is it just me ??? crowds have changed???

[Bunk McNulty]

I don't understand what people are doing with the pics and videos they shoot at shows. They are all garbage. Are they going back and looking at them? Snapchat I guess (which I'm pretty sure is the worst thing on earth.) Horrible. Makes me glad I don't gig any more. I don't miss it one bit.

LOL! If it wasn't for garbage fan videos, we wouldn't have any! They post them on FB, and we thank them for every one, no matter how they come out.

 

[DrayMiles]

Yeah, they just stand there, because they're made of metal
Getting paid is important. Since they're all metal, I assume they paid in coins.

No... Stainless Steel Studs and skull rings...

 

[Rabidhamster]

I'm probably one of the audience members that doesn't seem to "get into" the music, no matter how much I like it. I don't make silly faces and dance in public, because thats not something I often do in my spare time. A lot of times "cutting loose" and dancing are two opposite things, for me.
In punk and metal there has always been the "stone" audience members that will dig you but they're not moving. Still, I don't get the selfie garbage - self-centered narcissists.

If I have to bounce around and scream and flail my arms and bash into the sweaty stinky drunk guy next to me to be a good audience member, then I'm too tired from working I'm staying home. Playing the "crowd member" is just a lot of work. If I can stand back where the speakers aren't jacking holes in my eardrums, relax and chill and enjoy the band, great I'll come. I'll even clap louder than the rest of the people in between songs.

I don't know how much alcohol or what exactly I'd have to consume to be flailing around like the people I see at some shows, but I have crap to do tomorrow, and Fonzie didn't raise no fool. Mosh pits irritate the poopie out of me - I'm trying to watch the show and a guys trying to teabag my neck, inevitably someone doesn't take the warning or starts stomping on a girl and I have to "mosh" them back. I didn't come out for fight club I came out for music.

 

[lermgalieu]

First off, I think the OP is right. Second off, whether it was 1990 or 2017, you probably couldn't tell from looking at me that I'm into a band. I don't dance, I rarely sing along (except to the Descendents!) and I barely bob my head. But I might be having the time of my life. So yeah, what the OP says is true, way more people filming, etc. But lack of "audience participation" does not always mean people aren't into it, in the past or the present.

 

[Bodeanly]

Like a couple others have posted, I feel the new generation is a blessing when it comes to free publicity. At least people still dig live music and not just DJs.

 

[Michael Schreiber]

Maybe it's just me. But from my point of view it's seems like it's not just for our band but at most concerts I go to the crowds reaction and I guess participation in the show seems to have changed a lot over the last decade. In many ways our band is more successful now. We're on a small record label, our newer music and merch is selling better than ever. But the crowds interaction and energy at the shows just isn't the same.

Here's a video That was recently found on a flash drive from one of our shows from back around 2005
the crowd is singing along, they're moshing, got their hands up. Not saying that never happens anymore. We occasionally play shows with great crowds but it seems to be more and more rare. I get this feeling like people in general are becoming more and more disconnected from each other and the world around them. Even with packed shows I see a lot more people looking at cell phones or filming with cell phones at shows than I used to. People are buying merch but they aren't participating in the show like the old days.

The guys in our band were having a conversation recently and everyone agreed I seemed to have been bumbed out at a few recent shows. And they are right. I think the differences in the crowd is starting to get to me. It's one thing for people to be kind of disconnected during an acoustic show or something but during a high energy rock/metal show even if the attendance is great the level of interaction/participation from the crowd just isn't the same these days. Especially with younger folks. Seems like younger people are even more disconnected from the show. I kind of feel like if you're going to be like that why even bother paying to be there? Ive honestly Had more fun playing some out of town shows with 30 people that were really into it even if we only sold a handful of CDs than playing for hundreds of people looking at their cell phones. I remember reading a story about a year ago about how a popular pop singer wouldn't allow cell phones in her shows. Not saying I'd ever ask that but I'm starting to understand why. It kills the vibe. That interaction between the band and the crowd. I miss that

In my experience it is not a generation thing, and not a nowadays-thing, it just depends on the crowd and occasion.

A local band I like, STURDY, I saw them first on a gig where many bands played. The crowd was small and would just stand there. Me and another guy tried to break that petrification, banded our heads and sang along. It was fun, since the band recognised that and obviously had more fun.

Same band, different setting: They were headlining a concert in a rehearsal place of another band. Was just young people (except me ;O) and obviously the crowd knew the band. And the crowd rocked. No single smartphone - but crowd surfing! That was so amazing; a very powerful concert.

IMHO, it depends on the crowd; I've seen older people just standing still in the first row (like at ManOwaR in 2005 in Bamberg/Germany... I don't get it why these people even went to the concert...); I've seen people of all ages holding their damned smartphones high, all the time, like being posessed or remote controlled. I've also seen people of all ages rocking even the smallest concerts - with NO single smartphone held high.

In other words: Don't let it bother you - keep on playing; I wish you much success and the most energetic crowds that rock your concerts! \m/

 

[Charlzm]

I wonder how much of this "watching the show you're at on your phone screen" started with sports and concerts where the only way to see the band or the teams was to watch the Jumbotron?

 

[40Hz]

Humanity didn't change, just the tools got better.

Disagree. Our technologies and environment shape our perceptions and thought patterns. That's how humans adapt and survive. And I firmly believe people post the industrial revolution and post the advent of digital are fundamentally different in very real ways from the generations that went before.

You can see it in our institutions, our art, and our literature - as well as our assumptions about "reality" and our day to day behaviors. And while there may be many surface similarities, beneath the most obvious there are numerous and very real differences. And we're just now beginning to come to grips with it.

