(no subject)

[exsequar]

I has a quick question about concert etiquette, and I figured I'd ask the experts.

Tomorrow is the first real small club show I'll have ever gone to. (EMPIRES YAAAAY!!!!) My only other concert experiences have been: a big amphitheater with assigned seats (Fall Out Boy's HCT), a MASSIVE arena again with seats (MCR), and Warped. A couple other small shows but none where I even thought about waiting in line or getting barrier.

SO! My question is this. I've seen a lot of you bitch about people in pits who have handbags. Well - how do you avoid having a handbag? I need to have on me my keys, my wallet, phone, and ipod, plus for this particular show i have pictures that I'd like the Empires boys to sign that I don't want to get bent. Sooo.. how do you NOT have a bag? I am puzzled. Help!

Also, any other general tips would be awesome. Attire, how shows run... I am just clueless. I feel like this one will be pretty low key (it's at two in the afternoon (no not nine)) but I also need to be prepared for HUSHIES!!!!!!! twice next week.

(OMG I'M SO FUCKING EXCITEDDDDD.)

Comments

[achika-chan.livejournal.com]

I stuff keys and my phone in my pocket. I don't know about other things, I usually have the band sign either the ticket or a poster that I get there. Wear comfortable shoes that you can stand in for a very long time, but be prepared for your legs to hurt anyway.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

What about your wallet? I'm driving a long ways so I need my wallet (driver's license!) and iPod (keeps me sane during the drive). Maybe I can leave the latter in my glove box...

Thanks!

[achika-chan.livejournal.com]

Ah, I forgot about that. My friend usually drives, so I don't bring it.

[thelemic.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it's handbags so much as... well, the one bad experience I've had with that has been someone with an enormous tote bag that was jabbing into my side. If it's small enough or at least not too, um, pokey, you might be alright?

I usually just squeeze everything into my pockets if I can.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'll bring my soft drawstring backpack...that's what I had at Warped. Hmmm.

I'm terrified of putting things in my pockets because I once lost a very valuable immigration bureau ID card in Ireland because it was in my pocket :-/

[iamsupernova.livejournal.com]

That's the kind of bag I bring to shows because I try to buy merch before rather than after in order to avoid lineups. When I dance I knot the strings so the bag doesn't bounce against my back or other people behind me. I also like to wear my jeans with the deep pockets to shows because I can slide just about any small object in there and it can't fall out/get pulled out.

At Warped, I was able to get up to the barrier for two sets and dropped my back over to the other side, and I retrieved it at the end. It was a great idea!

[sociofemme.livejournal.com]

I was able to get up to the barrier for two sets and dropped my back over to the other side

Careful with this idea though--at my Warped, one of the girls next to me did it, and one of the security guards moved her bag, and she almost couldn't get it back.

(Probably a moot point at a small club show, though.)

[iamsupernova.livejournal.com]

Yeah- I asked the security guy before I did it, though, and he helped me get it back after, too.

[sociofemme.livejournal.com]

I just went and looked at your journal on a hunch....I think I was standing next to you during Gym Class.

Small freaking world.

[iamsupernova.livejournal.com]

That would have been rad, but I wasn't at the barrier for GCH. It was Against Me! and Say Anything. I was at the Montreal stop, to clarify.

[sociofemme.livejournal.com]

Oh, man! I was like seriously O.O at the possibility, and your pictures of Travis were from about the right direction (I am crap at recognizing faces, so that was all I was going off of), so I was like...

...

...

(But yeah, I was at Montreal. Man, small world anyway.)

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Hee, my journal, bringing fangirls together! Maybe you guys can go to other Montreal shows together :)

[sociofemme.livejournal.com]

Heee! I probably won't drive up there again, sadly. I'm not a very good driver, and it's a tiny bit too far for me. But man, that is a hilariously rad coincidence nonetheless.

[iamsupernova.livejournal.com]

Aww. I know I'm gonna see skyfalling up here for Cobra in November, so I'm excited for that.

