To all the fans who just sat there....

[ricochet]

Hey Charlie, I was the guy wearing the Opeth Morningrise shirt while waiting in line under that huge umbrella with you.

As for just sitting there, I was also extremely tired throughout and am generally not a power metal fan. I did stand up for most of Blind Guardian as they were really good. I also went down on the floor for PoS (amazing!) and Devin. I don't think it should be a problem for people wanting to sit and enjoy the show or if they weren't interested in every band that played. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[LucioArgento]

Originally posted by Nightmare1z

If you want to stand though, why not just goto down too the standing floor. Or stand in the aisle, something... It's not that hard of a thing to do.

Because the view is awesome from the stands. You get to see the whole stage. Just because there are seats doesn't make it mandatory to actually sit. Again, if you want to sit, that's fine but people should be allowed to stand anywhere they want. Out of interest, what do you do when you go to a smaller gig that doesn't have seating?

The earplug comment seemed a little harsh, I wear earplugs too, and I know a lot do as well.

Yep - I wear earplugs. I was half joking when I said that the obnoxious fuckers who were whining about the people having fun in the stands actually pushed their earplugs in as deep as possible to cut out the sound altogether to get to sleep. You took me too literally.

The sleeping comment also is judgemental. Some people, my girlfriend, fell asleep yes. She fell asleep during Angra, when it was one at night. After two long days, she was tired. So get off people's back if they are tired.

I understand if people are tired late at night etc but these people were asleep during Silent Force, most of Edguy, and all of Blind Guardian - that is a DISGRACE. Get out and go to the hotel so someone else can grab the seat. They were only wide awake for one band.

Look - this was a sold out show and there are people out there who missed out on a gig of a lifetime because they couldn't get a ticket. There doesn't seem to be any justice when there are people who would have given their left nut to get in to see all the bands and have fun, and others come to see one band only (in this case PoS), and sleep and whine through the rest.

Perhaps I should have written a thousand word first post to make the situation more specific and , but to be honest, I didn't think that this would blow out of proportion. It seemed like the first response was the only one that truly understood the essence of the note.

Originally posted by Charlie E.
the whole thing about how apalled you were for people not clapping along etc when the bands ask is laughable.

Back that comment up please. If you're telling me that you go to a gig and not cheer when your favorite band appears, or applaud when you like something then at least I know you are in the minority because that is just plain weird dude.

 

[Obyeybyeogone]

I only went on the floor for Devin Townsend and Pain of Salvation. I really enjoyed some of the other bands, and I stood up in my seat and clapped a lot to let them know. Some of those powermetal bands do nothing for me, and i'm not standing the whole time for a band I don't really care for. I did clap after each song, as I respected them nonetheless. I was annoyed when Silent Force tried to force us to stand up.

 

[AcesHigh]

As a brazilian fan, I must say no metal shows in Brasil have seats. The exception was Joe Satriani and now Rush.

Ive been to Rock In Rio 3... 28 hours of bus travel from my city in Rio Grande do Sul state to Rio de Janeiro... 1600 km.
We arrived in Rio at 10 am Friday... walked around Copacabana for some 3 hours then went straight to Rock City... oh yeah, must I say we DIDNT slept in the thursday - friday night (the bus sound system played Craddle of Filth VERY loud the entire night!)

Once arriving at Rock City, we stood there from 3 PM to 3 AM (the end of Maiden concert), having seen Pavilhão 9, Queens of Stone Age, Sepultura, Halford and Iron Maiden.

More... there were 250.000 people there! Everyone trying to get to the front row to see Maiden. I was squeezed and squashed, but it didnt matter. I am a metalhead and I was there to see Maiden. Personally, I dont think seating is something for metalheads... it just dont fit with a metalhead image!

 

[Nightmare1z]

But see, people should be allowed to sit wherever they want too. Really, there's no right answer for either side. I see your point, but I can also see the seaters point. Who has the right to be where they are? It's hard to say...

Also, my earplug comment referenced the standing part. Last concert before ProgPower was standing only, *The Cotton Club*, and I was fine doing it. I would have preferred seating, but if push comes to shove, standing is fine by me.

Well, that's crazy if people slept through Silent Force, Edguy, or Blind Guardian. Edguy especially, the place was so up I don't see how one could. I don't know..I didn't see anyone sleeping that early, only the late bands did I see that. Angra especially, seemed like half people around me were sleeping. *shrugs* I can only comment on what I saw

 

[Charlie E.]

Originally posted by LucioArgento

Back that comment up please. If you're telling me that you go to a gig and not cheer when your favorite band appears, or applaud when you like something then at least I know you are in the minority because that is just plain weird dude.

