WHY ARE YOU HERE?

super professional opinion on concert etiquette

this topic has been on my mind ever since i saw The Frey in December, and the girl behind me told me to stop flicking my hair. Yes. I was in GA at a literal rock concert, and this girl was mad about some hair in her face.

LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME? why the HELL would you pay for GA if you’re not willing and prepared for a bloody nose?!!! WHY ARE YOU HERE?

Halsey, Melbourne 20/2/2026

I saw Halsey last Friday on the closing night of her “Back to Badlands” Tour (incredible) and she said something that made me love her even more.

“i don’t care if you sing, dance, just watch, scream…but if you’re one of those people that gets mad about the person next to you having fun, what the hell are you doing here?”

- don’t quote me on that, it was something along those lines but if someone videoed it please send it through so i can get it exact!

i was like PERIOD THANK YOU. and best believe i proceeded to go absolutely feral (still dealing with the head banging repercussions 3 days later)

unfortunately, its worse the bigger the artist/band. i have noticed the crowds are always more authentic and cohesive, the smaller the artist/band. the best concert experience i ever had was Pale Waves in 2022, at Wax Watts Melbourne. its a small venue which is always better. but because they were still growing internationally, the people who put the effort to be there, actually wanted to be there. The vibes of the crowd were queer and present.

Pale Waves, 2022

Seeing small local bands live is also often a better crowd experience. Seeing a band in a hotel for $10 just hits different. I won’t even know the band but have so much fun just off the vibes of the place. people who have put in the effort to go support a friend or family member, locals who just want to dance. shout out to Snark’s last concert. (you should totally check out All Regards now that Snark are broken up)

NOW A PSA TO TALL PEOPLE. I genuinely believe you have a public duty to stand behind a short person. I AM NOT SAYING you need to stand at the back. all im saying is that if there is someone obviously far shorter than you, right behind you, offer for them to go in front of you. YOU CAN LITTERALLY SEE OVER THEIR HEAD, YOU CAN SEE OVER ALL OUR HEADS! ALL WE CAN SEE IS THE BACK OF YOUR UGLY HEAD.

another opinion i just came up with. there is no harm in asking the person next to you if they mind you bumping into them. this girl next to me at Halsey was really getting into it with her friend and we kept accidentally hitting each other. and eventually she’s like:

“omg im sorry i keep hitting you”

me “no omg i keep doing the same”

her “i don’t care honestly don’t stress”

me “no same, you can hit me all you want, i don’t care”

and i just love that communication. it allowed us to both let loose even more.

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Ok so I’m writing this straight onto Substack with no draft, and ive just read it back and i wanna point out that what im saying is with no hate to people who don’t dance, or get overstimulated, have social anxiety or whatever it is. Concerts SHOULD be more accessible to you. but if you know you don’t want people bumping into you, drinks getting splashed on you, a potential bloody nose and HAIR IN YOUR FACE, then please just don’t buy GA. Buy a seated ticket.

okay, thanks.