No chance you were also front and centre for Against Me! and Say Anything? That's where I was, haha. If it helps, I have really long brown hair (that gets in everyone's way at shows) and I was wearing a pink Cobra tee, and sometimes had a baseball cap on that said "I DIG".

[sociofemme.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, I wish I could! I definitely don't drive in the winter, though, I'm crazy paranoid about ice. Maybe I'll guilt my husband into driving me up for it, haha.

GCH was the only one I bothered to get close for, unfortunately. I don't remember anyone in particular, but if you saw some chick wandering around in an empires shirt, probably that was me. :)

[iamsupernova.livejournal.com]

I would've freaked out if I had seen anyone wearing Empires merch. I need to get one of their shirts. I suppose when I order a Strokes shirt for my best friend's birthday I'll whinge at my dad for him to order that at the same time.

[harriet-vane.livejournal.com]

I always bring a bag, and sometimes I'm coming straight from work, so it has crap in it. Make it as small as you can, be prepared to hold it all night -- your shoulder will get tired -- and try very, very hard not to poke or hit anyone with it. If you're up near the front it's going to get crushed, so make sure you don't mind.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Hmmmmmm. Okay. I'm trying to think about the logistics of this. I have a soft drawstring backpack that I can easily move to my front, and it won't be very heavy at all, I just have enough objects that they can't all fit in my pockets. I shall think on this further. Thanks!

[harriet-vane.livejournal.com]

Some places make you check bags that are big-ish; you might want to call and check. You can also leave stuff you don't need in the car, right? Unless I'm just carrying my license and my ticket, I need more than just pockets, so I feel you on this.

[offtheceiling.livejournal.com]

I carry bags into shows all the timeee. Well, small shows anyway. If you're at the stage, you can usually just put it on the stage by the amps, or over the barrier if there is one. But probably at Empires/Hushies there won't be.

Also, the people weren't pushing at ANY of the Hushie shows I just went to, so even if you're further back it shouldn't be a problem to not hit people with your bag. It's not Cobra with the crazyass pits or anything.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Oh that sounds like a good idea. I'm getting to Empires quite early so I don't think I'll have a problem getting barrier. I also can't imagine the crowd getting particularly rowdy. It's a good way to start up! It's also part of the reason I'm passing on Cobras this tour :-/ (Mostly the dates aren't good for me, though.)

[iamsupernova.livejournal.com]

PS UHFIUADHF HAVE FUN

[terribilita.livejournal.com]

Yeah, girls carrying bags on the floor can be pretty annoying, especially when it's a high energy show and everyone up front is squished together. I don't know the music so I don't know what kind of atmosphere you get at these shows, though.

Why do you need your wallet in the show? Is there a reason you need ID inside? I typically tuck some money in a shoe and my keys and phone in a pocket. Is the ipod absolutely necessary? Are you meeting the guys inside, like backstage? Or are you planning to stalk them outside? If the latter, you can keep your stuff in the car and get it after the show.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

I feel that this show will be extremely low key; it's an afternoon show for a small, unsigned band far from their hometown, and it's pretty lowkey music. I don't think I'll have a problem in that regard.

I'm mostly worried because it's supposedly not a great area of Baltimore, and the trunk of my car doesn't lock. I suppose I could leave those things, but I still have these photos that I would like them to sign (they don't have any posters in their merch or anything) and I want them to stay flat. My ipod has to come with me because it's a 2 hour drive and I'll lose my mind if it doesn't. I'll be meeting them inside at the merch table. I think I've decided on a small soft backpack - hopefully it'll work out.

[terribilita.livejournal.com]

Yeah, if it's a low-key show, I think you'll be fine bringing in a bag. I've seen Keane twice and I took a purse inside both times and everything was fine--no moshing/slam-dancing and everyone had a pretty good personal space bubble.

I actually meant leaving your ipod in the car when you got there, like in the glove compartment, but if you don't feel comfortable leaving stuff in the car, it's probably better if you don't.

