Every type of event has its own unwritten rules. Some are obvious, some are not, and breaking them can ruin the experience for you and the people around you. The core principle behind all event etiquette is simple: be aware that you are sharing a space with hundreds or thousands of other people, and that your behaviour directly affects their experience.
This guide covers the etiquette essentials across different types of events, from standing gigs to seated theatres and everything in between.
Universal rules (apply everywhere)
Your phone
Phone use at events is the single biggest source of audience friction. Here is where the line falls for most reasonable people:
Acceptable:
- Taking a few photos during the show
- Filming a short clip (30 seconds to a minute) of your favourite song
- Quickly checking a message during a changeover or interval
Not acceptable:
- Holding your phone above your head for extended periods, blocking the view of everyone behind you
- Filming entire songs or the whole show (nobody will ever watch that footage)
- Having your screen brightness on full in a dark room
- Scrolling social media during the performance
- Making phone calls during the show
- Using flash photography
The person behind you paid the same price for their ticket. They came to watch the performer, not your phone screen.
Talking
Talking during a performance is disruptive at every type of event, but how much talking is acceptable varies by setting:
- Loud gigs and festivals: Shouting to your friend between songs is fine. Having an extended conversation during a quieter song is less fine.
- Theatre and classical music: Complete silence during the performance. Whisper only if absolutely necessary.
- Comedy clubs: Silence during the acts. Laughter is communication, not talking.
- Sporting events: Talk freely. The atmosphere at sport is built on crowd noise.
As a general rule, if the people around you can hear your conversation over the performance, you are being too loud.
Personal space and consideration
Events involve being in close proximity to strangers. Some basic awareness goes a long way:
- Do not stand directly in front of someone much shorter than you if you can move slightly to the side
- If you are wearing a tall hat, a large hairstyle, or anything else that adds height, be conscious of the sightlines you are blocking
- Do not rest your pint on the person in front of you or use their shoulder as a leaning post
- If you need to push past people in a crowd, say "excuse me" rather than just barging through
- If someone asks you to move slightly so they can see, respond with good grace rather than hostility
Standing gig etiquette
Standing gigs are where the most etiquette conflicts occur because the rules are less formal than seated events.
Do not push to the front during the main act
This is the cardinal rule. People who arrived early and waited through the support acts have earned their spots. Trying to shove through to the front once the headliner starts is the most universally disliked behaviour at any gig. If you arrive late, find a gap that naturally exists or accept a spot further back.
Moshing and crowd surfing
At rock and metal gigs, mosh pits and crowd surfing are part of the culture. If you do not want to be involved, stand away from the front centre of the room, where most pits form. If you are in the pit:
- Pick people up if they fall. This is a non-negotiable rule of pit etiquette.
- Do not throw punches or deliberately target people. Moshing is energetic, not violent.
- If someone signals they want out, help them get to the edge.
- Crowd surfers should be supported and passed forward, not dropped.
- Remove watches, glasses, and anything sharp before entering a pit.
Dancing
Dancing at gigs is encouraged, but be aware of your space. Wild flailing arms in a packed crowd means hitting the people next to you. Match your movement to the space available. At a spacious outdoor show, dance however you like. In a packed standing room, keep your movements contained.
Seated event etiquette
Theatre, classical music, opera, and seated concerts have more formal expectations.
Arrival and seating
- Arrive on time. Latecomers disrupt everyone in their row and may not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance.
- When moving along a row to your seat, face the people already seated (not the stage) and say "excuse me" as you pass.
- Do not take a seat that is not yours. Upgrading yourself to an empty seat in a better section is noticed and may result in being asked to move when the actual ticket holder arrives.
During the performance
- Switch your phone to silent. Not vibrate, silent. A vibrating phone on a hard armrest is audible to everyone nearby.
- Do not unwrap sweets or rustle food packaging during quiet moments. If you must eat, unwrap everything before the performance starts.
- Clap between pieces (in classical music, between movements of the same piece is traditionally a silence, though this convention is increasingly relaxed at many concerts).
- Standing ovations should be genuine. If the performance genuinely moved you, stand. If not, clapping from your seat is perfectly respectful.
Singing along
At pop and rock concerts, singing along is part of the experience. At theatre, opera, and classical events, it is not. The performer on stage is the one the audience came to hear, not you. Save your singing voice for events where it is welcome.
Even at gigs where singing is expected, be aware that screaming the lyrics in the ear of the person next to you is not pleasant for them.
Festival etiquette
Festivals have their own culture and their own set of courtesies:
- Respect your campsite neighbours. Keep noise down after 2am in camping areas (or whenever the site rules specify). Playing music from a speaker at 4am is inconsiderate, no matter how good the tunes are.
- Do not walk through other people's campsites. Stick to the marked paths. Cutting through someone's camping pitch is the equivalent of walking through their garden.
- Use the bins. Litter at festivals is a massive problem. Carry your rubbish to a bin or recycling point. The fields do not clean themselves.
- Queue fairly. Cutting in at food stalls, bars, or toilets is noticed and resented. Queue like an adult.
- Do not steal from tents. This should not need saying, but tent theft at festivals is a real problem. It ruins people's weekends. Keep your belongings secure and do not touch anything that is not yours.
Comedy club etiquette
Comedy clubs have specific rules that differ from other events:
- Do not heckle. Shouting out during a comedian's set is not welcome, clever, or funny. It derails the performance for everyone. If the comedian speaks to you, respond. Otherwise, stay quiet between laughs.
- Do not walk out loudly. If you need to leave, wait for a natural pause and move quietly. Walking out during a joke is distracting for the performer and disrespectful.
- Tip the staff. Many comedy clubs are small operations where the bar staff and door staff work hard for modest pay. If you have had a good night, a tip is appreciated.
For a full breakdown of comedy club customs, read our comedy club guide.
Sporting event etiquette
Sport is generally more relaxed about noise and interaction, but there are still expectations:
- Support your team loudly, but do not direct personal abuse at individual players, officials, or opposing fans
- Stand when your section stands, sit when they sit. Persistently standing when everyone behind you is sitting blocks their view
- Do not throw things onto the pitch or court. Ever.
- Respect steward and security instructions, particularly around designated zones
The golden rule
All event etiquette boils down to one principle: would you be annoyed if someone did this to you? If the answer is yes, do not do it to someone else. The vast majority of people at events are there to have a good time. Being considerate of those around you costs nothing and makes the experience better for everyone, including yourself.
For more guides on getting the most from events, explore our guide to getting to the front at gigs and our solo event-going guide.