Entertainment For Lively Minds
Get It Right
John W (What Happened To The Party?) Touches on sitting verses standing at gigs.
I recently saw Tom Russell at The Musician in Leicester. It's a small venue and they seem to have the knack of getting really good bands and singers but they don't put much thought into accommodating the punters.
For Tom Russell, the place was pretty full - standing room only. Unfortunately, most of the floor space was taken up with tables and chairs, meaning a few (maybe 20) people had a grandstand view while the other hundred or so were squashed at the back or down the sides. the promoter and management must have known how many tickets they had sold and that the place would be packed but they didn't give it any thought.
I hate tables and chairs at venues! I saw Todd Rundgren at The Venue in London around 1978. The place was all tables & chairs and it just felt wrong. It was a rock concert, for God's sake!
I'm going to see Jason & The Scorchers at the Musician in May and I pray that it is standing only. Sheesh.
Tom Russell was truly brilliant, by the way.
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Correct!
You know that people will disagree with you but I'm with you 100%. Some venues get it right, the Weavers Arms used to have a policy of putting out tables when they were pretty sure it wasn't going to be busy and having plenty of space at other times. Obviously sometimes it went wrong especially when they tried out something new (I recall the 1st fiddle festival was a bit of a squash because they put out tables when the place was rammed. I've only been to a couple of "Empty Rooms" gigs in Tingewick, one with chairs and one without, the one with chairs was just odd - fortunately there was room to stand at the back. The old Venue in Victoria was a marvellous venue that did actually get it right most of the time and the quite large area down the front was normally free of tables and chairs (and free from c-list rock types nattering at the back). Also in their defence, they were trying a US style venue where there was a waitress service to the tables. I always stood unless I ended up in the balcony. I assume that sometimes the artist asks for it, I decided against going to see Devon Sproule last year because they had seats in downstairs at the Shepherds Bush Empire.
Seats Downstairs At The Empire?
Sacrilege!
I've been at
plenty of gigs at the Musician where tables have been moved and it's standing room only. Depends on the band and promoter's judgement I guess. The venue has a relaxed atmosphere and I'd have put money on tables being out for Tom Russell - he doesn't really get them jumping does he?
But as they have Burton Bridge on tap you're whole arguement is flawed sir!
I Was Driving
so I reject your rejection of my argument!
Tables = easy access to audience
Saw Nick Harper at the Boardwalk, Sheffield on Thursday. They'd put tables out in front of the stage, and I think it worked well. but I would seeing as I was sat at one of them.
This being a Nick Harper gig, though, and him being equipped with a wireless guitar - it also meant that he could jump down off the stage and go walkabout (also runabout and bounceabout) round the tables, across onto the bar and back while riffing away. As he does.
Grand stuff.
Made for a fun part of the night - but would have been nigh on impossible with a block of folks stood up the the stage. Although I wouldn't put it past him to try and crowdsurf while playing.....
The Musician normally gets it right...
...with tables when it's expected to be quiet and none when it isn't. Tom Russell pulled more people, by some margin, than he's ever done before there which is why it was a problem, although considerably more than 20 had a good view. For Jason & The Scorchers it will be 90% standing with perhaps a few tall stools down the side and the sofas round the corner for sitting but that'll be it.