Live music is a shared experience, and how audiences behave directly affects everyone’s enjoyment. As concert culture evolves, so do the expectations around behavior. Here is a practical guide to being a great concertgoer in 2025.
The Phone Dilemma
This is the most contentious issue in modern concert culture. Recording a few moments for personal memory is generally accepted. Holding your phone up for an entire set, blocking the view of people behind you, is not. Artists from Jack White to Bob Dylan have implemented phone-free shows using Yondr pouches, and audience response has been overwhelmingly positive.
If you do record, hold your phone at chest level rather than above your head. Keep recordings short. And never use flash photography, which is both distracting and produces terrible results in concert lighting anyway.
Volume and Singing
Singing along at appropriate moments is one of the joys of live music. Singing loudly through quiet, intimate songs is not. Read the room: if the artist is performing a hushed ballad, match the energy. During choruses of well-known anthems, sing your heart out. During verses with complex lyrics, let the artist be heard.
Talking During Sets
There is a special circle of concert purgatory reserved for people who hold full-volume conversations during performances. If you need to talk, step away from the crowd. The performers and the people around you have paid good money and traveled to hear music, not your conversation about weekend plans.
Space and Movement
At standing shows, arriving early earns you a better position. That position is not a permanent reservation. If someone taller moves in front of you, adjust rather than escalate. If the crowd is dancing and you prefer to stand still, position yourself toward the sides or back rather than creating a stationary island in a sea of movement.
Pushing toward the front during a set is universally frowned upon. If you wanted to be at the front, you should have arrived early. Squeezing past dozens of people who arrived before you is disrespectful to everyone involved.
Drinks and Hydration
Spilling drinks on fellow concertgoers is an avoidable annoyance. If you are in a crowded area, consider a cup with a lid or simply drink before entering the thick of the crowd. At outdoor festivals, staying hydrated is essential, but water bottles work better than open cups in dense crowds.
Requests and Heckling
Shouting song requests between songs is occasionally charming and frequently annoying. The artist has a planned setlist. Repeatedly screaming for Freebird (or the equivalent) crosses from humor into disruption. If the artist invites requests, by all means participate. Otherwise, trust them to know what to play.
Supporting the Artist
The most meaningful thing you can do at a concert is be fully present. Put your phone away for most of the show. Dance, clap, sing when appropriate, and let the artist know you appreciate their work through genuine engagement. Buy merchandise if you can afford it, as touring artists depend on merch revenue. And if you discover an opening act you enjoy, follow them on streaming platforms and spread the word.
The Golden Rule
Treat every concertgoer the way you would want to be treated. Everyone in that venue shares the same love of music. A little consideration goes a long way toward ensuring everyone has an extraordinary night.
