IT’S SHOWTIME!
THE ETIQUETTE OF THE FRONT ROW
By Zoe Macfarlane
I am a seasoned festival-goer and there is something I see at almost every gig and it riles me, causing my blood to simmer at the sheer rudeness and lack of music-etiquette. It’s that one person (usually a guy) just standing there, not even their head dipping in time to the music, never mind looking like they are happy to be there. Looking bored at the back of a gig is kind of acceptable, but looking like you’d rather be supermarket shopping for cat food in that coveted front row position is downright rude.
The responsibility of that front row spot is more than just your need to rest your arms on a metal barrier because you’re a tad tired, even if you’re only standing there because it’s the next DJ that you are dying to see. Anyone in that coveted spot has a responsibility to participate in front row etiquette and that is move to the beat of the music, smile, raise your hands in the air, maybe even an occasional fist pump to show your appreciation for the DJ. If you can’t do that, then move away, those cool-arse hipsters at the back are waiting for you.
Hell, next time you are at a show, you could even try faking it for a bit - you might find yourself carried away with the music and actually enjoying yourself. Yes, enjoy yourself. At a gig. The one you paid to come to. How novel.
That DJ that you dropped some tens on has probably flown considerable distance to come and lube your eardrums with his or her (let’s face it, it’s probably ‘his’) beats and vibe.
Not only did they have to give up their comfort, WiFi access and possible their arm
rest for those few aircraft hours but they probably also allocated some time before
their set to consider what kind of crowd they would be playing to and what the local
scene was into and this was factored that into their planning. Then the promoters
and crew worked on setting the scene for the perfect gig or festival.
At some venues this may only take a few hours but if you’re idling at the front at
a big festival like Electric Daisy Carnival or Tomorrowland then this took weeks.
Many weeks of planning, weeks of scheduling staff, machines and equipment, and
a couple of weeks of physical manpower to erect the whole shebang.
Not only this, but have you noticed that there are whole bunch of people around
you absolutely AMPED to be there standing in front of their DJ idol, waiting for
their favourite tune to drop, hands raised in the air at the thrill of actually being there?
You, with your lifeless expression and statuesque posing, are actually taking their
spot in the front row, killing their vibe (just a little, you’re really not that important) and blocking their view of the decks.