My comment was in reply to this:

And IMO, you have to be completely detached from any musical emotion when singers like Tobias Sammet were asking everyone to stand up and clap their hands - yes, there were people who even stayed seated throughout Edguy.

Your problem is you make broad generalizations and comments, then completely turn around and change things around when people defend their reasons.

First you're bitter about people sitting, then turn around and say you only don't like people who ask others to sit. Then you frown upon people who don't clap along, then turn around and say you only frown upon people who don't clap along to their favourite bands.

Believe me I wish I and everyone else could read your mind

Opethiansoul: I don't recall a big umbrella I did see a few Opeth shirts near the Earthlink live parking exit tho, where I stood around for a while. You sure you got the right Charlie?

 

[Imajica]

OK, this is getting out of hand. But I feel the need to jump in and put my two cents in also. First, everyone there was a fan. Not everyone shows it the same way. I was sitting for all the bands and wearing earplugs. You will find when you get older that it's harder on the body to stand all night long. You get tired. It happens. Can't be helped. Get over it. Second if someone wants to stand, let them move down onto the floor. Don't block other peoples veiw. They paid there money and are entitiled to see the show. Third LucioArgento, if you think someone would have given their left nut to be there then why the hell didn't they buy a ticket when they went on sale like everyone else? People shelled out lots of money for tickets, airfare, and hotel. I think that right there should say they were fans, don't you? I know this trip set me back $600. So don't even think of saying i am not a fan just because i sit down and don't applaude. That doesn't mean I didn't appreacite all the bands making their long treks to play in front of us. Because I did. Everybody is different. So stop pointing fingers. We are all fans and metal brothers period.

 

[sh0kr0k]

I think I see this from both sides.. I'm not going to pick a side, but I would like to make an observation. If there is a complaint about seats being saved for people who were on the floor, yet there is also complain that those who want to stand should reliquish their seats and view in order to enjoy the music the way they wish to, what happens then??

I sat for the first three bands, but stood to give applause and enjoy the climax of the Edguy set (I simply HAD to rock out during Avantasia!) I wasn't about to lose my seat just to go down to the floor for two or three songs, but I'll be damned if I'm not going to stand up for some of my favorite music or stand to applaud the band! I tend to be kind of self-conscious in that setting though, realizing that the people behind me do have the right to sit and I feel bad for blocking their view. It's curteousy to do so, but it's also curteousy to allow people in front of you to stand for a bid while they are enjoying the songs. Everyone has their own way of enjoying the music, but I'm not about to ask anyone to enjoy music the same way I do..... it's much like religious worship We all have our preferences of worshipping...

Anyways, so if I really want to sit with my 3 friends during the entire event except for one band, should we relinquish our seats then have the near impossible task of finding that many together again just because we wanted to stand for a few songs?? Or would it be acceptable to have one or two of us who aren't totally into the same band stay by the seats and hold them for us so we can all enjoy the show together??

My point is that both parties need to be more curtious... I mean, if the people behind you are sitting and it's a particulary uninspiring part fo the set - sit down as a respect to others. If you want to rock out for the whole set but don't want to lose your seat, ask your friends or the very same seated people behind you to make sure it's open when you return... and I really hope that no one honestly was upset about seats being saved for between sets! I can understand if you need a closer seat, but there should be no other reason to complain about that.

I'm just glad there WAS seating and that it was a great view! I want to rock out for every song to every band, but I would also like to see over the towering 6'+ fans... there is no middle ground.

~Sh0kr0k~

 

[woosta]

Am I the only one here who has to fight dozing off during great music? I mean, with Blind Guardian all just seemed right with the world and the music was just the hands rocking my little baby cradle making me tired. I love closing my eyes and just letting the sounds go through me sometimes.

I've always told my wife that if she wants to sleep, metal music is the best to sleep to because for me it's like a biorhythm machine making just the right soothing sounds.

 

[bsbarnes]

Speaking for myself, Gamma Ray kicked my ass so thoroughly that I had nothing left for Angra. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Angra but was able to muster little more than some handclaps.

 

[maiden#6]

the excuse making is really sad here people. this was many of the bands' first show in the states. i don't care if you were tired. (i will give a pass to the girl with leukemia and any old farts with arthritis). i was quite embarrassed to look around and see so much apathy. this isn't classical music or an opera. put yourself in the mindset of let's say Angra for example. you've never played the states before and you are pumped up only to come on stage and look into the seats to see many knodding off. why do you think they try and get the crowd involved by asking you to sing along and clap. they feed off the crowd's energy. i was tired as hell the second night but still managed to have enough respect for the bands to show them physically by clapping and whistling and whatever i could, that they were appreciated. and for you who enjoy the music by simply being still and absorbing it quietly, just listen to your cd's then or wait for a live cd or dvd to come out. it wouldn't surprise me if many of the bands are reluctant to make any major plans for the states in the future. but kudos to the fans who did show enthusiasm and made the bands feel appreciated!!!

