Sneaking Up at Ohana Encore - Not Cute

JH6056 said:

And if you're very short... it's 1,000 X more frustrating and also so much harder to maintain a decent view of the stage. It just takes 1 jerk, not even a very tall one, and all you can see is sweaty jerky back of t-shirt.  Another reason I've moved more to seats when possible.

In defense of those who have won the "genetic lottery" (a Bill Walton statement typed tongue in cheek--don't get all out of sorts), I am 6'5"....in my 37 years of attending shows (started when I was 14) I have heard it all.  My favorite being at a Jeff Tweedy solo show in SF.  I was there when the doors opened, walked up to a spot in front of the stage and waited the 45 minutes for Jeff to come on stage.  As the first song started I could hear two audibly distressed women talking behind me as if tall people don't speak their language. "F-this...I always get behind some tall dumbass that blocks my view..." blah, blah f-ing blah.  I usually don't say anything to the gripers and let them verbally punch themselves out.  But they kept ranting.  I finally turned around, put my hands on my knees in an admittedly belittling (pun intended) way and uttered a quote that my family has used for years now:

Short and late is no way to attend a concert.

I find a spot early in the show and move very little from that position.  At some point the people behind me have chosen to stand there...not my problem.  Oftentimes friends and family like the area behind me as it is like an eddy devoid of humanity....space to relax with less jostling.  If the average male height is 5'9" and the average female height is 5'4" I prove to be a visual impediment to a lot of people...I can promise you that you won't be pissed off at me because I rolled in and stood in front of you...but you can't be mad that you and I like a band and are attending the same show.

huntersthompson said:

JH6056 said:

And if you're very short... it's 1,000 X more frustrating and also so much harder to maintain a decent view of the stage. It just takes 1 jerk, not even a very tall one, and all you can see is sweaty jerky back of t-shirt.  Another reason I've moved more to seats when possible.

In defense of those who have won the "genetic lottery" (a Bill Walton statement typed tongue in cheek--don't get all out of sorts), I am 6'5"....in my 37 years of attending shows (started when I was 14) I have heard it all.  My favorite being at a Jeff Tweedy solo show in SF.  I was there when the doors opened, walked up to a spot in front of the stage and waited the 45 minutes for Jeff to come on stage.  As the first song started I could hear two audibly distressed women talking behind me as if tall people don't speak their language. "F-this...I always get behind some tall dumbass that blocks my view..." blah, blah f-ing blah.  I usually don't say anything to the gripers and let them verbally punch themselves out.  But they kept ranting.  I finally turned around, put my hands on my knees in an admittedly belittling (pun intended) way and uttered a quote that my family has used for years now:

Short and late is no way to attend a concert.

I find a spot early in the show and move very little from that position.  At some point the people behind me have chosen to stand there...not my problem.  Oftentimes friends and family like the area behind me as it is like an eddy devoid of humanity....space to relax with less jostling.  If the average male height is 5'9" and the average female height is 5'4" I prove to be a visual impediment to a lot of people...I can promise you that you won't be pissed off at me because I rolled in and stood in front of you...but you can't be mad that you and I like a band and are attending the same show.

You're definitely right, I should have been clearer in what I said. Because I'm short, almost ANYONE is going to block my view if I'm standing behind them. If I arrive after them, it's on me to bob & shift side to side trying to see the band, and it is what it is, been like that for all my years of concert going & being in GA.  Also why if I'm not at the very front of the front, I don't even try to be 2 or 4 rows back because I'll still most likely not be able to see.

What I said about "jerks" moving in front of me is DEFINITELY only for people pushing their way up and then literally squeezing into a tiny bit of airspace so ALL I see is t-shirt. Nothing else. And ZERO sense of awareness or care about totally runing anyone else's view.

One of my best buds in town is 6'6" and we talk about it all the time, he's kind of like you and I totally support that.  If something or someone that will totally block my view is there when we get there, OR in things like plays or musicals or movie theaters, when there are reserved assigned seats, if I get behind a tall person, it just is what it is, I either chose it (GA and I got there after them) or if it's reserved seats, it is what it is, I just gotta hope I know the people next to me so I can essentially lean into their laps the whole 2 hour play (KIDDING, I don't really do that! But I also don't see much).

So I hear ya, and I never am the short person who arrives after you and complains about you being in the way or asking you to move. "Jerks" was ONLY meant for the just-before-main-band-bulldoze-through people who end up RIGHT in front of me. But only temporarily. One way or another, we get them gone.  

Taller people like to be close too and have the right to be!  

It doesn't matter if you are short or average height once people start sticking their phones up in the air to record every other song. 

JeBurkhardt said:

It doesn't matter if you are short or average height once people start sticking their phones up in the air to record every other song. 

So much hate for GA. I love it and hope they continue it for years to come. There's plenty of seats available to those who don't want to deal with GA. Don't ruin everyone elses fun cause you don't like it. 

