In which I am too old to rock and roll

[willowgreen]

Oh my God, I feel like such a get-off-my-lawn cranky old lady. But I have to ask -- when you buy concert tickets, don't you expect a seat?

We battled rush-hour traffic and lined up early to get good spots for last night's Jonathan Coulton concert at the Great American Music Hall. Every other time I've been there, the main floor was set up with

Comments

[herself_nyc]

I haven't been to a concert in forever, but back in the early 80s when I did start going, it seemed to be a matter of course for rock'n'roll shows that there would be no seats unless you were certain that the venue was some place that usually had them - like a university auditorium. This is partly why I stopped going to gigs - too difficult to stand up for hours and hours. At college and then in NY I knew, just from being into the music, what places were general or “festival” seating (ie, no seating) and what ones would have seats, so I was never surprised. Good for you though for getting the mgr to help you out.

[rahirah]

The Coulton concert we went to (he was opening for They Might Be Giants) was also held at a venue with no seating. As I understand it, they normally book bands whose audience wants a mosh pit. But it did seem to me that for bands with a following that includes a lot of middle-aged or even older fans, not to mention fans of any age with a disability or medical condition which prevents them from standing for long periods, it's just common sense to have, you know... chairs.

[curiouswombat]

I work on the reckoning that if you see a seat number on your ticket there will be seats - and if there is no seat number, there is no seat...

[gwynnega]

That's what they used to call "festival seating." I used to go to a lot of shows like that, but nowadays I'll either go to shows that have guaranteed seating or I'll get there early to make sure to snag a seat...