Yow Yow!

Two years ago, I wrote a post about concert etiquette and I thought I had covered my bases, but after the M83 mess yesterday, I realized that the times were a changing and my etiquette list forgot to include pre-teens/teenagers rolling.

Steph and I were looking forward to catching M83′s set yesterday at Bumbershoot, but were also aware that many people were there just so that they could hear “Midnight City” and leave. Well, we wished that song would have been played earlier because as the set went on, the crowd became increasingly more rowdy. Steph was hoping to make it onto the floor, but I was comfortable in my seat. I was on assignment for the event so I needed to be able to type from my phone and that wouldn’t be possible from the floor. At some point during the set, the security guards had decided that they were no longer letting people onto the floor. The floor was maybe halfway full, but I’m 22 years old so what do I care? I’m not going to question security guards – I have my seat. To my left I saw a man in his 30′s…40′s? rushing down the stairs and rallying up people on either side of the aisle (my side included) trying to get people to rush the floor with him. I was in a section with quite a few adults, but sure enough those kidlets had turned up and had followed suit. Immediately, the stair aisle next to me had filled with kids bunched up, uncomfortable, and ready to charge at the security guards down below. Every few seconds, a few kids would get pass the guards and either a) make it onto the floor escaping the guards or b) endure a tackling situation. The crowds next to me would cheer if someone made it through pass the guards or give the appropriate “OHHHH” if someone was caught.

When the teenagers realized that they were too far up the stairs to make it to the floor in time, they began hopping over the seats and attempting to jump over me and the people around me. Luckily, I happened to be standing right behind someone who wasn’t going to let that happen and kept pushing the kid back and challenging him in a “Come at me bro” type of situation. As a spectator and someone who was caught in the middle of this situation, I’ve got a few thoughts on this.

• To the kids that nearly took me out trying to get to the floor and causing others around me (myself included) to panic because we were all in a situation that we didn’t want to be in and just wanted to enjoy a show – it’s time to learn some manners. Your parents did not raise you to become reckless beings at a public event. This behavior is dangerous not only to you, but the people around you. Also, there were 15 minutes left in the set; don’t make dumb decisions.
• To the man in front of me that confronted these kids, thank you because I’m not assertive enough to do this myself.
• And most importantly, to the security guards. There really were not enough of you and because of the placement of the main stage in the Key Arena, your job was so much harder, but thank you. You perform a job that most people do not want to do and you are unappreciated by attendees of this event. After I left this set, I wanted to thank all of you for putting yourself in a situation like this. Thank you for keeping us safe or at least trying to do your best.

To read more about this M83 mess from another perspective and to see photos – click here.