Vedd Hedd said:

SHZA said:

I'm in the free for all camp on this one. You don't own the real estate and the vast majority of people near the front were flagrantly violating the "no towels beyond this point" sign and treating the field like it's their living room. If you want to stake out a spot, stand and suffer for 8 hours like the rest of us

I think you DO sort of own the real estate.  People should respect that.  

If you are standing here, and there is one person in front of you, why is it ok for someone to push you out of the way, squeeze in front of you, and make everything unconfortable for both you and the person in front of you.  Your options at that point are to let the person pass you, or push them back behind you, which is not really what you want to be doing during a concert....expecially since this seems to happen during the whole performance. 

I really do hate GA lately.  There used to be a bit of a code that you dont push ahead of people that were there.  But now its all, "Hey, its GA, I can push you out of the way, thats totally acceptable!"

Give me seats.  

The personal space where you're standing, I agree. But sprawling out with towels like it's your house and anyone walking by has to navigate a minefield to get thru is not appropriate. Then when the band comes on there is space where people were previously sitting so others see an opening to try and sneak in.  

wall232 said:

So much hate for GA. I love it and hope they continue it for years to come. There's plenty of seats available to those who don't want to deal with GA. Don't ruin everyone elses fun cause you don't like it. 

Agree. After my first GA Pearl Jam show I decided to forget seats. 

huntersthompson said:

JH6056 said:

huntersthompson said:

JH6056 said:

And if you're very short... it's 1,000 X more frustrating and also so much harder to maintain a decent view of the stage. It just takes 1 jerk, not even a very tall one, and all you can see is sweaty jerky back of t-shirt.  Another reason I've moved more to seats when possible.

In defense of those who have won the "genetic lottery" (a Bill Walton statement typed tongue in cheek--don't get all out of sorts), I am 6'5"....in my 37 years of attending shows (started when I was 14) I have heard it all.  My favorite being at a Jeff Tweedy solo show in SF.  I was there when the doors opened, walked up to a spot in front of the stage and waited the 45 minutes for Jeff to come on stage.  As the first song started I could hear two audibly distressed women talking behind me as if tall people don't speak their language. "F-this...I always get behind some tall dumbass that blocks my view..." blah, blah f-ing blah.  I usually don't say anything to the gripers and let them verbally punch themselves out.  But they kept ranting.  I finally turned around, put my hands on my knees in an admittedly belittling (pun intended) way and uttered a quote that my family has used for years now:

Short and late is no way to attend a concert.

I find a spot early in the show and move very little from that position.  At some point the people behind me have chosen to stand there...not my problem.  Oftentimes friends and family like the area behind me as it is like an eddy devoid of humanity....space to relax with less jostling.  If the average male height is 5'9" and the average female height is 5'4" I prove to be a visual impediment to a lot of people...I can promise you that you won't be pissed off at me because I rolled in and stood in front of you...but you can't be mad that you and I like a band and are attending the same show.

You're definitely right, I should have been clearer in what I said. Because I'm short, almost ANYONE is going to block my view if I'm standing behind them. If I arrive after them, it's on me to bob & shift side to side trying to see the band, and it is what it is, been like that for all my years of concert going & being in GA.  Also why if I'm not at the very front of the front, I don't even try to be 2 or 4 rows back because I'll still most likely not be able to see.

What I said about "jerks" moving in front of me is DEFINITELY only for people pushing their way up and then literally squeezing into a tiny bit of airspace so ALL I see is t-shirt. Nothing else. And ZERO sense of awareness or care about totally runing anyone else's view.

One of my best buds in town is 6'6" and we talk about it all the time, he's kind of like you and I totally support that.  If something or someone that will totally block my view is there when we get there, OR in things like plays or musicals or movie theaters, when there are reserved assigned seats, if I get behind a tall person, it just is what it is, I either chose it (GA and I got there after them) or if it's reserved seats, it is what it is, I just gotta hope I know the people next to me so I can essentially lean into their laps the whole 2 hour play (KIDDING, I don't really do that! But I also don't see much).

So I hear ya, and I never am the short person who arrives after you and complains about you being in the way or asking you to move. "Jerks" was ONLY meant for the just-before-main-band-bulldoze-through people who end up RIGHT in front of me. But only temporarily. One way or another, we get them gone.  

Taller people like to be close too and have the right to be!  

I was just using your post as a jumping off point...didn't take offense at all-I should have been clearer.  I actually never feel worse than when I am in reserved/assigned seats.  At least people can move from behind me at a GA show.  Although I am almost certain that some people at shows would not mind you leaning into them....makes it look like they might actually have a girlfriend..... 

I think the person who posted right after you did think I meant "all tall people are jerks for being tall" so I thought you did too, but I think it's all cleared up now. All good!

And what you said about me leaning on the person next to me & maybe it's only way they look like they have a girlfriend took me back to Ernie & Bert clip in this convo cuz Ernie tries to climb in Bert's lap, but he doesn't say the magic words I just learned from you so it didn't work.