 

[MadeInNewJersey]

Finally! Someone besides Lucio & myself who gets it! If you want to sit down for an ENTIRE show, go see Yes. They love that sort of thing (I like Yes, so stifle your flaming). This was Gamma Ray. Edguy. Angra. Blind Guardian. And so on. Don't think there weren't TONS of tired people who were troopers and still managed to rock out. Last I checked it was a metal show, no?

Lest anyone misunderstand me, there were plenty of times I sat as well, especially during songs I either didn't care for very much or when I just needed a breather. But more often than not, I was up there headbanging and playing air guitar and looking like a fool. And loving every minute of it. It's all just my opinion, but it shouldn't be said that if someone wants to stand, they should go to the floor. And vice versa. I was in the seated area and I was standing. And no one behind me complained one bit. Just my additional 2 cents.

 

[Feanor]

I'm not american, I'm from latinamerica and concerts overthere are diferent. I think the americans should learn from the eropeans and from the latinos. For the ones that posted that they liked to watch what was happening, I'll tell them that the Dream theater DVD is great, don't go to a power concert and not feel the energy of the band. It was almost an insult. When a went to the DT tour, the last one, I bang like crazy and I was in front. I don't get people try to play the rol of intelectuals and analize the music in a concert. Buy the DVD, download a video, buy the cds and study them. It's our responsibilit to sing the songs in a concert. Blind Guardian is the best example. Tobias was right that the americans are, sometimes and not all of them, a little square and rigid... for the ones that took a nap don't come next year.

 

[Se7enChurches]

Originally posted by bsbarnes
Speaking for myself, Gamma Ray kicked my ass so thoroughly that I had nothing left for Angra. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Angra but was able to muster little more than some handclaps.

I had this problem too, and it was more extreme for two reasons: a) i'm not really much of an Angra fan to begin with, and b) I ended up in front at the railing in full view of the band because my girlfriend is a huge Angra fan and didn't want to move from the great front spot we had for gamma ray, obviously. I'm glad everyone around me was so energetic, because I hate insulting a band that's giving an awesome performance, which angra were. I was just completely dead on my feet the whole set, though.

Ryan

 

[lady_space]

So if I'm not a *major* fan of every single band playing _and_ able to muster the stamina to stay on my feet the entire time, you guys want me to stay home next year? I'm sorry if some people's reactions turned some of you off, but you can, quite frankly, kiss my ass. I enjoyed most of the show, but not all of it, and I'm not going to be enthusiastic for something I don't particularly care for. You guys may want to limit attendance to only those fans who are fanatical over every band, but I'm glad it's not you making those decisions.

I thought it was great to see so many of you enjoying the show so much (Daybreaker in particular I noticed), but not all of us feel that way. I wanted to give some of these other bands a chance, and I sat and watched and listened. There's not a damned thing wrong with that, and I'm sorry some of you think there is. I wish more people had given PoS more of a chance (and e batter reaction), but I'm not going to start calling for them to stay home next year if they didn't enjoy the set because they don't like PoS or because it was a freakin' morgue in there and they were tired from the previous, you know, like entire day.

I think it's sad that some people want to generalize and criticize so much. Rant over.

Shaye

 

[MadeInNewJersey]

@lady space: Who exactly said anything that you're feeling attacked about? I don't think anyone did. No one said having to stand for every band. I know I certainly didn't. No said anything about "limiting attendance to only those fans who are fanatical over every band" because then no one would be there. You're feeling attacked and I don't really know why. If you want to sit down during the bands you love (I'm assuming PoS), that's your right. But don't look at me cross-eyed because I want to stand and bang my head to the bands I love, ok? Thanks!

 

[woosta]

Maiden#6, this IS opera for me. This is my opera. I don't need to be a braindead slobbering kid to experience any band. My wallet shows appreciation and my actions show respect. I don't want to sing. If you want to sing, sing your fucking heart out. I may or may not want to move during a show. If you want to go into fits and seizures, go right ahead.

What gets me is that people (like me) who enjoy metal from a seated vantage point are being criticized by some yapping upstarts who think that they are on some high ground because they play along with the band. Son, I've seen more metal and heard more songs than most people see and hear in a lifetime. I do what I want when I want regardless of who wants me to do what. You want a bitch, get yourself a date and order that person around as to what they should do. As for me, you'll see me sitting at ProgPower and all the other US festivals LONG after the likes of you rabble rousers are gone on into The Dave Matthews Band.

