Earlier this year, I watched part of a concert on YouTube. A local artist was performing tracks from her new album, including one particularly strong one. Her new album hadn't been released yet, so this was the only publicly available footage of the new song. I liked what I could hear of it. Unfortunately, the loud behavior from the bar crowd drowned out much of the tune. Still, I could tell the song was well-structured, well-played, and well-sung. I wanted to shout at most of the audience, "Stop drowning out the music! I know people eat and drink at this venue, and this might be background music to many of you, but show some respect for the artist and her band! The people who are sitting at their tables quietly and applauding appreciatively at the end of each song get it. The people dancing in and out of camera range understand that, too. The rest of you, though, are missing out on some pleasant singing, skillful guitar playing, and thoughtful lyrics. Presumably, you stopped by to have a good time, but how about incorporating the music into that?"
Alas, retroactive ire isn't known to change anyone's behavior.