Next time it happens to me at a play, I'll hop in the person next to me's lap and when they complain I'll know to say "Dude, shut up. Just enjoy that everyone else here thinks you could get me as a girlfriend."


To which his taller, smarter, prettier actual girlfriend would probably say: "Hold my beer..." and next thing you know I'm kicked out of the show.

Gee, thanks a lot  huntersthompson!

JH6056 said:

huntersthompson said:

JH6056 said:

huntersthompson said:

JH6056 said:

And if you're very short... it's 1,000 X more frustrating and also so much harder to maintain a decent view of the stage. It just takes 1 jerk, not even a very tall one, and all you can see is sweaty jerky back of t-shirt.  Another reason I've moved more to seats when possible.

In defense of those who have won the "genetic lottery" (a Bill Walton statement typed tongue in cheek--don't get all out of sorts), I am 6'5"....in my 37 years of attending shows (started when I was 14) I have heard it all.  My favorite being at a Jeff Tweedy solo show in SF.  I was there when the doors opened, walked up to a spot in front of the stage and waited the 45 minutes for Jeff to come on stage.  As the first song started I could hear two audibly distressed women talking behind me as if tall people don't speak their language. "F-this...I always get behind some tall dumbass that blocks my view..." blah, blah f-ing blah.  I usually don't say anything to the gripers and let them verbally punch themselves out.  But they kept ranting.  I finally turned around, put my hands on my knees in an admittedly belittling (pun intended) way and uttered a quote that my family has used for years now:

Short and late is no way to attend a concert.

I find a spot early in the show and move very little from that position.  At some point the people behind me have chosen to stand there...not my problem.  Oftentimes friends and family like the area behind me as it is like an eddy devoid of humanity....space to relax with less jostling.  If the average male height is 5'9" and the average female height is 5'4" I prove to be a visual impediment to a lot of people...I can promise you that you won't be pissed off at me because I rolled in and stood in front of you...but you can't be mad that you and I like a band and are attending the same show.

You're definitely right, I should have been clearer in what I said. Because I'm short, almost ANYONE is going to block my view if I'm standing behind them. If I arrive after them, it's on me to bob & shift side to side trying to see the band, and it is what it is, been like that for all my years of concert going & being in GA.  Also why if I'm not at the very front of the front, I don't even try to be 2 or 4 rows back because I'll still most likely not be able to see.

What I said about "jerks" moving in front of me is DEFINITELY only for people pushing their way up and then literally squeezing into a tiny bit of airspace so ALL I see is t-shirt. Nothing else. And ZERO sense of awareness or care about totally runing anyone else's view.

One of my best buds in town is 6'6" and we talk about it all the time, he's kind of like you and I totally support that.  If something or someone that will totally block my view is there when we get there, OR in things like plays or musicals or movie theaters, when there are reserved assigned seats, if I get behind a tall person, it just is what it is, I either chose it (GA and I got there after them) or if it's reserved seats, it is what it is, I just gotta hope I know the people next to me so I can essentially lean into their laps the whole 2 hour play (KIDDING, I don't really do that! But I also don't see much).

So I hear ya, and I never am the short person who arrives after you and complains about you being in the way or asking you to move. "Jerks" was ONLY meant for the just-before-main-band-bulldoze-through people who end up RIGHT in front of me. But only temporarily. One way or another, we get them gone.  

Taller people like to be close too and have the right to be!  

I was just using your post as a jumping off point...didn't take offense at all-I should have been clearer.  I actually never feel worse than when I am in reserved/assigned seats.  At least people can move from behind me at a GA show.  Although I am almost certain that some people at shows would not mind you leaning into them....makes it look like they might actually have a girlfriend..... 

I think the person who posted right after you did think I meant "all tall people are jerks for being tall" so I thought you did too, but I think it's all cleared up now. All good!

And what you said about me leaning on the person next to me & maybe it's only way they look like they have a girlfriend took me back to Ernie & Bert clip in this convo cuz Ernie tries to climb in Bert's lap, but he doesn't say the magic words I just learned from you so it didn't work.

Next time it happens to me at a play, I'll hop in the person next to me's lap and when they complain I'll know to say "Dude, shut up. Just enjoy that everyone else here thinks you could get me as a girlfriend."


To which his taller, smarter, prettier actual girlfriend would probably say: "Hold my beer..." and next thing you know I'm kicked out of the show.

Gee, thanks a lot  huntersthompson!

First....let me apologize for this hypothetical pickle I got you into.  I will send you an imaginary drink and hope that you forgive me.  Second, there are about a thousand ways that I could run with this that all seem funny to me right now, but would probably get my senatorial bid in 2032 denied..... 

I always find PJ GA pits to be very tame. Maybe because I was going to punk shows as a teen but PJ pits are easy. A lot more bathroom and booze runs though.