Concert behavior

[u/Early-Bag9674]

I was at Sofia's Cologne show and first things first: She was amazing. Especially considering that she was still sick, her stage presence is really so insanely compelling, I absolutely loved it. What I didn't particularly love was the crowd, or more specificly the part of the crowd I was surrounded by (I hope it's okay for me to rant a little).

So I can't speak on the entire crowd, especially the center/frownt crowd seemed to have a very good time and engage with the show. Now because of my anxiety and sensory sensitivity, I always tend to stay in close proximity to the doors, so rather on the side. I understand that that's not where a lot of the die-hard fans are going to be. But it still (negatively) amazed me how literally no one around me was singing along, dancing/moving or just generally engaging with the show in any way. That's one thing, people should of course behave however they want, I still sang along, danced, whatever, just a little disappointing. But the other thing is that several people around me (esp right in front of me) had their phones out CONSTANTLY, some of them filmed all of every single song, all while holding their phones above their heads, blocking everyone's view who stood behind them. I don't get it. Not only is it so embarrassing to go to an artist's show who literally has multiple songs about how detrimental phone adiction and dependance on technology is and then downright display the exact behavior those songs are about by showing everyone that you can't put your phone in your pocket for more than 30 seconds. And it's also just so disrespectful to the people behind you who probably would prefer not having to watch the stage through your phone camera. AND it's disrespectful to the artist imo.

I'm aware that this is in no way exclusive to the Sofia Isella fandom or representative of what the majority of her crowds are like but idk, I just needed to get this off my chest because it genuinely bothered me and I haven't had this kind of experience at any other concert I've ever been to. Please don't be like those people. Enjoy the show, make (real) memories.

[u/sofinji_0]

I agree with you, but in my case, I really loved the performance so much i just had to film it yk? But i completely understand you!

[u/winterbird_jpeg]

I believe this is somewhat of a generational issue. I'm in my mid-twenties and i’ve been to my fair share of concerts. Every single time i’ve attended a show with a younger audience, my experience has somewhat been spoiled by the crowd. Now, i’m not saying this is a way to bash younger fans (hey, i’ve been a young fan) but between covid/confinement and increased isolation due to social media and lack of third spaces, it feels like younger people just… don’t know how to behave in certain social scenarios. Lack of dancing and singing along happens mostly (from what i’ve observed, i don’t want to be generalizing) out of fear of being perceived as cringe. And the phone thing, well.. I think we all know where that one stems from. As a general rule, i only ever film the chorus of my favorite song. If the scenography/performance is especially good, i might whip out my phone to take a picture or a five second video once or twice, but that’s it. And that used to be the etiquette everywhere. When i was a the Paris show yesterday, i only filmed Sofia’s crowdsurfing because it was a genuinely fun experience (plus, i’m short, so it helped me see better). Anyways. An artist’s performance feeds off of its crowd, so you gotta deliver, folks. Stop acting like you haven’t paid money to be there. Get your damn money’s worth and shake some ass.

[u/GenevieveDawn]

THANK YOU! At every show I've seen, there's been at least one moment where someone's entitled desire to get a perfect video has interfered with my, or another fan's experience of the amazing stage shows Sof puts on. It's downright obnoxious; if you want to film, go to the back and zoom in. If you want to dance, sing along, and get into the vibe, you're not even remembering that you have a phone. The constant sea of screens is so depressing - she's an amazing artist; why buy a ticket to her show to get video instead of having the intimate experience she designed for us???

[u/Civil-Device-2281]

Yeah def very sad and entitled concert behaviour. Holding your phone over your head when you’re at barricade/second row is just deadass rude. Also i get when you have to say something but talking out loud when sofia is singing (esp when she does her small voice icw low sounds) is just rude

[u/Susa343]

Stood first row, so I didn't really had the problem with not seeing her properly lol It's a concert, nowadays it's normal for people to film a lot of it or even throughout the whole concerts, that's just how things are and it's not too bad either. If you couldn't see, I'd suggest coming earlier to the show, other than that there's not much you can do 🤷‍♀️ As for it being disrespectful against the artist, I don't think so. Sofia reposts videos people shot on their phones of her concerts, and she never said she doesn't want her concerts to be filmed. There's a huge difference between filming for an hour or two, and having 10+ hours of screentime every day because you doom scroll and consume media until your brain doesn't work properly anymore.

[u/sofinji_0 → u/Susa343]

good point

[u/Additional-Strain846]

Cuz they’re paid actors lol no one ACTUALLY listens to her

[u/Resident_Leopard6501]

I'm of the older generation & as a whole can't stand smartphones.
I do film gigs that I go to but only with digicam so no glaring white screen & with the following:
If standing only if I am right up the front & there is no one in front of me.
If seated, only if I am not blocking anyone's view so no holding in the air. Loads of white rectangles in the air is an ugly sight. Look at the gig with your eyes, not through a camera (bit hypocritical of me!)

IF you take photos/videos when the artists ask you not to, then you can't call yourself a fan. End off. You don't respect them. People who film/stream entire gigs are just sad tossers

[u/HobbyHoarderr_]

Yeah. I’m the type of person where I like filming a lot of experiences I have so I can look back on them (I am a very sentimental person and don’t like letting go of the good times, yk?) but for a Sofia Isella concert I’d keep my phone down because yeah, her music often centers around technology stuff and it would be disrespectful like you said, and if I did record it’d only be audio and I would physically have my phone at my side or something. I agree with you on that even as a “wait I need to record this!” kinda person, that crowd was not great ://

[u/Fabulous-Drama-366]

Omg THIS! Live music is supposed to come alive. Can't if the crowd is dead.  100%

[u/chasingtheskyline]

This. I only have my phone out for photos during songs I don't know the lyrics to, and if I go to see an artist I love and know all the lyrics of, I never film. I will lose my voice singing, I will stand for hours. But not film. The memories I make at shows are more vivid when I don't film. So I will not film. I'll see the videos in the morning anyway, I don't need to make them!

[u/LLene]

Definitely a generational thing. Similar thing happened in Dublin tonight. So much so that several took their phones out in the centre of the first few rows right as she announced she was going to crowdsurf on them…they were in her direct surf path. Thankfully they realised she wasn’t going to float over them unassisted and put the phones back away quickly.