I was tired, but even if I were completely awake and energized, I'd still sit. I've stood for HElloween. I've stood for Saxon. I've stood for UDO. I've stood for Virgin Steele. I've stood for Soilwork, In Flames, Hypocrisy and Accept. I've stood for Primal Fear. I've been standing through shows for most of my life. When I get a chance to be seated and comfortable, I'm damn well gonna do that. I'd rather do that. Of course, since I bought the goddamned tickets, I could just as easily wipe my ass with them. That's my choice too. If anyone here doesn't like it, tough shit. Buy your ticket before I get mine in the first 5 minutes of sale.

 

[lady_space]

Originally posted by markgugs
@lady space: Who exactly said anything that you're feeling attacked about? I don't think anyone did. No one said having to stand for every band. I know I certainly didn't. No said anything about "limiting attendance to only those fans who are fanatical over every band" because then no one would be there. You're feeling attacked and I don't really know why. If you want to sit down during the bands you love (I'm assuming PoS), that's your right. But don't look at me cross-eyed because I want to stand and bang my head to the bands I love, ok? Thanks!

Okay, waitaminnit... I never criticized anyone else for enjoying the bands I didn't, or more obviously or phyiscally or what-have-you, much less looked cross-eyed at anyone (that you could actually see, anyway). On the contrary, I said it was great to see so many of y'all _so_ into it, but I think it's ridiculous to expect everyone to share that enthusiasm.

I'm not going to go through every post in this thread and at least one other where people have made critical comments about people sitting and cut and paste what I'm referring to--things like "if you enjoy music quietly, listen to CDs at home" and "give your tickets up for the real fans," etc.--they're there, and I never said they were _your_ comments. There's an attitude being voiced by some, against people sitting down at all that I dislike... I don't think it's fair and I think, quite frankly, that attitude sucks. I get pissed off at things like that, and I blow off steam.

I just wish everyone would stop and think and realize that not everyone reacts the same way to everything and be cool with that, that's all. Personally, I thought the crowd reactions for several of the bands were great, even if I wasn't down there on the floor for them. The gods know some of you younger chaps have to carry the torch for us old, worn-out fools. And those of us who are oh-so-delicate in nature.

And there's no way in hell--unless I'm in some sort of a cast--I would be sitting on my ass for PoS (or several other of the fantastic bands there this weekend). Hell, I'm looking at their tour schedule and wondering if I can afford another European vacation. Does that qualify as enough of a fan for some of the rest of y'all?

Shaye

 

[JayKeeley]

Wow - this is the first time I've seen people gang up on one person on this forum. Personally if someone posts something I disagree with, I ignore the thread. Woosta - if you're getting so heated about this then walk away from the forum, your just insulting people now for no reason - almost as if this thread is just about you. If you don't have any guilty conscience about sitting then you shouldn't get so heated. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions right?

I stood for the bands I liked and I sat for the ones I was interested in hearing, but always gave a standing ovation because any band that shows up deserves that, and I left the venue for acts that I had no interest in to make room for devoted fans who appreciated the seat more than me.

As with what Feanor said (and Maiden#6), the majority of the people in the seats did remain seated throughout. I'm not complaining about that, but even I will admit, I was a bit surprised to see everyone sitting and not even clapping along etc. It definitley isn't like that in Europe, whether it be a metal gig. Metal gigs there are like soccer games - the passion, the energy, the singalongs, the chanting. Maiden#6 brought up a really important point about feeding off the energy from a crowd. Imagine if you are in a band on stage, and the crowd just stares at you without even applauding. That would make me feel crap!

Sitting infront of me were, in my opinion, the definition of a boring couple. The guy nodded off throughout the entire event and the woman played games on her cellphone for most of the gig. So I will ask the question - why bother going? Yes they had tickets, but I think there is more justice somehow when you see the devotion of a fan responding to the music compared to, say, when people choose the sleep option. When people are bored in school, they doodle on their notepads or fall asleep. So how is this body language any different?

 

[Wishmaster]

All I can say is that y'all should be happy to have the option of such good seating in a venue that size. The guys on the crew were on their feet starting early each morning, and stayed until long after everyone left each night. When/If ProgPower moves to another venue, the seating might not be as nice or as plentiful. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Everyone enjoys a concert in their own way. be it standing up front, sitting in the back or by osmosis while sleeping on the sound board. As long as you, the individual, were able to make it to the show, and enjoy the bands you wanted to see, what is there to really complain about? ProgPower III was a wonderful experience that I will remember for years to come, but I'm already excited about what's to come next year. What about you?

--Mike