Unsolicited Advice: Remember the village

Pick any band in history and survey the crowd that assembles to see them. You'll find Republicans and Liberals, drug users and teetotalers, people who want to go nuts and those who want to stay still and absorb the music.

Sober Phish fans. Republicans who complain that their favorite band Rage Against the Machine went woke. Liberals who swore off Ariel Pink after his attendance at j6. We, including the bands we patronize, contain multitudes.

Live concerts are a delicate ecosystem. They thrive on the differences of the attendees, and that should be celebrated. But individualism can and will often bump up against others.

There is a reason why there is a specific area for the mosh pit and not a general directive to throw your body up against anyone you see fit. It's why there are designated smoking sections.

While concertgoers should embrace what makes them individuals - after all, they're paying for the experience - they should nonetheless remember a concert is a shared experience.

Put it this way - unless you are there to absolutely get hammered with no regard to the band itself or your fellow attendees, it's perhaps best to ground yourself in thinking - what would the band want me to do?

They probably don't want you holding your phone up the entire time or talking over their slower songs. They wouldn't want you hassling your fellow fans. They'd want you to have a fun time but not ruin the show for others. And, if they had the chance to talk to you specifically, they'd probably say, more directly, "Don't be a dick."

The three rules of thumb for any concert

1. Obey the band's wishes. No flash photography means no flash photography.
2. Don't kill your neighbor's vibe. Have fun, but not at someone's expense.
3. Stay responsible. Indulge if you want, but do your best to not be a burden to the staff or your fellow concertgoers.

That's it - have fun!