Tulsa World: Best seat in the house: Or...is it stand? (It's a little of both.)

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Best seat in the house: Or...is it stand? (It's a little of both.)

Sitting — and standing — for the Celine Dion show at the BOK Center last February. "What we do not allow," said Casey Sparks, BOK director of marketing, "is people to stand up in their chairs." Aerosmith plays the BOK Thursday. ADAM WISNESKI / Tulsa World

By KAREN SHADE World Scene Writer
Published: 7/26/2009 3:46 AM
Last Modified: 8/10/2009 12:53 PM

Cheryl Melvin wouldn't call herself a regular concertgoer. For one thing, her husband isn't big into the spectacle and noise. The other is the economy.

But they'd both make an exception for Aerosmith.

"We really like Aerosmith, and I'm taking my two girls. I have a 20-year-old and a 16-year-old. They're big fans, and I just thought, we're not really going anywhere big vacation-wise this summer, so it's just something to do with the family."

She paid more than a pretty penny for her Broken Arrow family's balcony seats to the Thursday show at the BOK Center. Like other fans who will join them in the arena, they want to enjoy themselves.

When you put thousands of people into the same space, not everyone is going to agree on what "fun" means.

To some that means politely staying seated and clapping along. To others it means high energy, dancing and shouting.

What happens when the two meet? Usually nothing when people are aware of one another. Like Melvin, some people give in and don't feel sorry for it.

"I'd just get up and dance, too," she said.

That's not a problem for many venues, including the BOK.

"Our policy is we don't request people to sit down," said Casey Sparks, director of marketing and sales for the BOK Center. "They're there to have a good time, so if they want to get up and dance, that's allowed. What we do not allow is people to stand up in their chairs."

When it comes to big concerts, we've all been there

— you pay for seats that are just within your price range, but still wish for better.

You get to your seat, and just as you sit back to tap a foot to James Taylor with all your refreshments, it begins — the wave. This isn't the wave that moves around the ballpark. This is the wave that can start anywhere in the arena, theater or hall and leaves anyone seated or lacking stature lost in a sea of swaying heads and arms.

First, one or two people stand several rows in front of you because they can't help themselves, then they are joined by the people behind them who can't see, followed by the row behind them.

Before long, most of the audience is up because they want to experience the concert, as well as hear it.

Musician Al Rey, who recently appeared at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center with the Ancient Dreams Orchestra, has seen his share of concerts, including Eric Clapton, Peter Gabriel and U2.

"I would say there was pressure there. It depends on the show," he said. "Yeah, there's social pressure, man — if people around you are kind of stiff and there's not much going on, (or) if everybody else stands up. It's sort of a spontaneous thing."

And who doesn't like a little spontaneity?

A confession

"I'm one of those people who get up and stand in front of you because I enjoy it so much," said Debbie Jones, a regional vice president of Protix.com, an online ticketing agent for venues throughout Arizona and Oklahoma, including the Brady Theater and Cain's Ballroom.

"Now, would I stand there to the point of making somebody mad sitting behind me? No, absolutely not. But I paid for my space too, and I want to enjoy the concert experience like anyone else."

Jones often works the box office for Brady events. She's heard plenty of audience members complain about not being able to enjoy the concert, whether it's because they can't see over the person in front or because of other disturbances. The staff can usually find another seat with a better view for the patron to settle their grievances.

At times, the staff will get several complaints from concert-goers about a single individual, who is subsequently made to leave, she said.

At Cain's, it's a little different. The entire concert is standing room only, but what people will do to stand closer to the stage or stand out

"We had Andrew Bird here in March," said Hunter Rodgers, the music hall's co-owner. "It's a very quiet show, and there was this group of guys that would not shut up. Nobody wanted to say anything to them, but you could see everybody eyeing them. I don't think they ever got the point. They were drunk."

Then there are the howlers, the daisy-girl chains locking hands as they weave their way through the crowd; and the elbowers, the people who get way too close for comfort.

As an audience member, Rodgers is much more forgiving.

"I'm not the type of person who would even say something to somebody though. I would just let it slide, just because I'm nice, I guess — avoid confrontation," he said.

It seems most people are willing to let a few things slide when it comes to their concert seats, even if they didn't come cheap.

The prevailing rule seems to be, "Go with the flow."

"I went to Lindsey Buckingham, and there were several songs that he did (that) made people want to jump up. I was one of the first ones (up) and one of the last ones to sit down," Jones said.

It all comes back to that social pressure Rey brought up. More than just standing up, pack mentality thrives, and it all depends on the guys or girls on stage.

"If you're up there in a command position telling people to get rowdy, then they're going to get rowdy.

For those rule breakers who sit when everyone stands and vice versa, perhaps this may help.

"I would say if I was somebody that didn't want to be bothered, I'd sit in the balconies. People in balconies typically don't stand through the whole thing," Jones said.

Then again, "rule" benders — whether they're demanding a refund or are fueling the frenzy — will always do their own thing.

Karen Shade 581-8334
karen.shade@tulsaworld.com

By KAREN SHADE World Scene Writer

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