scotty posted:

To all of us:

All of us agree on everything posted here; the BO, the crowd surfers, the drunk druggies, etc.

I for one prefer to be in front of the stage, I enjoy and respect what NIN represents to all of us. Trent is an incredible artist. Yes, it is completely annoying to be hit, punched, hands in my face, elbowed in the back. I just wish that either NIN or the arena security would realise that there is an intense fan base, and it those individuals who should and deserve to be in the front with a barricade behind them separating them from those who are complete assholes that think that jumping up and down and slamming someone in the head is completely appropriate. It is not my intention to sound like an @#$%& snobbish prick..but I am there to absorb and enjoy the show. So, to any of you assholes that believe in slamming people because you think it is cool...FUCK OFF and pay attention to the fans in this forum and show us a little courtesy. I just attended the Oakland show, with my g/f, and it was her first. She now has the impression that all of us are a bunch of neanderthals with no common human courtesy. I did not fly all the way to Oakland just to experience idiots elbowing her in the face. It took every cell in my body working overtime to not rip that fuckheads' throat out.

Regardless of those douchbag frat boy wannabes'..the show was incredible. Trent, in the unlikely event that you read or stumble accross this, thank you for providing us with an amazing concert.

aloha

you gave me this crazy idea:

They should make a NIN concert just like it is in the "Wish" music video =).

Except, one little note:

Those people who are stuck in the cages up above, are there because they dont deserve to be around other people.

There, problems solved.

No offense on people taking pictures comment, but Trent stated for people to bring there cameras. So be mad at him for that one or not I don't care either way. And as for the moshing I know how you guys feel, though I do like a good pit myself occasionally just not at shows like this one. That's why I get seats usually because assholes think because bands are hard rock/industrial/whatever heavy music choice that it means to get violent and to be douche bags on the dance floor. Had the same problem during A Perfect Circle in 2004 at the San Jose State Uni and thank god I chose seats over the floor for that one because I was like the 6th person into the place :x



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/13/2008 05:18AM by darknessengulfed.

I had to write about this being my first concert and all and also being 5'3"

I went to the Virgin Mobile Festival. Awesome performances by the bands that I wanted to see Iggy Pop and The Stooges, STP and the of course the reason I went at all, NIN. Discovered Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and was amazed.

The crowd surfing was ok during the Iggy Pop show because Iggy was the one that wanted it riot like. And why would you say no to Iggy. So I tried to hold up as many people that went over my head as possible. But during STP set (the band starting late), it was almost like every second I had to turn around look up and try to hold on to a 6'0" drunk guy or other drunk people, not cool.

The Pit, yes i stayed there from the beginning of Iggy set to NIN. I did not move from my third row position much except for some shoving ( 6'0" drunk guys) and being shoved. I wanted to see Trent. Jumped up and down to see over peoples shoulder for a few mins. Took a bunch of pics (fuzzy and with a lot of strangers shoulders) via cellphone. Sung along to every song. Shouted. Danced. Bobbed my head. (I apologize to whomever i had to hang onto so that i would not get shoved to the ground.). But had the most amazing time.

My only question is for the drunk people at the concert. You just have to stand in front of fans who were their to see NIN . Not sing, not dance, not anything except get drunk. I remember all this stuff from a concert that was about a month ago. And you probably couldn't remember it the next day. Did you really need that Mojito and those two Bud Lights?



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/2008 07:19AM by rachelerock.

I'm 115 pounds, at 5'8". As much as I love being up front, getting deafened by any given band, most of the time, I just can't. Ministry's farewell tour re-taught me that, at two separate shows.

I wish it was safer for smaller people to get that same, up-close experience that bigger people can physically handle at any given show.

NIN is definitely my favorite band and I would love to be up there, but getting smashed in the face sort of out-weighs justifying that experience.

Such is life. So it goes.

PerfectLittleDream posted:

I've noticed several people discussing what the "right" way to act during "Hurt" is, and how everyone should STFU, maybe even be completely silent. I remembered something I read ages ago, an interview with Trent in Metal Hammer from 2000, and this is what he said:

Q:There's also a certain amount of catharsis for the people who listen to you, surely.

