Emma Rouine
What do you think of when you hear the words “toxic fan culture”? Is it the greed of taking another fan’s place by going to a show more than once? Sure, this can be annoying, but should these actions be labelled as toxic? In reality, fan culture has much bigger problems.
Some concert-goers continue to complain about fans attending multiple shows of the same artists, I can’t help but think – what is toxic about a fan wanting to hear their favourite songs live again? These songs could be their escape from reality, or have a deep meaning to them. From queuing at all hours to questionable phone use at concerts, there are many fan culture faux-pas far more toxic than going to see your fave more than once.
Queuing Norms and fan culture
Queueing issues are at the heart of the toxic aspects of the concert-going world. Fans now think in order to get a close view of the performance, they need to queue for hours outside the venue. Some people queue overnight, while others will set up base at 7am on show day, even if doors are not open until 6 or 7pm.
“The fact that people have to go to these extremes is shocking”
Earlier this month, at a Harry Styles gig at Slane Castle, fans were allowed into the venue at 2pm. This meant hundreds were in their prized spot for nearly seven hours before Harry set foot on stage, many probably went without food – and not to forget a toilet stop – for the entire time.
Indeed, the gruelling experience these fans endure does not always pay off. Sets often have to be stopped multiple times throughout the show due to audience members fainting. With the heat of the venue, alongside pressure from those pushing at the back of the crowd, fans are soon wiped of the little energy they have left.
The fact that people have to go to these extremes is shocking, and we should question how it has become so normalised. These prevalent queueing norms have created a competition for the best view. Something far more toxic than wanting to watch your fave more than once.
Fan culture and phones
At a 1975 gig in Manila last month, Matty Healy spoke on excessive social media usage: “Every time there’s an experience, something irreverent, we think f*** I need to document this.”
He continued, “Maybe you want to document it because you want to make a TikTok, and I’m sure five of you will get a viral TikTok from this show. But the main reason we do that is because we’re conditioned to validate our experiences.”
In his request to the audience to put down their phones, Healy hit the nail on the head. We often validate our experiences by posting them on social media, in the hopes of getting more Instagram likes or having our TikToks go viral. Concertgoers intending to capitalise off an artist’s popularity can, unfortunately, ruin the experiences of fans who want to simply immerse themselves in the music.
“For die-hard fans, watching concert videos back on loop can be a way to freeze a treasured moment in time.“
Selfish and attention-seeking fans can sometimes be seen grabbing hold of an artist’s arm, chest, neck, whatever, or holding up banners that block others’ views in the hopes they might be noticed. Actions like these are when the true problem of fan culture arises.
Toxicity in fan culture does not stem from the fans who want to experience their favourite songs again and again, but from those who see the music as the least important factor in the concert experience. They dehumanise the artist, seeing them as merely an opportunity to show social media how “cool” they are.
Documenting the experience
For die-hard fans, watching concert videos back on a loop can be a way to freeze a treasured moment in time. The majority of concertgoers have become accustomed to using their phones to capture these memories. I am a victim of this myself.
“How can concerts bring people together when crowds have become a sea of cameras?“
However, it cannot be denied that our preoccupation with phones creates a rift between the artist and the fan. It causes a divide between fans too. Instead of screaming the lyrics to one another, friends grow quiet behind their pocket-sized screens, hoping not to ruin their recordings. How can concerts bring people together when crowds have become a sea of cameras?
The beauty of concerts is their ability to unite people through music. Queuing for increasingly long hours or excessive phone usage undermines the true concert spirit.
These are the fan behaviours we need to be aware of – not the decision to attend an extra concert date every now and again. Failing to acknowledge and challenge these problematic habits will see modern concert etiquette continue to spiral out of control.
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Featured image courtesy of Yvette de Wit via Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.
Emma Rouine
Emma is a Dublin-based English literature student, with a primary focus on lifestyle and music journalism. When she isn't writing, she can be found at a concert or obsessing over her latest music discovery.