Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.news.com.au
A Sydney concertgoer has sparked a fiery online debate about live music behaviour after posting a now-viral clip showing her obstructed view at an Olivia Dean show.
Kitty shared a video on TikTok declaring that “concert etiquette is dead” after paying $200 for a ticket, only to find her view blocked by fans standing and dancing in front of her allocated seat.
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The clip shows Kitty seated while the surrounding crowd stands in the seated section of the arena, leaving her staring at the back of other attendees’ heads rather than the stage.
“Sadly seeing Olivia Dean in Sydney didn’t pan out the way I had hoped,” Kitty wrote on her TikTok video, which has now amassed over 750,000 views.
“Also, this is no hate to the person in front of me; they were only standing because everyone in the rows in front of them were, but it just sucks that people have normalised standing in seated areas lately?”
The concertgoer continued her argument while chatting with users in the comment section, claiming, “mosh pit is for standing, seated area is for sitting! sometimes people will stand for the first or last song but not usually the majority of a concert”.
The video quickly went viral, reigniting the age-old debate: should you sit or stand in allocated seating sections?
Etiquette expert weighs in
Addressing the debate, etiquette coach Kate Heussler noted that the dilemma comes down to a “clash of expectations” rather than bad manners.
“I can certainly appreciate the frustration of spending $200 on a concert ticket only to spend the evening admiring the back of someone’s head instead of the artist you’ve paid to see,” Ms Heussler revealed to news.com.au.
“That said, I don’t think this is necessarily a case of concert etiquette going out the window, though rather a good old-fashioned clash of expectations.”
Ms Heussler noted that concert culture varies wildly by artist and demographic.
“Concert etiquette isn’t one-size-fits-all,” she explained.
“If I were attending a Taylor Swift concert, as an example of a large & predominantly GenY/GenZ audience, I’d fully expect thousands of people to be on their feet, singing, dancing, and having the time of their lives.”
She also addressed the common misconception around buying seated tickets, stating the ticket “doesn’t necessarily mean everyone must remain seated throughout the performance”.
Social media divided
The comments section under the viral clip became a battlefield of clashing opinions.
Some users sided with Kitty, arguing that allocated seating exists so attendees can comfortably sit and watch the show.
“If nobody in your section is standing, you shouldn’t be standing. If you want to stand and dance, that’s so okay, but buy pit tickets. Stop acting like the seated seats are just an extension of the pit when they’re not,” one person commented on TikTok.
“Some of us have a really hard time standing for that long. I can’t see because everybody decides to stand,” a second user commented.
“I understand people standing, but when my 6-year-old can no longer see because the people in front of us stand up, it’s really unfortunate,” one person wrote, expressing empathy for concertgoers with children.
“I will never understand the point of seats if you aren’t meant to sit in them? Stand in the aisle if you want to stand! Some people can’t stand for long periods of time,” another person pointed out.
Other people insisted that concerts are meant for dancing, saying that is what the artists want.
“It’s completely normal to stand at concerts, most of the time the artist encourages it,” one person argued.
“Girl you’re supposed to stand at concerts this isn’t new,” a second user wrote.
“What do you mean people are wanting to SIT DOWN during a concert? Stand your arse up, it’s a concert, not a movie,” one person pointed out.
“It’s a concert with music … people usually dance to music. this is not a new thing,” another user commented.
“Buy a good set of headphones and sit on your couch at home to listen to your favourite singer! Concerts are to have fun,” someone suggested.
“Everyone paid the same amount for their tickets as you did for yours and they can use it the way they want, as you can too,” one person revealed.
Some users pointed out that there are other options available for audience members who want to sit the whole time.
“Most concerts everyone stands! look into disabled seats if you have a reason why you can’t stand,” one person commented.
“Get first row seats if you don’t want people standing in front of you lmao this has BEEN normal. everyone stands at concerts,” a second user wrote.
“There is an accessible area in all stadiums where you’re slightly higher so can sit comfortably if you identify as someone with a disability or accessibility issue,” a third chimed in.
Accessibility matters
Ms Heussler emphasised that the conversation is also one of accessibility.
“Where I think this conversation deserves a little more compassion is around accessibility,” she said.
“Not everyone can comfortably stand for an entire concert, whether that’s due to disability, injury, age, or other circumstances. And not every disability is visible.”
She pushed back against suggestions that non-standing fans should simply buy accessible seats.
“We also need to be mindful that people shouldn’t have to explain their medical history to a stadium full of strangers just to justify sitting down,” Ms Heussler explained.
Reading the room
Ultimately, Ms Heussler believes both venue promoters and attendees share the responsibility.
“If an entire section gets up to dance, it’s hardly fair to single out one person for joining in,” she advised.
“Equally if everyone around you is seated and you’re the only person standing for two hours, perhaps it’s time to read the room rather than audition for the role of backup dancer.”
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