Pushing to the front

[Chazeboy]

it really dosent bother me much at all, the thing that gets me is if im down in the "jumpy bit" and someone is pi$$ed because im jumping then its like "well move back a bit" 'cause there is areas and certain times when this happens, it just irks me sometimes

[eFestivals]

what annoys me is when punters pretend they're just passing through, so you sort of lean to one side, or push back into the person behind you just to let them pass, then they just stay there... and you've now got barely enough space to move your feet

erm ..... can I ask how you got to your own position in the crowd? Now, it wouldn't be by going and standing in front of someone else now, would it?

The only person who has any right to complain about this sort of thing is the person who *ALWAYS* goes and stands RIGHT at the back for EVERY show they ever go to. So that's no one.

Aside from those non-existent people, we're all having to stand in front of someone. And for the likes of me - 6'3" - I'm very aware that I'm spoiling someone else's view, but short of having half of my legs chopped off, there's naff all I can do about that, sorry.

If you're short, that's life buddy. Just as the tall's life is one of every f**ker thinking you've stood in front of whoever you have just to f**k them off. Get over yourself, you're nothing special and you have no more right to a view than me, wherever you're stood and however tall you are.

Now, those w*nkers with flags and brollies, that's a whole different ball game.

[r0cky]

Now, those w*nkers with flags and brollies, that's a whole different ball game.

[Mr Ploppy]

If you're short, that's life buddy. Just as the tall's life is one of every f**ker thinking you've stood in front of whoever you have just to f**k them off. Get over yourself, you're nothing special and you have no more right to a view than me, wherever you're stood and however tall you are.

Now, those w*nkers with flags and brollies, that's a whole different ball game.

[Mr Ploppy]

Someone at Big Chill last year had this huge massive umbrella that resembled some kind of insect bug. They were holding this at maximum height arms length bobbing it up and down. Totally obscuring everyone's view. And no, the bobbing wasn't in time to the music, there was none, we were all watching the pyrotechnic fire, or at least trying to around this umbrella.

He was trying to attract the attention of someone he was meeting; but after an hour of pyro (or however long it lasted), he never met anyone. I've got that stupid umbrella permanently recorded on my video footage of that fire now!

Oh yeah, and it was not raining either.

[radish]

I too am relatively tall (6'1"), and often take to offering shorter types around about me in a crowd the use of my shoulders as a seat for a bit if I'm in any danger of blocking their view (which of course then blocks somebody elses view, it could get silly so I normally stop at the one shoulder rental and leave everybody else to catch on to the idea and sort themselves out).

Other than that, when did Glastonbury turn into f**king V? V being the only 'festival' I've ever been to where I very nearly got twatted with a big stick for daring to try to walk past somebody's protected space/picnic blanket. In a crowd of thousands. Chav scum.

It's a crowd in a field, there's no rules (other than common decency, such as no stabbing or violence or covering yourself in shit then charging full pelt down the middle to the front) so make the best of it and just enjoy yourself. Even I get tall gits standing in front of me, I just do what I can to get a view.

Having said that, add to the flag and umbrella bastards those utter utter oh-so-annoying gimps who completely fail to realise that the 6.3 tonne rucksack on their back full of sharp, heavy pointy things might be a bit better off on the floor between their feet rather than on their back knocking people over every time they turn around a bit.

[radish]

If it's ok to push someone aside so you can stand in front them (which some to think), why isn't it ok to have a brolly up if you want, or wave a flag, even if it obscures someone's view, if they want?

[eFestivals]

If I try and get a spot after a band has started, I check if I'm blocking someone's view. It doesn't seem that difficult or precious an act to do. I usually try and get a spot between bands... seeing as it'll only be abour 4 or 5 over the whole weekend, it's not a big deal.

how do yopu check? Do you ask them or merely presume?

Then you're as inconsiderate as the likes of me, who invaribly (cos of my height) could stand nowhere except the back to do different. Sorry, but I have a ticket to a show, not a ticket for the back.

And I'm not just talking about festivals, it's indoor shows too. You go somewhere like the Shepherd's Bush Empire, and if you want to be at the front, or at least close enough to get a half decent view, you get there early. Why should someone who arrives at the last minute have any right to push you aside and stand in front of you?

Push you aside, perhaps not. Stand in front of you and perhaps block your view - every right in the world.

A tall person has a ticket to a show, not a ticket for the back. That's life buddy, get used to it.

Meanwhile, if you were in a building on fire and the exit was too small for anyone but the smaller people to leave by, you'd be saying "well, it's right that I stay here and die too - it's only fair", wouldn't you?

Don't expect better from others than you do yourself.

[eFestivals]

It's not ok to push someone aside to stand in front of them

even that is open to debate.

Often there's someone stood there that you can't get past, with space in front of them. You ask them to move, they look you up and down and see that you're taller than them and so know you'll block their view, and they refuse to move.

f**k 'em - someone so selfish doesn't deserve much in the way of respect. There's space there, and I'm having it. If they won't move then I'm pushing past - I have a ticket to a show, not a ticket for the back.

