do it to HEAR a band I love.

[Pol]

Yes Amanda your probably right thinking about it. So what is the solution to the problem.
Suggestion A - people handing out well worded flyers before the gig explaining the problem.
Suggestion B - A few well placed people in the crowd working a tandem with the bouncers politely reminding people if they step out of line they will be reported to the bouncers and possibly flung out.

Hopefully some of you will have other better ideas

[Knievel]

ok. Let me start at the risk of seriously pissing you off here.personally i can sympathize with people meeting up with friends,and maybe they don't have much to say so they can:t just go to a pub or a meal, and so they go to a gig and bastardly chat during the quieter songs.they're not selfish assholes just kind of in their own space. I always findthe firm but kindly ' hey Friend's. The bar is that way if you want to talk.we want to hear the band.' always works. I always get a smile from this and a nod of recognition. Don't let our love for this band ruin other folks casual get together. But do tell them to **** off to the bar for ten minutes.

[Master Ray]

Not pissing me off, K.  I do understand the wonderfulness of the social occasion and the downing of pints and the sheer camaraderie... and it might blur someones head to the extent of forgetting the feelings of those around them.. truly, I get this.  I would never deny anyone a good time.

But those 'firm but kindly' moments you mention have never worked, in my experience.  Your experience may differ and fair enough if so.

Would any of these people go to see a play at the theatre and talk loudly in their seats?  Of course not... NMA isn't just another band who play the hits so you can jump up and down and spill yer beer... yes, I AM equating NMA with theatre because those renderings of 'Ballad' or 'Something Like Jesus' in Nottingham were as emotive and moving as ANYTHING I've ever seen in a theatre and, yes, demand equal respect and QUIET.

I'd love to hear an opposing viewpoint on this... not because I want to have a go at someone, but I'm genuinely struggling to understand why people behave this way... if anyone posts something in that vein, please be nice, fellow Forum-ites!

[Spudthemariner]

Generally speaking this seems to be a common problem which (imo) is mostly to do with a change in society's attitudes. That said, I've tended to find the the very worst gigs for chatting (NMA wise anyway) are the Christmas shows. Why? Well in my opinion its because these are more of a social occasion. Folk want to gather with friends at that time of the year and regardless what you might feel about the band (or any band for that matter) some people do buy tickets just to hear a few favorite songs and meet friends. As such, I'd say that the Christmas shows were probably the worst time to do a setlist such as the recent ones. To put it bluntly, regardless what anyone on here may think, to a lot of ticket buyers (possibly even the majority) NMA are, 'just' a band. A very very good band no argument, but a band never the less. As such, folk will continue to treat gigs as a social occasion, and to be fair why shouldn't they? You pays your money etc...
That said, I will still continue to have a go at the chatterers (and there is no argument for noise at acoustic shows...that's just rude). 
Controversial? I guess...have at me 

[Pol]

Suggestion - C - The band issue some kind of auditable warning before a quiet song A kinda 5/10 second warning or I'm i just talking crap lol Someone else must have ideas or opinions

[Anna Woman von NRW]

See, this is good. A few shouty, ranty posts and then we move onto a cilvilised debate. Honestly some people don't half go on when their fingers hit the keyboard don't they     

Generally speaking this seems to be a common problem which (imo) is mostly to do with a change in society's attitudes.

That probably hits the nail right on the head unfortunately (probably explains a lot about the whole smartphones thing too). Without wishing to get heavy it probably is an inevitable result of the individualistic, no such thing as society world  we've lived in for decades now - a general loss of consideration for others. And it's certainly not just NMA gigs, I've seen stand up shows interrupted by talkers and didn't Kevin Spacey stop a West End Play to have a go at someone on a phone?

Maybe we are being a bit precious about all this too. The points regarding the social nature of gigs especially at Christmas are good ones and whilst those of us here who endlessly witter on think of this band as  special and more than just a bit of music (which probably says more about our OCD than anything else  ) really it is just a band banging out some tunes.

Having said that, during a gig there's surely enough time and space to accommodate everyone and I don't think at bit of hush for a couple of songs is an unreasonable ask - I mean no-ones gonna be bothered by talking during Get Me Out for example are they?

I don't know how this gets sorted. Maybe there could be something printed on the tickets or as Pol said maybe flyers. But if forthright words from the stage won't work will anything else? Perhaps it would take a Kevin Spacey type moment to ram the point home which be very sad to see.

 

p.s. I don't think anyone gets pissed off by an alternative view. After all if there's one thing we do like down here in Everything Else it's a good old chat 

p.p.s.

The band issue some kind of auditable warning before a quiet song A kinda 5/10 second warning or I'm i just talking crap lol 

Quite possibly we usually  do  but there might be something in that dude

[keto]

hi master ray, just would say thank u for your post and of course i agree with everything. i came to the koeln- gig from tel aviv, saved money from the money i don't have  to see my favourite band. sure it was worth every second, but those people drives me crazy  just don't understand what the **** they' re doing at a nma- concert.
anyway, would wish u a happy 2015, be lucky that u r living so near to nma, so u will probably see them again this year. have fun 

[Master Ray]

Hi, Keto, and welcome!  Thanks for your kind words about my post.  Glad we feel the same way!

You are obviously new to this Forum, please post often about anything at all!  You will find so many friendly people who will respond in kind.

You're absolutely right about how lucky we are in the UK, it's a rare year when we don't get to see NMA a time or two.  I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to have an NMA gig be, quite frankly, a once in a lifetime experience...  hope you make it to many gigs in the future, friend.   

[Wessexy Witch]

I was at a small Ian McNabb gig once (Birmingham somewhere) and the first part was an acoustic set and he was in his "red wine and melancholy mood". There was a bloke at the front who was obviously a big long term fan because he knew all the words and was singing along, loudly and very out of tune. Ian stopped mid song as said something along the lines of " I know you love me and I love you and I appreciate you know my songs, but this is my bit. Let me get through it alone and we can all sing the old ones together at the end." The bloke apologised, raised his glass and listened intently to the rest of the set. True to his word when he started the second half he asked where his pal was (he appeared again at the front) and Ian asked him what he wanted to start with and he led the sing along. They had a big man hug at the end and Ian kissed him. I saw them both chatting at the end and the guy got a cd signed. Happy all around.

 


....admittedly, if Ian was in his "I'm upmyownarse" mood he might of just got Spence (his roady/minder of the time) to punch his face in and drag him out !
 

[Gayle]

I'm afraid that this is increasingly an issue at all types of events. Even at a theatre show there's a constant stream of people up and down to go to the bar or lavatory and a background of chatter. It seems like some people just have no decorum and no social graces or consideration - I don't think it's particularly a generational thing, more a selfish thing. I can't remember many recent acoustic gigs where disruption hasn't been an issue (with the exception of a recent Hussey gig in a church in Leeds where the atmosphere was unusually subdued presumably due to the setting). To my mind, it's a matter of manners - towards the performer(s) and towards fellow audience members.

[Amandistan]

It's not just a band, it's my escape from feeling alone and wanting die. I view a musical gig as more of a spiritual experience than social. I also don't understand why people can just not drink for two hours.

This happens at many gigs not just NMA. It pisses me off even if I have never heard of the band. Even if i dislike a band It bothers me. People usually go to a gig to hear music not some office drama or about your kids.

I don't think the "They pay for tickets too" debate helps. It just enrages those who oppose it even more. Talking to them nicely does not help unless i am not doing it correctly. I prefer being very direct as it gets the message across. I think the English are very good at being polite when in reality they want to shout at someone.