Concert Etiquette: The Dos and Don'ts of Live Events
From camping culture to screaming in the pit, what are the unspoken rules of live shows?
Welcome to this week’s Class Notes! Whether you tuned in to the episode or need a quick recap, here’s everything you need to know from our exploration of concert etiquette at School of Pop.
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Announcements
In class, we discussed the latest trending topics in entertainment, from Coachella and All Things Go to Leslie Odom Jr. returning to Hamilton on Broadway. Review the biggest stories by subscribing to the Pop Recap newsletter here. New editions release on the final Sunday of each month.
Show-and-Tell
In the very first Show-and-Tell: Artist Spotlight, I chatted with Sienna and Lydia from Double Standard, an indie rock girlband based in NYC. The duo chatted about their new EP, out this Friday, and their journey so far as a band.
You can follow Double Standard here and check out their self-titled EP here.
Pop Terms to Know
Concert Etiquette: The informal set of social norms and unspoken rules that guide behavior at live shows. These can vary depending on genre, venue, and artist, but often center around respect for the performers and fellow fans.
General Admission (GA): A ticket type where fans stand instead of having assigned seats. GA pits are often first come, first served, which can lead to overnight camping or long lines.
Camping Culture: The practice of lining up hours, or even days, ahead of a concert to secure a good spot, especially in the pit. Often debated due to fairness and safety concerns.
Bottling: A form of protest or aggression where fans throw bottles (or objects) at performers. Historically, it signaled negative crowd reactions, but today the term can also refer to fans throwing gifts or items onstage as a form of appreciation, even when it’s disruptive.
Emotional Contagion: A psychological phenomenon where people absorb and reflect the emotions of those around them. This can heighten energy and tension in large crowds like concerts.
Parasocial Relationship: A one-sided emotional connection that a fan feels toward a public figure. These can influence how fans behave during live shows, and we will be exploring this concept in depth later this semester.
Main Character Syndrome: A mindset where someone centers themselves in an experience, sometimes at the expense of others. At concerts, this can look like disruptive behavior meant to draw attention or “go viral.”
Special Guest
Cameron Bristow is a Marketing and Media business owner and lover of all live entertainment! He loves all genres of music, but especially pop. Some of his favorite artists include Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Dua Lipa!
Cameron joined the class to discuss his take on concert etiquette today and to play a round of Pass or Fail.
“Concerts are super exciting. I think that's why we all love them so much…make these memories, but make sure that everyone can also make great memories as well” - Cameron
You can follow Cameron on Instagram here to keep up with all of his pop culture adventures!
You also heard brief insights from Jillian Hayes, who previewed next week’s lesson with a quick take on audience etiquette in theaters, and Dr. Lynn Zubernis, who will join a lesson later this semester to discuss parasocial relationships. She offered psychological context around fan behavior at concerts. Her article on this subject is also included in this week’s references for further reading.
Key Takeaways
Bad concert etiquette isn’t new, it has evolved. From jellybeans at Beatles shows to flying iPhones, fans have always pushed limits. What has changed is the visibility and intensity of that behavior.
Technology has reshaped the concert-going experience. The urge to film, post, or go viral has added pressure to perform instead of simply being present.
A lot of disruptive behavior comes from heightened emotion. Emotional contagion and parasocial closeness can amplify fan reactions. It’s not always just entitlement, it’s also often overstimulation or unfiltered excitement.
Respect doesn’t ruin the fun. Sing, film, cry, dance. Just be aware when those actions start to affect others. Disruption often happens when we forget that live shows are shared spaces.
Concert etiquette is all about balance. It’s about having the time of your life while remembering you are part of something bigger. A little self-awareness goes a long way. Whether you’re scream-singing, filming, or trying to secure that front-row spot, ask yourself: Am I making this experience better or worse for the people around me? At the end of the day, a great concert isn’t just about the artist. It’s about the energy we create together in the crowd.
Discussion Board
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen at a concert? Let me know over on Instagram @schoolofpophq or by leaving a comment below!
Extra Credit
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Homework
Your references and resources from this week’s lesson, for review! These clips and articles were all referenced in this week’s episode. Use them to explore more or revisit the moments we discussed in class.
Insights
Historical context
Read: The Sound of Silence
Read: Lisztomania: the wild phenomenon that gripped 19th-century crowds
Read: David Bowie Kept Playing A Show Even After A Lollipop Became Stuck In His Eye
Read: Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a live bat 40 years ago today
Read: They survived The Who concert from ‘hell.’ Now, they finally have closure
Read: Astroworld Festival joins a list of historical concert tragedies
Read: Madonna Fan in Wheelchair Responds to Concert Callout: ‘She Had No Idea’
Read: Bebe Rexha shares photos of her injury after fan threw a phone at her face midconcert
Watch: Olivia Rodrigo gets hit in the face by a bouquet of flowers
Artists speaking out about bad audience behavior
Watch: Chappell Roan and the VIP section at Outside Lands Music Festival
Watch: beabadoobee speaks on concert etiquette and TikTok memes playing out at shows
Watch: Kid Cudi leaves Rolling Loud set early after fans continue to throw objects onstage
See you in class next week!
✏️ Kat Monroe, your pop culture study buddy