A: "Onstage, I'd almost have tears in my eyes because I mean what I'm singing so much, and this thing hurts. And I'd look back and there's hundred people singing back to me, and they're fucking teared-up and screaming and there's this weird release. The sacrifices, flaying your soul ever so often, spreading it out on paper, and then, not only that but explaining in a situation like this why I did it. Then sometimes defending myself about its honesty because it's easy for someone to dismiss it sayin, 'He couldn't feel that way!.. well I did, and I had to tell you that I fucking felt this miserable. The end result for me is a positive one, yeah, and I think for some listeners it is as well. Not for everybody, I acknowledge that, but for some I think it can be."

So he's sayihng the audience is part of the experience for him as well--a sort of group sharing of the pain. I know on occasion that he has stopping singing "Hurt" because of certain assholes in the audience ruining it for everyone--screaming out or throwing things or whatever--but I don't think he would want people to stop singing along and sharing the experience.

I'm good with the people who feel the need to sing-I sing it too-but because of the reasons you mentioned I think just talking-not paying attention and having a random conversation, is disrespectful. Thank you for that quote I knew I felt like he meant it, every single time, and now I have some comfirmation.

Spiral_down posted:

I think what this all boils down to is people need to learn how to be respectful of the people in front of them. I realize it's a harder rock band and all, but fuck, even during the instrumental pieces? There is no reason to be thrashing around slamming into the people in front of you like they're a soft cushion barrier.

Keep in mind, usually the person slamming into you is only slamming into you because they're being slammed into. Unless you're big and/or you've got good footing, you can't help it. I nearly went down in a pit because everybody surged to the right and I was standing on an angled part of the floor -- the only thing that kept me up with grabbing for the rail (I was a few people back).

I'll be honest, I like an active pit. Not a dangerous pit, I don't want to be fearing for my life, but when everyone is jumping so that you have no choice but to jump along -- as in, literally no choice, because you're being carried along with them; I like it. I get into it. It's the energy. I'm proud of my pit battle scars.

The problem with "pit rules" is that everybody has a different opinion. Some people are in the pit just to have a better view, some are there to dance, some just want to jump around. And I've seen where the band yells at the crowd if they're being too tame.

I memorized the set list before hand, and would shout the name of the song coming up to my older sister.

Pretty asshole-ish of me.

Exactly, perfect_angel! Why blame the victim of harassment? If women need to cover their entire bodies at concerts (or anywhere else!) so that guys won't behave inappropriately, then we're saying that men can't control themselves at the sight of a thigh or a breast. I have a husband and two teenaged sons who will disagree with that one! It is a man's responsibility to keep his hands to himself unless he's invited to do otherwise. Hell, I think my UPS route driver is one of the sexiest men I've ever seen, but I'm not tempted to throw him down on the porch swing and assault him when he delivers my packages!
Wear what you want to a concert. Keep your hands to yourself as much as humanly possible. Apologize if you accidentally touch another person in a manner that could be misunderstood.
My biggest complaint at the NIN show in Knoxville was idiots who were smoking. Are you stupid? We're all crammed together like sardines and you've got to have a cigarette? I don't think so.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2008 06:13PM by ynoland.

if your going to bitch, go to a coldplay concert instead.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2008 07:35PM by no44.

no44...omg i was forced into a coldplay concert and it was so disgusting to watch all the make-out sessions between soccer moms on dates with e-harmony guys thinking they were 18 again! i never want to relive that experience...makes me shudder...

ynoland posted:

Exactly, perfect_angel! Why blame the victim of harassment? If women need to cover their entire bodies at concerts (or anywhere else!) so that guys won't behave inappropriately, then we're saying that men can't control themselves at the sight of a thigh or a breast. I have a husband and two teenaged sons who will disagree with that one! It is a man's responsibility to keep his hands to himself unless he's invited to do otherwise. Hell, I think my UPS route driver is one of the sexiest men I've ever seen, but I'm not tempted to throw him down on the porch swing and assault him when he delivers my packages!
Wear what you want to a concert. Keep your hands to yourself as much as humanly possible. Apologize if you accidentally touch another person in a manner that could be misunderstood.
My biggest complaint at the NIN show in Knoxville was idiots who were smoking. Are you stupid? We're all crammed together like sardines and you've got to have a cigarette? I don't think so.