[The Nal]

how do yopu check? Do you ask them or merely presume?

Then you're as inconsiderate as the likes of me, who invaribly (cos of my height) could stand nowhere except the back to do different. Sorry, but I have a ticket to a show, not a ticket for the back.

[Buzlightyear]

I have just heard that this years Glastonbury will see the introduction of height police.

All stages are to be sectioned off with entrances through height barriers, similar to entering a car park.

It is a very basic formula which works on the principle of small people at the front to tall people at the back.

If you have a tall friend then you will need to move backwards.

This is to ensure everyone has a good view.

Dwarfs, Elves and Pixies will have the front all to themselves, but due to the height of the stage they may struggle to see who is on…

Remember be polite and don’t push.

[The Nal]

Dwarfs, Elves and Pixies will have the front all to themselves, but due to the height of the stage they may struggle to see who is on…

[Buzlightyear]

What about midgets?

[eFestivals]

I look behind me to see if I'm blocking their view.. .. it's not too difficult

yeah, right - of course, no oehasever done that in front of you eh, and blocked your view.

Stages are wide, people are not .... except perspectively they are when they're stood fairly closely in front of you.. You'll be blocking a part of their view, perhaps the part they'd like to see. And you obviously spend your time convincing yourself you're not.

Do you think queueing at bus stops is pointless?

completely different question (unless you know the bus will be full). Everyone gets to get on the bus no matter their place in the queue.

That's not the same at gigs. There'll be tall people and short people, and not everyone will get a view. I don't go out of my way to spoil anyone's view (and make an effort of sorts to try not to) .... but ultimately I know I can't please everyone. That's life.

I then have a choice to move to place to get a view or not. If I move to a place to get a view, I'll invariably be blocking someone else's, and there's nowt I can do about that. I have as much right to stand were I like as much as any other person there.

[The Nal]

They can go to the front too, as can small children, monkeys and other small happy creatures.

[HotChipWillBreakYourLegs]

If you're late for a set you want to see (and it happens to everyone), where do you draw the line for people to move forward? You can't just expect people to stay back and not move in front of anyone coz then you'd get the situation where there would be more people at the back than the front and people would be spilling out onto the paths and chaos would ensue as the walkways get clogged and pepole wouldn't be able to move and the whole festie would come to an absolute STANDSTILL!

The only way of avoiding this nightmare scenario is for everyone to move as physically far forward as they can, even if it involves moving in front of someone else, heaven forbid!

[Balumba]

The thing that grinds my gears more is people talking loudly during quiet songs. Moved away from a group of noissy buggers during elbow last year

[grandadcollective]

For the short people - get in touch with Johnny Ball, Zoe's Dad, he used to do a program called Choc'A'Block on which I am remembering an advert for something called Blockaboots. Who knows, he may even have a few pairs going spare although they did seem popular at the time. Either that or grow a few extra inches between now and then, try sleeping like a bat in your wardrobe or make a periscope out of a loo roll tube and a couple of compact mirrors Peter Davies style.

(edit-sorry, Grandad suffered technical hitch)

Edited June 8, 2009 by grandadcollective

[Balumba]

so... where do u suggest tall peeps should stand to watch a gig?.... u think we should all stand in height order like some giant school photgraph?

[It doesn't get any better]

People come and go at festivals - that's what happens!

There is bound to be late arrivals pushing through or early leavers moving on

There's so much going on you can't be so sniffy about people coming and going. If a taller person arrives in front of you and you have to move 6 inches to the left - it's no big deal

Take it easy, go with the flow and enjoy yourself. The only person getting upset by you stressing about it is yourself - and that is totally futile.

Mind you, people throwing cups of piss is another matter entirely - that really gets on my tits!

[halvin]

I'd like to re-state that if there's a space in front of someone, it should be ok for someone else to move in to that space

[ALABASTER CODIFY]

There's some real uptight people on here, just like at the festival itself.

Last year I left my mates near the front of the Other Stage to go off for a pee. My journey back was obstructed by a real pedantic arse (just like the original poster) who refused to budge even after three "excuse me"s. In fact, he actually made his arms rigid, deliberately sticking out his elbows to stop me passing.

Anyway, rather than risk having to meet another arse like him on my next trip back from the loo, I just stood behind him for the next hour until I needed another pee and then did it all over the back of his leg! Haha! Killed two birds with one stone - got my own back on the knobhead, in a way that made me laugh, and also saved myself a lengthy trip to the portaloo. Ace.

Nobody's got any more right to stand anywhere in the crowds than anyone else. Sounds like the original poster would like some kind of formal standing space allocation system. Get a life mate.

[Alcatraz]

[Wooderson]

Get a life mate.

[freeak]

Are you for real..?

"people talking loudly"

It aint the f**kin cinema!!