Fan Behavior

gotthebottle said:

Merkin Baller said:

nicknyr15 said:

given2fly23 said:

nicknyr15 said:

People in general. I significantly cut down on concerts and the number one reason is peoples behavior. The ridiculous amount of drinking and the loud conversations throughout a show are an epidemic. I can’t do it anymore. 

Oof, I have done the same (yeah, still hitting 4 on this tour).  If it wasn't for them, I'd probably hit all these PJ shows.  Who knows how many tours we have left.  But the people have ruined almost all my shows, especially post-COVID.

I really thought after COVID crowds would become better and more appreciative after what we all went through. Boy was I WRONG. 

It’s definitely worse post COVID… Fenway 2 last year people around us wouldn’t STFU & we were in a 10C section… they talked through every song over the music, it was brutal. Last night as well, there was one guy behind us, but thankfully  it wasn’t as bad as the Fenway experience in September. & yeah, it’s baffling to see at such a small and unique venue as the Hard Rock. 

People suck. 

Baffling? At a casino venue? Really?  
That's exactly what I expected .
...

nicknyr15 said:

gotthebottle said:

Merkin Baller said:

nicknyr15 said:

given2fly23 said:

nicknyr15 said:

People in general. I significantly cut down on concerts and the number one reason is peoples behavior. The ridiculous amount of drinking and the loud conversations throughout a show are an epidemic. I can’t do it anymore. 

Oof, I have done the same (yeah, still hitting 4 on this tour).  If it wasn't for them, I'd probably hit all these PJ shows.  Who knows how many tours we have left.  But the people have ruined almost all my shows, especially post-COVID.

I really thought after COVID crowds would become better and more appreciative after what we all went through. Boy was I WRONG. 

It’s definitely worse post COVID… Fenway 2 last year people around us wouldn’t STFU & we were in a 10C section… they talked through every song over the music, it was brutal. Last night as well, there was one guy behind us, but thankfully  it wasn’t as bad as the Fenway experience in September. & yeah, it’s baffling to see at such a small and unique venue as the Hard Rock. 

People suck. 

Baffling? At a casino venue? Really?  
That's exactly what I expected .
...

Happens anywhere and everywhere. 

gotthebottle said:

DF426 said:

After reading this I wanted to jump in and share my experience at a recent show. I’m also a 30 year ten club member. When I started dating my wife 25+ years ago I shared my love of the live experience with her and we have gone to our fair share of shows ever since. We haven’t traveled to shows like we used to mostly due to having 4 kids, but since my wife recently beat breast cancer we decided to celebrate by traveling to Hollywood.

One of the things that makes shows special are the amazing people we meet from all over the world. The instant connections made talking about PJ never ceases to amaze me. On the way down my wife was wearing a PJ hat and the flight attendant struck up a conversation with her because she was going to the show too. Of course when we got to our seats she was sitting right in front of us. PJ karma at its finest.

The one thing that stood out as the show started was the guy next to my wife. He had his arms crossed and was glaring at the people around him. This was in stark contrast to the vast majority of people we’ve met over the years that sing, dance and let loose as they see their favorite band. But to each their own. My wife and I just did our thing. Singing, dancing, talking about the setlist and being in our PJ euphoria. About halfway through the show my wife turned to me and said this guy next to me is making me very uncomfortable because I feel like he’s trying to intimidate me with the way he’s standing over me and staring at me. So of course I switch with her without giving it a second thought and continue on my merry way. Well needless to say he eventually turns to me waving his hands in a downward motion and says something that I couldn’t hear, but I interpreted it as can you take it down a notch. Knowing how he made my wife feel I wasn’t in a very cooperative mood so I made the wise ass comment of probably not. A song or two later I thought my response wasn’t very Eddie of me so I leaned over and said something like I’m sorry I’m not trying to ruin the show for you, I’m just trying to have a good time. 

I share all this because I love Pearl Jam and everything they stand for. Everyone at the shows have their own stories, paid lots of money to get in and have the right to enjoy the show as they please as long as it’s not hurting anyone. I don’t consider singing/talking hurting anyone, but I do consider intimidating women and making them uncomfortable crossing a line. If you can’t handle people making noise during a show why are you there? There’s a perfectly good stream of the show on Nugs.net where nobody will bother you if that’s the experience you want.

Since we clearly have similar ten club numbers I look forward to seeing you at night 2. I’d appreciate it if you’d apologize to my wife.  After all I did apologize to you for talking.

wow. I was strongly intimidated by a guy at St Paul 2 recently. He thought I touched his wife too roughly when I tapped her shoulder and asked her to lower her camera that she had high in the air in front of my face all show. He was buzzed enough to proceed to get in my face and yell at me and threaten me...even called security over (luckily they ignored him). I was alone at the show, the very furthest side section on Mike's side on the side rail (looking down where band walks in). He went on and on and ruined the show for me although I tried to ignore him. Eventually he and his drunk wife moved down a few rows but still it left me shaking. I really never minded being alone at a show before but now it makes me nervous. 

given2fly23 said:

Get_Right said:

For better or worse, not everyone is a hardcore Pearl Jam and they go see rock concerts to get fucked up and hang out with buddies that may not have seen for awhile. Not at all surprised that there was bad behavior at a Florida casino even though long time fans were hoping for a special night in an intimate setting. Being in a 10C section with 90% 10C members was part of what made shows a great experience. It stinks that this is no longer the case. 

But you can do that at a bar. Why spend the $200+ to yell at each other at a concert? I know, I know. 

Yup, we were spoiled for a long time being amongst 10C members only. 

given2fly23 said:

Get_Right said:

given2fly23 said:

Get_Right said:

For better or worse, not everyone is a hardcore Pearl Jam and they go see rock concerts to get fucked up and hang out with buddies that may not have seen for awhile. Not at all surprised that there was bad behavior at a Florida casino even though long time fans were hoping for a special night in an intimate setting. Being in a 10C section with 90% 10C members was part of what made shows a great experience. It stinks that this is no longer the case. 

But you can do that at a bar. Why spend the $200+ to yell at each other at a concert? I know, I know. 

Yup, we were spoiled for a long time being amongst 10C members only. 

Because the word is out that Pearl Jam puts on a good show and that it is a great time to get together and party. They are not there for the music, they are there for social or partying reasons. The coolness factor. They only know Ten. Same thing happened to the Dead. Social media content is also to blame. People want to show the world how cool they are for having drinks and being at a Pearl Jam show. Those people are not there to see the band. I wish Ed would just ask the crowd to put down the phones, and say the fewer phones we see the longer we will play. Unfortunately more and more people are not there for the same reasons us longtime fans are. 

Nailed it. I honestly have begun to feel like social media is rapidly leading to our demise. Regarding the bold part...that would be fucking amazing.

The world has come undone
Like to change it every day
Change don't come at once
There's a wave building before it breaks

bootleg said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Agree that a show can be completely colored by the people around you.  Loud singing is part of a show.
Loud,nonstop, talking and drunken dipshit stuff is not.  
People say it is, and I guess they paid for their tickets so they can hold that stance, but it is stupid.
For every show where we have a great time with neighbors there is another where the people never shut the fuck up or smoke weed the whole time and make no effort to not blow that fucking shit on people next to them.
Have fun.  Get wasted.  Just don't mess with other people.  Pretty simple. 

Yeah people are going to enjoy concerts in their own way so you’ve got to give some leeway.  You’ve got to expect the singing, but the nonstop talking is annoying.  If I ever feel the need to talk I’ll make sure to get right on the ear so only the person I’m talking to can hear it.  And it’s going to be brief.  If you want story time head out to the concourse and chat it up all you want.