Being An Audience Member

Hello all!



I'm writing a paper on audience interaction with musical arists and I am interested in what your opinions are from being audience members. I'm focused on the differences between being an audience member at a rock music concert and an indie music concert. I'd be so grateful if you could post a few of your thoughts/answers to my questions:



1. In your opinion, what is the difference between being an audience member in a rock music concert and an indie music concert (indie denoting bands that are currently unsigned or bands that used to be indie but have now signed with major labels). Please specific the bands or concerts you attended to answer this question and the details which differentiate being in a rock audience vs. an indie audience.



2. Which do you find more physical? a rock or indie concert audience?



3. Do you ever fear for your safety while in either a rock or indie concert setting? State which genre of music and why



4. If you are a participant in mosh pit culture, why do you do so?



5. If you are not a participant in mosh pit culture, why is that?



6. Where are groupies (people who seek sexual and/or emotional intimacy with the musical artist) acceptable? Rock concerts? Indie concerts? Both? None? Explain why:



Thanks for your help! Even if you can't answer all the questions, please try answering #1! If you don't feel comfortable posting here, you can e-mail your responses to: sjchan@lycos.com.

 

i'm not really sure of the difference between Indie and Rock concerts...i 'm going to answer these kinda based on big name/small name band shows.

1.In my experience, the crowd at an indie concert cares more about the music itself than just being entertained or the social aspect. They go just because they enjoy the music, and seem to care more about it. For example: at a Buckcherry/ Avenged Sevenfold (kinda cock-rock mainstream) show, a lot of the people were more frat boys, just getting trashed and stirring stuff up.

2. It really depends on the band(s)

3. Yeah occasionally. But its pretty easy to stay away from the pits or dangerous stuff if you want, so it's not an issue. This is mostly metal/screamo, etc.

4/5. I enjoy the pits that are more shoving and pulsing than the fist-throwing, spinning, crazy ones. Especially if it's heavy or fast, you get into the music and get angry with it and it can be exhilarating. However, i don't see the fun in nailing people in the face, especially since i'm not a big guy.

6. I haven't seen any groupies at shows i've been too. Sure there are slutty dressers, but not really girls just trying to get with the band. Though, maybe it's because i go to shows for good music rather than celebrity figures.

hope it helped.