thanks, I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees how freakin scary that way of thinking is. Just about the scariest thing I can imagine at a concert, as a female. My best friend and I are going alone in Nov., and every guy we know thinks we are nuts, my boyfriend wants to sit this one out, but his face turns this sickly shade of greenish-white any time its brought up that we'll be on our own.
I agree about the ciggaretts, I had a guy blowing smoke in my face all night, but most everyone else, including myself, went outside right before NIN came on, I guess some people don't want to loose thier spot,or miss anything, so they will pee, smoke, puke, and whatever else they have to do, at others expense, but on a good note, I still had a good time, and most people around me were pretty cool.

cryosin posted:

Well this could actually fit for every band in general,but especially for NIN since you guys kick so much ass:

When the crowd sits and stares, not singing maybe just throwing up a hand here or there or just headbanging a bit, dont get mad or feel bad.

At the forum, everytime i started singing or getting too engaged, i felt like i was missing a part of the show. Either i would sing along, causing me to block out parts of the performance. oR i would get so engaged into the show, dancing and stuff, that i would miss the visuals. Basically, after bouncing around and singing, i said to myself:

Fuck it, this is amazing lets just sit back and enjoy.

So to NIN, and any band that may come close(stress the may), when fans are standing around with their arms crossed, its because they are enjoying the show as best as possible. hopefully i speak for alot of people when i say this(or maybe im just insane), your put on such a good show that doing anything other than watching it ruins the experience.

SWINDLEY EDIT: THREAD TITLE

I really don't think that you should be so concerned about how the band views your behavior. Honestly, I'm 99% sure not one single band member is going to look to you, standing there with your arms crossed, not moving, and think "geeze, what a slimeball", or whatever. I'm pretty sure they are too busy playing to notice specific behaviors from certain audience members, let alone to sit and analyze WHY that person may or may not have their arms crossed.

That being said, I DO think that what makes for a good show IS audience participation, and the energy that a crowd puts off. I DO think, from seeing NIN a fair number of times, that the crowd's energy is directly related to the band's performance energy and ability to bridge the gap from the stage to the audience. The more lively the crowd, the more the band has to feed off of, and hence, a more entertaining show.

The only exception to this would be NIN's reaction to a really really bad crowd, or a crowd that was mainly composed of non-NIN fans (like at a festival) where the MAJORITY of audience members were NOT there to see NIN. In cases such as these, I've noticed that band's energy tends to go through the roof, partly because Trent gets pissed people aren't worshipping him and showing him their breasts (and we all know he performs better pissed) and partly because I think the rest of the band gets scared and tries to play faster to get offstage.

Ok, I kid. I don't know why NIN performs awesomely when playing for a crowd of non-fans or a whole bunch of shitty ones. I've just seen it happen and I really have no explination as to why.

I also see that this thread has sort of become a huge list of shitty things to do at shows along with the initial post which really had nothing to do with lists of shitty show things; however, since everyone else has listed annoying show behaviors, I feel I should list a few as well:

--People who sit on the barricade and flirt with the security, hoping to get a 'backstage pass'. Not ONLY do security guards NOT have passes, but they know that slutty girls think they do, and will pretend as much until slutty girls finish giving out BJs (or hugs) and then present said woman with a crappy pick or something. The whole desparate attempts to get backstage passes ANYWHERE at the show really just sickens me, honestly, but usually the chicks at the front are the worst.

--People who hold up cell phones during "slow songs". Ok, I will say I never understood the lighter thing to begin with, so I have really no hope of grasping the cell phone phenomenon, but I just can't write an annoying show behavior list without mentioning it. I mean, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?? If you are taking pics with your phone--awesome, I understand, but beyond that, I just don't get it. Maybe someone can give me a good reason for this behavior--but even then, I'll probably still find it annoying.

--People who insist on talking about stupid shit throughout the show. I know this annoys pretty much everyone, but it just seems to me that SO MANY people do it, and no one seems to have the balls to turn to the chatterbox and say "Shut the fuck up". Really people, whatever you are talking about can be talked about LATER--not RIGHT in the middle of some badass song. You can't really hear anything besides the music at a NIN show anyways--so why try? I can understand this behavior at smaller shows, with different bands, and with different crowds. Just not at NIN shows. Or most any show that doesn't involve a shitty, overrated indie band.