 

[Michael Schreiber]

I wonder how much of this "watching the show you're at on your phone screen" started with sports and concerts where the only way to see the band or the teams was to watch the Jumbotron?

Or the need to have something to "share" with your "friends" online... to me most smartphone users in my circle behave like addicts. I'm too old-school for that. Even don't have a smartphone

 

[Charlzm]

I used to be more visibly into it at shows, though. Like the time I saw Damn the Machine (Chris Poland's short-lived prog metal band between Megadeth and Ohm) at The Roxy in Hollywood, opening for Voivod. I was up against the stage, knew every time change, mouthed the lyrics back to the band, played air drums or "precision head banged" to every stop and start in the music... after the show, their drummer Mark Poland saw me on the sidewalk, approached me, said it made him feel good to know that people were into the band and gave me a t-shirt.

Now I'm an older man with a bum knee, so even when I go see Meshuggah or Gojira, I tend to be an arm-folder, back pressed to the wall. I'll probably be smiling and nodding my head if I'm into the show, though, and screaming and clapping between songs. Didn't like moshing or slam dancing or pogoing or crowd surfing back when they were still kinda new and haven't changed my mind in the last 35 years. I might take pictures with my phone for a song or two when the lights look cool.

None of this means I don't enjoy a show any more. In fact, I go to more shows these last couple of years than I ever have. I'm just not as demonstrative or participatory today.

 

[J-Bassomatic]

It is interesting that Kurt Vonnegut predicated this 40 years ago

Wow! I love Vonnegut's work. Phillip K Dick is another one, in some of his books talking advertisements are mobile and try to crawl into your car through the windows. With the pervasive advertising on the internet, we're just about there.

 

[Corevalay]

I agree with you 100% OP. Playing maybe 10 years ago, crowds were crazy. Always moshing and active. Now, people seem to just stand and stare, just bopping their heads. So, as a musician I feel like they just aren't digging the band. But it's not the case because when we're done playing we get a lot of compliments and positive feedback from folks!

I guess people just aren't as active as they used to be. I see this at large concerts too. Crowds seem much more content to just watch, while taking photos and videos on their phones. I guess times have changed.

 

[cman227]

I'm probably one of the audience members that doesn't seem to "get into" the music, no matter how much I like it. I don't make silly faces and dance in public, because thats not something I often do in my spare time. A lot of times "cutting loose" and dancing are two opposite things, for me.
In punk and metal there has always been the "stone" audience members that will dig you but they're not moving. Still, I don't get the selfie garbage - self-centered narcissists.

If I have to bounce around and scream and flail my arms and bash into the sweaty stinky drunk guy next to me to be a good audience member, then I'm too tired from working I'm staying home. Playing the "crowd member" is just a lot of work. If I can stand back where the speakers aren't jacking holes in my eardrums, relax and chill and enjoy the band, great I'll come. I'll even clap louder than the rest of the people in between songs.

I don't know how much alcohol or what exactly I'd have to consume to be flailing around like the people I see at some shows, but I have crap to do tomorrow, and Fonzie didn't raise no fool. Mosh pits irritate the poopie out of me - I'm trying to watch the show and a guys trying to teabag my neck, inevitably someone doesn't take the warning or starts stomping on a girl and I have to "mosh" them back. I didn't come out for fight club I came out for music.

Yea, I was at a Who concert and my friend and I were just standing there really enjoying the show, when some kid starting slam dancing (it was the 80's) into my buddy who is about 6'7"". He put up with it for about a second, then calmly turned around and laid him out.

 

[jpTron]

Not everyone at the show is there to see the band. Some are just doing friends a favor. Only now they have a way to occupy their time instead of just standing there doing nothing and being miserable. And you can't "put the phone away and socialize" because you can't "socialize" in a situation where you can't hear anyone.

 

[Michael Schreiber]

because you can't "socialize" in a situation where you can't hear anyone.

Never had such a problem on metal concerts; headbanging together turns strangers into bro's and sisters of metal \m/

 

[Gaolee]

I suppose it depends a little on the band and the specific audience. I have seen shows where the aisles were so full of people dancing that security got nervous. I have also played for enthusiastic, energetic audiences of all ages. I have also played for the kinds of audience that think you are interrupting their conversation. This is all recent.

Attention span. What were we talking about?

 

[MNAirHead]

Yes.... it has changed dramatically...

Even my advanced year girlfriend needs to be asked to put her phone down...

 

[40Hz]

Our education system is working. They are all well indoctrinated.

This.

The powers that be learned the dangers of an educational system that stressed involvement, participation, and rational thinking. It created people who thought and behaved like citizens. And when it resulted in things like the civil rights movement and antiwar protests and ultimately resulted in the resignation of a conservative president due to abuse of the powers of his office, steps were taken to make sure it didn't happen again.

The lessons now are: cooperate, make no distinctions or exercise any judgement, always ask permission, don't question official authority, learn just enough to get and keep a job, believe what you're told, keep your head down, deny whatever facts disturb you, believe in our innate and eternal moral superiority, know we are great no matter what, and always be afraid.

We get the future generations we create.

 

[RiffwRiter]

New stage gear: wi-fi jamming, cell signal jamming. The Feds won't like it, but f'em.

 

[Volunteerk9]

Am I the only parent here that has countless snippets of video on their phones of their kids doing random things? Concerts are really that different - random acts that I want to hang on to. I'm just thankful that technology has changed to where people at least aren't standing in front of me with the shoulder mount VHS.