As for the pictures, I'd leave them in the car if you aren't meeting the guys inside, just because they could get wrinkled in your bad too. Then you can run to your car and get them after the show before you meet up with the band. This is what I do but again, I don't know if the guys are open to meeting fans outside their buses or whatnot.

[summertea.livejournal.com]

GOOD NEWS, ANNE! If today's show is a hint for tomorrow, you will not be squished and you will be totally fine with a bag. 8)

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Oooh yay! That is exciting! it will probably be even MORE lowkey because it's an afternoon show. Whee!

[summertea.livejournal.com]

ANNE ANNE. THEY ARE SO AMAZING. AND SO ADORABLE. AND SO NICE. AND EVEN THOUGH TOM WAS HIDING, THE REST OF THE BOYS. THEY ARE ADORABLE AND SWEET.

[candidlily.livejournal.com]

Oh, you're not going to have any trouble holding onto a bag if it's Empires you're talking about. Generally I take a small bag, which has gotten only slightly larger now that I take my photography journal to get signed. Just be prepared to hold onto it at all times.

[darksylvia.livejournal.com]

I feel like empires is small enough that your bag won't be a problem. But there's not reason you can't leave you ipod in the car and your ID, money, key, and cell should fit easily into your pocket unless your pockets are tighter than Brendon Urie's. I manage that nearly every time I go out because I don't want to lose anything important because I drank too many vodka tonics!

Plus, (though prob not for empires) it's more comfortable fitting into the pit if you're not having to clutch your purse the whole damn time.

I usually stuff my chapstick and house key in my bra!

[alazysod.livejournal.com]

I go to punk shows in small venues all the time. I'd be happy to share My Experience. :P

Yeah, definitely no handbag. It's silly to be holding onto something when you should be dancing/moshing/pushing drunk guys off you/etc. What I've done is keep my cell phone, keys, and paper money in my front pocket, and then tuck credit card/I.D into my bra. Or in my pockets. Depends on what pants I'm wearing. I've kept money in my bra, too, but there's always the chance it could get sweaty and gross.

As for the pictures…Stick 'em down your pants? Not like, completely, because it would be totally weird if you went up to these guys and took something out of your pants to sign, but like an inch or so down and then cover the rest with your shirt. Oh, and I wouldn't suggest bringing your iPod to the show. What if it gets stolen?

Although, some small places have a coat room. You could keep the pictures in your jacket pocket and just pop out to grab them after the show is done.

Um, other etiquette…Don't wear a shirt with the band's name on them. If you're going to be in the pit (does this band get crazy pits going? I'm used to going to shows where people leave bloody, haha), obviously wear sensible shoes and don't complain if someone bumps into you.

aaack this comment is so long. er. I'll stop now. *headdesk*

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Hee, I feel this is all good advice if I'm going to go see the Used in a small venue, but Empires is a mellow piano-heavy alt-rock band, for which the audience is both small and mostly fangirls. I don't think I need to worry about being crushed :) Also, the pictures are 8x10s so I don't think the pants thing will work, I'm not that big! For this particular show a drawstring backpack's gonna do me just fine, but I will certainly keep all that in mind if I end up going to something rowdier :) Thanks!

[snuffkin.livejournal.com]

hmm I went from big backpacks to really small bags I can hang over my shoulder. But I still don't like having to take anything with me *lol* It just sucks when you want to jump around and stuff. But I think it won't be that much of a problem since it's a "small" show in the afternoon and I guess it will be pretty chilled. So if you need all the stuff I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a small bag with you.