--Fat people who crowd surf. Ok, I'm going to get reamed for saying this, but seriously, if you know you're big why in the HELL do you expect for people to enjoy lifting you over their heads and passing you forward onto the heads of other people who will most likely be about 1/4th of your size? Have a little self awarness and empathy for your fellow man, as when you reach the front of the crowd, the poor people along the front row will either have to hold your weight entirely on their own or expect for a security guard to get you off of them, hopefully with minimal head injuries. Let me say from riding a few barricades, no one ever really gets held up right until the end, and usually the fat crowd surfers come CRASHING down on the front row and remain on top of the poor people up there for at least two songs while weak security guards get a crane to lift the fat guy off. THIS SAME RULE OF NO SURFING APPLIES TO THE OTHER FOLLOWING CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE AS WELL: Stinky people, aggressive people who like to punch those who are surfing them along, chicks with no bras/pants/clothes, chicks in skirts, anyone with a big sweaty crotch that may get rammed into my face.

---Any man at any show that can't stand behind a woman in a mosh pit without fondling her ass, tits, hair, elbow. Seriously. If you are that starved for female attention/touch, you need to get a hooker before entering the pit. It is NOT acceptable to hit on/touch/harrass a chick simply because she happens to be standing right in front of you and your crotch may make contact with her clothed ass sometime during the performance. It's also not ok for any man to stand behind or end up behind a woman (or another man for that matter) and to loudly shout in her/his ear and pull their hair in attempts to "see the show better". Newsflash--if you're not in the front in the pit, you're not seeing the show (unless you're 6'9 ). Deal with it. Don't rip the people in front of you to shreds because you somehow feel gypped about the situation.

Ok, there are MANY more things that piss me off at shows, both NIN and otherwise, but I'm going to stop there before any more people read my pet peeves and go "oh shit, that's me", and consquently hate me for the rest of my life.

Actually, I don't really care. I'm just tired of typing things that piss me off.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2008 10:23PM by scarlettstevens.

If you want to take photos... bring a real camera, don't use your shitty ass camera phone.

cassielk posted:

perfect_angel posted:

cassielk posted:

My biggest annoyance is when people take a concert as an opportunity to be aggressive assholes. I had pit tix for my last NIN show- waited all damn day outside in the rain to get up front. Some big guy kept trying to push me out of my spot and when I told him to knock it off he flipped out on me. Grabbed me and starting screaming in my face and threatening me. I had to get the fuck out and go to the very back.

Second huge annoyance- Some chic standing behind me screaming "I LOVE YOU TRENT!! YOU ARE HOTTT TRENT!". Jesus, I want to be raped by Reznor as much as the next chick, but I still find that incredibly obnoxious.

I'm wondering if security at the venue would actaully do something about a situation like that? I would think its totally different then being bumped around in the pit, I wouldn't think too much of that, but someone targeting you, until you had to move to the back? I would have a fit, the whole damn place would know it! Sorry you had to loose your place after waiting all day, damn bullies.

It was such utter chaos with the crowd already being nuts. Plus I freaked out and panicked and just wanted out at that moment. I am a self-admitted immense wimp

That's another reason crowd surfers and such bug me. If security didn't have to keep an eye out for oncoming joy-riding douchebags, or drunks vomiting on people, etc, they'd be better able to react to situations where they're actually needed.

perfect_angel posted:

I'm wondering if security at the venue would actaully do something about a situation like that? I would think its totally different then being bumped around in the pit, I wouldn't think too much of that, but someone targeting you, until you had to move to the back? I would have a fit, the whole damn place would know it! Sorry you had to loose your place after waiting all day, damn bullies.

I was at a private queens of the stone age concert and i had a couple target me because i was at the front....i pulled a hissy fit and security backed me up. the problem was this couple had 20 drunk friends ready to start a riot....and also what happens to you after you leave the venue...security can't protect you then either!

so basically i had to kiss make up even tho the guy had his arms around me jamming is hard on in to me and his girl friend was trying to take my camera, pinching, jabbing,yelling and harassing myself and my friends. i eventually got the guy on my side and he took care of his girlfriend as best as he could....she was a psycho so that would be tough.