[moondarri.livejournal.com]

ahaha. um. *is one of those who endlessly bitches about handbags*

like thelemic said somewhere up there, it's not the handbag on principle so much as it is the type of handbag, & it really does make you want to hit things when there's a girl right next to you with her stupid bag stuffed full of god-knows-what high on her shoulder taking up the space of another human & generally getting in the way.

i've got my trusty gig-trousers for concert times. they have four huge, deep, zippable pockets & i can fit pretty much everything in there; tickets, phone, wallet, camera. & it also has the advantage of letting me slip through the queue at the entrance, because they don't stop you for a bag check. my gig attire is usually comprised of these trousers (having your hands free & your shoulders unburdened feels good, truly), a tshirt or vest top for moving-around comfort, & a hoodie to keep warm during the queuetimes, which can easily be tied around my waist during the gig so as not to waste time with getting to a cloakroom or whatever.

anyhoo, that's just me. a drawstring bag should do the trick if it isn't too full. otherwise, the sort of handbag with a long strap that you can wear across-ways, so that the bag part of it is behind you, that's okay too, because it's not in the way. seriously, the most annoying thing is girls with those shoulder bags, tote bags, whatever, that they have high up & stuffed full of pointless things & it just gets in people's faces.

yes, so, anyway. have fun!

[bluejbird.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I'm finding this whole discussion really interesting. I don't know if it's an Atlantic divide thing, but I always take a bag, everyone I know takes a bag, and everyone at the shows seem to have bags. The unofficial rule here seems to be this: if you take a backpack (or any other sort of bag that rests on your back), you are an arsehole and will be hated on by everyone (I don't generally actually want to punch people IRL, but I almost did when a dude wore one to see the Pumpkins). Ditto for the sort of bags that go over your shoulder and sort of rest under your arm. I don't know what you guys call them, but everyone here wears the sort of bag that you wear the strap diagonally across your chest so that the bag rests somewhere around your hip and you can shove it in front or behind you depending on how packed the place is. I certainly wouldn't take my iPod in with me, or anything else I wouldn't want to get stolen.

Re: attire- comfortable sneakers, jeans, t-shirt, hoodie is pretty much usual for most gigs. I vaguely second whoever said no band shirts, but that's more personal opinion than general etiquette, I think. I also wouldn't wear a shirt for a band closely linked to whoever I was going to see. I wore an Empires shirt to Oxegen without really giving it too much thought, and then was surprised to find myself relieved we weren't on Jon's side of the stage, because I suddenly felt weird at the idea of him seeing me wandering around with his BFFs band written across my chest.

Also, if it's busy, your pics will get a little crushed, because in my experience mostly everything does. If you can leave them in your car and go and get them, that's probably a good idea.

[glamorous-nymph.livejournal.com]

There might be a coat check you can leave your bag at? Otherwise just wear something with big pockets, maybe leave your wallet in your car and just put a little money in your pocket.

I doubt Empires will be a busy, squishy gig, but if it *is* another piece of advice - tie your hair back! Girls with hair all over the place when you have to stand real close to them is soooo annoying.

[nmhrbrtsn.livejournal.com]

I always take a bag to gigs because I can't handle without it, haha. I have a smallish zip up messanger bag which is easy enough to keep to myself and not lose anything.

[judyjudyjudy.livejournal.com]

I know you've gotten a lot of comments already, but here's my two cents. I usually take this little case (kind of like a business card case) with my ID, credit card, and some cash. It fits easily into my pocket with my keys and phone. Then I just hold my camera. Why do you need your iPod?

[crystal-lily.livejournal.com]

Well, I haven't been to that many shows myself (like, only two really big ones, really - but what you describe sounds a lot like most of the gigs I've been to), but I always try to take everything I can on me (like try wearing pants with ample pocket space...), but that's only because I absolutely hate carrying handbags when it's not absolutely necessary. :/

[airgiodslv.livejournal.com]

Here's what I do: keys in one pocket, phone in the other, and then my ID, credit card and a small amount of cash (just in case...it's come in handy when my blood sugar dropped and I needed to eat something at a show) in a back pocket. If you're going/able to take a camera, you could buy a wrist strap for it and wear it on your arm. Check the venue rules first, though, because they might just take it away.

As far as attire goes, I advise layering. Make sure you can strip down once it gets hot, because with that many people crushed together, it will. And wear comfortable shoes! A lot of people dress for style, but then they also have to spend several hours standing in four-inch heels. I would go with comfort first.